Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-10-15
throueh simple military driIl.

In the early part of 1878 there was
trouble between England and AT
ghanistan, and the British forces in
that part of the world were in
creased. Among the regiments sen,
to India was the Seventy second
Highlanders.
When you think of the difficulties
and dangers attending journey to
Afghanistan, you win wonder that
Pat did not hesitate and desert
The matter was fully explained tc
him by the color sergeant. Jem Nc
pherson, the night before the troops
marched out, but the dog only
winked in a knowing way and
wagged his brief tail with emphasis
as If to say, Il accept the situation
and mean to do my part" He kept
the promise to the letter.
Pat grew in favor constantly dur
ing this Afghan war. He was pres
ent at diplomatic meetings, assisted
in planning the details of the cam
paign when the days of diplomacy
were over, shared the discomforts ol
the underground huts and prepared
TO march upon Candahar when 9
hostile advance upon that city had
become inevitable.
Meantime, tide in the affairs Of
Pat had borne him ON to fortune, fol
he had become attached to- the fate'
and fortunes Of good master HI
was no longer an adventurer, ca
nine Bohemian, but the rightful prop
erty of the color sergeant, his goot
friend, who had once tried to dis
suade him from entering the field o.
glory.
It happened this way: Mcpherson
was taken i'll with a low fever, ant
Pat was left on guard in his tent t.
warn thieving natives off the prem
ises. He performed this duty faith
fully, aud the lonely, homesick man
during his days Of convalescenct
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 oi
the people about them. Those who
trust us educate us" in all the essen
tials of life.
When Mcpherson could once more
walk out in the sun, the dogs JOY
was unbounded. He leaped and rar
round the sick man like a dog dis
traught, giving the short, quick yell
of ecstasy which denotes q full heart
quite as musically as do human sobs
and gasps.
Part of this joy may have beer
upon his own account, you say9 Be
that as it may, it touched the rough
soldiers heart to the quick, and draw
ing his coat sleeve across his eyes,
ito keep out the sun" Mcpherson
registered a silent vow to take Pat
under his protection.
With no more ado was Pat adopt
ed, and had collar with his nam
upon it before the camp broke up.
It was a broad metal band with a
ring in it for the attachment of a
chain. Who could have dreamed
what other thing this ring would
hold?
And now events were hurrying on,
and the Highlanders were hurried
on by them to Candahar. What il
all meant to Pat, and how far he ap
proved the march to that city, nc
ore knew; but it is a matter of his,
tory that he was present at that bat
tie of Candahar, and that as result
Of his behavior there he wore the
"V. c."
The Victoria cross is the reward
given by the queen herself for great
valor in battle. When soldier has
risked his life to save a comrade, OF
done any other heroic deed, he re
ceives, at the queens own hand, the
little bronze cross, worth q sixpence
possibly, which is the highest re-
ward and most to be desired from
this very fact, that 1t has no vulgar
money value.
1t is an honor open alike to Of
ficer and private, and when a man
has won it he has the letters V. G.
placed after his name. There has
been but one dog in the British en-
pire who might have claimed this
distinction.
The wonderful march from Cabul
to Candahar was over. More than
300 miles had been accomplished in
fifteen days, without loss or delay,
through the heart of an onemy's
country and the fierce heat. The
climate of this region is peculiarly
trying; but so well had the troops
been managed that they marched
into Candahar in good condition
after a single days rest.
A small body of English troops
held the city, and the Afghan army
lay before it, growing stronger each
day. 1t was plain that this Afghan