The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-15

better II she could get &C once TO tho
Spanish lines, quietly, where the Cen
eral-in-chief was her friend and would
understand, and would set everything
right for Dick himself besides. ~
So, leaving the Countess at the mouth
of the water course, he rode up towards
the fire, round which some score of
unmistakably British soldiers were di-
yidei between talking and snoring.
Having answered the challenge to the
best OF his power, to the effect of his
instructions, he was brought to repeat
them to sleepy subaltern, who snubbed
him sharply, for fool, but showed no
desire to retain him. Nounifcrm could
make Dick Blackthorn look like any
but the most honest Of Englishmen;
while an Englishman in that coat could
be worth no special care. go to your
beggarly Spaniards, as King George
isn't good enough for you" said the
lad in command OF the outpost "Fol-
low the river and your nose and you'll
find 'em in couple of miles--behind
their barracks. You'll have to fight in
the open if you stay here"
Dick, having had his dismissal, would
have returned at once to the lady, with
the good news that she had but a
couple miles more to ride, when 1t
might have been twenty for aught he
knew. But there was an iron pot over
the fire that gave forth fumes we'll
nigh as tempting as the glances of
black eyes. ....... ......
Said he, to the man who had taken
him in charge:
"Mate, did you ever go forty-eight
hours on half an ounce of goats milk
chalk; can't call il cheeseP" ...
"Did IP Didn't l, you mean. What
chance has an Englishman got that
mustn't take without moneys worth
against Frenchman that may, and a
Don that does, and Portugee like
yourself, that's a long sight tho worst
of 'em allp / say, my lads, here's q
rare sight; hungry Portugee!'
That's dead again nature" said
young fellow. "But then It's true 'tis
nought but half-breed. Throw him q
bone"
Starved as 1t was, Dick Blackthorn's
British blood began to boil under his
Portuguese skin. @
SAY" said he, "throw me q bone;
and when I've gnawed it, so sure as my
names Dick Blackthorn, I'll fight the
best man among you for the meat,
and"
"Blackthorn?" asked the other.
You'd better see the Quartermaster,
as you've come off the same stick, you
two. But chat be hanged! Put your
hand in the pot and take the luck of it.
There'll be enough for breakfast; and
then come what come may"
And there was bottle as well as
pot, which somehow seemed TO have no
bottom. Dick never forgot for an in
slant the eyes of his Countess; but man
and pot and bottle had become too rare
to be passed by. And, as he ate and
drank, his humor thawed, and his fell
low countrymen began to forget that
he was a Portuguese. There was a
dash Of the gentleman about Dick that
made him good comrade; and by tho
time he had finished his meal he hal
more slaps on the back than he knew
how to reckon. And when he had sung
song. with a "Yoicks, Tally-ho"
chorus. he was one Of "Ours."
Then the talk went round, about
where such regiment was posted, and
about life on the march, all starving
and no fighting, and about the thou
sand-and-one grievances of which q
soldiers life is made up, and one thing
and another, till Dick, though now feel
ing game for night OF Il, rose, and
declared, despite all protests, that he
must report himself within his own
lines. He shook hands all round, pass
ed the sentry, and reached the water
course, where he found the Countess in
waiting.
TTo BE CONTINUED