River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-09-24


son-wcll if it came to blows, some-
how ! should prefer Thompson. Iiut
do as you like"
As he said this the colonel instinctive-
" glanced at the pile of papers beside
him. Bates name happened to lie up
permost with its every question snug
" aud neatly answered. Thompson's
had frislled OF gayly in the oren door,
and was but just saved from being
chewed under the table by Hamerton's
puppy, who had followed his master in.
1T shall be little Billy" said Mai.
IIamerton to himself. and proceeded to
the discussion of further details con-
corning escort and ccmmissariat ar
rangements for the small expedition.
4 little before nightfall they started,
party of fifteen in all-the two Eng
lish officers, Billy in state of the
widest JOY and bursting with impor-
lance, duifedar, and twelve sowars of
the khunaZ horse. A second telegram
had been received soon after the first
saying that the Gihazis, who were few
in number, had taken themselves off;
that native hospital assistant was in
charge of James, the wounded police
officer. and that he was to be brought
back here. because there was no other
European doctor nearer than Quetta.
Hope we come across the beggars, "
Billy said, gleefully.
But the colonel, who had ridden ont
EtJle way with the party and mad
wished them good luck" found him
self saying something like a prayer in
~ IL. -.
men, who Nere. in his opinion, the very
pick of the regiment
In times of peace these inglorious
little brushes with snealxing Gihazis are
not among the pleasantest features OF
service Ia Afghanistan- To an old SOL
der they SAVIOR too much of that pot
ting from behind hedges to which no
military glory is attached. lie does
not care about sending out good men
to furnish targets for shulking devils
who have no ground for quarrel. but
are merely possessed with a fanatical
desire TO spill Ferringbee blood. Where
fore the commanding officer was i'll at
ease, and for the next two days there
fell dullness and malaise upon
everybody in camp.
Upon the third day after the depart
ure of the expedition the colonel rode
out to reeOnnOiter. along with the doc
tor, who was always game for a ride.
The commanding officer was more
anxious than he allowed 20 appear
Somehow. a two years sojourn in those
dreary vilds draws men very close to-
gether when they are made of good
stuff. The party ought to have re-
turned ere this, and the colonei's heart
was disquieted within him. lie was
scanning the horizon carefully, when
suddenly he pulled up and shaded his
eyes.
What's that little cloud of dust, doc
tor? Is it a devil or a couple of
horsemen?'
hedOctor, whose eyes were younger,
answered that it was no devil" but
horsemen, and that they We're making
for camp.
BY Jover' exclaimed the colonel
with his field glasses up, lit is-it's
Thompson with sowar.''
In another moment they were cut
ting across to meet them.
Billy was riding leagth or two in
front, and his jaded horse pulled up of
its own accord as he neared the APP
preaching riders. The sowar saluted
and remained stolidly immovable in
the background. Both men and horses
were calzed with dust and wore
weary. detected air.
Were bringing in James all right"
answered Billy, in response to the
celenel's questioning gesture. but
we had a Iight-Gihazis, this side
Khunaz IIamerton's badly wounded
I've come on for the doctOr-his only
chance. The black fellow bolted who
was looking after James. Can the
doctor 90 at once, sir? This sowar
wants a fresh horse-that's all"
After a word or two with the COM
mandant the doctor sped toward camp
with the sOwar at his heels. He paused
for moment by the side of Billy and
looked him in the face.
Il shall be under way in ten ran.
utes." he said. Look here, old fellow
turn in" lie was struck by the look
of agony and mental strain on the boys
face.
After that the colonel got very few
words ont of him. lie saw that the
young fellow was done up, and ques-
toned him little. His mouth was
parched. SO that he could with difficulty
articulate. His strong young figure
was bowed over the horses neck. As
they were nearing camp the doctor
with his escort rode out and called back
some cheering words to him. Five
minutes later they were out of sight.
Once within camp limits the colonel
dismounted, and, giving his horse over
to a syce. walked beside the young
officers horse with his hand on his
neck. Several fellows came up with
greetings and congratulations
Come straight to mess and have
something To drink before you .ell us
anything" said the colonel. taking
hold of the horses bride as he spoke.
At the same moment he felt IL slacken
within his grasp. and looking up he
saw that Billy was Keeling in his sad
die and that his lips were bloodlcss-
II think I'm gone" he muttered,
feeblY. and fell sideways off his horse
into the cOlOnels arms
They carried him over TO the mess
and began taking off his military great
coat. Then something made him open
his eyes, and his face took little,
brave. distorted smile.
Hold hardr' he grasped; II think
I've got bullet somewhere, and-and
my arms smashed"
why, curse it, :" groaned the colonel,
l laying him gently down, and looking
round upon the circle of horror-stricken
/ faces. The knew this. and he has sent
away the doctor"
1t was some weeks before Mai Ham
erton was able to tell the story of
Lieut.. Thompson heroic conduct; how,
when he himself was wounded and at
I the mercy of the murderers, the young
officer defended him single handed;
/ how afterward he pushed on into
I khunaz and brought out James of the
! police more dead than alive; and how,
finally. while concealing the fact that
he had been shot in the right arm. he
rode forty miles in To get the doctor,
and thus for the second time saved the
majors life.
! 1t was longer still though before
/ Billy was out of danger. The wound
\ had set up inflammation and fever
I from overexertion and the long time
I that had of necessity elapsed before