The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-02-20

It WIS not oo,y a very difficult, but . very
dangerous errand which Capt. FerTe,s had
been chosen to perform. The order was
given in the simplest and most soldierly
words. and 50 young Tom was able to gather
its exact meaning as clearly as booties MINI
self could do. In substance 1t was to convey
a certain paper. written III cypher, 70 the
officer commanding body OF troops lying
about five miles from the Scarlet Lancers'
camp, which was but a short distance from
the town Of Abu-Goum, neld ny strong
force of the ~obels, under tho command OF
Arab himself.
To reacI, t.s other British camp tho envoy
must pass almost through tn, 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 skirteu 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 tho paper were damaged or rendered
illegible he might not reach the other camp
in ignorance Of his mission.
Aud young Tom heard it all-every word!
Not only heard, but saw! Saw the general
give the paper--saw his master place it in a
small pocket hook of brown leather and bow
himself out. after silent grip y: the hands
outstrctched to him-saw then that he loft tho
tent ami went hastily III the direction of his
own-and, seeing that, the circus waif rose
up from his post Of observation and followed
him swiftly.
when he reached Capt. Ferrers' tent hs
found his master bending over a brass.
bound box which stood in one corner Of It.
a box which Tom knew consa1ned his re-
volvers.
us that you, Tong he asked.
''Yessir,' answered Tom, with :. salute,
aud advancing into the middle Of the tet,t.
'sTake my flask round to thu mess tent and
get 1T filled with brandy-and be quick
'sYessir,' said Tom
He never hesitated an instant what ha
shot,ld do. The moment he entered the tent
be had seen that ON the chest which formed
be masters ts:le Capt. Fers~sa had laid
down the brown leather pocket book which
contained the all-important dispatch.
Quick as thought Tom snatched it up with
the flask and ran cut; once outside, he threw
the flask to the winds and made for thu out.
posts.
It was not difficult for him to pass them;
on the contrary, in truth, he simply threw
himself fiat upon his stomach and, by
means of the snake trick ON which he had 20
prided himself of old, wriggled past the
various sentries with the stealth and noise
lessness OF IN 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 slzs, consigned it
to little pocket within the breast of his
lat all, 49,
which had heen put there by Capt Ferrers'
orders, SO that the lad might carry u few
shillings in safety, and without fear of being
relic Of it by pickpockets.
Then no threw the book away. and with a
last look in tbs direction of tho camp, turned
his face toward the five miles of difficulty
and danger which lay between him unl the
mission which he had taken upon himself
nay. which he had in reality stolen from
him to whom it had been int,1,steei-
difficult, because of the inkv darkness
OF the night, and of his ignorance of
the surrounding country IAN ignorar-e
Which his master would greatly have less
ened by means OF a compass and IA plan, two
articles of which Ton, had not thought:
dangerous, because almost every yard Of tho
way brlstled with rc!,c! lnr,skets. every post
ara pcint was guarded and watched by
slpi.HnG reAIeI TROOPS.
But the lads brave spirit never failed him
Tor an instant. He had not stood ,pnl tho
trapeze platform and looked grim death
lard i'll the face to he faint of heart now.
When he needed all his courage.
He never thought OF tho harm he might
Dc tsoing, still less OF the risk he was run.
nins-only that his master, the captain, had
been sent ON this errani of danger. ana that
he, owing to his small size and elasticity ut
joint and muscle, and the particular form
OF training which he had undergone in the
circus, could easily 60 III safety where his
master could nos expect to escape detection:
may, where he very we'll knew his master
could not escape with his life,
1t was only for a moment that he stood
looking back upon the camp, which shell
tered all lr loved on earth: he could hear
the steady aud n,ea ,urcd tramp Of the sen.
tries close ut llanl: he could see the moro
distant lights. The, Il mist Of tear, blurred
the picture, He dashed his hand atro,, his
eyes. plunged into the darkness, and was
gone.
CHAPTER v,
Meantime. having sean that his reyolye,x
were in lcrfec: order, Boobies SIT about
dressing himself 10" his expedition. He
discarded his slu', AMI sword. and. in.
dee''' everything whi.h might s,ry, to
attract attention, tn ,,im or ,nol. him ~,