Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-01-09

startled by the report, first claimed my
attention, and then, as I slippedin one
of my two remaining cartridges, I
wondered what next should be done.
Was the man dead or shamming?
Had he friends near who would be at
tracted by the report? Should stay
where I was or make bolt? l final
ly decided to wait few minutes and
watch.
Not a sound. Nothing moved. So
carefully and quietly I crePt up the
donga, and by detour made my way
to the back of the pile of rocks. A
movement in their shadow caused me
to drop fiat among the stones, till l
saw that it was only the Beers horse
quietly grazing out into the moonlight.
So the man was still there, but was he
alive and waiting, or was he dead and
safe? Cautiously l crept nearer and
nearer, with my carbine ready. Still
no sign. At last see something. Is
it branch or a crevice? 1t is a rife,
and its shadow lying across the rocks.
Enough Even if alive he is in my
power now. I walk boldly forward.
There, near the rifle, down among the
stones, is a huddled heap. 1t is the
first man | have ever shot. l cont
quite know what to do. | push him
with my foot No response. He Is
dead. How strange it seems ! a few
minutes ago this dead bundle was as
full Of life as I. Every muscle and
nerve, every sensation in fullest work
ing order, and now but one little act
ofmine, and the whole is thus collapsed.
Only now the moon was looking
down on two human beings approach
inc each other over the wide veldt. a
moment later she looks sadly down on
one standing beside the crumpled re-
mains of the other.
I
The two horses are still grazing
peacefully on opposite sides of the
rocks.
reused myself from my musings
and took up the dead mans rifle. 1t
was a Martini Henry After appro'
priatlng its cartridge, | knocked out
the block axis pin and threw the block
away, 50 that it might no longer be o.
use to an enemy. And then | thought
to replenish my own ammunition from
the enemys store and turned again tc
the corpse.
I felt a reluctance to touch the pool
limp thing, but his haversack was part
" underneath him and had to be go
out. That done, drew the cold hands
down 10 the sides and Strengthened ou
the legs, but could not 60 so far as t
turn the body on its back-I feared t'
see the face. In the haversack founC
besides the cartridges Bible anC
some rusks and "biltong" (sun Dire
meaty. The cravings OF hunger wer
reawakened by the sight of food and
was soon munchlng away at my new
ly acquired supply, while l still stooc
in kind of fascination over the bod!
of my victim.
How strange to be eating the foo'
prepared for one who had no need 10
it To be tasting the flavor, whicI
somehow did not altogether like, tha
possibly he would have been tastlni
now had not all power of taste sud
denly gone out of him forever! The
his Bible lying there reminded me tha
we were both practically of the sam
belief. Two Christians, whose rellgIo
told them to love one another, meet
inc in the midst of heather land
strangers to each other on earth, bu
brothers in spirit. We meet-to gree
each other with peace and goodwill
No, but without even word OF ange
one to kill the other.
And a great remorse comes over M
What right had to take his life? B
killing him, in what torrent Of gri'
: and ruin may l not have involved
wife and BARNS? Did l not fire b.
fore there was need for it? In vain
tell myself that had l not killed hi
he would have gathered me.
2 All feeling of animosity Is drownt
in that of pity. At any rate if b
comrades find him they shall kno
e that we "Rooi-batches" bear no grudg
> bat have some good feeling in US. Nj
S it help to dispose them more peace
bly, toward us.
! So, after a very short meal, ste
V the ammunition and the remainder
: the food into my pocket. Then dr.
l the body from where it lies, leavl
y only black, shining blOtch among t
r, stones, into shallow cleft betwe
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