Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-07-05
BROUGHT TO BAY.
AN ENGLISH OFFICERS STORY.

how 1T happened.
As you may be quite sure, being only
nineteen, [ was most tremendously
anxious to get my commission, and
when at last was gazetted to the 2OIth
Foot. 1 did not give my tailor much
rest till nv uniform and the parapher-
MALTA of my outfit were sent home.
/ dare say. to the old and sage, 1T is
very ridiculous but to me 1T was glOri-
Gus. that first putting on of militay
garments. The bedroom door was
locked: / was quite alone. There
was a tall cheval glass by the bedside,
and what was there to prevent Inc from
strutting about, as scarlet in the face
almost as my tightly buttOned tunic
1t did not fit me perfectly, / knew; but
having it altered would necessitate its
being taken away, and that idea was
insupportable So kept my things
lust as they were, and in the hot stage
of scarlet fever in which / then was,
the fact of my regiment being ordered
ont to China did not give me much
uneasiness for even in a Chinese war
there did not seem much cause for
discomfort, since / believed that the
British could chase the barbarians by
the thousand.
will not trouble you with the ac-
count of our long journey out, and our
landing In the Celestial Empire. Let
it suffice when tell you that upon our
qcrival 1t was to find hOstilities in full
progress, and, boy as i was, | had to
take my turn with the rest, smelt pow
der, heard the whiz of bullets, and saw
my smart uniform sOiled with mud and
filth.
1t was hot work I'm both senses of
the word. Now we were wading in a
river-bed or creek, with the blazing
sun above us, and the rank, steamy
heat rising from the slime; now We
were stOrmino a mud fort, or chasing
the enemy over the swampy rice-tields
or through clne-brakes while the
next day, perhaps, We were accompany
ing some leoting expedition.
At last, after making pretty GOD
progress up the country, we stOrmed a
town, which will call here Ling-PO.
1t had been a pretty tough job, for the
mud walls had been held by a strong
party of Braves. However, at last, the
day was ours; the Braves We're sup
posed to have been driven out, and we
had taken possession, the IN distribut-
NIACLiASClNCS IAGOif MCl ONCA
place, and L was along with half dOz-
Ell of the bandsmen, who We're on their
way to the place chosen for head-quar-
tiers. there to deposit their instruments
previous to going upon ambulance
duty; the helping of the wounded
being, as perhaps You are aware, the
duty of the bandsmen in time of war.
We We're rather indifferently armed,
the bandsman having only those short
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS blunt ones
tOO-and though had my sword and
revolver, L had received nasty thrust
through the right arm from the spear
of Brave,-a hurt which necessitated
the wounded limb being carried in a
sling, and made me feel more sick and
faint than L cared to own amongst men
who would have looked upon my in
jury as a mere scratch.
The townwas evidently large, dense
plyOpulated place, full OfcroOked lanes,
streets, and blind alleys, among which
we kept wandering for quite an hour
before we were compelled to own that
we had lost our way.
- If veil be kind enough to take the
lade, Mr.. Grey, we'll folly ye," said
one of the bandsmen, turning suddenly
round upon me and scratching his puz-
zled pate
E" Tn ready enough to lead, Dennis, {"
said; " but I'm about done up for want
of a little water. / was thinking of
asking You folks to carry me"
d" m thinking, sOr, that we may lust
as well sit down in the shade and wait,
for the headquarters is list as likely
to come to uz as we are to get to it
A big place like this would puzzle a
map-maker.
g thouget I'd tell you, sir, that
there's a couple of Chinese been fol-
lowing us for the last five minutes. "
SAID another of the men, 'sand faint
as If we had rifles"
1 looked uneasily back down the
long, narrow, sun-glared street, but
there was not soul visible All was
as still as death, save for distant shot
or two, which seemed to come from
quite another part of the town, and
to indicate that the fighting was not
entirely at an end. The houses on
either hand were closely shattered, and
presented the most blank of aspects,
and though We scanned the windows
above, not watching face was visible.
could not help owning that, should
we be attacked by some detached body
of the Braves, our chances would be
very small and should have blamed
myself for want of care, had not the
difficulty of finding ones way through
such wilderness become more and
more evident at each stride we took.
. It's my belafe, sor, that Corporal
Smiths lading us intirely wrong" said
the Irishman, speaking again.
LEAD yourself, then, said the
corporal, gTuffiy, as he tucked his large
ophicleide beneath his arm, and paus-
ed to wipe tbe perspiration from his
forehead
tell you what, sir, " said another
man tour best cornet player), "we had
better make dash for it; L don't like
the look of this at all Twill you or
der retreat
'fWhy, what's wrong said 1 test
lily, for all the time there was a dizzy
sensation In my head, and the street
looked dusty before my eyes.
We are being lodged, sir, and no
mistake and if We take refuge in one
of these houses, We shall perhaps be |
burned out"
Trying to rouse myself, / hurriedly /
took a GLANCE ar O11r ,0ooif.a, w, Il