The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-19

to do much around here. Mebbe I can
accomplish something in that direction.
We are hungry enough ourselves to under
stand how these fellows feel who haven't
had anything to eat for two or three days.
Their big insides must be simply eating
up their little ones"
81 guess that's So" echoed Shorty, "for
| feel myself as if my liver was making
an assault and battery upon my gizzard.
do wish we had a mouthful of some
thing all around"
Give me that TORCH" said 81.
With the flambeau in his hand, 81
waded out into the plowed fields and pre-
sently came across rude haversack made
of bedticking, in which he found a small,
stone-like chunk of corn-dodger and two
ears of corn.
"Taint much" he soliloguized as he
slung the haversack over his shoulder,
''but it is what they are used to, and it
will do some good"
He continued his search for another
one, and found plenty of strips Of carpet
and quilts worn for blankets: hats and
caps, guns and cartridge boxes, but moth
ing with any food in it. He stumbled
across body lying at full length, prone,
and deep in the mud. Recovering his bal
ance, he was about to go on when the
light of his torch fell upon a jaunty cap
with the figures ''2OOth Ind" upon its
top. Startled, he looked closer, and dis
covered a tell-tale bullet hole just above
the strap that lay on the visor, and his
heart stopped with throb Of anxious
inquiry as to which of his officers had
fallen. He turned about and threw the
light of his torch on the body. 1t was
lying upon its face in the pathway which
had been trodden several times by the
lines OF Union and rebels surging back
and forth across the field. These had
stumbled across it and trampled it deep
in the mud. Lu-rriant locks of jet black,
silky hair mingled with the mud. With
great clutching at his heart, ST stopped
over. stuck his flambeau in the bog, sepa-
rated the locks from the clinging clay,
pulled the head little around till he could
see it better, and exclaimed
"My God! it's the Adjutantr'
The body was yet warm, and it might
be that he still lived. He hurried back
to the fire, and startled Shorty with the
news, who yelled to the pontOniers to drop
everything else and come with him. Led
by ST with his torch, they quickly reached
the spot, and lifting from the muck the
PROSTATE form of the handsome. light
hearted youth who had been the joy and
pride of the regiment. carried it back to
the fire. and laid it there in the full
blaze of the bright. yellow light.
ALI washed the face with a rag. and
began some examinations. He laid his ear
upon the Adjutant's chest. and found that
his heart was still beating, though very
feebly The luxuriant hair was cleansed
as far as his fingers could do it of the
clinging clay; the path of the bullet across
though it had lain the skull bare, ALT was
unable to find any signs of n fracture.
Still the case was heartbreaking to 81 and
his comrades. as they looked upon the
cold immovable features which had al
ways been so full of vivacity and hope.
To the man lying before them they had
been indebted for a thousand acts of
kindness. He had ever been their friend.
and helped them ont of many unpleasant
situations.
Get some boughs, boys" said 81, in a
choking voice. "and fix up for him over
there by the fire the best bed of any. He
deserves it. If he never comes to. we
have lost our best friend in the regiment. |
I'd rather have lost my arm, than to see
him lying there as he is"
The men sent for axes now came up !
loaded with more than they should have
attempted to carry over that awful road. |
They brought with them shelter tent or
two. which they had managed to snatch |
up in hurry, and also n canteen of apple
jack long preserved in n secret place in
the wagon for n capital emergency. They
went to work to put up shelters of bOughs
over the wounded, the shelter tents We're
stretched over Shad, Tom and Gid. and
the canteen was handed to ALI for dispen
sation, according to his judgment.
Amid the ringing Of their axes sounded
the well-known voice of Kramer with
the irrriy,
as this whe.e Serg't Klegg and his
squad are?
Electrified, 81 sprang up and answered,
Eyes, Kramer; Here we are"
Otterbein Kramer stepped into the cir
lie Of light with his usual quiet, non-in-
.rusive manner, and softly said:
81 have had an unusually difficult time
n finding You. The firing and the confu.
lion were awful. Ny mule was killed by