Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-25
clNcnINe UP FOR TROUBLE.
A Curious Impulse That Soldiers Feel In
Moments of DANCER

Curious Impulse That Soldiers Feel In
Moments of Danger.
There were two men lowering heavy
cask of wine into a cellar the other day.
and one of them asked his comrade to
stand by moment. The man stood by
and the first speaker took an extra hitch
in the belt Of his overalls.
That's queer" said Perry Ingram.
who was passing at the time. 81 saw 10
men do that in the face of certain death,
and of the other ESQ who were with US
guess nine in every 10 did the same I
know did anyhow. Can't tell why.
because l never thought the matter over,
but I'll swear that if ever get into an
other fix like that again I'll do the same
thing over.
1T was during the Basutu war of 1880.
I was trooper there, and was one of the
500 and odd that composed the Kimberley
Horse. If there ever was a set of not
care-a-continental scalawags in Queen
NictOria's uniform, it was that same
gang of rough riders.
I'VE fought all right, OF course, but
that all we We're good for. Honestly, I
think half the troop was made up of ex-
convicts and the balance of that class of
adventures who had pioneered the road
10 the South African diamond fields.
We were IN fort on Thlotse heights.
The Basutus, about 5000 strong, were
amusing themselves plotting at US from
the other side of the Thlotse river, and
one day they took it into their heads to
send 200 warriors across the stream,
over fords above and below US, to do Us
up.
''As it happened that morning about
$50 of US were detailed to escort a couple
of 6-pounders up the hill to the fort from
below, and on cur return trip the Basu-
tus got between US and the encampment.
We threw out in open file while they
rode down on us-they We're well mount
ed, were those Basutus-and we had or
ders to hold fire until they were about
100 yards away.
well, when they came within the
given distance we fired, but instead of
soaring them by killing off hundred or
so the beggars still came on. Dismount-
ing from their horses, they seized their
assegais. The hill was black with them,
and they rushed on Us like the hounds of
hell.
It's all up now, boys thought l, for
when those chaps take it into their heads
to go the whole hog and charge they
do it.
while I was thrusting another car
fridge into my rife felt bit queer
about the throat, and somehow, can't
foil hoy !
ach was empty.
Now, know what it is to be scared.
but was not frightened then. There
was no time to get frightened. 1t was
just stand and fight till you dropped
dead full Of spear holes.
Il laid down my rife for a second TO
loosen my revolver in its case, and then
from some involuntary instinct that
cannot explain drew il my belt con-
pie of inches around my waist. AsIdid
so l looked at the fellows nearest me.
Every one of them was cirching up just
the same as myself.
Just for a moment everything On our
side was silence, and the Dasutus were
not 20 yards away. Then We all began
blazing away again and yelling Us mes
do in battle.
The fire frightenel tn lacks. They
came within 80 yards e! rs. then turned
tail and fled We kept blazing away at
the beggars as lo,, as they were in
range. and then sudLe:-ly ceased
The strain wa gone. the peril Of
death over. Only a moment before it
had seemed as though our little band was
to be wiped of the earth. 1t was a suf-
locating day, so laid down my gun to
wipe the sweat and powder from my
forehead.
Then l set about loosening my belt.
As | did SO l turned to the 10 fellows
nearest me. Every one of them was do
ing the same.
Queer, isn't it that fellow wants to
cinch himself up in the face Of certain
death|-San Francisco Examiner.