The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-27

an accurate map OF Fort Buchlai and
its approaches at his disposal, a Rus
sian general could take the place, and
nurl his men through the narrow
mountain pass behind into Cashmere
valley.
But Lieutenant Colonel Fraser and
the men under him were not of the
stuff which sells its honor. Donald's
father, stalwart Scot, was in COM
lnand OF Fort Buchlai; and with him
mad come the motherless BARN about
whom this story is woven. A battalion
Oh hlghlanders, portion of a Goorkha
regiment, and a field battery formed
Coionei F'rasers small force-small, but
qulte farge enough to defend the fort,
50 long as treason stayed outside the
PASSIONS. Little Donald was, of course,
the pet Of the camp, being its only
juvenile, and the colonePs son to boor,
lie knew all the Higillanders and artil-
leIymen by name; and romped merrily
with the Goorkhas, those wonderful,
Wlry little warriors-so good humored
IN peace, SO terrible in war The only
person IN all the fort of whom he
| $1,000 IN awe was his father; and, in
ueeu, British commander, on the
iroLllers, with plenary powers of life
ana death, is considerably awe-inspir-
ing. II gave Donald a thrill when he
entered the colonePs strong room at the
Iort' and saw the mysterious despatch
poAes' and the alluring, many colored
maps which crowded its every corner
But toward the big, brass bound box
IN the corner his admiring eyes strayed
most frequently. For well he knew that
III tnaT box lay what Russia hungered
LOT SO hercely-the full and particular
plans of Fort Buchlai.
MY boy" said Colonel Fraser. that
poH, and those maps, must be defended
with our lives if necessary. They
mean uae safety of the Indian empire
90 you understand"
ana Donald understood.
+
II was springtime in the pass of
Anlerah. The new grass bowed blithely
before the winds; and from the north
same an endless train of caravans
the snoWbound trade from beyond
she mountains, let loose from it's wintry
poliuage. Few came from the south in
SpflnSume, save only the overland mail
runners, and messengers from the gov
eminent, hence it occasioned much
pleasurable surprise among the lonely
oIlcers Oh the fort when three distin-
sulshed visitors arrives at their gates
from the direction of Cashmere.
The new corners carried credentials
from the viceroy of India. himself in
winch their names and dignities were
reclted at great length. They were,
SAID The Viceroy, Frenchmen of inter-
national reputation; and, as such, Colo
nel fraser was ordered to show them
every attention.
From the very first Donald did not
IKE these venturesome Frenchqnen. To
the colonel and his officers they seemed
pleasant gentlemen enough; but nothing
Iouiu inuuce the boy to make friends
With his fathers guests Instead of sir
ting al the mess table. as was his cue-
tom, he stole off to the soldiers quar-
-ers ana, seeking OUT a gigantic High (
ander, his special crony, to him reveal /
ed the causes of his dislike
ihere are three of en-. Neill." he
SAID. First there's Captain Ferrier.
Hes little, thin man-like a fox ter (
Ter only he can't look in your eye as
OK terriers always do. Then there's
ne Baron de Bellot-a big, fat fellow, /
Win moustache like my fathers shay (
ns pfushes- The third is professor
doIgo1 MS name, but he wears blue /
'pectacles, and sneaks about like a
MeiH Cameron shook his head doubt
lilly. Sat doesna sound like French
men, whateffer," he said. "Frenchnpen
ire merry fellows-laugh an sing all sa
ime. 90
When those fellows laugh" ouoth
Donald, they are just pretending
" men they were in fathers room I saw
ne OLD chap with the blue goggles.
about looking at the maps
L don't believe they're French
nen at ALL"
But sa gofernor cheneraPs creden-
lals, whateffern' protested Neill.