The leader., 1897-02-17


not offer too great a target. From the
top Of the rock one might see over the
other great powders that blocked the
way to the enemy. They " ere drawing
us on, evidently, for once the main body
was amongst the rocks IL would be i'm
possible to keep the square. However,
that wasn't my look out.
All the skirmishers started off again;
but when we got about 300 PAGES from
the rock the majority squatted with
ready rifle to cover the seven of us who
went on.
1t wasn't so easy edging forward.
The sand was ns soft as powder and ms
hot as fire. Somehow, although |
loosened every button 1 could, my
clothes were oppressively tight. swore
AT being sent on 10 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 one thing in all
the world l then wanted was a good
gulp at a quart of beer.
Some of the blacks up the rocks UNI
derstood what we were up to, and we
could see them jumping and dashing
down to the main body to give warning.
Shall l have a pot at them? asked
jenkins, whose fingers were playing
nervously with the trigger.
NO, 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.
Lets do a rush for it before those
chaps get down." shouted.
think those in the square must have
wondered what we were doing. We
scampered along as fast as weary limbs
brought with it the frenzied yelling of
the Soudanese, and carried it away to
Cur men. We were nearly a mile ahead
Of them, and Jenkins was tearing along
like a maniac.
In the dash his helmet fell off. He
did not stop to pick it up; but he plowed
on through the sand as though life itself
were at the end of the race.
"You-you fool" l called to him.
you'll get the stroke" for he had only
his red cotton handkerchief tied about
his head.
He gave his head a slight turn. His
thin, drawn face looked as if it were
tied up in knot. His lips were as
tight as the doors of hell. All the blood
seemed to have been knocked out of
him, for the color of his complexion
was ashen. His eyes were protruding;
fierce, angry, defiant, filed with hate.
When soldier gets in that state there's
no stopping him.
It's not the brave men that score
victory. It's the mad men.
The war cries of the tumultuous
throng away before us broke like can
non roar upon our ears. The force of
the Moslems was almost hid behind the
rocks that studded the plain.
Up the sweep of the hill, however,
there was a cluster, and they opened
fire on us.
But we were scattered, crouching low,
and speeding on swiftly, so that he must
have been good marksman who picked
off any one of us.
l looked behind. The outstretched
skirmishers were slowly following us
up, and far away in the rear was the
heaving, confused square.
The rugged, solitary heap of rock was
not more than 80 yards from us when
we saw horde of the fanatics sweep
ing the side of the hill and coming in
our direction as swift as the wind.
An oath burst from my lips.
Lets go back, men," painted. ITS
no good. Every one of us will be cut
down if we go on"
LET us go on; let us go on" screamed
Jenkins in a thin, excited voice.
l was about to reply when Bright, on
the other side of me, was hit in the
mouth with bullet. For about three
seconds he danced backwards, and then,
tween his torn lips, he hung his head
and reeled forward to the ground.
THAT was a chance shot; I'll swear it
was a chance shot," exclaimed Jenkins,
becoming furious.
DRY up, and don't talk like fool"
Nv eyes were filled with sand and
were aching.
"They couldn't hit me like that; by
heavens they couldn't" and the little
fellow with no helmet, his tunic loose
and torn, his fingers clutching his gun
in an iron grasp, and his body shaking
with the tremendous emotion that
seized him, stood up under that madden
ing African sun and Kissed, with frothy
lips, defiance to the enemy:
Back! back!" insisted; and four of
the men turned.
Back! What's the good of going
back now?" Jenkins screeched. 1--WE
can-can get to the top of the-of the
rock afore the beggars get-get within
100 yards of us. What's the good of 60
ing back?'
With n spring he was off before us.
would have liked to have hit him in the
stomach with a butt-end, but he was
dashing like one Infatuated.
1t was the widest thing on earth to
do. But we had to follow him, and all
the time the bullets whistled about us.
There was no keeping pace with the
idiot. Before we quite realized the aw-
fulness of the position, he had clam
bered to the top of the rock waving the
handkerchief he had been wearing on
his head. A perfect shower OF bulleta
whizzed about him, but he only laughed,
and the rest of us crouched for an in
slant in the shelter of the powders.
Another shot came tearing the air.
With his handkerchief jenkins sig
nailed: "Missed to the left!"
1t was an awful sight, him standing
there alone-exposed to hundred guns.
Once more came the yell of the bull
let's.
"Missed to the right" signaled Jen-
kins.
NV heart stood still with wonder.
Again came a volley. For moment
Jenkins endeavored to steady himself.