Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-10-31


the underground huts and prepared
to march upon Candahar whom q
hostile advance upon that city had
become inevitable.
Meantime, tide in the affairs Of
Pat had borne him ON TO fortune, for
he had become sttachca W the fatcs
and fortunes OF good master. He
was no longer an adventurer, a ca
nine Bohemian, but the rightful prop.
erty of the color sergeant, his good
friend, who had once tried TO dis
suade him from entering the field of
glory.
1t happened this way; Mcpherson
was taken IN with n low fever, and
Pat was left on guard in his tent TO
warn thieving natives of the prem.
ises. He performed this duty faith
fully, and the lonely, homesick man,
during his days of convalescencc
turned TO his dumb nurse for com.
fort.
With dogs and men OF noble type
the process Is much the'same; they
rise into love through the needs Of
the people about them. "Thoso who
trust us educate US in all the essen
tials of life.
When Mcpherson could once more
walk out in tho sun, the dogs JOY
was unbounded. He lcapcd and ran
round tho sick man like dog dis.
tIaught, giving the short, quick yelp
Of ecstasy which denotes full heart
quito as unsteady as do human sobs
and gasps.
Part Of this Joy may have been
upon his own account, you sayl Do
that MS It may, II touched the rough
soldiers heart to the quick, and draw
ing his coat sleeve across his eyes,
'to keep out the sum- Mcpherson
registered silent vow to take Pat
under his protection.
With no moro ado was Pat adopt
cd, and had n collar with his name
upon IL before the camp broke up,
1t was broad metal band with n
ring in it for the attachment Of n
chain. Who could have dreamed
what other thing this ring would
holdl
And now events were hurrying on,
and tho Highlanders were hurried
ON by thom TO Candahar. What IL
all meant 10 Pat and how far he up.
proved the march TO that city, no
one knew; but it is n matter of his.
tory that he was present at that bat.
tie Of Candahar, and that us u result
of his behavior there no wore tho
"V. c."
Tho Victoria cross Is the reward
given by the queen herself for great
valor In battle. When u soldier has
rislSed his life 10 save comrade, OF
dono any other heroic deed, he 70
ceivcs, ut the queens own hand, tho
little bronze cross, worth n sixpence
possibly, which is tho highest re-
ward and most TO be desired from
this very fact, that it has no vulgar
money value.
II Is an honor open alike TO of
ficer and private, and when n man
has won 1t he has tho letters V. G.
placed after his name. There Ia,
been but one dog in the British ON
pire who might have claimed thil
distinction.
The wonderful march from Cabu
TO Candahar was over. More thar
800 miles had been accomplished il
fifteen days, without loss or delay
through the heart of an enemy
country and tho fierce heat. Tn
climate of this region Is peculiarly
trying; but so well had tho troop
been managed that thoy marchc,
into Candahar in good condition
after single days rest.
A small body of English troop
held the city, and the Afghan arm,
lay before it, growing stronger eacl
day. 1t was plain that this Afgha,
army must BIO dispersed If Englisl
arms were to maintain their powe
in Asia.
1t was at tho close Of long day
weary fight before Candahar. Tn
, cannon had ceased, and the night In
7 fallen Mt last-the blessed night, we
come alike to victor and vanquishet
which covers tho many horrors of
I battlefield. Tho weary soldiers +,
D entered the city, now secure in holt
3 ing 1t, and worn with the toll of III
day sank down to rest
= Out on the plains beyond the wal
4 lay many u stalwart form, clad !
+ the Mackenzie tartan. then tho iii
tinctivo dress of the Seventy-secon
lIighlandcis 1t is II beautiful blu
o and green plaid, crossed with fin
white lines, which become conspicl
ods when it is killed.
' "Whon the boys are moving sni
d an old Highlander, "thcy seem to |
y passing needless through u ligl
5 snowfall" Needless of danger the
o had pressed on to the front and TN
o is why so many lay out under Il
y stars.
L And where was Patti Tho questic
was going round among those wi
Z had seen Mcpherson carried off Il
K field after Drawing death again al
l. again to keep the colors flying. 4
, Afghan's knife had pierced his rigl
% arm and n bullet had torn his rigl
70 hand cruelty yet he had held Il
d flag in the wounded hand with h
% viselike strength Of desperation, N
~ cut his way through the ranks of Il