The National tribune., 1903-11-05

called Sandbreaker's attention by saying
aloud
"' Amt it pretty late for cat-birds to be
callingT
"'Cat-birds? Eth, what's that air? said
Sandbreaker, with a start, then listening.
and replying with a rattle which, though
low, seemed to send its sound far away.
1t was not loud, but it could be heard, by
any one listening for it, above all the
noises of the Fall.
"Tt's Burt Throckmorton, he whispered
to me. He'll be over hyar as soon's hit
safe to cross the road
II looked carefully for the man, but
could not see a bush or leaf shake,
more than by the wind, yet in few min
utes a rOund-shouldered. hunter-looking
man, with streak of gray in his whiskers.
came out from behind beech-tree right
by us. | noticed that he carried an En-
field rifle which was in good order, and a
cartridge-box. l leveled my carbine, but
he quietly remarked,
'HOwdyY
"'Howdy. Burt answered Sandbreak-
er. 'Sobberin' Swackhammer hez done gin
us away
"'Yes, he done betrayed us to the
Reeveses. an then gin the Reeveses away
to Wolf Sloan. He's with the Noses's
Criekers now
'T done seed him.
les IUey uLlS Ildue UlIil COulp dlOuS,
for fear he'd give they'uns away to some
one else. If they'uns don't kill him afore
they'uns is through with him, I'll set a
skunk trap for the varinint, an break his
neck with a log dead-fall.'
"'Air our boys over at Stillman's
Cove?
"'No; they'uns we done scattered
Swackhammer had to leak out his news
to his cousin, who's the same kind of q
pukin' huzzard, an he broke straight for
the Conscripters, hoping to magnify his
self with they 'uns. They'uns is comm
up the crick now. Come over hyah, an
you kin see they'uns. I made over hyah
to tell you, so that you'd keep outen they
uns way. 1 want they'uns to hev full
Noses Crickers. I'm in hopes they'u ns'll
shoot all they ketch alive for desarters.'
"'They' uns'll not shoot any mOre'n they
kin help. Confederacy needs men too bad.
"'Well, all our folks is safe. Let's
we'uns lay low, and see dog eat dog. and
then a bigger dog eat the other two. l
don't know anything that I'll enjoy more,
'cept givin' button to the biggest dog,
arter he finished the others
"'The Conscripters hev brung up crit
ter company with EN- said Sandbreaker,
watching the distant road. They uns
a-gwine to make a clean sweep
CAN for the first time in my life, I
want to help they'uns, said Burt Tbrock-
morton. Bad as we'uns hates the Con-
feds he explained to me. 'we'uns hates
these mountain-w0lves thousand times
wuss. They'uns've been scalawags and
scoundrels from the day they'uns wuz
born, as they'uns fathers an grandfath-
ers afore them, who WIZ sent out from
England, instid O. bein' hung, as they uns
should've bin. Les move back from this
road, an go over thar. The Conscripters
L. 80 ntDlya re do
SOS to gether they'uns in as they'un run.
Thar's squad startin' up this way now.
But they'uns don't know the blind
path through to the head Of Soapstone
Crick, which the Reeyeses do. an mebbe
Wolf Sloan's Noses Crickers do. too.
We'uns'll jes' slip over thar an stop that
We'uns'n be out O sight o the Conscrip-
air thar. but we'uns II git chance to pay
off some scores on them midnight murder
ers'
BURT Throckmorton's small, squirt
eyes burned like sparks, and Sandbreak-
er showed the whites of his big lazy eyes,
with a green light In tho center, like q
wild cats.
"'Well there are no friends Of onrr In
either push. We haven't any Sa=iDess
here, so wen 70 along with YOU s.5i Z
"'There'll be . chance to ga e ~tarx
at thin, you say said Larry eagesly,
gathering up his rsins, and throwing his
carbine over his shoulder.
say a word, and don't make . useless or
careless motion. but foller Close arter me,
he said. turning to 60. He and Sand
breaker held the bushes a. We passed over
the rise until our horses were past, and
then let them clip slowly back without
motion enough t. attract attention; We
struck down Int . az Pqlch, The BED Of