The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-02-28

darkness they missed him, ana ne 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 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
q little at time, and though q 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, which the captain at
once recognized at that of his coxswain.
"Hoped2" growled the captain. "What
do you mean by hoping, you scoundrela
Here am with my knee smashed, bleed
ing to DEATH"
''Sad 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. cts 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"
| Slang it'll You're twisting my leg off, :"
cried the captain.
s'Never mind, sir" said Larch. "Tve
stopped the
At that moment the Chinese in the fort
opened fire again.
"What the dickana is the matter with
you, Larch?" demanded the captain.
For an instant the coxswain, who had
|
When he spoke, 1t was with an altered
voice. They've hit me, sir, think, he
said.
"Then run, man, and take shelter"
urged tho captain. "Tm all safe now for
an hour or two, if they don't come out tic
! look for me-"
| "Theres wall little to the right,
SIR" said the coxswain, who paid no at
tention to his chiefs orders, "and think
/ 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 therell be Victoria
cross for you as certainly as there'H be a
wooden leg for me-"
Beg pardon, Sir, muttered Darch,
who was now crawling slowly with his
burden toward the wall, "but 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 matter" 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. 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
| goingp'
Larch sank down by the captains side.
"Beg pardon, sir" he said after pause,
sbut may I speak 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 rush.
eve been fool" he said. II knew II
all along, only wouldn't see it. I've
had mad dreams of promotion, not to q
warrant only, but to 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
begged from her maid. Yet / know
quite well that it can't be. For her sake
wouldn't have it to be IL it could be
And there's only one end to it. Sh'
mustn't know, but can tell you, sir
that, though you are my captain, !
wasn't for that that went out to lool
for you tonight. 1t was because you ar
her father-Miss Violet's--and may Goo
bless her and forgive mev'
He staggered to his feet, and withou
another word bent his head and dashed
toward the fort, firing his revolver wild
ly as he went.
The enemy answered with u volley
and the captain heard the coxswain fal
on the other side of the wall.-W. Lairt
Cloves in London Sketch.
Dynamos.
There exists general and deeply root
ed idea that direct current dynainos o
very high potential are not at all prac