The herald., 1897-01-19
: FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH ;
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SiON AioAIf TIC DfdsSy shs
waste of dry African scrub-an acr'u,
treeess desert--as small part! u
English troopers, with sub-heuteiai''
in command, came slowly along sho"
ing by the drawn faces of the men a'la
the tired droop of the horses heaus
| how much they had suffered from the
burning heat of the day, when even
now had only given way to sultry'
insupportable heaviness. They were
still eight miles from their DESTINATION
a small military depot temporarily
placed there on account or one OIL our
many little frontier disturbances. Inc
young officer had but lately come from
England, and was, therefore, more az
fected by the heat than his men, VINO
were mostly acclimatizedI He was
good specimen of the English soldier,
who goes out in their thousands TO
water with their blood the soil of our
vast possessions. Tonight fatigue was
telling on him, and he had haggard
look that caused his sergeant Ca sea-
soned vesseD to look at him anXiously.
Presently the officer spoke: The
horses have done WELL sergeant; but it
is beginning to tell on them; believe
If they had an ounce more to carry,
they would sink under IT,"
AS he soke his charger suddenly
raised his head and pricked his ears.
as if he saw something unexpected, and
there by the side of the track they saw
a Zulu lying on his sice, with his head
on his arm. The sergeant dismounted,
and so did the officer.
The motionless figure, a magnificent
specimen of the Zwangi tribe, consider
ably over six feet in height was appa-
rently dead, with CLASSY eyes sunk and
fixed, and the jaw fallen. disclosing the
tongue, black and cracked with fever
and thirst.
He is dead" said the sergeant: dead
of the fever, poor chap No doubt he
was sick, and the rest left him to die"
and so saying, he turned to remount
ooh, no, Anderson; don't think he IS
dead. l fancy his eyes move
The sergeant, with a pitying smile at
the lieutenant, who was not so much
used to dead men as he was; proceeded
to turn the heavy body over, when, 20
his astonishment, the eye certainly did
move.
You are right, SIR" he exclaimed:
"he is alive, but what can we do with
him?''
do with him?" replied the officer.
"why. take him on with us, to be- sure.
He can have my horse and l can walk"
The sergeans heard with dismay.
We'll, sir, or course. We can 90 that.
but you must let him have my horse /
am more used to this kind of walking
than you"
He will go on my horse" said the
lieutenant shortly, and so it was ar
ranged. The huge form of the Zwangi,
naked except for the belt of feathers
was hoisted onto the horse, and the
soldiers fastened him securely with their
belts. ana made him as easy as circum-
stances permitted, using their cloaks to
make rough couch, and patient Bevs
started on again, no doubt wondering
why his slim young master had sudden
ly grown so heavy.
The soldiers looked at each other in
silent astonishqment at such an ano-
maly as the officer walking whilst the
men rode at ease, but no one dared
speak, Lieutenant Drummond. though
very popular with the men, was not one
to permit discussion.
The sergeant mentally decided that
further Oh he would effect a change by
stratagem.
The lieutenant led the heavily bur
dened horse. and often glanced at the
helpless rider. who always glared at
him with the same unseeing CLASSY eyes.
They had wearily done another three
miles, when Anderson said: IF you'll
excuse my mentioning it, sir I'm doubt
full if Bevis will keep up another four
or five miles with that weight; he amt
accustomed to it. and it presses on him
'eavy after long day. My horse is used
to it, me riding fifteen stone, and think
we ought to change him for a bit, and
let me have turn at walking"
This artful diplomacy had the desired
effect, the poor sufferer, unknowing and
unheeding, was again lifted and fastened
on to the sergeant's horse. Another two
hours broght them to their destination.
where ZwananaZanizi (his master al
ways said two coughs and a sneeZe ex-
pressed his name) was tenderly nursed
by the officer and his men. He never left
Lieutenant Drummonti's side but in fair
weather and in foul, in peace and in war,
he was always close to his masters stir
rup. He never grasped any title by
which to address him. and so was per-
mitted to call him Jack" to the scandal
of the soldiers, but he was a favorite
with all. always helpful and oblging,
never forgetting the kindness they had
shown him in his adversely.
A merry party was gathered at after
noon tea in comfortab BILE room in Chelt-
enham, discussing the order for the
troops to be sent on active service in
Afghanistan with that comfortable,
chatty indifference to what is meant by
active service that is natural to persons
who have none near and dear to them
heart one experiences on hearing that
such and such a regiment is ordered to
the seat of war.
L could not join in the light talk my
heart was heavy as lead, for had sever
al relatives going to that far-distant
land, which had already proved the
grave of so many Englishmen.
The chief cause of distress among the
assembled ladies seemed to be that Cap
tain Drummond. the darling of Chelten-
ham society, was about to be snatched
from them before any one had secured
50 eligible a matrimonial prize.
I'VE shall miss Captain Drummond
dreadfully," said Lefty Orme, a languid-
looking blonde.
Miss him!" exclaimed her friend
Ethel Woods, a striking brunette with
sparkling eyes and an audacious little
should miss him indeed. He is the best
waltZer in Cheltenham, or in London, L
belive."
by the bye, Ethel" said a third you
are such chums with Captains Drum
mond, perhaps you can throw some light
on the mysterious bracelet he Wears-a
thick rough gold bangle-you must have
noticed it, for though he wears it out of
sight it sometimes slips over his hand''
Miss Woods, could throw no light on
the subject which was eXhaustively dis
cussed, the popular idea being that it
was some toEan of am unhappy love af-
fair. This seemed a soothing solution,
giving some reason for his hitherto ad-
a ma n time raf1l q,a1 tO GaiZe the halt held