The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-10-22

MS heart for the safe return of the
| Two men, who were, in his opinion, the
very pick Of the regiment. ,.8 4.
In times of peace these inglorious
little brushes with sneaking little
Ghazis are not among the pleasantest
features OF service in Afghanlstan.
Upon the third day after the depar-
ture Of the expedition the colonel rode
out to reconnoiter along with the doc
tor' who was always game for a ride.
Ihe commanding officer was more
anxious than he allowed to appear.
Somehow a two years sojourn in those
dreary wilds draws men very close to-
gether when they are made Of good
stuff. The party ought to have re-
turned long ere this, and the cOlonels
heart was disquieted within him. He
was scanning the horizon carefully,
when suddenly he pulled up and shad-
! ed his eyes.
What's that little cloud Of dust,
doctor! Is it q devil or couple Of
/ horsemenp" l5zs i... s-.
The doctor, whose eyes were
younger answered that it was no
| "devil' but horsemen and that they
were making for camp.
"By jove!" exclaimed the colonel
with his field glasses up lit is-it's
Thompson and Sowar!''
In another moment they were cut
ting across to meet them.
Billy was riding d length or two in
'front.' and his jaded horse pulled
up OF it's own accord as he neared tho
approaching riders. The Sowar sal
uted, and remained stolidly immova-
bic in the back ground. Both men
and horses were caked with dust. and
| wore weary, detected air. . #
We're bringing in James all right
sir, " answered Billy in response to the
colonel's questioning gesture. ''But
we had a fght-Ghazis, this side Khu-
naz. Hamerton'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 go at once sirp This Sowar
wants 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 a moment by the side of
Billy, and looked him in the face. 4
Il shall be under way in ten min
utes, he said. va. Look here old fell
low, you've had about enough; 20
home and turn in.' He was struck by
the look of agony and mental strain
on the boys face. -rr -. rr...rl 81
Once within camp limits the colonel
dismounted, and. giving his horse
over to d syce, walked beside the young
officers horse with his hand on it's
neck. Several fellows came up with
greetings and congratulations.
Come straight to mess and have
something to drink before you tell us
anything'' said the colonel, taking
hold of the horses bride as he spoke.
At the same moment he felt 1t slacken
within his grasp, and looking up he
saw that Billy was Keeling in his
saddle. and that his lips were blood
! less. IT,.
ii think I'm done" he muttered
feebly, and fell sideways off his horse
into the colonel's 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 a
little brave distorted smile. at
''Hold hardn' he gasped; Il think
I've got bullet somewhere and-and
my arms smashed"
why, d-n itr' groaned the colonel
laying him gently down, and looking
round upon the circle of horror-stricken
faces, she knew this, and he has sent
away the doctor!' -
1t was some weeks before Mai.
Hamerton was able to tell the story of
Lieut.. Thompson's heroic conduct
how when he himself was wounded
and at the mercy of the murderers,
| the young officer defended him single
handed; how afterward he pushed on
| into 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.
It was longer still though before
Billy was out of danger The wound
had set up Inflammation and fever
from over exertion, and the long time
that had of necessity elapsed before
skilled care could be bestowed upon
| it, and for weeks it was feared it would
go hard with Billy.
But in the end the @s'harum- scarum
| young DEVIL got we'll, and the colonel
had the pleasure of sending up a .'Con-
fidential Report of very superior
kind, together with a very brilliant
pendant which has resulted in the be-
stowal of the much coveted Victoria
Cross upon Lieut. William Thompson,
of Ours. Vanity Fair.
NIOney-Naklng Versus Human Life.
Care for the security of human life
and especially of the poorer and more
exposed part of the community, is not
SO striking afeature of our civilian
ton as the ease and rapidity with
which we build railroads and subdue
| the wilderness and make money. We
/ h0o - Ia.