Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-09-18
Somehow the CoInnol a...1,

.os' gong to send for you. There's a
lEw up Ahunazway. James of the 20.
lice wounded. Gihazis again k;llad .
lot OF people. I'm ordered to send send an
iin1t.elllgent officer to investigate tha
.,ning and report. You'll have a t;cL.
,lsn JOB, but can rely upon Won. I've
neen thinking whom YOU had batter
tax tane' o;. lou Sc see con only spare one or
lwo' either Bates or Thompson. Bates
a nas the longest head, and yet Thomp.
son-weli. if it came to blows, somehow
should prefer Thompson. But do "a
AS ne said this the Colonel instinct.
lveiy glanced at the pile of paper he
SIDE him. Bates name happened to be
uppermost, with its every Question
snugly and neatly answered. Thomn-
sons had frisked off gayly in the open
door, and was but Just saved from be-
ing chewed under the table by Hamer.
tons puppy, who had followed his mac.
ter in. ~ ~--' 'A''S'
1T shall he little Billy" said Mai.
hamerton to himself, and proceeded to
the discussion of further details con-
cernlpg escort and commissariat ar.
rangements for the small expedition.
A little before nighfall they started,
party Of fifteen in all-the two En-.
glish officers, Billy in a state of the
Widest Joy and bursting with impor-
lance. duffedar, and twelve sowars of
the khunaz horse. A second telegram
mad been received soon after the first
saying that the Gihazis, who were few
in number, had taken themselves of:
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 Quota.
Hope we come across the beggars. {"
Billy said gleefully.
But the Colonel, who had ridden out
little way with the party and had
wished them good luck" found him.
self saying something like prayer in
his heart for the safe return of the two
men, who were, in his opinion, the very
pick of the regiment
In times of peace these inglorious
little brushes with sneaking Ghazis are
not among the pleasantest features of
service in Afghanistan. To an old SOL
der they SAVIOR too much of that plot
ting from behind hedges to which no
military glory is attached. He does
not care about sending out good men to
furnish targets for skulking devils who
have no ground for quarrel, but are
merely possessed with a fanatical de-
sire to spill Ferringhee blood. Where
fore the commanding officer was i'll ut
fnr
fell dullness and malaise upon
everybody in camp.
Upon the third day after the depart
ure of expedition the Colonel rode out
to reoonnoiter, along with the doctor,
VINO was always game for ride. The
commanding officer was more anxious
than he allowed to appear. Somehow,
a two years. sojourn in those dreary
wilds draws men very close together
when they are made of good stuff. The
party ought to have returned ere this,
and the Coionels heart was disquieted
within him. He was scanning the
horizon carefully, when suddenly he
pulled up, and shaded his eyes.
"What's that little cloud of dust,
doctor? Is it devil or couple of
horsemen?"
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, 1T is-it's
Thompson with sowar!"
In another moment they we're cut
ting across to meet them.
Billy was riding a length or two in
front, aud his jaded horse pulled up Of
its own accord as he neared the ap-
preaching riders. The sowar saluted
and remained stolidly immovable in the
background. 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
Colonels questioning gesture. But we
had fght-Ghazis, this side Khunaz.
Hamerton's badly wounded. I've come
on for the doctor-his only chance.
The black fellow bolted who was look
ing after James. Can the doctor go at
once, sir? This sowar wants fresh
horse-that's ALL"
After q word or two with the COM
lnandant the doctor sped toward the
camp with the sowar at his heels. He
paused for q moment by the side OF
Billy and looked him in the face.
"Ishall be under way in ten minutes,
he said. "Look here, old fellow, you've
had about enough; go home and turn
in" He was struck by the look OF
agony and mental strain on the boys
face.
After that the Colonel got very few
words out of him. He saw that the
young fellow was done up, and ques-
toned him little. His mouth was
parched, SO that lie 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 out of sight.
Once within camp limits the colonel
dismounted, and, giving his horse over
| to asyce, walked beside the young ofti-
GERS horse with his hand on his neck.
/ Several fellows came up with greetings
and CONGRATULATIONS.