The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-03-02

year of the commission that the Chryso-
lite was suddenly dispatched to Tsi-
Chau. There had been riot and mas
sacre there, and Captain Bellamy was
ordered to teach the local mandarins a
severe lesson.
One morning the Chrysolite arrived
off the place and sent in certain de-
mands, which, unless complied with in
three hours, were to be enforced by
means or the resources Of civilization.
The three hours elapsed, the demands
were not granted, and with absolute
punctuality the Chrysolite began to shell
the fort from her s inch B. L. guns.
The Cinnamon laid low and did not re-
ply with so much as single shot. Mis-,
led by their silence, Captain Bellamy
after dusk had fallen led ashore much
weaker landing party than he would
have employed had he anticipated re-
sistance. Not until the men had tum
bled out Of the boats did the enemy open
fire, and then the captain knew he had
made mistake. He still hoped that he
might avert disaster by rushing the fort,
and he made the attempt; but, as has
been already shown. he failed and fell.
His men surged past dim for few
yards, but were then repulsed and driv-
en- back pellmell. In the confusion and
darkness they missed him, and he was
left lying, with his left knee mangled,
to bleed to death or to get speedier
quietus from one of the many bullets
that were whistling after the retreating
bluejackets.
1t is astonishing that he escaped being
hit second time, for not only were the
Cinnamon firing with rifles from the fort,
but the men in the boats were using their
machine guns. In five minutes, though,
the worst Of the storm had passed away,
and with the lull Captain Bellamy saw
dark figure slowly drawing near him
from the right. He fully expected to
find that his visitor was one of thu ene-
my armed with mission to put an end
to him, or perhaps drag him into the
fort, where death might be administered
a little at time, and though a brave
man he was much relieved when he was
able to distinguish that the newcomer
was one Of his own people,
/ beg pardon, sir, hoped it was you"
whispered voice, winch tne captain al
once recognized at that OF his coxswa1n.
"Hoped" growled the captain. "What
do you mean by hoping, you scoundrel?
Here I am with my knee smashed, bleed
ing to DEATH"
ssSad news for Miss Violet" muttered
Larch.
"Contound MISS violet ana you tool
Bear hand here and pull me out OF this
If you can. The beggars will be blazing
away again IN minute.
Mustn't move you, sir, till I've tied up
| your Leg said Larch, who had already
! taken of his handkerchief and was sat
sfying himself as to the position of the
wound and the quantity OF blood that
was being lost. tits that big artery on
the inside OF your leg, sir, that's got to
be attended to. II you won't mind my
using my 'baccy box and my handker-
chief-so-now, I'll twist it close"
! Hang it! You're twisting my leg OFT, !"
cried the captain.
| "Never mind, sir" said Larch. Give
stopped the
At that moment the Chinese in the fort
opened fire again.
"What the dickens is the matter with
/ -ou, Larch?" demanded the captain.
| For an instant the coxswain, who had
drawn back with shudder, was silent.
When he spoke, it was with an altered
voice. They've hit me, sir, think, "he
said.
"Then run, man, and take shelter"
urged the captain. "I'm all safe now for
an hour or two, if they don't come out to
look for me-"
"There's wall little to the right.
SIR" said the coxswain, who paid no at
tention to his chiefs orders, "and think
1 can get you behind it if you can drag
| yourself on to my back as l crawl. Only
don't disturb the bandage, SIR"
Captain Bellamy, with great effort,
managed by degrees to work himself on
to the mans back and to clasp Larch
round the neck. II hope, Larch, that
you're not risking too much, but if we
4 get through this therell be Victoria
cross for you as certainly as there'll be a
wooden leg for me-"
"Beg pardon, sir" muttered Larch,
who was now crawling slowly with his
burden toward the wall, but / don't
want any Victoria cross. Would thew
promote me. do YOU think, siry"
i 81 don't doubt it, Larch. You'll get
your warrant"
| Tho coxswa;p otoprad cnddoplv
"What's the natter" cried the captain.
Larch resumed his laborious crawl.
81 was only thinking" he explained.
won't you be wiser to defer your
thinking until we are under the lee OF
that WALTZ" growled the captain. eli