Christmas Eve on Lonesome | Page 8

week--have you heerd that, purveyor?" Bill was silent.
"Black Tom says you air responsible for the Army of the Callahan.
Have you heerd that, purveyor?" Still was there silence.
"He says he's a-goin' to hang me to that poplar whar floats them Stars
and Bars"--Captain Mayhall Wells chuckled--"an' he says he's a-goin'
to hang you thar fust, though; have you heerd that, purveyor?"
The captain dropped the titular address now, and threw one leg over the
pommel of his saddle.
"Flitter Bill Richmond," he said, with great nonchalance, "I axe
you--do you prefer that I should disband the Army of the Callahan, or
do you not?"
"No."
The captain was silent a full minute, and his face grew stern. "Flitter
Bill Richmond, I had no idee o' disbandin' the Army of the Callahan,
but do you know what I did aim to do?" Again Bill was silent.
"Well, suh, I'll tell you whut I aim to do. If you don't send them rations
I'll have you cashiered for mutiny, an' if Black Tom don't hang you to
that air poplar, I'll hang you thar myself, suh; yes, by ----! I will. Dick!"
he called sharply to the slave. "Hitch up that air wagon, fill hit full o'
bacon and meal, and drive it up thar to my tent. An' be mighty damn
quick about it, or I'll hang you, too."

The negro gave a swift glance to his master, and Flitter Bill feebly
waved acquiescence.
"Purveyor, I wish you good-day."
Bill gazed after the great captain in dazed wonder (was this the man
who had come cringing to him only a few short weeks ago?) and
groaned aloud.
But for lucky or unlucky coincidence, how could the prophet ever have
gained name and fame on earth?
Captain Wells rode back to camp chuckling--chuckling with
satisfaction and pride; but the chuckle passed when he caught sight of
his tent. In front of it were his lieutenants and some half a dozen
privates, all plainly in great agitation, and in the midst of them stood
the lank messenger who had brought the first message from Black Tom,
delivering another from the same source. Black Tom was coming,
coming surer and unless that flag, that "Rebel rag," were hauled down
under twenty-four hours, Black Tom would come over and pull it down,
and to that same poplar hang "Captain Mayhall an' his whole damn
army." Black Tom might do it anyhow--just for fun.
While the privates listened the captain strutted and swore; then he
rested his hand on his hip and smiled with silent sarcasm, and then
swore again--while the respectful lieutenants and the awed soldiery of
the Callahan looked on. Finally he spoke.
"Ah--when did Black Tom say that?" he inquired casually.
"Yestiddy mornin'. He said he was goin' to start over hyeh early this
mornin'." The captain whirled.
"What? Then why didn't you git over hyeh this mornin'?"
"Couldn't git across the river last night."
"Then he's a-comin' to-day?"

"I reckon Black Tom'll be hyeh in about two hours--mebbe he ain't fer
away now." The captain was startled.
"Lieutenant Skaggs," he called, sharply, "git yo' men out thar an' draw
'em up in two rows!"
The face of the student of military tactics looked horrified. The captain
in his excitement had relaxed into language that was distinctly
agricultural, and, catching the look on his subordinate's face, and at the
same time the reason for it, he roared, indignantly:
"Air you afeer'd, sir? Git yo' men out, I said, an' march 'em up thar in
front of the Gap. Lieutenant Boggs, take ten men and march at double
quick through the Gap, an' defend that poplar with yo' life's blood. If
you air overwhelmed by superior numbers, fall back, suh, step by step,
until you air re-enforced by Lieutenant Skaggs. If you two air not able
to hold the enemy in check, you may count on me an' the Army of the
Callahan to grind him--" (How the captain, now thoroughly aroused to
all the fine terms of war, did roll that technical "him" under his
tongue)--"to grind him to pieces ag'in them towerin' rocks, and plunge
him in the foilin' waters of Roarin' Fawk. Forward, suh--double quick."
Lieutenant Skaggs touched his cap. Lieutenant Boggs looked
embarrassed and strode nearer.
"Captain, whar am I goin' to git ten men to face them Kanetuckians?"
"Whar air they goin' to git a off'cer to lead 'em, you'd better say," said
the captain, severely, fearing that some of the soldiers had heard the
question. "If you air afeer'd, suh"--and then he saw that no one had
heard, and he winked--winked with most unmilitary familiarity.
"Air you a good climber, Lieutenant Boggs?" Lieutenant Boggs looked
mystified, but he said he was.
"Lieutenant Boggs, I now give you the