The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-05

Frightened of being killed, Jen-
kins?' I asked.
KILLED be-"
His little body was shaking with
eagerness.
He was full of fight. His breathing
was quick, not SO much because of the
exertion as thirst to come up with the
blacks.
Fletcher" said the officer to me,
Z want you to go with six men along
to that first lump of rock; get up it
and see how the enemy are lying
Yes, sir.
And if they're a good way off, wait
till we come up. But if you're within
range, double back"
Yes, sir"
Take me with you, Fletcher" said
Jenkins, when l was looking down the
line.
l took three of the men on each side.
The chief thing was to keep low and
not offer too great a target. From
the top of the rock one might see over
the other great boulders that blocked
the way to the enemy. They were
drawing US on, evidently, for once the
main body was among the rocks it
would be impossible to keep the square.
However, that wasn't my lookout.
All the slxirmishers started off again;
but when we got about 300 PAGES from
the rock the majority squatted with
ready rife to cover the seven Of US
who went on.
1t wasn't so easy edging forward. The
sand was as soft as powder and as hot
as fire. Somehow, although l loosened
every button [ could, my clothes were
oppressively tight. 1 swore at ever be-
ing sent on to feel the way. There
isn't any glory about it; only the
chance of being killed a little earlier.
The blood in my head was beating like
a pump, and my tongue was as hard
and as dry as leather The only thing
in all the world l then wanted was a
good gulp at quart of beer.
Some of the blacks up the rocks IN
derstood what we were up to, and we
could see them jumping and dashing
down to the main body to give warn
ing.
shall I have a pot at them?" asked
Jenkins, whose fingers We're playing
nervously with the trigger.
mo. you fool keep quiet" 1 bawled.
He lost all feeling of thirst and weari-
ness I've seen men like him before,
but I've never seen such a wretched
Knightsbridge clerk painting to get at
the throat of the enemy. who could
break his weak back before he could
utter a curse.
Let's do a rush for it before those
chaps get down." I shouted.
+hink those in he Sult9re must have
wondered what we We're doing We
scampered along as fast as weary limbs
would carry rs The arid desert breath
brought with it the frenzied yelling of
the Sudanese, and carried it way to
our men. We were nearly a mile ahead
of them. and Jenkins was tearing along
like maniac.
In the dash his helmet fell off. He
did not stop 10 pick it up, but he plowed
on through the sand as though life itself
We're at the end of the race.
"You-you fool,' I called to him.
You'll get the stroke" for he had only
his red cotton handkerchief tied about
his forehead
He gave his head a slight turn. His
thin drawn face looked as if it were
tied up in a knot His lips were as
tight as the doors of hell. All the
blood seemed 10 have been knocked out
of him. for the color of his complexion
was ashen. His eyes We're protruding;
fierce, angry, defiant filled with hate.
When a soldier gets in that state there's
no stopping him.
It's not the brave men that score a
victory. It's the mad men,