The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-25
FOR WOMAN'S SAKE.

presence one very not morning.
Sergeant, I have telegram from the
general saying that this COMPOUNDED mua
tiny has broken out in this province. Take
ten men, with four spare horses, and ride
down at once. Tell them they are to rec.
turn with you as soon as the horses are
rested
eyes sir. May pick my own men?'
Certainly" The colonel rose and walk
ed over to the sergeant. 81 don't mind
telling you, BolithO, what have not told
any one else-I feel very nervous My
wife and her sisters would go to this place
last week, and my children are with
them
"Trust me, sir I will bring them back
safely. Rest quite assured about that.
will start at once Saluting gravely, he
left his chiefs room, leaving him quite at
ease about his wife and children.
Ernest Bolitho Was the sphinx of the
gallant Seventh. No one knew why he
was in the ranks. Every one liked him,
no one could help seeing that he was a
thorough gentleman. All they knew was
that his past had been an unhappy one,
and that he had been more sinned against
than SHINING.
He had steadily refused to take come
mission, telling the colonel privately that
he could do more good by living with his
men. Foremost in sports and manly exer-
cises, he strove to wean his men from the
deadly canteen by interesting them in
shooting cricket and such like.
In an hour the party trotted out of the
station into the glaring heat of the sun,
By dint of very carefully riding and judis
cious short halts the bungalow was reach-
ed in four hours.
Bolitho dismounted his men in the
compound and unsaddled the horses. The
natives struck him as looking surly, and
f1,I1 aI,ov,c
where the ladies were at tea. The butler
started when he saw Bolitho enter and
after brief pause drew him into an adj
joining room.
"Quick, mani What do you want?''
'Sahib, y said the butler CHANGING nerve
ously round, "you saved my poor boys
life when the tiger had got him down, and
if 1 am killed for it 1 will repay you.
The servants have heard that party
of native cavalry is coming up to loot the
house"
Rapidly entering the tearoom, he, in a
few terse sentences, informed the ladies
that the colonel was very ill.," and they
were to lose no time, but to ride as they
were.
Mrs. Rose, with pale face, placed her
children in the troopers arms, and after
helping her sister to mount was placed in
the saddle by Bolitho.
Twelve miles were covered, and they
had arrived at the foot of a steep hill,
crowned on the top with a small wood,
round which a low, broad mud wall had
been built.
In pressing up this hill Mrs. Roses
! horse fell, fortunately not injuring the rid
err. Instead of rising it remained on the
ground, and Bolitho found that it was dy-
| ing.
Calling the men aside their sergeant or
dered them to place their carbines against
] the wall, and to put Mrs. Roses saddle
| his horse, at the same time informing
them in an authoritative tone that they
were to make the best of speed on to camp.
Madam, kindly send a horse for me
when you get back to camp, as it is too
! hot to walk. -
Mrs. Rose grateful for his considera-
ton and quite unaware of the real facts
of the case, promised she would.
| Away they went, the children laughing
and waving their hands to him, standing
alone in the road and the ladies wonder
| ing how they would find the colonel.
Bolitho had seen the dust coming in a
cloud about three miles behind them-he
guessed their enemies were on their track
and saw certain death to the whole party
before him.
Clasping the carbines in his arms, he
| got over the low wall and arranged them
in such way as to be readily able to fire
/
| case and laid that ready, and then knelt
down with gun in his hand behind the
wall.
Suddenly over the brow of the nearest
hill poured a squadron of native cavalry,
coming at a gallop down to the foot Of the
hill upon the top of which Bolitho was
| intrenched
He judged then they were in range, and
taking quick shot he fired his carbine
o111 bar nd aS hat
discharged He poured five shots in quick
succession into the mass of troopers.
His aim was deadly, and deceived by the
| rapidity of the shots the enemy was check
ed, and ha1ting suddenly wheeled off
! sharply and retired hundred yards, leav-
ing three dead men and two horses behind
| them.
On again getting to the foot of the hill
they unbuckled their carbines and began
a vigorous fusillade of the wood. In mo-
ment BolithO was struck in three places.
Realizing all was over, he crawled to a
free and got himself propped against it.
| Still uncOnquered, with a revolver in his
right hand and blood oozing from his
wounds, he was at bay, and nobler quarry
no hunter ever saw.
The natives, hearing no further firing,
began to take courage, and after final
volley again returned to the charge.
But bark! He hears his regimental call
brayed out; then the charge is sounded,
and with hoarse cheer a squadron Of his
own regiment came galloping round the
plantation and crashed into the rebels.
Short and sharp was the reckoning, and
within five minutes the whole body were
either dead or prisoners.
Their work done, the troopers swar1ned
into the wood, headed by the colonel him
self, in search of their cotnrade and found
him dying against the tree. Kneehng be-
side him, the colonel placed his arm round
the wounded man.
My poor fellow Are you much hurt?'
"Done for, sir, gasped BolithO. "Are
the ladies safe?'
Eyes; you saved them. A mile from
here we found them, horses quite done up
the quarter of an hour you gave them