The National tribune., 1902-02-27

relieved his feelings by giving the boy sew
eral sharp spanks as he rolled him over
log to get the water out of him. Every
body yelled at the rescue. and the bridge
building was resumed with ardor.
81, Shorty and Sandy had been so wet
that little more dampness did not count,
and Pete, after weeping q few weeps over
the hardness of luck to boys in the army,
recovered sufficiently to look around and
see IL there was not some trouble to get
into while trying to help on the work
The rapid progress 81 and Shorty were
making with their better material slim
ulated rivalry with the boys on the
other side. and the construction rushed
along rapidly.
The Colonel had at last succeeded in
getting his tent up and a sheet-iron stove
installed, which gave little warmth and
dryness. He had brought in from the
wagon his drafting table, and was giving
thes craftsman labored instructions as to
lines and measurements.
There, that will have to do for a be-
gilnlng, he said at last, gazing wearied-
ly at the damp and blurred sheet at
IS very imperfect sketch, and nothing
like what | would have done if time had
allowed, or the conditions been more IA
yorable. 1t will have to do however,
for MIR. Graham to begin work on. Send
for him to come to my tent and commence
its study, that he mag be ready TO 90 to
work the moment the supplies and tools
have sent for arrive"
The orderly by whom he had sent his
acquisitions to the General returned with
note from that officer. He opened it
with the deliberation due an official COM
municatiOn and read:
1T is simply impossible to furnish what
you say you must have. | doubt il they
can be had in the whole army. and they
are certainly not within my reach. You
have already with oil h., .IoI
bridge material, or | can let you have.
and more cannot be brought up. because
the road TO the rear has been rendered
absolutely impossible, owing to the rapid
rise of the creek about two miles from
here. Those behind will need all they
have, and more, too. to get up to u.s."
The Colonel ragged, as he always did
when he was baked in any of his plans.
and vented his wrath, Regular Army
fashion, on the volunteers.
Another one of those damned political
fellows in command, who knows no more
about the army than he does about the
Ten Commandments. Wants to hog
everything for himself, blank him, and
would sooner ruin the campaign than give
up spade He's doing his best to spoiI
the finest bridge-plans ever made in this
army, and which would be an example
to the rest as long as they were soldiers.
III report him at once to Gen. Sherman,
and''-
Someone was scratching on the outside
of the tent
Come in" shouted the Colone..
Shad Graham entered and saluted.
I've come, Colonel he said, "to re-
port that we have finished the bridge,
and sent some wagons over Will you
not come down and inspect it?"
Finished the bridee|' gasped the
Colonel. Then the obligation of not
showing astOnishment or lack Of knowl-
edge before enlisted men or interiors in
rank asserted itself and he answered in
a matter-of-fact way:
Very good. Mr.. Graham. 1 shall go
with you at once to inspect your work"
He called for his horse and rode down
with Shad, who kept his prescribed place
in the rear, until they arrived at the
bridge, when he rode past the Colonel.
and over the bridge and back to show its
frmness and stability.
The ColonePs self-control and official
training were quite equal to the situa-
ton.
His face took on a strongly-iudiciaI ex-
preston. and as Shad came back with an
air of triumph, the Colonel remarked very
officially:
.'yery we'll done. Mr.. Graham; yery
well, indeed. You have carried out nv
ideas with much intelligence and zeal.
Put your men into camp. and have them
rest and wait further ORDERS | shall re-
turn to my tent and report to the General
that L have completed the bridge, and the
army can now advance"
Ito be continued.)