Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-11-27
CHAPTER ".


due to his habitually cool and self-possessed
demeanor, which he could not have main
tanned had the flies pestered him as they did
some of the others, Lacy, for instance-ehat
one evening, a few days after they had left
Alexandria and Ramleh behind them, when
he was lying half asleep IN his hammock, a
thump-thump sounded upon the wooden box
which stood just outside the entrance to his
tent.
''Yes-what is it," he called out sleepily;
then, as an orderly appeared in the door,
way, asked, well, orderly; what is its'
1.-THE coloneps compliments, sir, and he
wishes to see you as soon as possible"
Every we'll Tell the colonel, with my
compliments, that Pll be with him immedt
ately,n he answered, and thu orderly, salut-
ing, disappeared.
With all haste be rolled out of the ham
mock, and Strengthened himself as regarded
his hair and the fastenings of his undress
jacket, buckled on his sword and went off
20 the colonePs quarters, in ignorance that
young Tom Snow, who had been lOafng
outside the tent until his master should
shout for him when it was time to dress for
mess, and so had heard thu message which
he orderly had brought, was following him,
and that, when Bootles went in, he flung
llQiSotI uOWu upOu tuC SelAuy SIOu1u, Ill
Dnsstui disregard of any plague that might
Ie lurking there, be it Egyptian or other
wise.
The sentry on duty outside the colonel's
tent, of course, noticed him. and uttered
facetious remarA after the manner in which
most OF the Scarlet Lancers were acclls-
vomed to address the sharp-5ongued, anus
.ng little circus waif.
'"EIlo young Houp-La. What may you
lie a-doing ofg'
II amt adding Of nothing" retorted
young Houp-La, civilly, Except awaiting
OF my master, Capt'n Ferrers, who you see
a-going into the coloners quarters ies'
now"
The sentry laughed and wheeled round on
his al Cited twenty yards of senrry-go, never
.rean.ing of ordering young Tom off, for he
was generally considered in the regiment as
thing OF naught beyond the fact of his be-
ing a -avorite protege OF Capt. Ferrers.
- SO there he remained, and there, with his
sharp young ears pressed close to a little dis
crepancy IN the canvas which prote cted the
Cfficer commanding the Scarlet Lancers
from the night dews and damps, Tom Snow,
The circus waif, became cognlzant of and
acquainted with the details and particulars
Of one of the most important and dangerous
missions which was intrusted to or accepted
ny any one OF the officers and men who car
ried her majesty's uniform into the land of
.he Pharaohs in the campaign of 80.
He heard every word that passed between
his master and the three gray haired officers
whom he found there.
1t was not only very difficult, but very
danger GUS errand which Capt. Ferrers had
been chosen to perform. The order was
,,ivr
words, and SO young Tom was able to gather
lis exact me1n,1,s clearly as BOTTLES him.
self could do. In substance it was TO CONVEY
certain paper, written in cypher, to the
officer commanding body of troops lying
about five miles from the Scarlet Lancers
camp which was but short distance from
the town of Abu-Goum, held by strong
force of the rebels, under the command of
Arab himself.
To reach thu other British camp the envoy
must pass almost through thu rebel lines,
else he would find himself close under the
walls of Abu-Goum on the one hand, or in
volved in the swamps which skirted the mar
gin of Lake Goum on the other.
The general impressed upon Boobies the
need for caution and dispatch as he intrusted
the paper to his hands, not without first
making him exactly acquainted with its
contents in case of accident by the way, so
that if the paper were damaged or rendered
iuegible he might not reach the other camp
in ignorance of his mission.
And young Tom heard it all-every wordl
Not only heard, but sawl Saw the general
give the paper-saw his master place it in a
small pocket book of brown leather aud bow
himself out, after a silent grip of the hands
outstretched to him-saw then that he left the
Lz-4 -. H. :, L
own-and, seeing that, the circus waif rose
I'D from his post of observation and followed
him swiftly.
found his master bending over brass
bound box which stood in one corner of it
a box which Tom knew contained his re-
volvers.
''Is that you, Tong he asked.
''Yessir," answered Tom, with salute,
and advancing into the middle of the tent.
''Take my flask round to the mess tent and
get 1T filled with brandy-and be quick"
"Yessir," said Tom.
He never hesitated an instant what he
should do The moment he entered the tent
be had seen that on the chest which formed
his masters table Capt. Ferrers had LAD
down the brown leather pocket book which
contained the all-important dispatch.
quick as thought Tom snatched IL up "lth
the flask and ran out; once outside, ne threw
the Task to the winds and made Tor the QUIZ
posts.
1t was not difficult for him to pass them;
On the contrary, in truth, he simply threw
himself flat upon his stomach, and, by
means of the snake trick on which he had 80
prided himself of old, wriggled past the
various sentries with the stealth and noise,
lessness OF an Indian scout. Having passed
the last one he took the pocket book from
between his teeth, where he had carried it
for safety, and folding the precious dispatch
neatly to half its former size, consigned it
to little pocket within the breast OF his
scarlet and black striped waistcoat, one
which had heen put there by Capt. Ferrers'
orders, so that the lad might carry few
shillings in safety, and without fear OF being
relieved of it by pickpockets
Then he threw the book away, and with
last look in the direction of the camp, turned
his lace toward the five miles of difficulty
and danger which lay between him and the
mission which he had taken upon himself