The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-04

merry rays, anu Tue sOiuleEh
behind either line OF earth
works sought to shelter
themselves alike from the
burning heat and the bullets
OF the enezny. They did not
know which they dreaded the more.
"sfy, how hot II isls said Helm. TAX
ing on his cap and wiping his forehead
Eyes. but II you were to stick your
head up above the -sarthwork there
Willard I
THE Yankee sharpshooters, you
mean" replied Helm There's a fel-
low over there q little bit to our right
who never misses. He clipped Oh my
finest lock of hair. the one my sweet
heart at home used to say became me
20 well, and made q red streak right
across the top Of my head. Say. how
that fellow can shootT'
Helm puckered up his lips and emit
ted a low whistle Of admiration. Then
his eyes wandered to the dismantlec
gun lying midway between the lines.
its wheels shot OF, its caisson smashed
to pieces, but Its mighty bronze barrel
intact and ready again Tor death and
destruction IL mounted once more.
Its pity we can't get that gum"
said Helm. "Put new wheels on II.
give 1t a caisson. and 1t would be a
wonder"
There's no doubt Of It," said VII
lard, ''but how to get II. that's the rub.
and it's bothering US Johnnies just as
much as 1t is the Yankees over there"
These two divisions OF the hostile
armies had been face to face for days.
neither able to advance and both refus-
ing to retreat. Three days before one
side had run forward q great gun in q
bold attempt to break through the line
OF the enemy. but the guns squad was
annihilated almost instantly by the
rifle nre, and the gun itself was dis
mounted by the shells Of q sheltered
battery. The victors did not dare go
forth to secure the splendid gun. know
ing that they In their turn would be
swept out Of existence by hostile IRE.
So there It lay midway between them.
neither side able to secure IL and both
coveting 1t with all the ardor Of vet
erans.
Helm doffed his cap and wiped his
hot face once more. "How the sun
burnsI" he repeated
$50 II does" said Willard. "but I be
lieve they've gone to sleep over there
in the Yankee lines"
"Gone to sleep! Gone to sleepr ex
claimed Helm scornfully. You just
offolr va..r haaA ohnvo the rfh RI
and the sharpshooter down there a lit
tie to the right will show you whether
or not they've gone to Sleep"
I've a good notion to do IT," said
Willard.
'.See here now, Willard" exclaimed
| Helm. Don't you be a fooli / know
it's silly of me. but I value your worth
less life. l don't want to lose friend
How would you know. anyway. wheth
er they are asleep or not II you go'
| killed? II you are bent on II. why
don't you put your cap on your ram
rod and stick 1t just above the parapet'
Then you'll see II our friend the sharp
shooter isn't awake"
/ Willard lifted the cap on the ram
rod few inches above the earthwork
where 1t would look from the hostile
line Ike q human head thrust up care
lessly. Not a sound came from ths
northern earthwork. No ride cracked
there was no flicker Of smoke.
They're asleep" repeated Willard
"and I'll prove II. Here goes my rea
headw
He thrust his face above the earth
work and stood there staring at thu
northern lines. He was In plain view
brow, eyes, every feature. Usual!
at such a sight the whole northern
earthwork would have famed into fir
with the zeal Of the sharpshooters
Now the dead silence Of the morning
was unbroken. Not a rifle muzxle wa
thrust into view.
| Helm was amazed. "what does
mean. Billy?" he said to willard.
The low. mellow note Of a trumpe
came from the northern lines. 1t wa
signal. a musical note breathing o
peace, and its soft echoes doated IA
away. repeating themselves among tn
sunny hills.
"They want to talk to usr' exclaime'
l heifn- WOuueL Wudt up.
|. The soft note Of the trumpet cam
again. and then an officer In the uni
, form Of a colonel appeared on tn
northern earthwork. waving q sma
. white flag A southern colonel rose u
near Helm and Willard to respond an
lifted a signal to advance.
: The northerner leaped down boldl
/ and came across the open space b.
tween the two lines that had been ap
| ly named ''rhe Plain OF Death" A
he advanced he passed the fallen guI
|. halted there a moment. stroked the po
, ished barrel and then walked on
After the first signal both earthwork
were lined with hundreds of head
They popped up suddenly. and ever
+ pair Of eyes gazed curiously at Il
r northern colonel who walked 30 light
e across ''The Plain OF Death" and on q
: their heads the sun 5lazed down.
e "a fine fellow" said Helm to willar
: nodding toward the northern colon
q who had crossed THE Plain Of Death
e the southern colonel advancing to me
him, They saluted politely. and Il
southern colonel stood waiting and 4