The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-13

nerve to which most hunting men are
compelled to plead guilty after their
fortieth year ought not to be called by
less ambiguous name. Colonel Cham
bers, V. c., smoked his after-dinner cigar
cite placidly, and took no part in our
discussion; but when he was appealed to
as an authority upon such subjects he
confessed without hesitation that he had
been very much frightened the first time
that he had found himself under fire.
''Only, you know" he added, "what
you are more frightened of than anything
else is letting other fellows see that you
are in funk; so that makes it all right.
And after bit you get quite accustomed
to the sound of shells and bullets. I've
met one or two men who didn't know
what.the sensation of fear was. | don't
remember to have met more than one
rank coward in the course of my life."
He declined to be drawn into relating
the history of that sadly exceptional per-
son, which we were all anxious to hear;
but later in the evening / got it out of
him. He said: 81 suppose you beggars
who write stories are always delighted to
get hold of some specimen of the human
race who is worse or better than the rest
you may print this poor DEVILS story if
you like, provided that you give him a
fictitious name. He and his people are
dead now-the whole lot of them-so it
won't much matter even if some of your
readers do recognize them"
Acting upon Colonel Chambers explicit
permission, | make so bold as to reproduce
the narrative which he impaired to me on
that sultry summer evening in a corner of
the smoking-room, and will do so. as far
as can, in his own words. He began
81 was quartered in South Africa, and
had just got my majority when the Zulu
war broke out. OF course, / wasn't any
longer young, but being fond of horses
and racing and that sort of thing, used
to be thrown a good deal amongst the
youngsters, and became pretty friendly
with subaltern in the 150th, Herbert Yer
non by name. He was very popular in his
regiment and fine rider, though he stood
six foot two in his socks and had big
bones. which made it n hard matter for
him to mount himself / have seen him
over and over again cram his horse at
places which / should have looked at
twice and then left alone most likely. A
thoroughly plucky chap, you would have
said, if ever there was one. Well, sir, if
you'll believe me, that fellow when he
was put to the test couldn't face an army
of savages. Ran like an hare, by Georgel
with his own men laughing at him and
hooting him. l couldn't have imagined
such thing happening if | hadn't seen il.
AS he passed me he was literally livid with
terror: the sweat was pouring down his
face; he looked neither right nor left, but
bolted for the rear as fast as his long legs
could carry him.
well, you may call it insanity, and no
doubt it was sort Of insanity; only it
would have been better for a soldier never
20 have been born than TO give way To at
tacks of that kind. | heard afterwards
that he had attempted to commit suicide.
but hadn't managed 10 do more than in
nict a slight wound upon himself with q
revolver bullet, which just grazed his tenn
pie. ] needn't tell you that he was court
martialed and dismissed the service; the
newspapers got hold of the story and there
was 40 end of row about il. One was
sorry for him, after fashion; but would