The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-03-23

Tho three hours elapsed, the demands
were not granted, and with absolute
~punctuality tiny arysolite began to shell
tne fort from ner 8 inch B. L. guns.
The Cinnamon lsid low and did not re-
ply with SO mucn as a singao shot. Mis-
led by their silence, Captain Bellamy
after dusk had fallen led ashore a much
weaker landing party than he would
have employed had he anticipated re-
~sfstance. Not until the men had tum-
bled out of the boats did the enemy open
fire, and then the captain knew he had
made a 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 him for q 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 q speedier
quietus from one of the many bullets
that were whistling after the ~retreating
b~luejackets.
It is astonishing that he escaped being
hit a 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
q dark figure slowly drawing near him
from the right. He fully expected to
find that his visitor was one of the enc
my armed with q mission to put an end
to him, Or perhaps drag him into the
fort, where death might be administered
q little at a 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, I hoped it was you"
whispered,a voice, which the captain at
once recognized at that of his coxswain.
"Hopedf' growled the captain. sWhat
do you Q by hoping, you scoundrel?
Here l am with my knee smashed, bleed
ing to deathr
"Sad news for Miss Violet" muttered
Larch.
"Confound Miss Violet and you tool
Bear a hand here and pull me out Of this
if you can. The beggars will be blazing
away again in a minute"
Mustn't move you, SIR, till I've tied up
your leg" said Larch, who had already
taken off his handkerchief and was sat
isfying himself as to the position Of the
wound and the quantity of blood that
was being lost. '1t's that big artery on
the inside of your leg, sir, that's got to
be attended to. If you won't mind my
using my 'baccy box and my handker-
chief-so-now, I'll twist it close"
..Hang It'll You're twisting my leg of"
cried the captain.
.sNever mind, sir" said Larch. .rve
stopped the
At that moment the Chinese in the fort
opened fire again.
"What the dickens is the matter with
you, Larch?" demanded the captain.
For an instant the coxswain, who had
drawn back with q shudder, was silent.
When he spoke, it was with an altered
voice. They've hit me, sir, I think" he
said.
"Then run, man, and take shelter"
urged the captain. tsTm all safe now for
an hour or two, if they don't come out to
look for me-"
There's wall a little to the right,
sir" said the coxswain, who paid no at
tention to his chiefs orders, land I think
I can get you behind it if you can drag
yourself on to my back as / crawl. Only
don't disturb the bandage, sir"
Captain Bellamy, with q great effort,
managed by degrees to work himself on
to the mans back and to clasp Larch
round the neck. 81 hope, Larch, that
you're not risking too much, but if we
get through this there'n be a Victoria
cross for you as certainly as fheren bea
wooden leg for me-"
"Beg pardon, sir" muttered Larch,
who was now crawling slowly with his
burden toward the wall, ssbut I don't
want any Victoria cross. Would they
promote me, do You think, STRIP
II don't doubt it, L4arch. You'll get
your warrant"
The coxswain stopped suddenly.
"What'st the matter?' cried the captain.
Larch resumed his laborious crawl
II was only thinking" he explained.
won't you be wiser to defer your
thinking until we are under the lee Of
that wall2" growled the captain. eff
those fellows fire any more, we're done
for"
The coxswain made no reply, but
dragged himself on, yard by yard, until
at length he gently deposited his load be-
hind the thick stone shelter. As he made
a motion as if to return whence he had
come the captain cried: tssStay in here,
you idiot. Where the dickens are you
goingY'
Larch sank down by the captains side.
"Beg pardon. sir" he said after q pause,
shut may Ispeak my mind out to you
just for this once as between man and
man?'
Certainly you may" replied the cap
tain, somewhat astonished at the Ques-
ton.
Having got permission, Larch neither
hesitated nor attempted to restrain him.
self. His confession came with a rush.
eve been a fool" he said. 81 knew it
all along, only / wouldn't see it. I've
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