Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-03
PART III.

- '.t. -' PART III.
"And Reuter- not herev' cried the two
veterans. exultantly clutching at their note
books. "Merryweathcr shot! Where?
When? How?'
he had seen.
you heard nothing?'
Nothing"
well. a shot loses itself very easily
among rocks. By George. look at the buzz
zards!'
Two large brown birds were soaring in
the deep blue heaven. AS Scott spoke they
circled down and dropped into the little
khor.
That's good enough" said Mortimer with
his nose between the leaves OF his book
'Merryweather headed dervishes stop re-
turned stop shot mutilated stop raid COM
munications. How's that?"
You think he was headed OFF,
why else should he return?'
In that case. if they We're out In front o, OF
him and others cut him off, there must De
several small raiding parties"
II should Judge so'
How about the 'mutilatedT"
I've fought against Arabs BEFORE.
Where are you on tor
"Sarras."
II think I'll race you in said Scott.
Anedley stared in establishment at the
absolutely impersonal way in which these
men regarded the situation. In their zeal
for news it had apparently never struck
them that they, their camp and their serv-
ants. were all in the lions mouth. But
even as they talked there came the harsh
importune rat-tat-tat of an irregular voliey
from among the rocks, and the high Keen
iEg whistle of bullets over their heads.
palm spray fluttered down among them Al
the same instant the six frightened serS-
mats came running wildly in for protection.
1t WIS the c6ol-headed Mortimer who or
ganized the defense, for Scotts Celtic soul
iyn md
was so afame at all this copy IN nAho
and more to come that he was too exuDer-
antly bosterous for a commander Inc
other with his spectacles and his stern lace
soon had the servants in hand
Tall henna!Y Egri! What the devil are
Won frightened about? Put the camels be-
tween the palm trunks. That's right. Now
get the knee tethers on them 4ules! Dlo
you never hear bullets before! Now put
the donkeys here. Not much-you don get
my polo pony to make a zareba with PICK
ct the ponies between the grove ana inc
river out of dangers way. THESE leio~s
seem to fire even higher than they olo IN
80"
That's got home anyhow, said SCOT as
they heard a soft splashing thud like
stone in a mud bank
Who's hit them
The brown camel that's chewing the
cud.''
AS he spoke the creature. its jaws still
working. laid its long neck along the
ground and closed it's dark eyes
That shot cost me fifteen pounds, said
Mortimer, ruefully. How many Of them
do you make?
-Four l think"
"Only four BeZngers at any rate: there
may be some spearsmen.
Il think not: it is little raiding party OF
rifiemen. BY the way. Anerley, you've
never been under fire before, have you?
Never" said the young pressman. who
was conscious of a feeling of nervous Ella
ton.
Love and poverty and war. they are all
experiences necessary to make a. complete
| life Pass over the cartridges. This is a
| mild baptism that you are undergoing. for
| behind these camels you are as safe as if
you were sitting in the back room of the
| Authors Club
LAS safe, but hardly as comfortable"
| said Scott. "a long glass of hook and
| seltzer would be exceedingly acceptable.
| But, oh, Mortimer. what a chance. Think
| of the generals feelings when he hears
| that the first action of the war has been
| fought by the press column. Think of
| Reuter-, who has been stewing at the front
for a week! Think Of the evening pennies
just too late for the fun! BY George, that
| slug brushed a mosquito off met
| "And one of the donkeys Is hit
This is sinful. It will end in our having
to carry our own kits to khartoum."
copy. 1 can see the mead lines-'Raid or
Communications. Murder of British En-
gineer.. Press Column Attacked Won
IT wonder what the next line will be,
said Anerley.
"'our Special Wounded cried Scott
rolling over on to his back. mo harm
again: "only a chip off my knee. This il
getting sultry. 1 confess that the idea o
that back room at the Authors Club be
| gins to grow upon me-"
"Afterward will do. We're having :,
Apply day with Fuzzy on the rush.
wish he would rush.
This is an excellent revolver of mine /
1t didn't throw so devilish high. I Away
aim at q mans toes II l want to stimulate
his digestion. Oh, Lord, there's our KEITH
gomez
With boom like dinner gong Rem
| iEgton bullet had passed through the keith
| and cloud of steam Kissed up from tn
fire. wild shout came from the rock
above.
THE idiots think that they have blown Us
up. They'll rush US now as sure fate
then it will be our turn to lead. Got YOU
revolver. Anerley?'
II have this double = barreled fowline
piece"
Sensible man! It's the best weapon il
< the world at this sort of tumble
l work. What cartridges?"
"Swan-shot."
! bore double barreled pistol loaded will
slugs. You might rs well try to stop on,
r of these fellows with a pea-shooter wit
q a service revolver.
1
THE Geneva convention does not holt
, south of the first cataract. It's easy t,
make bullet mushroom by little ma
. nipulation of the tip of it. When 1 was II
the broken square at Tamai-"
wait a Bit cried Mortimer. adjusting
j his glasses. Il think they are coming
D now"
] THE time,"Isaid Scott swapping up hi
:. watch. being exactly seventeen minute
past four"
Anerley had been lying behind came
Q staring with an interest which bordere
8 upon fascination at the rocks opposite
l., Here was a little woolly puff of smoke. an
e there was another one, but never once ha
they caught q glimpse of the attackers. T
n him there was something weird and awe
some In these unseen. persistent men, VIII
:. minute by minute, were drawing closer t
|. | them. He had heard them cry out whe
e the kettle was broken, and once immsd
o ately afterward an enormously strong voic
n had roared something which had set SEQ,
= struggling his shoulders.
y They've got to take US first" said h,
g and Anerley thought his nerve might b
l. better If he did not ask for translation.
Is The firing had begun at a distance {
s some hundred yards. which put it out {
l. the question for them. with their hghte