The National tribune., 1903-01-22

the devil knows what. Don't let any OF
them get the drop on you, and If you strike
anything OF importance come back to me
and report. You'll find me over in that d.
rection somewhere"
Wen take care of ourselves, General,
thank you' answered 81, starting of in
the direction the General had pointed out
This is worse than travelling on dark
might" said Shorty, after they had pushed
ION Always. Eve can't see hardly any more
than in the darkness, and can't hear moth
ing at ALL"
"Well, we'll keep bearing of to the
southeast" answered 81, until we strike
Aliugo Crick. wherever that may be. and
then go down it to the Goldsboro Road.
Their path let them into one OF the
densely swamps common In
that region. and they were soon founder
ing through it. The passage was so ag.
crayatingiy troublesome that they lost
all sense of direction again, and when they
at length got out onto the more soiid anu
open ground among the pines, they stopped
lawbile to let their horses blow, rub the
mud off their steeds' legs, smooth down
some ugly tears on their skins, and try to
make out where they were, and to get
some bearings by which they could shape
their future course. 81 and Shorty drlfted
apart a few rods, in looking for signs,
and began shouting to one another as 10
the outlook.
Another voice suddenly interrupted
them.
"Heab. you men, who all yo' and what
ah yO' doing away from 20 command!
i The voice had the drawing accent and
naughty superiority of southern aristo.
crat speaking to his slaves. They looked
in the direction, and saw tall, slender
young man, with long black hair, small
silky mustache, and scornful eyes. He
wore a chapeau, with a rich plume, now
sadly dragged by the rain, and an Eng.
fish waterproof cloak, under which could
be seen hints of new and quite fine Con.
patent leather, gilded spurs, and rode
fine but now sadly jaded horse, with the
blood washing down in the rain from cru
eel tears of the briars on. his delicate skin.
Don't know" answered ST, Indifferent
lily, bringing up his carbine, ready for use.
We're just moseying along out here.
Where do you belong?"
"You impudent rascals, how dare you
lspeak to me that way? What's your reg
liment?"
1--WE belong to the Blowville Brass
Mounted Bazoos," remarked Shorty, rid
ing slowly toward him, and peering around
to see if there were any more behind him.
l"Best regiment in the army. What feath-
er bed crowd do you belong to? Do all
THE Corporals in your company have water
proofs and patent-leather boots? I'd like
to belong to such gay outfit as that.
''Silence, you insolent hound" thun-
dered the man. ''Yo' don't know, sab, to
whom yo're talking, sab. I'll have 70 tied
Iup, sah."
"When?' asked 81, derisively, closing
in little.
! "I'lI report 20 to Gen. Hampton, sab.
Such impertinence demands severe pun
ishment."
4, 'Say, Johnny reb, just cheese all that
land come along with us" said Shorty
Icko ,Ixy Iara oor1rn N in
1.-THE humor for Ginning this morning,
iand'll trouble you for those revolvers see
in your belt"
"You scoundrels, what do yo' mean? An
other word from yo' and I'll shoot you
down. Your insolence is unbearable."
The man started to draw his revolver
ithreateningly.
"Take your hand off that pistol, or of
goes your rebel head" said 81, in unmis-
taxable tones, leyeling his carbine and
cooking it. "You dandifed fool, can't you
see that we're Yankees? What's the mat
ter with you? Didn't you never see Union
soldiers? Unbuckle that belt at once, and
hand it to me-"
The man looked utterly dazed for Sec
ond. 81 clicked his lock again to bring him
to his senses. The mans gantleted hands
slipped down to his belt-plate and I'M
buckled his belt.
"Who are you, my gay peacock, any
way?" asked Shorty.
The man glared at him, and disdained
answer ing.
/ '.What's -FOUR name and rank, sir"
asked ST, with official brevity.
81 am Lieutenant-Cunnel Bowler, of the
LIST South Carleena Heavy Artillery. sab.
Rhett's Brigade; Who ali 70. sab, and
what's yo' rank?'
I'm Serg't Josiah Klegg, Co. Q, 2OOth
Injianny Volunteer Infantry, sir"
'Great heavens, captured by an enlisted
man, and Indiana man, at that" gr0aned
Col. Bowler. Indiana man-State settled
by POI white trash from the South. Not
gentleman in it."
We've been rather passing Tor genie
men lately, by a little crowding," said 81,
reaching for the pistols. 81 notice, though.
that you didn't care to associate with us
ut all closely, as We passed through your
State
''Sorry that we couldn't have real
| file-haired gent here to meet you" apol-
ogized Shorty. But were haif-white, and
will have to do for the present"
"And captured without firing a shot
absolutely without firing shot," sroaned
the I:eutenant-C Colonel IF you were gen
tlemen l should demand my arms, and
that yo' fight me right hean."
.nThe vote seems to have been taken on
that. and we've passed to another order OF
husint ss,'' remarked 81, taking the pis-
| tolls.
"Rut I can't descend to fighting with
mere common soldiers, and from Indiana"
| continued the Lieutenant-COlonel."
I'VE noticed something of that kind as
we were coming through South Carollny."
sneeIed Shorty.
Don't rub it in on a prisoner, Shorty"
interposed 81. 'sfhere's been enough fight
Jig for all of us, SIR" he continued to the
prisoner. ''NOne of US need be sorry that
it is near the end"
The prisoner melted q little Mt Sis kind
" tone.
'.This v i'll ruin me, sah." he said, sadly.
"Iye been stationed in Charleston duhing
the whole wah. My command only Left
the city when Hahdee evacuated, sab.
didr't even get into the battle yesterday,
sab, because l was ordehed to Smthheid,
with information for Gen. Johnston, and
was delayed seeing him. because he was
occupied with Bragg's battle at Kin
ston. inst SchOheld."
"Joe Johnston at Smithfield! Fighting
against Schofield, ar KinstOp" gasped 81,
looking at Shorty. rs Gen. Johnston at
Smithfeld?"
Col Bower was not too dignified to have
lost all common sense. He saw that he
had communicated something of impor-
lance, and froze at once into statue-Eks
reticence.
81 shall tell you nothing, sab. am a
prisoner of wah, sab. Do with me as 20
please. I'm in yo' powell, but my lips ali
sealed, sah.'