The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-10-23

self saying something like prayer il
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 little
Ghazis are not among the pleasantes1
! features of service in Afghan1stan.
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 ride.
The commanding officer was more
anxious than he allowed to appear.
Somehow 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 coloners
heart was disquieted within him. He
was scanning the horizon carefully.
when suddenly. he pulled up and shad-
ed his eyes
whats that little cloud of dust
doctor! Is it devil or couple OF
horsemenp"
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.
Ill ,k1 3
'front.' and his jaded horse pulled
up of its own accord as he neared the
approaching riders. The Sowar sal
uted, and remained stolidly immova-
BILE in the back ground. Both men
and horses we're caked with dust and
wore a weary, detected air.
We're bringing in James all right,
sir, F" answered Billy in response to the
colonel's questioning gesture. 'But
we had a fight-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 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.
Il shall be under way in ten min
utes," he said. Look here, old fell
low, you've had about enough; 90
home and turn in" He was struck by
the look of agony and mental strain
on the boys face.
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 it's
neck. Several fellows came up with
greetings and congratulations.
Come straight to mess and have
something to drink before you tell us
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.
Ill think I'm DONE, 3" 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
little brave distorted smile.
Hold hard!' he gasped; Il think
I've got a bullet somewhere, and-and
my arms smashed"
why, d-n it!' groaned the colonel,
laying him gently down, and looking
round upon the circle of horror stricken
faces, ''he knew this, and he has sent
away the doctor!"
1t was some weeks before Mai
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
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 .harum-scarum
young devil" got we'll, and the colonel
had the pleasure of sending up 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 Christianity Fair.
Versus Human Life.
Care for the security of human life,
and especially of the poorer and more
part of the community, is not
en- strikiup q foaf,,ro of o,,r ri v;1;,o