The National tribune., 1902-03-06

streaming blackness. No rebels know
that we're here, and if they did they
couldn't get across the cricks at us, any
more than we can get across at them
Wen save the boys for other work.
| Pete. who had been paying especial at
! tcntiOn to Ahedncgo, the mule, and, il
must be admitted. stealing a handful or 81
of feed from the others to give him, came
slOshing through the rain after them.
They piled on more of the benches, cx
amincd their musketS anew to see thai
I they were ready for instant use, spread
/ their blankets before the fire, and lay
down to make up for the sleep they haC
lost the previous nights.
Toward morning the rain ceased. the
wind rose. and it turned bitterly cold. $
aw0ke showed the chunks up into the fire
threw some more benches on. readjusted
the blankets over everybody, lay down
again, and was doing off. when lie was
startled by blast of sound that to his
sleepy senses seemed like the shouts of q
rushing crowd of men. The door came
off its hinges and fell with crash. He
Sprang mp, seized his musket. and fired al
something white and waving which he saw
outlined in the comparative lightness OF
the doorway. Shorty was by his side at
the instant. and his gun cracked the next
minute. The rest of the boys followed
quickly. and the noise was deafening, for
the invaders were coming on with an I'M
menSe clIttcr.
Pete was just bringing up his gun, when
he shouted:
Here, stop that shooting, Don't kill
my mule. Let Abednego alone! It's
Abednego"'
Abednego made his own appeal, with an
car-Splitting yawp.
What. that blamed mule again:" eX-
claimed 81. in disgust, as his quick senses
made out the real cause of the disorder.
IN shoot him This time, sure"
He levelcd his reloaded musket. but
Pete sprang before him, and begged so
for his mule that 81 desisted.
1t developed that the animals had be
come as weary of the rain and cold and
eager for the shelter as their riders. had
worked at their halterS. which had not
been well tied by the numb fingers. until
they had loosened them. and, following the
cnterprising AhednegO, had struck for the
shelter Of the church.
Examination showed that Sis aim had
been true. for he had put Il bullet through
Abednego's ear. when he mistook it for
the white hat on the head of n rebel.
Pete tied up the wounded member with
his handkerchief. the animals were fast
cncd again. this time on the lee side of
the meeting house, the fire was replen-
ishd and the interrupted sumbers re-
newed.
The outlook in the morning. after they
had cooked the last of the ratiOns in their
haverSacls, and fed the last Of the for
age in their nOsebags. saddled up, and
started out, was sufficiently discouraging.
The whole country was atlOat III yellow,
rushing water. The wind blew bitterly
cold, and the temperature was low enough
to form coats of ice, the thickness of a
winiOw-pane, i'll the mud, and wherever
the water was still. While this would
have been hardly regarded as "bracing
weather. in the North. it was bitterly cold
to the shivering men and animals. They
broke through the frozen crusts in the
sodden fields and woods, while the roads
were Il succession of ponds, torrents and
bitches of deep mud.
1T looks as if the whole of this part Of
Georgia has been put TO soak" remarked
ST. 1--WE might reach higher ground. and
possibly find something to eat, by striking
ont to the left that way. but our business
don't take us that way. We've tended
to Georgy, already, and must now pay our
respects to South Caroliny We must work
to the right. toward the Savanny River
and Sisters Ferry, and trust to the Lord
for ratiOns until we can get acrost into
South Caroliny."
Il expect that's Shad Graham coming
now," remarked Shorty. as they reached
Il knoll, which commanded n view of the
road for some miles to the rear, and
watched some wagons toiling through the
mud.
''Yes that must be Shad." answered 81,
as he made out n tall, slender man walk
ing along by the side of the road, leading
his horse. and carrying a heavy rail over
his shoulder, to help pry the wagons out
Of the mud. He's got the advance, and
is going to keep it. Gracious. but he's
made good time. But then he's come
straight ahead. while we've bin circling
around trying to find crossings. We may
rs well follow the road down to the crick, |
and wait for him to come up
Shad quickly threw his pontoon across |
he creek, let 81 and his squad pass over, |
and setting one of his lieutenants to work |
building bridge of staging, to release the
1ontoOn for further work, rode forward |
with the boys to Sisters Ferry, to take
| look at the Savannah River.
I'm very anxious to get there, and stick
,ur tOe-nails in on the other side he ex-
,lained. "The rebels no doubt have
guessed that we're making for the ferry,
is it is the only place along the river