The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16

aged to obtain bottle of execrable
soda-water from the bazaar, with
which to wash down the now dry and
tasteless bread and meat.
And what road it was! What g
mockery to give the name of road te
such track-full of holes, where il
was not strewn with big stones, and
where there were neither holes MOI
stones, knee-deep in sand, so that
when the two Cuirassiers were moi
holding on like grim death to the cart
or to each other, lest they should be
shaken to pieces, they were choked
and almost blinded with sand. By
the time they reached Basawul, they
were well-nigh exhausted from the
combined effects Of empty stomachs
the heat of the sun, and the terrible
jolting Of the tonga. Fortunately
they they there fell in with several
officers of native regiment, who car
ried them off to their mess-tent, where
they administered iced stilton and
bread and butter; food for the gods
(if the gods chance to be in Afghanis-
tan), with the addition Of an iced peg,
which acted like charm, and made
men of them again.
There, too, they exchanged the ton
ga for one which had its awning in
good order, so that the rest OF the
journey was made in less misery.
But, all the same, it was comfort
less work sitting there, humping and
jolting over stones. and dragging
through sand banks with only a
couple of Gezalekis for escort, and
with a native driver armed with one
pistol.
III tell you what, Scott" said
young Slingsby, as they ratified over
the broken road, Il don't half like the
look Of those beggars" Indicating
the two Gezalekis by jerk of his
thumb. "And half-a-dozen Of the
enemy might cut our throats and rob
the tonga pretty easily at any mo-
They'll have to do target for dou-
BILE their number Of shots first, an
swered Scott grimly, feeling for the
pair Of six-chambered pop-guns which
had been beside him all the day.
However, half-a-dozen Of the enemy
did not show, and as the shades of
night were closing around, they safely
reached their destination, the Cuiras-
siers' camp outside the fort of Jellala-
bad.
And what fuss the fellows made
about them! There was iced cham
pagne awaiting their arrival, and in
less time than it takes me to write a
line, the sunburnt noses Of the two
weary passengers had each disappeared
within huge tumbler full of that re-
freshing beverage.
Pm betterr' exclaimed Slingsby
gratefully. We've had a beastly
Journey. I thought we should never
get here"
"Fact is,' exclaimed Scott, from the
depths Of big chair, poor old Bac-
ey's been in a devil of a funk the
whole way. Had an idea the tonga
would get robbed and our throats
cut"
More unlikely things have hap
pened," Dickson laughed. "We are
IN perpetual state Of touch and go
IN this pernicious country. Some
times we go out for a prowl at night
across the river to the fields on the
other side, which are green and COM
paratively cool-but one always goes
with feeling that there may be some
fanatical beggar of a Ghazi lnrking
ready to stick knife into ones back.
It's an unrestful land Of pilgrimage,
no mistake about it.
''Yes, we have most appropriate
hymn when we sing, as we did on
Sunday:
Pilgrims here on earth and strangers
Dwelling in the midst of foes.''
II was staying with married sister
IF mine just before | came out, said
She lives in Lancashire
All the time l was there she u.s. d to
have class of Sunday-school children
up.twice week to coach them in the
hymns for some church festival. But
get 'em to sing Pilgrims? Bless you,
not bit Of it! The little beggars
used to shout and sing with all their
hearts and souls:
Pilgrimes here-on-nearth an stran-GERS!
How | used to laugh! didn't think
then that the next time [ should hear
that hymn would be in Afghanistan."
I'VE don't often think-of what is
coming" answered Dickson. with
certain gravity. "There has been a
poor fanatical devil of a Ghazi, who,
for the last week or two, has gone
daily on to Piper's Hill and danced in
derision at us. But he was brought
down at last by clever sergeant in
the garrison at five hundred yards
and he dances no more. Pom my
word, I felt quite sorry for him; but
he didn't think"
Then the two weary ones were car
ried off to enjoy the luxury Of tub
ere they dressed for mess. It was a
good time which followed-the coun-