The National tribune., 1902-01-30

"You won't give me nway?' I said.
What do yOu take me forE' he asked.
"Oh. you're all right; but il you should
happen TO say anything to anybody, II
might get out. If you won't tell any OF
your men, I'll 60"
"Oh, come along: you needn't be
afearcd of my tellin on you. l don't
know your name, and--not to cause hard
fcclin's-I don't want to know 1t; come
on"
He stopped at the pit on the edge. of
the gully. / passed on. | saw men lying,
sitting. and very few standing down the
line at some of the other pits. | heard
no talk. The men at the pit where my
friend had halted did not speak to him.
There was nothing to cause them to speak.
He handed his cantecn to one of the men;
even this man did not speak; he drank.
! walked up the hill, going straight to-
ward the big pine. The sun itself could
now he seen. What | have narrated had
not taken FIVE minutes, for the pits were
not more than hundred yards from the
edge of the swamp.
line, | should feel safe. How far in the
rear the Confederate fortifications were, l
could not vet tcll-but that mattered lit
tie: / should have no fears when l reached
them.
As long as ] thought it possible that
| could be seen from the pits l went to-
ward the big pine; soon | knew that L
was hidden by bushes. and / went as rap
idly as | could walk in Il southeast direc-
ton for nearly an hour. L passed in full
sight of the pickct-line in many places,
and fortifcatiOns far TO my right could
he seen upon the hills. My purpose was
to enter the main Confederate intrench-
ments as nearly as possible opposite New
Bridge-oppOsite the position from which
/ had started on the night before.
The sun was an hour high. l had
come three miles, | thought; | sat in a
shady place and cndeavored to think what
course was best. [ believed l had come
far enough. | had nothing to do but go
forward. | could see parts of fOrtihca-
tions. No one would think of hindcring
my entrance. | would 90 into the lines;
then / would turn to the right and follow
out my instructions.
Again | started, and reached the brow
Of the hill; it was entirely bare of trees.
Three or four hundred yards in front were
lines of earthworks. l did not pause; /
went straight ahead.
a body of men marched ont of the
brcaStwOrks--abOut company, | thought.
They were marching forward; their line
Of march would bring them near me.
held my course; | judged that the com
pany WAS some reg giment's picket for the
the last nights picket.
The last man of the company had hard
ly appeared; suddenly / heard a cannon
roar, apparently from a Federal battery
almost directly in my rear. and at the in
stant shell had shrieked far above my
head.
At once the Confederates replied. 1
did not think that l was in any danger,
as the shells went high in the air in order
to attain their object on the other side of
the Chickahominy.
The company Of infantry had counter
marched, and was again behind the line of
earthworks.
| looked around for shelter from the
Federal cannon; although the shells went
high. it would be folly for me TO go for
ward into the place Of danger. The hill
was bare. There was no depression, no
tree, no fence, nothing but the open wind
swept hill-desOlate und bare. l was on
this bare hill.
a man passed me from the rear. He
was armed. He, too like myself, had no
doubt come from the pickct-line
Better leg it, he cried-and l legged
it with him, making for the breastworks
The shells from the rear seemed to fly
over at less hight.
One Of the shells burst over my head
Suddenly | saw my companion throw
up one hand-his left hand-with great
violence. and fall fiat; hardly was | CON
sciOus that | saw him fall: mt the. instant
there was a deafening noise, and | was
of nothing.
tTo be continucd)