Evening star., 1896-08-22
PART ".

won't attempt to conceal from Won
Mr. Hail. the colonel said to me o1,ie.1v
as we stood In the dark court yard perhans
an hour alter the attack, "either the dan
ger or the Importance Of this ventura of
yours. l think. even II we are attacked
again, that We shall beat them off. but as
you see. without relief We are practically
AZ their mercy in the end, as we have no
iooo' though. thank God, we shall have
plenty OF water from the we'll"
LOOK here.' I said. colonel, I think I
can pretty well guess what the risks ara.
ana 1 m willing to take the chances for the
sake OF the ladies. even II 1t wasn't about
the best chance for myself as far as I can
hsure 1t up, so don't trouble about that 7
may get through, and, again, I NAV NOT
FenNaps the odds are shade on the wrons
side' out you give me just seven hours
mats three to go and four to come hack
pe1ore you try anything else If you don't
I, near OF me by that time. you may reckon
I've got into trouble, coionel-hnt sorna.
how don't think it'll come to that"
the old man put out his hand to me- in
Ine dark, and I gItpped 1t hard. ITS time
! ~ was gong now" I added. Say goodbye
LOTT tor me to the ladies'. colonel. and expect me
back soon after daylight"
l gave his hand another shake. ana lad
my bicycle out through the gateway. keen
Ing clear Of the side where we had piIed
the bodies. though I seemed to myself to
pushed on to get past It. The colonel fol-
lowed me to the entrance, and stood under
the heavy shadow to see me off. I crept
cautiously out into the grayer darkness,
ana Ine iast thing heard was the colonels
whispered farewell: Goodbye Wen look
for you In the morning.
IT was dark-the SOFT mellow darkness
OF the tropical night. I could see the road
that led up to the fort. like a grayer belt
stretching down the slope before me hedr-
ed in by the darker shade of the over-
grown wilderness on each side. Would #
be safe to mount? Not yet, 1 Thought as I
looked apxiously around me- The slope
!eit sure was place Of danger, because
tnere' II anywhere, watch was sura tn
be kept and the slope might at anv mo.
ment bring me against the sky line from
the point of view Of some watcher. 7 de.
termined to wait till reached the bottom
lose all the assistance which the slope
Wouid nave given me. I bent myself al
most double as crept on; drew the bicv-
Gle toward me till It, too, seemed to Green
along the ground.
The stiffness was intense. Not breath
OF air seemed stirring. not a sound rose mn
under the silent heaven. I held INV brea th
az !! went. and yet the beating Of my heart
mao MAGE sound in my ears that seemed as
faculties seemed absorbed by that of az bea1 my
Ing: On and on-a single step at a time.
with pause after each, till at last I reach.
Cd the bottom. + waited a moment to liz.
ton: Ny fancy conjured up dark figures
was not q sound. Should 1 mount nov
Once moro I decided against it. I looked
ahead. and could just make out the dim
gray ribbon Of the path stretching up into
the darkness. I crouched and followed it.
I had no idea 1t had been so long.
could have sworn 1t had taken me an hour
TO climb the slope down which had SEEM
ed to myself to fly only two or three hours