Oakes Republican., 1903-12-11

OAKES REPUBLICAN
men came round the bend in the road.
riding fast, the mud flying.
"Crackey day, that's Liscum. Lis
cum is a-comin' up"
They saluted as the mud clad men
rode by. One fellow swung round in
the saddle and bawled out:
GLOW soon kin yo' fellars git that
yere wagon out?"
"She's in dern good an hard"- began
Hank.
"Well, git her out, cuz we've got to
bring artillery up. It's agoin' to be
whalin' job, but git her out; dang yo',
an hurry up too. It's the only road in
this section not lake. What are 20
waitin' fur? Do yo' spect 'em to swim
ovah yo'? Yo' kin hear 'em comm.
Hurry up!'
The three men yelled and cursed and
beat the sad eyed mules. They pulled
and pushed at the mud covered wheels
and danced around the wagon like
fanatics. The din they raised was tre-
mendous, and what they said was
fierce. With sob the mud released its
hold, and they succeeded in dumping
the cart into the ditch, wreck, as
humping, splashing battery came into
view. With a great splatter of mud
and whirl of yellow water from the
wheels it went aoundering past.
"Tm a-mind to go with 'em," said
the big man. '"That's Bud Riggs with
that yere battery. Wish 1 was an ar
tillery."
Then round the bend swung vast
body of men in tatters of gray. Grim
determination was on their faces. They
were going into fight. They half ran
through the slush with the swing of
veterans. The booms from the valley
did not affect them. A dull cloud Of
yellowish white smoke foated out over
the rounded hill, Gaping the shadowy
forest. The gray men kept on coming,
a whole brigade. A drum tapped mo-
notonously.
"Belmont's,"' said Hank, "an' they're
gluttons. Member how they took that
yere battery in front Of Cold Harbor?
Derned if it amt goin' to be fight"
Seems to me just gotter git into
it." said the big man.
"Yo' gotter fix that yere wagon"
The line swung past with that ma
chinelike motion telling of past cam
paigns and many fights The three lone
men stood on hillock and reviewed.
The big one looked at them longingly,
| enviously. His feet started to keep
time with the tramp of the legion. Just
then weak looking fellow staggered
| out by the roadside and rested. The big
one looked at him with sort of con-
tempt.
"We've been on the run since day
break" explained the man, noticing the
look.
"An' yo're goin' to stop runnin' now?
Civ me that 'ere gum" demanded the
great, tall fellow. IF yo' amt agoin'
to fight, Civ me the gun. Belmont's
needs every man in the country. Civ
me the gun, hang yo'"- He wrenched
it from the mans hands and fell in
with ragged rank. His shoulders
bobbed up and down, and with a satis-
fed air he started to sing:
eff you git there afore do,
Why, tell 'em I'm a-comin' too!''
'sYo' gotter fix this yere wagon" came
from the roadside, faint echo that
died away and was lost in the noise Of
splashing feet and the murmur Of the
throng.
All day long the booming continued,
and the cloud Of yellowish smoke hung
like cloak over the round topped hill.
When breeze blew, it did not seem to
| stir it. At times the rattle and noise of
guns would rise to shrieking din. 1t
| seemed as if a legion of clamorous
fends Internal were battering at the
gates Of fairyland. The sound Of the
fearful struggle foated out over the
peaceful valley where the wild grasses
and flowers were awed and still. The
trees ceased to rustic in the air, and
the birds hid in terror. The sun ap-
pea1ed to aid the battle with it's dull
red disk shining through the mist.
The thin man and the soldier in the
fatigue cap were still at work on the
broken wagon. They occasionally
talked with wounded who struggled
down the, muddy road in search of
peace and quiet. A creeping figure drew
their attention, great man covered
with mud and with blackened face.
He seated himself in the wet grass by
the fence, and something that was al
SO wet dribbled from his sleeve and
stained the green.
"Well, yo've cum back, hev y0r
asked the thin man.
Boys" said Bill, his face all puck
cred and drawn, "were gittin' licked
| back there Belmont's ia thing Of the