The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16
fore l went whole days journey in
such concern as that"

such concern as that"
That day the post-tonga running
between Jellalabad and Lundi Kotal
was attacked, and the native driver
with his pistol and the Gezaleki escort
ran for their lives, leaving the two
officers to fight it out with about a
score Of the enemy.
Scott's keen eyes took in the situa-
tion at glance. and with word to
Slingsby. to stick close to him, he fired
a couple of shots, and sprang into a
place which afforded good vantage
ground, between a couple Of huge
boulders jutting out from the bank,
beneath which the road ran.
No use attempting to fight score
Of those beggars in the open" he NUT
tered to his comrade. Here we have
just chance, for they can only get at
us one at time
''Ive potted five Of the devils, y
Scott muttered to Slingsby with a
grim laugh. II wonder what they'll
do next"
1t seemed to the two Cuirassiers
that the enemy was having a consul
tation. Then, after an hour or so Of
suspense, and another attempt to dis
lodge them-as vain as the first had
been, having only the effect Of placing
another of the Shinwarries hors de
combat-the two soldiers heard sounds
as Of wounded men being cautiously
moved; and presently the rumbling
Of the tonga-whee]s over the broken
and stony road told them as plainly as
words could have done that the natives
were off with their booty.
Scott stepped cautiously round the
side Of the boulder, and peered after
the retreating party, through the now
rapidly gathering gloom Of night.
They're all gone,' he exclaimed.
"I'll just send couple Of shots after
them for luck"
Il wouldn't" urged the junior-but
the words came too late; the sharp re-
port Of Scott's revolver rang upon the
air, followed by an agonized yell from
the reatreating Afghans. Scott ut
tered an exclamation Of extreme satls-
faction.
Now let us run for it; they'll be
back in an hour or so with the whole
tribe, and would countrive to smoke
US out somehow, il we stayed here as
sure as eggs are eggs"
So they ran.
But it was hard work They were
well-nigh tired out by the long drive
in the iolting tonga, and by the sus-
pense and tension of the last hour.
However, on they plunged, STUN
bling over stones in the darkness, now
falling headlong as they stepped into
deep holes or ruts, now dragging their
weary limbs through sandbanks, now
tripping up over the carcass Of some
dead horse or camel, and then-"By
Jove, we have lost the track" Scott
exclaimed ruefully.
Slingsby sank down upon the
ground with groan.
''It's no usee, Scott, I'm done Il
can't go yard further" he said des-
perately. Il think the sun got at my
head a bit to-day; I've seen nothing
the last hour or more. You get on
and do the best you can for yourself.
You can send some fellows out to
look me up, if you get in."
"Stuf and nonsense, old man; what
rubbish are you talking?" Scott cried
cheerily. you are knocked up lit
tie, and no wonder; but as to leaving
you, it's simply absurd. don't know
where we are, and if I chanced to get
in myself, | shouldn't have the least
idea how to direct any one to find you.
Take pull at this, and we'll have an
other try to find the track and get in.
We cannot be far from camp now"
He handed his flask to the lad as he
spoke, and then, when they had rested
for an hour or more, he hoisted him
on to his feet and half coaxed, half
chafed him into trying to go on
again.
II do wish you would leave me and
make the best of your own chance"
the lad groaned. ..
''Stuff and NONSENSE" e!"-keeping his
hand fast under his arm and helping
HIM along.
TITS so senseless sacrificing two
lives where one would do" Slingsby
urged.
"What rot you talkLwhose life is
going to be sacrifcedP Sacrificed in
deed-just because your head has
been a trifle touched by the sun!
What melodramatic rot you
youngsters do 60 in for, in spite of all
your competitive book-learning stuff
we hear so much about nowadays!
I'll tell you what it is, Baccy, that
blessed new system has left no grit in
any of you fellows. There's sight
too much of every-man-for-himself
tone about the army now, without
our starting it in respectable old
regiment like the Cuirassiers Why,
my dear lad, il 1 deserted you now, 1
should deserve to be bounded out of
society for the rest of my days.