The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-02-04

over the cove, gathering IN every man who
seemed fit to be a soldier. The men did
not try to escape or hide, but yielded to
| the commands with stolid. unremonstrat-
| ing, Ox-like obedience. Before the after
noon sun had begun to sink behind the
| western mountains there had been 40 men
packed into the church, and Capt. Bibh
| and Lieut.. Hunloke were noisely jubilant
over their success.
Lieut.. Hunloke had taken a squad with
him in "A personal expedition after Rudy
Brant. and approached him with drawn
pistols. Rudy had sullenly submitted, and
been marched into the church. where he,
with a half dozen other kindred youths
whom he ususaliy led. gathered in a group
around the Communion table TO the left
of the pulpit | instinctively knew that
something was brooding there.
SO delighted were Capt. Bib and Lieut.
Hunloke with their success that they be-
came noisily drunk. They would look into
the church. survey their company" crow
over the material they had secured, and
what they would do with it, and taunt the
men, who were begging to be allowed to
go back to their homes. with the prospect
OF long service in the army. and plenty of
opportunities of winning glory. They
steadfastly refused to let any of the men
out but allowed the women to bring them
food, which was passed in through the
door. Pheenie Margraf came with fine
meal for Rudy Brant, but was not al
lowed to see or speak to him. Lieut.. Hun
loke bantered her for kiss as the price
of admission, and received the contents
of Il dish of mashed potatoes in his face
when lie attempted to put his arm around
her. Capt. Bibb sent out orders to the
people to get up good supper for him
and his men. as they proposed 10 march
away that evening with their captives.
and would need hearty meal to prepare
them for the long journey. \ supply Of
bread and meat must also be furnished to
carry them over the mountains.
Capt. Bibb left Lieut.. Hunloke in charge
of half of the rebels guarding the church
while he went back to Father Melilot's for
supper, and sent the remainder of his men
off to different houses TO get their sup
pers, and TO gather up rationS for the jour
ney. At Father Melilot's house Capt
Bibb was no longer the guest but the mas
ter. who must be provided for. He strcde
into Frow Menders neat kitchen. without
any purifying preparation. and ordered
her to set the meal before him. and she
obeyed with blazing eyes and many bitter
words. for the women of Wartburg. in
spite OF their meek education. and pro-
fessions OF gentle patience had as sharp
tongues as elderly women ever have all
over the world. Capt. Bibb merely laugh
ed at her. and gave his commands as one
who must be obeyed.
| was sitting by the door, mechanically
scanning the names | had written in the
blank book. and wondering what would
be the fate of those so inscribed. | was so
east down that l could not eat | could
only think and dread
Suddenly | became conscious of a move
ment af Rudy Brant and his companions
L saw Rudy seize from the fireplace Il
heavy hickory stick which had been used
for years as Il poker. The others grasped
stones which had served as andirons. and
they all rushed for the door which was
closed, with a brace placed against it.
Rudy'S broad shoulders hurled against it
carried away the brace and forced the
door open. The two men standing on
guard instinctiyely brought down their
muskets, with fixed hayonets, but Rudy's
poker came down first upon one, and the
other was knocked down by one of the
heavy stones flung with good aim. Rudy
strobe out. followed by dozen others.
Lieut.. Hunloke sprang UP from the
bench where he had been sitting i'm drunk
en- Stupor. and ran toward the door with
brandished sword to catch a vicious blow
aimed at his head by Rudy. and which if
it had lighted there would have sent the
drunkard to his account. 1t only caught
his shoulder however. and fiattened him
on the ground, his sword flying a couple
of yards away.
The rest of the guards swarmed up, but
Rudy's poker laid in swath those who
ventured within its sweep, and he and
the rest disappeared in the darkness. Il
never saw him or them again until we
got to Raleigh, when l recognized him as
a Sergeant in Tennessee regiment, which
had come up with Schcfeld.
The drummer and ffer snatched ND their
instruments, and began humping and rat
thing ut terrible rate. Capt Bbb stop
ped his nagging of Frow Mendel when he
heard the rattle of the drum and ran over
to the church, where the guards had
checked the outbreak after Rudy had dis
appeared, and held the remainder fast.
Ill not stop to tell you of the march
over the mountains, nor the sorrow of the
waiting women. nor the desOlation that
fell upon the settlement after all the able
bodied men had been dragged away to war.
Capt. Bibb and Lieut.. Hunloke brought
back such stories of the wonderful things
up there in the settlement that a raid
upon it became the favorite pastime of the
guerrillas and bushwhackers in that part
of the country, who wanted to be doing
something that would bring them gain,
and yet involve no personal danger La
ter. from time to time. l heard that
Father Meliiot and most Of the elders