The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-05-04

Estcourt makes up his! mind, Besides
Rollypge got three days, leave to &c
shooting with Martin"
"Coll!" grumbled out Sidgl6toh, The
senior lieutenant, catching sat THE first
word ne heard, as he awoke frofn;a nap
"Ughl I'm as cold as old Nick this
frosty morning"
"What wonderful being old Nick
inuat be, in your opinion, Sing" soeered
Williams, blowing a rich cloud from his
Manila. eliot as old Nick'i--'col Id as
old Nick'-'rich as old Nick '---tpoory as
old Nick'-in fact, every thing las old
Nick"
Don't be a fool, Polly" Civilians
was always, for some occult reason,
called "Polly" by his comrldes) ; and
Singleton erowlcd low to himself as he
shivered in tho saddle. t
"Who said Martin was shooting p
asked Lanion, the most noted sports
ihau iu tuc corps.
II did. He has got his leave to
England and is going to shoot the roud
down to Bombay"
"More fool he, wasting his time in
these precious .iungles" broke in Viii
liams, who preferred stroll in the West
End to all the sport in the world.
'Confound you for brutaP' excIaim
ed some one, us his horse made heavy
stumble in the dark. ls. s.
"Touch aud go! by Jove! Is that
'Jorrocks 2" asked Singleton, with a
grim snecr.
"Yes; the same blessedssJ Jorrocks' %
wrathfully answered the cwner sand if
| ever again buy au Australian or any
other nag from you, old boy, hope |
may be smashed J"
Singleton laughed out aloud; he was
one OF those men nadsby nature for
trading, being never in sitch spod tenn,
per as when he had got the best ofson.c
unfortunate in bargain, .as he had douc
in this case
"Oh be joyful! l scethe coffee shop
lights ahead y roared .sodtg Todd, spur
ring his Arab suddenly, this caasin.
him to bound wildly aud scatter the
group.
"Do be quiet, you griffin y rose in II
shout of execraton .rom all and iuuL
reisned in his horse, us best lie could.
The coffee shop" is a great in,,itu
tion with regiment marching down
country. 1t is generally kept by a
graybeardcd old Mussulniun. whose iii.
has been devoted to winning tor himself
passport to tho Prophet, by the sim
pie, pleasing, and eminently lucrative
duty of cheating the Feripghee. This
hoary headed old sinner usually starts
over night with his bullock gharries and
servants, along the track leading to the
new camp which the regiment will
occupy the following morning. As near
halfway us can be managed, he halls at
some stream or well Of sweet wat .r.
lights his fires, sets on lKs huge co!t.c.
pots to brew, so as to have the welcome
detection ready when the troops shall
arrive, and then takes his rcpose The
spot old Ilujee Ebrnm had selected ON
this Christmas morning WAS bclu;iful.
and more than one English heart beat
again as the scene called back manorv
of snne pleasant picnic corner OF the
far off homeland. Down from between
two rugged aud scrub-clad hills Il lovely
brook came dashing and sparkling il.
the soft blue starlight over tlyruous
AMI rocky course in wild 1,light. lLen
dashing madly, with showers IF milk
t'sscd spray, over a natural cascade,
anon placidly gliding with gurglin4
cadence in peaceful level, Till sudden
t IN over smaller cascade sent it
swlrling through u magnificent topc OF
trees, under whose projecting branches
the camp.frcs had been lit, and sent oat
glow tina. added 10 the charms OF the
scene.
Horses were dismountod and handed
over to their keepers; swords were un
buekled and Uttered the ground; che
roots lit, coffee loudly called for; th,
sepoys piled arms" broke of," and
spread themselves in picturesque group,
amidst the trees.
"Sharp morning, gentlomcn,' re
marked Col. Estcourt, as he waddlot
over to where mis- officers wore grouped
standing or lying GU the hard dry earth
Various adjectives were applied to tn,