The National tribune., 1904-07-28

"You are not doing a pleasant thing.
Growing over the loss of so many of our
comrades" said the Major reprovingly.
"Ain't bleged ter be pleasant. Amt got
at Appomattox bout us bein' pleasant. I'm
| monty glad that We done killed SIGH q pile
O. Yankees. VISIT we'd killed as many
more. This is my county-Spotsylvan
| whar we killed heaps more than in any
other County in the Southern Confederacy,
| an I'm monty. proud of it: Greatest
County on airth. Ole Bob Lee jes' give
you Yankees the very devil all round
heah."
This is rank treason. Treason accord
ing to the Constitution" exclaimed Monty
Scruggs.
''He ought to be shot, urged Harry
Joslyn;;, iii volunteer for the firing
| Let me chloroform him." said AIf Rus
sell. We've got some spoiled chloroform
in that wagon that I'd like to try on him. "
| Are you a paroled prisoner! inquired
the Major.
Nope. Didn't take no parole. 1 skip
jig was up. No use goin' any further.
Seen huff live Yankees. Come back home
heah whar the only Yanks are dead ones
They planted 'em by thousands every day
while Ole Bob Lee was givin' you Yankees
the very devil all round heah.'
IF you are not on parole you are still in
the active Confederate army" said Maj.
Bowersox, after a moments thought. You
are to be treated as an open enemy, to be
shot or captured on sight. AS you have
evaded surrendering properly and decent
| ly, it must be for some evil purpose. Upon
further consideration. l think you come
under the scope of the last order which
instructs all commanders in the field to
treat as outlaws all guerrillas. bushwhack-
ers robbers, and similar scalawagS, who
are still keeping up the war, and to hang
them as fast as caught l am quite sure
you will come in that classification, and the
order leaves me no choice. Adjutant, ask
| the QuartermaSter if he has a suitable rope
convenient"
| We'll find you one, sir" said Harry and
Monty, with cheerful alacrity.
| THAT looks like very good tree for the
purpose. That black oak over there" sug-
gested the Adjutant.
YES, l think it'll do" answered the
Major, scanning the tree leisurely.
| The mans face began to take a sickly
hue.
You don't mean to say that you're
rayly thinkin' bout hangin' me?" he
gasped.
seem to make that my duty" answered the
aJes' fer sayin' that Ole Bob Lee give
you Yankees the very devil all round
heah?" queried the man complainingly.
| 1T is not SO much for saying that as
mind" replied the Major. "a man who is
constantly gloating over the killing of
Yankees is in the frame of mind to kill
more Yankees, if he gets the chance All
that he wants is opportunity. He is dan
gerous, too. because he is liable to excite
others to kill loyal people. Your sneaking
away to avoid being paroled is also very
bad. 1t shows your evil intentions. There
fore, it will be much the safest all around
to hang you. hope you follow my reason
ing. and agree with me-"
| "Foller darnation What in blazes have
l got ter do with follerin' you? If you're
an that's all there's of it. Y'r talkin' jes
talk, an nothin' more. You talked outen
the other side o. y'r mouth when Ole Bob
l4ee-but hain't thar no way in which |
kin sorter side step ths?"
mo way in the world but by taking the
oath of allegiance, and keeping it, and be-
| coming. a loyal citizen of the United
| States"
Monty and Harry came up with a slim
picket rope. which Sandy Baker began
| shaping into a running moose, while ALI
Russell produced a bar of soap to make it
The thing looked very serious, and the
rebels face kept getting banker.
Il s'pose I'll have ter take the oath, an
do as you say" he said finally. "A dead
Confed may be a heap better'n a live
Yankee, but rayly don't want ter die jes'
as the shad's beginnin' ter run, an before
another watermillion season. Whars y'r
oath?"
The Adjutant administered the oath with
impressive solemnity.
"Thar, now," said the rebel. as he re-
peated the last words, dropped his right
hand. and replaced his weather-beaten