The herald., 1894-03-20

|
been already shown, he failed and fell.
His men surged past him for a 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 speediei
! quietus from one of the many bullets
that were whistlina after the retreating
! bluejaGkets.
1t 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 fiEe minutes, though,
the worst of the storm had passed away,
and with the lull Captain Bslhamy 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 a mission to put an end
to him, or perhaps drag him into the
fort, where death might be administered
little at a time, and though 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 a voice, which the captain at
once recognized at that Of his coxswain.
Hoped" growled the captain. ''What
do you mean by hoping, you scomdrel?
Here am with my knee smashed, bleed
ing to deathp
tSad news for Miss Violet" muttered
Larch.
"Confound Miss Violet and 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 off his handkerchief and was sat
isfying himself as to the position of the
wound and the quantity of blood that
was being lost. ''Its 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-
ehief-so-now, I'll twist it close"
Hang It'll You're twisting my leg off,"
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
you, Larch?" demanded the captain.
For an instant the coxswain, who had
drawn back with a 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 a wall a little to the right,
sir" said the coxswain, who paid no at
tention to his chiefs orders, "and l think
l 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 great effort,
managed by degrees to work himself on
to the mans back and to clasp Larch
round the neck. Il hope, Larch, that
you're not risking too much, but if we
get through this there'll be a 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 1 don't
want any Victoria cross. Would they
promote me, do you think, sir?"
81 don't doubt it, Larch. You'll get
your warrant"
The coxswain stopped Suddenly.
"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
that WALTZ" growled the captain. "If
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
motion as if to return whence he had
come the captain cried; "Stay in here,
you idiot. Where the dickens are you
goingT
Larch sank down by the captains side.
"Beg pardon, sir. he said after pause,
"but may speak my mind out to you
just for this once as between man and
MANI"
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 rush
I've been fool" he said. Il knew it
all along, only l wouldn't see it, I've
had mad dreams Of promotion, not to a
warrant only, but to a commission. I've
thought of nothing but her. I've kissed
the earth she has trodden upon. I've
hoped; I've prayed. Look in that 'baccy
box when they take off your bandage,
and you'll find bit of her hair that l
begged from her maid. Yet l know
quite well that it can't be. For her sake
| wouldn't have it to be if it could be.
And there's only one end TO it. She
mustn't know, but l can tell you, sir,
that, though you are my captain, it
wasn't for that that l went out to look
for you tonight. 1t was because you are
her father-Miss Violet's-and may God
bless her and forgive mel'
He staggered to his feet, and without
another word bent his head and dashed
toward the fort, firing his revolver wild.
ly as he went.
The enemy answered with volley,
A1,,.o .4,.s-- I. Il ~