The National tribune., 1903-12-03

veying the whole landscape for further
| signs of the rebels. There were five of
them, apparently all that We're on post
at that place, and they seemed to come to
| the conclusion that the shots had been
| fired by some bushwhacker or scout, mere
| ly for the purpose of annoying them, for
presently four went back to the fire, leav-
ing one on videt again.
1T was heartrending TO have our men
so near, and yet so powerless to help
us.
''The Captain walked off Il few steps,
and held whispered consultation with
another shock-headed villain, who seemed
to be his Lieutenant.
He came back and again walked down
among the boys, cursing as wickedly as
before, reminding them that there could
be no doubt of their guilt, as they were
taken in the company of two Yankees,
and within few yards of the Yankee
lines. to which they We're unquestiOnably
going. They could not deny that they
| We're.
Il could see plainly that, whatever vii
lainy he really had in mind, he was en-
jOying the terror that he was exciting en-
/ tirely too much to be i'll hurry about
putting it in execution. He reveled in
the cruelty and the sensation of power
cat with mouse. The spectacle of IL
men, all in tense expectation of death at
| his hands, was too sweet a tribute to his
power to be ended too suddenly. He walk
ed away, and looked at us all with
fierce, gloating gaze, and then held an
other consultation with his Lieutenant
"'Arter talkin' with Lieut.. Claystone
heah,' he said, pausing for minute to
enjoy the sickening eagerness with which
the boys awaited his next word, I've con-
| cluded that the same good'll be got by
hanging only two of yo-all, as lesson
to the rest. The Confederacy needs men
monty badly now, an though yo-all won't
be much account, yo'll be some. l orter
to hang every mothers son of yo-all, an
l would, as freely as I'd eat my supper,
if hit warn't for his beggin' for yo-all for
the army
again he stopped for a long time. to
enjoy the tearing suspense with which ev-
erybody waited for his next words.
I've done concluded he continued,
pocket, to let yo-all draw cuts for yer
lives. Hits a heap better'n yo' desarye,
for yo-all'll have a chance fer yer lives.
Serg't Briles'll pass down the line an deal
each on yo-all keard. The fust two that
gifts jacks I'll hang. The balance o yo-all
III put into the rijimint as recruits. If
yO' do yer duty thar yo'll be all right. If
yo-all don't yo'lI be shot down like sheep
KILN dogs. Yo-all orter to be monty
grateful that I'm so merciful Hits a
thousand times bettern yO-all desarve, an
that l expected to do. Serg't Briles, take
these keards over to them Yankees an let
EN- cut 'em so to insure far play. l want
nOthin' but far play
Take thin away! Go away with yer
divviPs picture bOoks!' yelled Larry with
horror, as the cards were presented to
him, 'Oi wouldn't touch thin with 10
foot pole! Take thin away, Oi sayr
Go off, said l scornfully. as Serg't
Briles showed them at me, I'm not going
to be an accomplice in cold-blooded muir
der. Captain, if you touch hair of those
boys heads, you'll roast for it. I'm going
to live long enough to see that you do
"'Fll chance the roastin',' sneered the
Captain. I've bin threatened by Yankees
an Tories too often to be mite skeered.
Serg't Briles, bring the keards heah. I'll
shuttle an cut 'em, SOS to insure FAR
deal. Korms and Grimes, yo' fall outen
the line. Yo' needn't take keards.
Though yo' desarve hit as much as the
rest, yo'r sort o kin o mine, an I'll
spare yo'. Fall outen line'
I'm a-gwine to stay right whar am,'
doggedly replied one of the boys spoken
to, quiet, ruddy-faced boy. Don't ask
no favors from you, Mister Cornsmut.
I'm a-gwine to take my chances with the
balance.
me too, said the other boy, tow
head, just passing his 18th year. I'm no
better n the rest. jined the boys to stay
with 'em. Yo' can't make huckleberries
o one. an persimmons o t'other, Lie
| Cornsmut.'
MY heart stopped beating as Serg't
Rriles walked slowly down the line
clumsily peeling one card after another
from the greasy pack for the men, The
boys hands Were tied behind them so
that they could not take the card; there
fore, Briles tnumbed card off, he
would stick it, face outward, in the breast
of each. We could see the result I had
been long enough with the boys to begin
to have my favOrtes, and my first relief
came from seeing the 10-spot of diamonds |
stuck in the bosom of bright, haired |
boy, the youngest of the lot. whom had |
some cOmpunctiOns for taking from his |
mother, though. knew if dhln't take |
him the rebels would. and he would be !
carrying a gpn in their army. Four other
low cards appeared on the breast of the
next boys, and then a face-card showed on
that Of a tall, handsome. manly boy, whom