The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26

! Shorty exchanged inquiries in regard to
him.
about as likely to hunt the rear as
we are ourselves" snapped Shorty at the
suggestion. "You don't know Kramer.
Though he has scruples about shooting
at anybody, he will go as far as any
one toward where shooting is going on"
1--WE shall hear from Kramer shortly,
said 81. IF everybody was made up of
as good stuff as he, this would be even
q better army than it is
"Who is that sab-sided six-foot swamp
angel coming out there?' inquired Shorty,
| with cross suspicion. as he reached for his
carbine and looked toward man moving
across the distance. rs he some scout
from the rebel lines trying to spy US out!'
Don't look like a scout said 81; mo
gun, and his hands are hanging down by
his side as if he was carrying something.
There is something in his looks like kra-
| mer. should say"
II declare, it is Kramer" said Shorty,
laying down his carbine; 81 know that
ministerial gait. Nothing Of the soldier
about him."
"Nothing of the soldier except a sol
dierly heart big enough for whole ordi-
nary company" corrected 81.
"Sure sure" heartily agreed Shorty: SIT
is Kramer. He is covered with mud from
head to foot, and has got some chickens
in one hand and bag in the other. He
has been out fOraging, sure's you're born.
Well. he beats me"
"Hello, Kramer" shouted ST.
"Hello, boys" answered Kramer. "GOt
something for you," and he tried to lift
his heavily-laden hands to show it.
81 and Shorty went out to meet him.
Where in the name of common sense
have you been? How did you find any
thing amid this ruck of men. and how
did you get out there and back again
without being killed?" inquired 81, as he
came UP and looked at the three of four
chickens in Kramer's right hand and the
poke of -four in his left.
Been at it all night, and had quite a
lively time. but l made it, as you seq"
answered Kramer, handing his burdens to
the boys.
"Glad to have you relieve me. They
seem to be pulling my arms out Of their
sockets"
But how in the world did you find
these things? And how did you get out
there and back? Must've gone right
through the rebel lines?" asked 81, full of
amaZement.
''Went through the rebel lines? Should
say 1 did," responded Otterbein Kramer.
Just come through them agair. Told
some stories. too, that fear are recorded
against me-"
Don't bother about that now" an
swered 81. Don't you think they'll be
entered on your descriptive list when you
come to be mustered out Of life and paid
off. But tell me all about it, as we walk
along. I'm awfully anxious to know. My
shoulder hurts as If it was in the fire,
but I'd rather hear how you got through
all those rebels, and found those chickens
than to have my wound dressed. How in
the name of sense did you do it"
Nnn II Ill -
upon you awfully wounded boys" said
Kramer, II saw that if there was ever a
time when chicken broth and meat was
needed it would be in the morning You
must have it to carry you through the
first critical stages. 1t might, probably
would, save some Of your lives. The more
l thought about it, the more anxious be-
came, and l saw it my duty to get some
chickens, no matter what the labor or
the consequences to myself. reached the
point where began praying about it, not
once, but several times. At last, in the
midst of my prayer, heard, away over to
the north, beyond the rebel lines, a roost-
er growing for midnight. l knew that
others heard him, as well as I, but 1 deter
mined that 1 would take that chance as
well as the others, and something told
me he crowed in answer to my prayer.
noticed that the sound came directly from
the north, and just then the clouds parted
so that I. could see the north star, and
started out. The rebel pic',ets fred as 1
approached, but they were tired and
sleepy, and their shots went wild. told
them had been sent out with some 9TH
ers, looking for the wounded of our COM
pany-Heavens, tho downright lies 1 told
last night. They let me pass on in.
found the rebels in the camps too excited,
too hungry, and too tired to pay any at
tention to me, and I kept right on through |
them. kept my eye on the north star,
and went straight on. / finally came to-
ward large house they were taking for |
hospital. All was excitement and confu- |
being brought in every minute, the Sur
geQes giving orders; and the hospital peo-
pie lying around trying to get the place