THE WEST SHORE. the day. They made their way toward the field of battle, there to plunder the dead and dying tf both armies. Thoy had not proceeded far when Fagan, ho m in the advance, suddenly halted and mo tin 1 Joe to do likewise. " WhaUmatta?" asked Joe, Fagan made no answer, but lay down upon the ground and tried to pierce the darkness. He re muned in that jxmition for some time, then rose to Lii fr t, faying: "I vaa euro I hears somepodies talking in de prush." Turning to Joe, he said: "Joe, you no hears aomedings?" "No," replied that worthy, "I not-a hear any thinga, Mr. Fagan." " I hh Wu mistaken den," said Fagan, as he once more moved cfT in the darkness, followed by Joe. They had proceeded in this way Borne time, Fagan occasionally casting bin eyes over his shoulder, to Bee that Joe waa following. Suddenly there was uttered, immediately aWo their heads, a loud scream, and at the name time nomo object passed over them, coming so rl(n to Joe's head that bis hat was knocked oft. With yells of terror, the vultures threw them selves uoh the ground. Joe's wailings were pitiful, as be cried in bia native tonguo to lo saved, while Fagan, in half English and half Herman, cried out: " Mein (lot, Mein (lot! Dos is ein teifel, und he till tnirh nemen." Just then there came a sound, closo by, like the snapping of Mh, causing a fresh outcry from Fa gan, who still lay ojon the ground almost paralyzed with fear. M (lot in himmel," said he, " nem das teifel avay, it till mil dem nicht gehen. Ach, lieber Got, lieber (lot; if du nem das teifel avay, I shtop dis peesness right avay." Joe continued to bowl in agonizing tones, and was aiying: " I no rul,a noy more soljars. Mr. Fagan, he waU K.r JH. bad. ()h, Mr. Good Devil-a, you let-a j.r Joe P this time and be run away from Mr. Fagan." At last, from shevr exhaustion, they waged their bowlings, but still remained on the ground. Present ly there came, from a neighing tree, a sound which wm not to U imsUlen, even by the wretches. " Ht boo, hS boo, ah," repeal his owlship, as Y kij bill and roll.1 bis Urge, gray eyes fnta side to side, J " lljr Urn! " ij tl w UMn Fagw, aa he l)', rrtnunnl on tln ground Urn!" ,K,i fjVnM.,1 Fagn, f Jv liln ,til, , j k " Oh, Mr. Fagan, de devil-a come for Joe." " You pees yon d d fool. Can you not tell von owl from te teifel, eh? Better you vas get up mit yourself, und make no more foolishmenl" m m n ll l Joe rose and looked around as tnougn he expected his satanic majesty to pounce down and carry him off; but as he did not appear, he became more assured, and said to Fagan " Was you no afraid, Mr. Fagan?" " Vat for you dinks I pees 'fraid mit von owl? Old Fagan vas not dot kind vat gets shkart mit such little tings." " What-a for you holla like you 'fraid when one owl come? " Fagan made no reply to Joe, and had started for ward, when the owl, which had been a silent listener, now screeched out, " Hoo, hoo, ah," and flew down from the tree, flapping his wings and snapping his beak, causing the two vultures to again throw them selves upon the ground. Fagan at once regained his feet, and for no better reason than to work off his own fears, fell to kicking poor Joe, who, believing that the " devil-a" had him this time sure, yelled with all his might " Stop-a, stop-a, Mr. Good Devil-a; take Mr. Fa gan; he very bad man-a; kill-a soljar and rob-a the dead; Joe no want-a to go." Giving Joe a kick, Fagan yelled at him: "You dinks old Fagan von bad man, eh? Und you vantsde teifel to take him? Veil, Fagan gives you de teifel," and he resumed kicking the poor Italian until his strength was exhausted. As soon as Joe could extricate himself from the feet of his assailant, he arose and looked about in but. prise at not seeing the prince of the lower regions standing over him, and said to Fagan "Where he goto?" Telling Joe to pick up his sack and come along, Fagan once more started for his field of robbery. It was getting late now, so they quickened their pace, and were soon on that part of the field where the heaviest fighting had been done. They immediately com menced operations by rifling the pockets of the dead and removing from their bodies anything of value. They had been plying their hellish work for some time, when the quick ear of Fagan caught the sound of approaching footsteps. " Hist! " said he, as he crouched lown, pulling Joe with him. The action of Fagan was not too soon, for a par ty of rebel soldiers passed within a few feet of where they lay. "When the receding footsteps had died avay, they arose and resumed their work. Joe was now staggering under the weight of plunder, and tim idly said to Fagan-