The leader., 1897-02-17

In heap.
Two Of the men turned him over. He
was dead. e
All the perspiration seemed 10 iumn
out OF me, and shivered. IL lust felt
as IL ! had been knocked as weak as n
kitten. There's no satisfaction being
killed by man you can't see. IfIwere
going to be killed would like to close
up to the chap.
Jenkins said nothing. But he kept
turning round to see who had been
struck. And all the while the sand was
blowing over us in thin clouds, binding
us, choking us, driving us furious.
why the blazes can't we open fire P"
one Of the sergcants behind me NUT
tered. This amt no fun"
Keep closer, men, keep closer; con-
found you, keep closer!" roared the
colonel.
Il thought e said we was to spread
out bit,' grumbled Jenkins.
1t was slow work getting forward.
We were on the sandy plain, and the
black fellows up in the rocks had q
pretty big target.
l had always thought that a man
yelled when he was ripped into with
o bullet. He just groaned and cursed.
Lots of the shots fell short and
knocked UP little puffs of sandlike
clouds.
"Lord!" grunted Hempson, with the
square chin, "hev | been struck 2"
There was great tear across his Shout
der. Somebody gave a tug at his jacket,
and his gray flannel shirt was redder
than a parade tunic. ut doan't hurt;
not blamed bit"
Then he sat down and tainted.
Il do wonder IL I'm to be HIT" whned
Jenkins.
He could hardly hold his rifle. He was
trembling, his lips as white as his cheek,
and his eyes shifting as though he en-
pected to see the bullet coming. Every
time there was the whistle of one he
started.
lie was miserable little beggar, thin
legged and narrow-chested. think he
came from Knightsbridge way. He had
been clerk. But he was no good at
that, and his folks turned him out of
doors, and then how he lived till he
joined the Fifty-third I'm blessed if l
know. He hadn't enough food as a
youngster. AT least, it looked like
that.
He and were among the skirmishers.
l don't think there was much chance of
us being picked off any quicker than the
others; but Jenkins hand was so shally
he couldn't stick a cartridge in his rifle
When tried to lodge cartridge some
sand blew in and it jammed. That's the
sort Of thing that worries a man when
fighting.
How those blacks pelted us! We all
began grumbling at not firing back.
Don't waste anything!" the colonel
yelled, above the noise. Don't throw
anything away. Don't shoot till you see
the whites of their eyes. Then let into
them!"
The air was suffocating. A hot reek
seemed to hang over us, and began to
feel sick. l felt like tumbling when
fellows cheek was slit down as with
saber.
| There was an awful row amongst the
men with the machine guns. go on;
pull up there!" and down came the
thong OH the mule, which would spring
forward. Hold hard, you fool; do you
want to break the square?" and then
the mules head would be jerked.
Fletcher" whined little Jenkins, "if
should be killed, you might-might
let my gal know. She's IA slavey, as
lives in-Almighty!"
A bullet crashed through his helmet
and went into q mans shoulder behind.
Jenkins staggered as though he had
been hit.
That's pretty narrow squeak. It's
a good job you're little un," / said,
trying to laugh.
Jenkins did laugh; but rather
strangely.
That's your first taste of war;"
added. It'll put life into you like gill
of rum. You'll be all right when you
get up to the blacks. You won't have
time to funk it. You'll have to fight
like the very devil. Buck up!"
He laughed again. And don't think
he trembled quite so much.
| How terribly slow our advance was.
1t was a crawl. We were huddled to-
gether, first swayinC this way, then
that We were tired, dirty and bedrag-
eled. We didn't seem to be taking much
notice of the enemy. We were letting
loose at one another with our tongues.
There was the rattle of gun carriages
and the click of the rifles. The bag
gage in the center of the square was
constantly getting in hopeless mud
die, and the officers were Tuning. And
then the ambulance men got in the
way, and all was confusion, and men
dropping wounded. The banging of
the guns up the rocks was almost lost
in the din.
"Skirmishers out!" the order was
given; and away lot of us dashed to
the front.
That's enough! that's enough;
come back, a lot of you'll"
Only few of the men went back.
The rest started off at the double quick.
We were glad of a bit of elbow room and
bit of excitement. Painting and ex-
hausted we pushed on. The sand threw
I'D the hot glare of the sun in our faces.
| shut my eyes, for the pain was ter
rible.
One of the men shouted: "Hurrah!"
We thought him laundering idiot vast
ing his breath.
"Hold up bit!" shrieked the officer
who came with us.
We were about 500 PAGES in front OF
the square, and we could hear the
hoarse commands, the mad clatter, the
screaming camels. and away in front OF
us rose the yells of the fanatical Sou
danese calling on Allah to help In the
Staying of the infidels.
There was a strange stiffness where
we were; and the singing OF the enemy
and the shouting of our men, and the
pinging of the guns up the rocks only
marked the stiffness.
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