The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-08-25
fres Of the Russian camp. half hid
den by their outworks.

= O>~Oe~sJS
rection OF the lines and each point,
either of strength or of weakness, so
far as it was possible to observe
them in the gathering gloom At
last they turned corner and found
themselves suddenly right beneath a
tall figure in long cloak and furry
shake. posted on the top of the re-
doubt just above them, and thrown
out into bold relief by the glow of
the camp fire not many yards behind
it. Our friends were very still and
cautious in their movements, but
one of them, by the CLEAN of his
bayonet, probably, betrayed himself
to the Russian sentinel as he peered
down into the gloom, for the latter
spoke some words in his own tongue.
challenging them to declare them
selves.
s.Confound it!' muttered Sergeant
Easterbrook, half aloud, 1--WE have
ventured too far-right into the
lions den-we must turn tail, boys,
and run for our very lives, till we
are out of gun shot. That is the
best sort of courage that we can
show now"
They accordingly all four turned
and ran at full speed, for since their
object was to obtain information
there was no real bravery in staying
to face the foe But they had al
ready gone too far in their eagerness
to determine the position of the enc
my's lines, and no sooner had they
turned to fly than the sharp report
of a musket was heard behind them.
The sentinel had aroused his COM
rades, and a moment later q volley
OF balls was whistling through the
night air past the little English
squad.
''Oh! this is terrible" young Hill
ton said breathlessly, as he ran, ..if
we should fall like this, sergeant
to be shot from behind!-I had
rather go back and face them!"
The young fellow doubtless fondly
imagined that the eyes of all Europe
were upon him individually, and had
not yet come to learn that so many
men must go down like corn before
the reaper's scythe, only to be re-
garded at headquarters as so many
casualties; he still thought that to
peril life and limb in other mems
quarrels was glory.
''You must not go back" the SER
geant answered, with strange mix
ture of gentleness and authority. II
could not allow you to do that.
Every mans life that is out here be-
longs to his country, and no one has
right to risk it rashly. They are
only firing wild-don't be afraid"
I'm not afraid-I-my God! I be :
lieve I'm hit!'
The sergeant, notwi thstanding his
experience, had indeed been mis-
taken. He knew that the Russian
soldiers could not have taken accu-
rate aim in the dark, but he did not
allow for the fatalities of chance
those terrible chances which govern
the worlds history. Hilton said he
had been struck, and Noel Easter
brook could also feel that a bullet
had entered his body, but still they
both kept on bravely as long as they
could. Here in the cold, silent night
the lust of battle was not upon them;
there was only the mute desire of
wounded beasts, which would fain be
at rest, away from their pursuers.
Thes had now crossed the frozen
stream, and were safe from further
danger. By this time the weather
had changed. The wind had driven
the snow-clouds away, and from a
steely, blue sky, the moon was she'd
ding her silvery light upon the four
Englishmen struggling. over the
white Crimean plain. They were
still a long way from their own camp
probably three long weary miles
and more-but they were now in
safety. Sergent Easterbrook called
out, Halt" and the others noted
with alarm the faint voice in which
he spoke the word. His fictitious
energy had given way at last, and
with stifed groan he sank down at
the foot of a great, black gnarled
tree. Young Hilton's wound was
also overmastering his strength, and
the next moment his form, too, was
lying an inert mass upon the snowy
ground.
''What is the matter, sergeant?"
one of the other soldiers asked,
feelingly. Il did not know you had
been hit"
.'Hit-yes, Dawes-here in the left
side--it was foolhardy of me to have
ventured so far into their lines-and
there is the poor lad. Oh, Dawes,
am done for!''
"No, no; do not say that, sergeant.
We will carry you back to camp all
right between us, won't we, Ryan?
You will be out of to-morrow's fun,
that is ALL
Tomorrow! Yes, there will be no
tomorrow for me. !"
Nonsense! You will be sent to the
rear, that is all. The old saw bones
will put you straight in no time.
See, we will carry you as gently as
nurse. Come on; give US hand,
Ryan"
''No," Easterbrook answered in
feeble but decisive tone; s.leave me-
''Leave you? Well see you hanged
first" Ryan said, with rough good
nature.
'.Look at the youngster-he is
wounded too. You surely don't think
of leaving him behind"