The leader., 1897-02-17
JENKINS OF THE 53RD.
ny JOHN FOSTER FRASER.

we ever had.
A hot wind rolled like a mist across
the desert, and our eyes and ears and
threats were filled with sand. There
wasn't man who didn't curse.
The brown water We had was warm
1t seemed our clothing worked up oul
backs, and stopped there. My tongue
felt as though it were rs big as an
egg; my head throbbingly ached just
as if there was an iron band about it
and all the time we had to push on
over the soft sand, with the officers
yelling US to keep the square, the cam.
els screaming as only Soudanese cam.
els can scream, and overhead the blaze
of the scorching African sun trying
10 set us on fire, while away up the
baked rocks we could discern the der,
wishes skipping about and occasional.
" waving the green flag Of the prophet
You've seen pictures of an army going
into battle-the bands playing, the ban.
ners fluttering, the men marching In
solid lines, the officers on careering
horses, and with drawn swords!
Well, we didn't look anything like
that. There was no band and no flag
We were all too mad with the heat to
even keep step, and were scattered
about like lot of beaters in coursing
match. Most of us hal our jackets
open, and some of us stuck dirty red
cotton handkerchiefs under the he'll
NETS to ward off the sur And our
clothes were torn and dusty, our boots
were brown and hard; none of us had
shaved for month, and for the last
three days there hadn't been drop OF
water to wash in.
There was no talk about the glory
of fighting. We didn't care hang
about victory, or England, or queen
That's all right to tell folks at dinners
they give us when we get home after the
campaign.
Ward was Tuning about blister he
bad on his heel, and wondering why
the hangment we couldn't form where
we were, and let the Soudanese come to
lis.
Llllle JtuklnS was III 1unK.
Its not as I'm thinkin I'll be shot,"
he said, but my knees are just as shaky
ss an old nags. I'm blessed If | can
50 much further. Lor', I'd give week s
pay for 'alf pint. Do you feel dizzy
like, Fletcher?"
"Oh, dry up!" l said.
was wild with the agony of march
ing, the blasts of sand that met us, the
shouting, the cursing when the gun
carriages stuck!
This ere fightin's a rum 'un," he
added, hoarsely. would yer rather
be killed wi bullet or spear
Fletcher?"
I'm not goin' TO be killed at all" l
growled. Look out!"
One of the mules appeared as if it
had gone mad, for it began jumping
and shrieking, and the whip only made
it worse.
We knew the great mass of the
enemy was about two miles ahead.
Wecoud see them bobbing about among
the rocks.
Away on our right, over broken
ground and burnt bushwood, were
about so of them popping n. us from be-
hlnd powders. But the shots fell short,
although we were marching nearer
them
Soon there came a singing swish
through the air. Every man who heard
1t ducked his head. We looked at each
other and grimly smiled.
That bloke amt much of a shot. "
kald Ward; "he fires too high"
Then there started more bullet whiz-
zing.
open out, men; confound you! why
cont you open out" roarcd the colonel,
who was following up behind the face
Of the square.
We scattered bit, but not much.
everybody seemed to be in everybody
else's way.
what an ass to put us under fire like
.his! someone shouted a little way
Gown the line.
"A bullet caught camel in the rump.
ihe brute tried to rear, but it couldn't.
ana then it tumbled. It's eyes flashed
Win fright as l had never seen a cam
els eyes flash.
guess" said Jenkins, who was
trembling, sit 'ud be best to get wipe
IN The arm first. Then one 'ud be able
70 get inside tn ambulance"
-, You beastly little shrimp" yelled
ward, who was on the other side; "d'ye
want to skimp it?"
ihe bullets began dropping amongst
ihere's no use denying it; / was
seared. 1t was a miserable sort of
way playing at war. Whei. heard one
:, 'ne men down the line groan as his
.neek was torn up. and saw another
tumble with his face downwards, and
.oaimenee biting the saed when his
angh was ripped open it was difficult
ior me to breathe.
never saw such excitement. The
S.aeers rushed about shouting until we
ua know what TO do. Yet we kept
1osing forward over the hillocks OF
saao' our lips cracked, our eyes burning
aao giaring like balls of fire, swearing
:. one another, and all swearing at the
!, ,ppNardiy niggers sheltering beyond
'ne powders.
y nat time is it now at Knights
slioge?" asked Jenkins, his thin face
twitching.
Same time as it is at London BRIDGE
letorted, with an oath.
LOOK here, Fletcher. If I'm killed.
a ~, my name be put in the papers,"
smut up; you're too little to hit"
Cause" he said. ''I'ye gal who's a
s'asey. an'--an'-"
we both saw Ward double up. lie had
~ ssea hi IN the stomach. He dropped
:. nue. and looked round az II b