The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam

by Everett T. Tomlinson

However, the guard did not interfere with the actions of his prisoner, and a half-dozen or more times Noel slowly paced back and forth as if he was simply striving to relax his muscles and was ignoring his surroundings.

Not more than twenty feet away from the rail was the row of beehives to which reference has been made. Several times the young prisoner stopped and watched the busy little insects that were buzzing about the hives. Glancing each time at the guard, he was convinced that any suspicions of any plan his charge might have in mind as yet had not been aroused. Apparently the soldier was so confident in his ability to meet any sudden act that some of the time he was not even looking at the young prisoner.

Noel's excitement became keener. He glanced toward the house to see whether or not any of the Confederates who had entered were now to be seen. Slowly he turned his head and looked once more at his guard. The man was seated on the grass, and still to all appearances was indifferent to the actions of his charge.

Suddenly Noel stumbled over the projecting root of a huge magnolia tree and fell directly against the nearest hive in the row. With both hands he struck and with such force that it was thrown against the hive next to it.

"Better look out there!" called the guard, when Noel arose. "Some of those bugs 'll bite you, if you don't watch out!"

Whether or not the "bugs would bite," the anger of the bees instantly became manifest. In clouds they poured forth from the hives and the sounds of their buzzing became louder.

Darting in every direction they soon discovered the disturber of their dwelling-places, and, aware of their intentions, Noel hastily ran toward the guard and the rail to which the horses were hitched. To all appearances he had done this simply to avoid the pursuit of the little tormentors. That he was acting on design, the guard did not even suspect. The cloud of bees, however, did not all abandon the pursuit, and as Noel halted near the horses, the furious little insects, without rhyme or reason, began an attack upon the innocent animals.

Pandemonium instantly followed. The horses were rearing, plunging, squealing, and kicking in every direction. The actions seemed to incite the attacking insects to still greater anger. Nor was the guard himself free from the onslaught. With muttered exclamations of anger and pain, he was striving to ward off the little pests from his face or prevent them from stinging him on his hands and wrists.

Noel was doing his utmost to bear up under the suffering he himself was compelled to undergo. One bee had stung him on the very tip of his nose. Another had attacked him under his right eye, while still another had inserted his sting near a corner of the young soldier's mouth.

Noel could feel his face swelling, but he heroically strove to bear his suffering, and, although he did his utmost to drive away his tormentors, he nevertheless was relying upon the very attack that had been made to assist him in the plan which he had formed.