The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-04-02

gers urSt, L TeplleU. SullClent Luz IN
day are the ructions thereof
with these remarks he left me, int
I sat in my powder magazine await
ing events. The hours crept by very
slowly. l tingled with excitement, for
l knew the next hour would determine
our faith. At length, in the pitchy
darkness, the drummer boy, with his
only eye glowing in the b%lackness like
a carbuncle, whispered softly: Cap
tain, they're coming!' Still l waited.
Then, in the deathlike stiffness. a
yell broke on the startled air. / knew
the crucial moment had come. and |
i pressed a button. There was d
whirring sound. Then all was quiet
again, until a cheer from my men
rang out, and l knew that all was
well. Selling my club, l hurried out
into the darkness. Everything vas
dark as-as the war ofiice-and the
fort a deserted.
lust outside the gate l stumbled
across a body. l turned it over with
my foot. 1t was a niger in full wal
paint and unarmed. Then l knew that
my plan had succeeded. Hurrying
forward, whittier a dull thud, varied
by an occasional groan. guided me,
found my gallant BOmbardiers club
DllS LUZ NcdI lllc-lUI tUG Va OuclS
and barrels of their muskets had been
removed by my Understanding a sour
rying crowd of savages.
We'll, sir, we banged and banged,
until we could no longer raise our
arms. AS day broke l ordered the
drummer to beat to quarters. He was
nowhere to be found. Shouting to my
men, | ordered them to retire to the
fort. Then the sun rose, and what Il
sight met Il eyes! Every cannon in
the fort was studded with spears and
knives as thick as a pudding is OF
plums, as close as Il pin cushion is of
pins.
What had happened will be obvious
to you. BY the telegraph wires and
an electric battery in the powder mag
azine | had turned all my II into
electromagnetic of forty horsepower.
Consequently. as soon as the enemy
were within range ! turned on the cur
rent. Every steel weapon in the hands
of the niggers simply whirled out of
their grasp and stuck like horse leech-
eS to my magnets.
THE absence of the drummer boy
was soon explained. AS, against my
distinct orders, he had been wearing
a hanger when | turned the current
on, he flew against the nearest gun
and stuck there as Il G. O. does to a
decoration. 1t took six men to haul
him off.
Then, in the JOY of victory, a sud
den dread anne owe me-. How about
the three men-of-war? The foreign
power ought to have landed its myr.
midons by this time. Scourged by my
miSapprehensions. ] hurried to the
cos, ~ o,1 ottln,,pytS nf thn fort
There, in the gray dawn, a strange
sight met my eyes.
MAILED to the cruel rocks to the
westward of Damli lay these three
m~en-of-war, hopeless wrecks. buifeted
by the waves against the grinding
crags. What had happened was sim
pie enough. Damne, sir. II flashed
across me in an instant. The force OF
my seward magnets had been Sucl
that it had deranged the compasses OF
these vessels. Following their distort
ed guidance, they had run ashore or
the reef westward of the fort.
Even as | watched. | saw a boa
push off from the wrecked flag ship
At once | donned the graceful uniform
of my regiment, the MunchauSen's
Own, as the service fondly termed IT
and drew up my gallant ninety-thref
in platoons to await our %vanquishet
foe. A tall officer, of gallant bearing
his dripping uniform decorated with
star. stepped ashore.
"'Field marshall said he, bowling t.
me with a grace that left me M
doubt that ] was standing in the pres
ence of a prince of the blood royal. :
have the honor to surrender to you m,
sword,
"'Not field marshall l replied. &C
ceDting the sword, as | marked the di
Almonds flashing in it's hilt. only
captain of her Majesty's loyal regi
ment of Munchausen's Own 'Ah
said his highness, turning to his fol
lowers, what chance have we agains
a nation where such men arc only cap
tains?' Bowling low. he followed me
my prisoner. into the fort.
'"rhat, sir. is the true history of th'
defense of Damli. The end is plair
After my victory they sent a genera
from home who reaped its fruits. VIII
was rewarded by a grateful countr,
by sticking every condemned letter o
the alphabet after his blighted name
But the nation has yet to lean t
whose they w the victor
of Damli. You We're pleased TO OF
serve. sir? Fh. sir? What, sir? You
cbedient servant, sir. Waiter. two q
; tho same, with a slice of lemon
New Budget.