Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-12

group.
s'Come back, man, come back" Captain
Twentyman shouted, 'i:'s madness.
But Ronald did not hear HIM; the man
whose confession could alone absolutely
clear him was in the hands OF the Katfirs
and must be saved at any cost. A moment
later he was in the midst of the natives
emptying his revolvers among them. For
rester had sunk on one knee as Ronald, hav-
ing emptied one of his revolvers, hurled it
in the face of a Kafir, and then leaning
over, caught Forester by the collar and
with mighty effort lifted and threw HIM
across the saddle in front of him, then bend
inc over him he spurred his horse through
fbe natives. Just at this moment Captain
Tweptyman and a score of the men rode up
at full speed, drove the Kaffirs back for an
instant. and enabled Ronald to rejoin his
lines. Three assegais had struck him, and
he reeled in the saddle as amidst the cheers
of his companions he rode up.
Zone of you take the wounded man IN
front of you," Lieutenant Daniels said,
sand carry him to the rear. Thompson, do
YOU jump up behind Sergeant Blunt and
support him back to the rear. There is no
time to be lost; quick, man. These fellows
are coming on like furies.
The exchange was made in half minute;
one of the men took George Forester before
him, another sprang up behind Ronald and
held him in his saddle with one hand, while
he took the reins in the other. Then he rode
fast to the rear, just as the leading battalion
of infantry came up at run and opened fire
on the Kafirs, who, with wild yells, were
pressing on the rear of the cavalry.
When r snald recovered his senses he was
living in the ambulance wagon, and the sur
Ceon was dressing his wounds.
''That's right, Sergeant he said cheer
iuelv, 81 think you will do. You have
three nasty wounds. but bv good luck 1
don't think any of them are vital"
"How is Forester" Ronald asked,
Forester" the surgeon said in surprise.
'Who do you mean, Blunt?"
81 mean Jim Smith, sir; his real name is
Forester"
There is nothing to be done for him, " the
surgeon SAID; Nothing can save him; he
is riddled with assegais."
as he conscious?" Ronald asked.
"No, not at present
"Will be become conscious before he dies,
sir?"
81 don'tknow," the surgeon replied, some
what puzzled at Ronald's question. "He
NAV oe, but cannot say"
at is everything to me, sir, Ronald
said. 81 have been accused of great crime
of which he is the author. He can clear me
if he will. All my life depends upon his
speaking"
ssThen 1 hope he may be able TO speak,
Blunt, but at present 1 can't say whether he
will recover consciousness or not. He is in
the wagon here, and I will let you know
directly if there is any change"
Ronald Law quiet listening to the firing
that gradually became more distant, show
ing that the infantry were driving the
Kafirs back into the bush. Wounded men
were brought III fast, and the surgeon and
his assistant were fully occupied. The
wagon was halted now, and at Ronald's re-
quest the stretchers upon which he and For
rester were living were taken out and laid
on the grass under the shade of tree.
Toward evening, the surgeon having fin
ished his pressing work, came to them. He
felt George Forrester's pulse.
HE is sinking fast" be said, in reply to
Ronald's anxious look. 81 will see what l
can do"
He poured some brandy between George
Forrester's lips, and held a bottle of am
monia to his nose. Presently there was
deep sigh, and then Forester opened his
eyes. For a minute he looked round
vaguely, and then his eve fell upon Ronald.
80 you got me out of the hands of the
Kafirs, Captain Mervyn, he said in faint
voice. ''I caught sight of you among them
as 1 went down. know they have done for
me, but would rather be buried whole
than hacked into pieces"
81 did my best for you, Forester" Mer-
vyn said. 81 was sorry 1 was not up a
minute sooner. Now, Forester, you see
have been hit pretty hard, too; will you do
one thing for me? l want you to confess
about what was speaking to you; it Will
make all the difference to other people"
"I may as well tell the truth as not, +"
Forester said; Though don't see how it
makes much difference"
Doctor" Ronald said, could you kindly
send and ask Captain Twentyman and
Lieutenant Daniels to come here at once?
/ want them to hear"
George Forrester's eyes were closed, and
he was breathing family when the two
officers, who had ridden up a few minutes
before with their corps, came up to the spot.
The surgeon gave the wounded man some
strong cordial.
will you write down what he says?"
Ronald said TO Captain Twentvman.
The latter took out notebook and pencil.
81 make this confession" q" Forester said
family, sat the request OF Captain Mervyn,
who risked his life in getting me out from
among the kaffirs. Nv real name is George
Forester, and at home [ live near Carnes-
ford, in Devonshire. was one night poach-
ing in Mr.. Carne's woods with some men
from Dareport, when we came upon the
keepers. There was fight. One of the keep
ers knocked my gun out of my hand, and as
he raised his gun to knock me on the head
] whipped out my knife, opened it, and
stuck it into him. didn't mean to kill him.
it was Just done in a moment; but he died
from it. We ran away. Afterward found
that had lost my knife. 1 supposed 1
dropped it. That's all have TO say.''
mot all, Forester, not all, " said Ronald
who had listened with impatience to the
slowly-uttered words of the wounded man;
mot all. 1t isn't that, but about the muir
der of Miss Carne want you to tell"
"The murder of Miss Carne. George For
roster repeated, slowly. ] know nothing
about that. She made Ruth break it off
with me, and nearly killed Ruth, and 1
would have killed her if 1 had had the
chance, but never had. 1 was glad when
heard she was killed, but 1 don't know
who did it.
"But your knife was found by her body, /"
Ronald said. You must have done it,
Forester"
Murdered Miss Garner the man said,
half raising himself on his elbow in sur
prise. "Never. l swear had nothing to
do with it"
A rush of blood poured from his mouth,
for one of the assegais had pierced his lung,
and moment later George Forester fell
back dead. The disappointment and revul-
sion of feeling were too great for Ronald
Mervyn, and he tainted. When he recov-
cred the surgeon was leaning over him.
''You mustn't talk, lad; you must keep
yourself quite quiet, or we will have fever
setting in and all sorts of trouble
Ronald closed his eyes, and Law back
quietly. How could this be? he thought
Al $ -