The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-27

The hotels were crammed with war
riors, theelodging houses were stuffed
with beds almost to bursting, and the
very gaol was cleaned out by the white
coated Zulu police for the accommodate
ton of timid strangers. If report Is to
be credited, a very high official indeed
took up his feather bed, In that time of
scares, and sought safety every night
within the thick walls of the prison.
Young officers camped out on tho
lawn of the Royal hotel. All day long
there was the click of ivory balls, the
genial popping Of champagne corlss. the
clank Of sabers and the jingle of spurs.
Through the drowsy afternoons
smart traps rolled out from the yard
and went spinning through the leafy
roads of the Berea, driven by military
nondescripts with high collars and
waxed mustaches. Ladies with spark
ling eyes and hair of pals yellow
held court, and always had at beck and
call string Of gay cavaliers.
Some three weeks after Ulundi sat
on a veranda overlookinga wide court.
wherein q horse dealer from Buenos
Ayres was entertaining a crowd Of
oilers.
He had high-shouldered mustang
which he had brought over as speci-
men of the troopers he could supply,
and was showing the various uses to
which his wonderful saddle could be
put Suspended from either end by q
lariat. it made serviceable hammock;
spread out it served as a blanket or q
tableclOth; thrown over the shoulder 1t
became cloak; folded up it was again
Q saddle.
Then he made q cast with his lasso,
and swung the bolus, feat which one
of the spectators attempted with signal
disaster to his own limbs.
"Divil take the thing" no exclaimed,
as he cndeavored to unite himself.
Wont some one loose me?"
Nobody did. all being too tired from
laughter to help; SO he spun himself
round, and the bolus, unwinding,
dealt out hard knocks to the helpless
crowd.
Its as towld you," ne said. I'm
good at this. and what lovely weapon
t'would prove in foight."
Skipping away from the crowd he
dropped into cane chair beside me
and offered me cigar. as though he
had known me all my life.
The lazy beggars," he said, they
wanted stirring up, and did It for
them Elegantly. I'm Capt. Fagus, of
the Oirish Blower, and am delighted to
make the acquaintance OF fellow-cor-
respondent You needn't introduce
yourself. know who You are. just
inquired of the bar-nan, and BY the
same token I'm dhry" He whistled to
waiter and called for two whisky
squasbes.
Capt Fagus was a good-lookine fel.
low, with smooth face, flexible mouth
aud a pair of bright merry, rowing
black eyes. felt at home with him at
once.
Il heard We were here incoming away
like sick dog-excuse the simile-and
l straightway came along, for COM
partnerships a moighty foine pick-me-
up. Heigho! It's meself that's in need
of Frightening"
lie did not look It, In fact, he wllkeG
at pretty coolie girl who went by with
dish of pineapples. remarked that
he seemed cheerful enough.
appearances are d ceptive. What
nd We think if l towld yez l was in
love?' He looked at me seriously. "Av,
that's the truth It's love that's killing
me, with all its distressful circuin-
stances. But how was it with YOU in
the war? business first an pleasure
after"
We fell into talk about the advance
OF UiGndI, and he let me into some SCI
crets for the making OF regulations.
i was with the crawling column on
the coast, but bad luck to it, the divil
chance had / to distinguish myself:
but tell you l made the best OF ray
opportunities.
How was that?"
Dye see, II was this way: I wrote
scrappy paragraphs for the service pa
pers and always bound the editor in re-
turn 10 say something civil a about myself
Something like this: We are glad to
hear from Capt Fagus. that smart cor
respondent, that the mea in Zululand
are in good health and spirits Or
this: We hear from Capt. Fagus, that
excellent wax corresnondanf. etc