Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-13

uhTueT upon you tnah upon any Oi us.
81 don't speak for him, answered La
than; "only say that if he were to die
that way, it would he disgrace TO us all
forever and ever. But if ever see him in
peril Of his life, he needn't ask me to help
him."
For more than two hours the great bat
tie had ragged, and its hottest fury was now
gathered around "A ruined fort ON hilltop
in the centre Of the enemy's line, which
the English had taken and held. Twice
had the Afghaus come swarming up against
it with savage wells, and twice were they
beaten back by the handful of brave fel-
lows who manned the crumbling wall. But
the assailants, though repulsed, drew back
only Just far enough TO shelter themselves
behind trees and rocks, whence they poured
an ncessant storm of bullets upon the in
trenchment while preparing for third
and final attack.
Although they knew it not, the defend
ers Of the fort were doing good service to
their general. The Afghans, while trying
in vain to crush them had gradually weak
ened their right wing upon which Sir Rob
ert Sale was just about TO hurl an over
whelmug force. One half hour more, and
the day would be gained for England But
all this was unknown to the besieged men /:
they knew only that they had to die at
their post, and they meant to do it.
In TRUTH it seemed as if all that was left
for them to do was to fight till they were all
killed The enemy outnumbered them as
ten to one Half of the little band were
already lying dead, and of those who re
NAMED scarcely one man was unwounded.
Their ammunition was fast running out,
and of their four officers only one was left
alive, viz, Captain Churchill
With all his tyranny and harshness, the
captain was brave as a lion, and he seemed
to he everywhere at once, now snatching
musket and bringing down some prominent
Afghan chief. now cheering on his exhaust
ed soldiers with stirring words, now rang
ing them afresh in order to make their fire
more effective, and now scrambling up the
wall to see what the enemy were about.
SO strong was the power of his energy and
the instinct of military discipline, that these
very men who hated him, and who would
gladly have seen him lying dead at their
feet, obeyed him like children.
For the tenth time he was bending over
the wall to watch the enemy's movements,
when there came flash and a crack from
the nearest thicket and the captain fell
Gone at last :" muttered soldier
He's died better than he lived, anyhow 1"
He's not dead yet, " said another, peer
ing through loophole; Il saw him move
his hand
Then all the soldiers looked at each other
in silence, and there came flashing back up
on Jim Lathams memory, as if written in
fire, the bitter words that he had so lately
spoken: "If ! ever see him in peril of his
life, he need not ask NE TO help him"
The chance was now in his hands, for if
the Afghan bullets did not rid him of his
enemy, the mercess noon day sun would
he enough to do it, while any attempt to
save him was apparently certain death ;
but yet
For moment the young soldier stood ST
lent and motionless, biting his lips till they
bled. Then he sprang with one bound to
the top of the wall dropped down outside,
and, exerting all his strength. lifted the
captains powerless body within reach of
the half dozen strong hands outstretched
| from above to clutch it.
But before the rescuer could follow, an
other volley famed and cracked from the
thicket, aud poor Jim staggered and fell,
while the Alghans, with a wild yell of saw
age triumph, came rushing out to the last
assault.
But Just then the din of the firing and
the shouts of the assailants and the assail
ed, were alike out thundered by mightier
burst of sound, which the hard pressed
English answered with "A joyful cheer.
General sale had at last got his artillery
into position on the right flank of the AT
| CHAN host, and the fortune of the battle
was no longer doubtful
The charging Afghans heard the sound,
and knew its meaning only too we'll They
halted irresolutely in the midst of theil
rush-then their ranks were seen TO waveI
and in another moment the mass broke
up and melted away, just as half-a dozer
English grenaders rushed out of the well
defended intrenchment, and dragged in tn,
seemingly lfeless body of poor Jim Latham
III.
A month later the British army lay en-
camped ON the heights around Kabul, tn,
Afghan capital, which it had entered tn,
night before In front of the far. extend
ing line of bayonets Sir Robert Sale sa
erect in his saddle, surrounded by his stat
officers. Facing him stood Captain Church