Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-07-31

ing of a dead branch would have
ruined all. I crept along so quietly
that I could hear as we'll as feel my
heart, or something very like it, beat
ing in my throat"
'"Scared, maybe ?" said one of the
boys.
Eyes, scared, and badly, too" re-
Piled Pratt. "You try this creeping
along in front of that line of sharp
shooters, no one Of whom ever misses
his man, and let me know your sensa-
tions at that time. Well, boys, as l
rose up the hill 1 crouched more and
more, stopping every now and then to
listen. I could hear you fellows talk
ing, but couldn't make out what you
said. Once while trying to catch
what you said the thought struck me !:
Suppose the boys were to open fire !;
between that and the Yankees return
fire it would be good-by, Bill Pratt.
"I crept along little further, and
at last arrived at the rifle pit which
had given US so much trouble. l lay
on the ground listening. l dare not
rise up and look over, for that might
be exactly what the fellow was look
for, and l would but get bullet
through my head for my pains. l
tossed over a clod of Dirt had my
gun all ready to let him have it as
he got UP TO see who threw the clod.
The clod, falling on the wooden bot
tom of the chair with a noise which
seemed to me to be sufficient to rouse
the whole Yankee camp, plainly told
me he was not in the chair. Perhaps he
had left the chair empty to deceive me
and was erouching there waiting.
Cautiously and slowly l raised my
cap on my gun to the edge Of the en-
bankment and moved it to and fro as
though its owner were cautiously peer
inc over the works. still all was 81
lent in the pit, not a sound could l
hear but my own thick and hurried
breathing, even louder than the beat
ings of my heart. Was | scared?
Yes-some. l don't think banker
after that sort of a thing for con-
stancy.
when l found that the cap dodge
was Of no avail said to myself: How
stands the case, Bill Pratt ? He's not
in the chair-fact number one. He
ain t asleep or he'd be in the chair
fact number two. He didn't take any
notice of the cap, when he could have
slashed it to pieces with his sword
bayonet, never once exposing himself,
and reserving his loaded gun for
emergencies, that's-well, l must ac-
knowledge that's fshy, and it resolves
itself into this: he's there and waiting
to put a bullet through you, or he
amt there and you are getting scared
at nothing. Come, Bill, be man
and end this thing. Jumping to my
feet, my gun ready to FIRE, | looked
over and found the pit empty, empty
as far as any occupant was concerned,
but provisions in plenty. l took a
good pull at my hosts canteen-the
Yanks drink better whisky than we
and singing the strap oyer my shoul-
der got out of the pit to return to our
works, with the canteen for a memen-
to Of my visit. was about starting
down the hill when l was arrested by
the sound Of voices approachingin my
direction. Throwing myself on the
ground, lay quiet, hoping that the
parties might pass on without observ-
ing me. Instead of passing they came
directly toward the pit.
az can go no farther with you,
said one.
ooh, come on replied the second
voice, The Rebs can't hurt you
"'Well, you see, fighting amt my
business, and if I should be ihcapaci-
tated, and fail to write my regular
letter, Greedy would be real angry
"Well, goodnight, since you won't
come any farther. Remember to save
me copy Of the Tribune.
"'All right. How many Rebs do
you expect to bag today?'
well, I can'tsay; the game is get
ting very shy; if l killed one and
winged two or three of them I'd count
it good days work, replied the
sharpshOoter, getting down into his
pit. Then, as his companion retired,
/ heard him say:
"'It's darned chilly on this river.
lit weren't fer the fun Of picking off