News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-01-15
CHAPTER XXI.
HUNTING BIG GAME.

was alone, while now | was with an
advancing army Five hundred caval-
ry, a division of infantry and several
batteries of artillery were hurrying
down the road toward the beautiful
city of Huntsville, lying, tranquil, and
unSuspecting, a few miles below The
upper edge of the sun was peering
above the horizon, gliding the crest OF
the foothills of the plateau on the east,
the tree tops and the roofs of the neigh
boring houses, The flowers, which
fortnight before were opening, were
now in full bloom. They looked inno-
Gently from the gardens beside the
road, they leaned lovingly against the
pillars of the verandas, and from vines
trailing over easements they smiled at
the rising sun, while the breath of
morning was laden with their perfume.
1t was the generals purpose to sur
prise the city, capture the railroad ma
chine shops and the rolling stock con-
centrated there, then make up trains
laden with troops, seize a hundred
miles of the Memphis and Charleston
railroad on either hand thus opening
] communication with the army at Pitts
burg Landing on the west and paving
the way for future operations in east
| Tennessee on the east. The enemy
must not be given time to move troops
to protect the city, for even should we
defeat them they would destroy the
shops and run off the rolling stock. All
depended on celebrity and secrecy.
The evening before we had bivouack-
! ed ten miles north of the city. Our
scouts permitted no one to go south Of
us, Unfolding all they met in order that
no news of our approach could reach
the place we hoped to surprise. Two
hours before GAVIN the command was
! aroused-not by the fife or the bugle,
but by whispering officers = and the
, march was resumed with no sound
| save the tread of men and horses and
the rumble of artillery. Within a few
miles of the city detachments of mount
ed men, armed with telegraph cutting
and ira elk tearing implements, dashed
| to the left and to the right to prevent
the enemy from sending for troops or
running off the rolling stock. To an
other detachment which rode among
the advance columns was assigned the
duty of Selling the telegraph office.
Boom!
Hark, gun 1t comes from the east
ward, not half a mile distant where
the railroad runs parallel with the
pike. Artillery is driving back loco
motive. The iron monster shrieks like
some Wild beast that has met it's death
wound.
Ec0m'
More Whistles all along the track far
down to the south. varying in distinct
ness from n near. loud cry to a distant,
faint moan This is fine hunting
stalking locomotives with cannon. Did
any South African sportsman ever
strike such game or hunt with such
guns?
Boom, boom, boom! Far and near
the shotted guns speak: far and near
the metal monsters cry out in terror.
Boom!
All are bagged, except one more dar
ing than the rest, which runs the CANT
let of artillery and with a round shot
flying through it's cab speeds out of
range.
Meanwhile sashes in the houses along
the road are being raised, shutters
flung open and heads put out to learn
the cause of the commotion. AS guns
boom, whistles shrek and cavalry clat-
ter along the road, followed by men
rapidly marching and artillery horses
briskly dragging the guns, many a
citizen who the night before had gone
to sleep not dreaming of a foe looks
upon the passing armed throng, lis
tens to the sound of the cannon and
the shreks of the engines and wonders
if pandemonium has come.
l am drawing near the Stanforths'.
There is the house, with its broad ve-
randas and its peak roof. A knot of peO-
pie are at the front gate, but | am yet
too far to see who they are. Now |
can distinguish the turbaned Lib.
There is a boy perched on one of the
gate posts. 1t is Buck. That girl, tall
and slender, is surely Helen. AS |
draw nearer can see Ginger, his broad
mouth stretched in a grin of pleasure
at sight of Yankee troops. A figure is
sitting in a wicker chair on the veran-
da, dark eyes flashing in a pale face.
1t is Jaqueline.
Riding up to the gate, l am oIt of
my saddle almost before my horse has
stopped. Buck gives a cry and jumps
into my arms. Ginger grasps my hand.
"By lingo, Mr., Brandystone." cried
Buck, Pm mighty glad to see you!
Since got back after ngntn rnIas
like
MARS, It's good TO- de eyes t see
yo'," interrupted Ginger enthusastical-
ly.
LITTER fightin g'rillas like man
"What! Mr.. Branderstane, and in the
uniform of a Federal otficerw
1t was Mr.. Stanforth. He looked at
me, surprised, then put out his hand.
But | always suspected the old man to
be at heart q Unionist
Buck kept on. After fghtin grillas
like man | come back
Upon my wordr'
Another of the family was express
ing surprise to see a former guest with