The National tribune., 1903-12-10

said Larry, in deep whisper.
Looks nightly like it." l answered.
"'Oi hate mortally to dole without a
fight said Larry. Don't seem daycint.
Suppose there's no cartridges left in that
Spencer? :.
He glanced out of what he would call
the tail of his oye' at the carbines which
had been thrown carelessly down within a
few yards of us. The attention of the
rest of the company, except the three sent
for the grave-digging implements, was
now centered on the efforts of the Captain
to get into my boots.
".If Oi thought there was one cartridge
left in that carbine, whispered Larry,
and Old get to put bullet through the
black heart of the Captain, Old doie very
much happier
Lets chance it. l answered, getting
ready to rise and spring forward. AS you
say, it's a great deal more decenter to die
fighting. | will make for the carbinc
furtherest off-you go for the nearest.
I'll shoot the Captain, and you that beast
of Second Lieutenant who took away
your boots
".Wait.' whispered Larry, touching me
with his finger, till the Captain gets furth-
er into your boots. 1t will cripple hin:
so he can't do anything.
The men came back with the mattock
and shovels, and the Captain stopped toll
ing with my boots long enough to direct
them where to dig the graves by the side
of the road.
"'It is an eerie sight to see ones own
grave dug, and for a minute or two l
gazed at the work with fascination.
was recalled by Larry's touching my arm.
He saw that the Captains foot was fast
halfway down in my boot.
Now, jump, said he. 'Now's our
| teime'
I'VE sprang up, ran over the stones in
our stocking-feet and snatched up the
carbines before any one noticed us.
leveied mine at the Captain, and Larry
| his at the Second Lieutenant, and we both
Both hammers fell with the sickening
sound of striking empty cartridges. Larry
raised his carbine with the idea of jump
| ing at the Second Lieutenant and BRAIN
| ing him with the barrel, while l sprang
for the belt and cartridge box, living on
| the ground, to get some cartridges.
! There came sound of cavalry gallop-
| turning rushed between us and our prey,
making for the road, to see what it was.
l could not shoot, nor Larry strike, there
were so many in front of us. sprang
| back, and filled the magazine of my car
| bine, and tossed the box to Larry, who did
| the same.
".Now, by the Virgin and all the
Saints said Larry, as we backed up
against big twin oaks by the roadside, we
may have to go, but We'll take a lot with
us. We're aych good for eight of thin,
and Ofll make sure Of a full tally before
they drop me-
1.-The noise was that of the rest Of the
battalion of partisan rangers coming at
a sharp trot with Maj. Bradley, their
commander at their head. He was tall,
raw-bOned, black-haired man, with a face
of inexpressible hardness and cruelty.
".Capt. COrnsmut, what air yO' doin'
heahy he called out in harsh, rasping
| voice. We've bin huntin' everywhar for
yo'. Git yo' men into line at once, and
| fall in yo' place. Lose no time, TO we're
in a monty hurry
"'Why, what's up, MajahY inquired the
| Captain, in a tone Of subseryience to the
! greater ruffian. The Captain rose to greer
| his superior, but his movements were Grip
pied by his foot being fast in my boot.
ga hull heaps up answered Maj.
Bradley, with much profanity. If yo'd
knowed all about hit. What TUX yo'
outen camp?
II got word o whar 1 could pick up
some conscripts tryin' to sneak into the
Yankee lines, an ketch some Yankees
said the Captain, apolOgetically.
so, yes, yo're always hearin' o things
| to take yo' off on wild-goOse chases. whar
outen yo' sheer o the work
"Well, got something, all the same,
this time answered the Captain, placat-
ingly. 1 ketched II eonscripts and two
Yankees
"Wel, that's peterin business to what's
| in hand. Yo' know Ginl Hoods always
bin agin us partisans. He's bin COM
plainin' to Richmond that we amt no
good at all, an that all we do is to steal,
an rob, an eat the grub that should go
to better men,
.Hide-bound, fuss-n'-feathers old reg
lar snorted the Captain, with many oaths.
Don't know foutin' man when he sees
him. Comes from Kaintucky. Thinks no
body in Jawjy don't mount to nothin'.'
'Exactly. But don't dar' to inter-
rupt me, sab, when I'm speakin' to yO'
officially. He's issued an order that all
the parties an companies an battalions
must be broke up, an their men an off,
GERS put into the reg'ler rijimints to fill
'em up. They mus turn over their hosses
to the cavalry
'Groans, of horror and indignation, mi,i.
gled with sulphurixed profanity. greeted
this announcement, and Capt. Cornsmut
forgot even his entangled foot. His jaw