The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-19
LITTLE COURIER
A Story of Fort Fisher.
Bv ANDREW ]. HOWELL. JR.

reached an open place, and carefully
scanned the prospect before venturing
across it. He saw no one, and darted
| forth. He reached the other side with
L sense of safety, pleased to find him.
self SO far unobServed. But almost
at once he came. upon some soldiers
| crouching on the ground. Halt, boyi'
one exclaimed. Where are you go
| ing?"
Tom was taken aback by this unex-
pected encounter. He stood speech
less. DO you hear me?" continued the
| man. Where are you going? What
| is your business?"
Tom responded, ITO the fort, sir
What do you mean?" he exclaim-
| ed: Are you crazy?" Tom answered
| that he believed not. 'Then," he con-
| tinued, well see what you are after
Any papers on you?'
Tom felt in all his pockets, and drew
| forth the sheet of paper backed with
cloth. Courier, Ell! You've run into
the wrong quarter this time" The
men eyed him sharply. Are you a
spy, boy?" asked another, beginning
to search him. Pull off your boots!"
Tom obeyed. your stockings, too
He timidly submitted to the eXamina-
ton. Better take him along. the
men concluded.
Tom with them as prisoner of war.
They moved on through the thicket;
and soon came upon many more SOL
diers marching along road. These
were joined and the presence of the
prisoner explained. A larger detach-
ment was following behind. and more
troops could be seen in the distance
ahead. They We're massing near the
river.
Hardly had Toms company halted
when -whe-e-e. screamed shell
above them. Tom ducked his head:
so did all the soldiers about him.
Where did that come FROM they
asked. "From a boat in the river"
some one answered. Where. follow
| ed another and another: the last
| bursting Close, by. Each one thought
| he was struck. Three men were. The
| firing continued. and more men fell.
"a little too hot!" some of the sol
| diers said. and moved away. Then
there was a general order. and all were
directed to seek protection of some
nearby sand hills. But little safety
was to be found there. either: for mis-
siles from the gunboat in the river.
and also from the fort. flew among
them. kissing and screaming: tearing
i the ground. quiVering through the air,
bursting into a thousand smoking
fragments which wrought havoc and
diSmay among the soldiers. Tom
trembed with fright. 1t was a fearful
ordeal. He longed to be away--at
home. anywhere.
He soon espied some soldiers sitting
in a hollow in the ground beside a
mound. smoking and jesting. 1t was
q haven from the storm of destruction.
He sought no permission. but dashed
for the place. Hello, sonny the
men said: Where are you from?''
Tom told them. Rather warm place
for a boy of your size" Yes. it APP
peared rather warm for anybody.
They made room for him in their
midst: and. in their jovial company,
he regained spirit, and ere long stole
along the mound to inspect his sur
roundings. There was the long row
of battleships, wreathed in smoke,
pouring forth their unceaSing shower
OF shot and shell. amidst the reverber-
ating road which filled the air.
The fort stood sullen and gray. with
look of calm defiance. Occasionally
puff of smoke arose to mingle with
the white clouds which overhung it.
Fiery shells fell within it. and burst
into flame and flying fragments. Num-
berless missiles tore along the ram
parts. moving deep burrows in their
course. and throwing sand high in the
air as they struck against the sand
hills. 1t seemed as If it were in the
throes of an awful destruction. The
wonder was that any one could stand
upon the ramparts. but-Whe-e-e,
Whe-e-e; some shells flew by him in
quick succession. He felt that he was
target: but, no,-he glanced behind
him, and saw large body of men APP