The National tribune., 1902-02-20

other part
If anybody gets into Charleston before
the five per centum OF the 200th Injianny.
mounted. and commanded by Sergt. Josiah
klegg, responded Shorty, re-reading Sis
order with keen pleasure they'll have to
know how to loPe and lope fast. Them's
the soft notes of my calliope."
Reveille called them out in the midst of
cold rain, which il seemed would wash
away the very sand-bank on which Sa-
vannah is built. The fast-driying drops
seemed to actually bore into the earth.
But everybody yelled Justify as the COM
panics were dismissed from the hasty
roll-call. and the men rushed around to
get breakfast and make ready for the
march. One would think that leaving
comfortable quarters for march through
the mud and the binding showers was the
most delightful of prospects to them.
81 and Shorty and the rest Of their
squad led their horses out OF the dry sta
bles they had built for them. mounted and
took their places in the road in advance of
the forming column Of the regiment.
As they stood there a steamer came
down the river, and sounded her whistle
as salute to the regiment. They looked
over. and Sa the Deacon standing on the
highest part of the deck. under his faith
ful blue umbrella. They gave him and
the ship loud cheer. and he responded hy
trying to wave his bandanna, which was
Immediately caught by the drenching
down-pour, and fell limp rag. He
Shonted:
Take care Of yourself. boys"
The vessel sped on. and the hugle sound
ed 'Forwardr' for the regiment.
Great Jehosephat." exclaimed Shorty,
as they settled down for the steady march
northward. ''this is just an old d-timer from
way hack. II comes down worse'n it did
| on the Tullvhnmy campaign. and it's as
cold as iciclps''
30. it's nothing when you get used to
it." answered 81. with his usual deter
mination to make the best Of everything.
Were soft now from the good times
we've been having. but we'll come down
to il in a little while"
1t was very hard getting used to" such
storm as that. The rain came down in
sheets that threatened to beat the life out
OF men and horses.
They struggled resolutely forward
through Savannah. whose fine houses and
beautiful grounds showed dmlv and
itfHlly through riffs in the deluge; ont
through the gloomy, sodden rice fields he
yond. now overfiowing with rushing water
and becoming wide lakes. When they
gained the high land bevond. the Colonel
ordered the hugler TO sound HALT"
This isn't marching-it's wading" said
the Adjntant. as he and the Colonel dis
mounted and tried to find the lee side Of
an orange thcllet. ITS wading through
stream a mile over our heads and as
wide rs the State Of Georgia. The only
reason we are not drowned at once is that
there are occasional breathing holes in the
flood"
at is simply inhuman to push men for
ward in This deluge." answered the Colo
mel. well camp here tonight. Let the
men make themselves as comfortable as
they can. Tt'll he little enough they can
have. the Lord knows
81 and his squad found a little grove
near by. where they fastened their horses,
removed the soaked equipments from them
and fed them wet corn from the nose bags.
They then rigged IN such shelter as
they could. with their tent-nieces. work.
ing with numhed fiugers in the chill down.
pour. and got an erection which. as Shorty
remarked, would keep out the coarsest
of the rain"
They made a brush shelter under which
a FIRE would live and allow them to make
some coffee Then life became more tol-
cradle and they broke brush unon which
to spread their wet blankets and lie during
the night.
$40 man knows what day will bring
forth in the army" remarked ST. trying TO
li~ht the damn tobacco in his pine. "Rut
this rain can't last forever-there amt
water enough
''Seems tn me I remember your saying
S0UpiHlnS IKE mat UD anoHf utlAnnfnY
answered Shorty. 1T seemed then that
the'd used mp all the water there was in
the world the first day, hut they found
enough to last 81 DAYS. The great rain
factory Of the world is down this way
somewhere and whatever they have over
that they don't happen to need anywhere
else they inst empty ont here"
''Well. we had a mighty good month in
savannah" said 81. "TEpv can't beat US
ont nf that no matter what they do
The shin on which the Deacon was ran
out into gale sweening along the coast,
accompanying the rainStorm. but his pre-
vious experiences had inorulated him
against return Of the seaSickness. and
he suffered no other discomfort than the
Inconvenience and unrest from the pirrh-
ing of the vessel. This made him so tired
that he wert to bed early and slept as
soundly as he had often done after a hard
daY of mauling rails.
Not so Mr.. Hieginbottnm. He had
started out expecting terrible time. that
the next hour would he worse than the
last and believing that the only way TO
meet the increasing horrors of the situa-
ton was by SITTER drinks of brandy
At every shock of the gale he would
tear ont from his room into the cabin ard
rave around until the steward wnu'd calm
hin, a little and coax him hack into his
raam whom he would Law in another large
n
ditinn versing on delirium trenens.
The room which had been assigned TO
the Deacon was next to the vessels
chimrcy. and 50 was kent unusually warm.
This walked the boys pets. which had
been stored far back against the smoke
pine. from their Winter S!een. and the
nitoIing broke the wooden cages.
When the Deacon walked with DAYLIGHT
he was horriipd TO see the door of his
room omen. with two or three snakes wris-
@ling ont into the cabin. some birds hon.
ming ahout in alarm. and the alligator in
active pursuit.
He made a grab for his clothes to dress
himself One of his boots felt unusually
heavy. and he turned II over tn SOC
snake fall ont and wricgle around in
search of some other place of cnncealment
from the terrible crocodile terrapin
had taken refuge in the other boot
The raging Fn@i;Shman came ont Of his
'nOm just in time TO see the alligator over
AXE and swallow one If the snakes He
-ave 4 veil Of horror that even the mrn
IT the wheel heard above the gale. His
yves turned CLASSY. his checks became
lshy. and his raUid lirs muttered:
Great love. Hive got the bloody things
lagain worse than hevPrr
TIE sank in n collapse. The sleepy stew
,rd and cabin boys. inst turning ont for
heir days dnties helned him hack into
his room, where he frli INTO a stupor
fTo be continued)