The National tribune., 1902-04-17

Yes" answered Pete. as he sent
Abednego across the ditch and the field,
to where the other wagon was standing.
Jump into your saddle drive forward
INTO the road, quick as the Lord'll let you,
and cut your mules loose" shouted Pete,
bringing his gun to bear.
Shorty, Tom, Abe, and Harry were fir
ing back at the rebels, to check them a
little, until everything was ready. The
rebel leader slowed down little, for the
rest to come up for the grand rush. He
was sure of his game, anyway, for they
could not get across the creek when he
should strike them.
The rebel teamster was so scared by
Pete's vicious appearance that he fumbled
and dropped his lines, his nerveless knees
would not support him when he attempted
to mount, and he could not raise his voice
in his usual sulphury admOnitiOns to his
mules. Pete encouraged him by riding
closer, and hitting him over the shoulder
with his gun-barrel. Finally he got into
his saddle, but could not start his mules,
and Pete had to ride along and smite each
one with his gun-barrel, besides assailing
| them with all the opprobrious epithets he
had heard teamsters use. He finally took
the lead-mule by the bride. and led the
team down into the road. Then he made
the teamster get down and unhitch his
lluAtS anu SldlI lO"dlu tue lOIu,
whittier the boys had driven the others.
In his excitement Pete had knocked off
his cap, upon which he had sewed piece
Of Mollie McGrew's dress, sent him by
her in a letter, and which he wore there
something as a knight of old his lady's
favor. The rebels were advancing now,
firing from the saddle, and the bullets
coming around pretty plentifully.
''All right, Pete" said 81. Touch her
H.. IL
on over, boys"
Pete got out his matches, scratched one
on the tire of wheel, and thrust it into
bundle OF blades, which instantly blazed
up.
81 and Shorty did the same to the other
wagons, and rode into the ford, which was
only belly-deep to their horses, and not,
therefore, particularly difficult.
The forage famed up furiously, and
Pete could not help remaining minute to
watch the discontinue of the rebels, and
yell some things at them on his own ac
count, though ST and Shorty had yelled at
him to hurry up, before the fire made the
road impossible.
Then he bethought him of his cap and
determined to recover it with its precious
memento.
He sent Abednego back across the ditch
and the field to the by-road, in the face
VI tuC SLallp Iitf JuiAAptu " luC SlOuuh,
picked up the cap, deliberately examined
it. to see that the memento was there, and
waved it at the rebels, yelling COntumely |
and derisiOn upon them and all their i'm |
mediate relatives as he remOunted and |
rode back to the main road
The forage was now burning furiously, |
making a great heat. Abendnego a. first |
SHE'D at attempting to pass, but Pete |
drove the spur into him, and he had to |
90 10 NVnpEa1 off fn tha CiIa f.,r
possible, but there was little room on the |
bank even in the thick brush and briars. |
He must go forward, however though the |
heat seemed to be smuggling the hair on his |
hide. He felt his insides shriveling and |
cracking by the time he reached the ford, |
and plunging into the grateful cold water, |
fell on his knees and then rolled over.
Pete was too quick for any trick of the
mules, however, and was off his back and |
rolling over with him in the icy current.
Shorty gave a yell and plunged in to
rescue Pete. He dragged him out. drip
ping like a Newfoundland. Pete's gun
and cap were gone, and his ammunition
spoiled. He shook the mud and water
from him, sputtered out big mouthfull,
and then made dive back to get his gun.
another was made to rescue his cap, and
a third to lead Abednego ashore.
All this accompanied by bliStering COM
mentaries by Shorty on boys and mules.
Saved as by fire." exclaimed Otterbein
Kramer.
IF | thought one little brat could have
saving common sense burned into him I'd
throw him back into the fire again."
snOrted Shorty. But he gets to be a big
ger fool the longer he's in the army"
Neither me nor Abednego was to
blame at all protested Pete. why
didn't you wait till we got through before
you set fire to the rest o them wagons?
Think we're salamanders? You never look
out for us at all, do they, Abednego?"
well, we've settled those felers for the
rest of the day." decided 81, watching his
discounted enemies through the murky +
flames and smoke. It'll be some hours /
before they can get through there. Let's
20 on up into the town, and see what's
there"
They found Barnwell miniature
Savannah, with large houses and spacious
grounds in limitation Of the citys. They :
found a host of negroes, who informed i
hem that all the white people had left in 8