The record-union., 1898-07-24

which Re poured some of the cool liquid,
raising the flask SO high that the water
fell into the cup with the sound that
there is no forgetting. Gaspard's eyes
glared at it wolfishly, bit his lips and
tongue were so swollen that he could
not utter sound.
Private Msudon, will you obey or
ders?" asked the Sergeant.
The poor scorched head nodded as
sent, and the mouth moved feebly; the
Sergeant poured a little Of the water
between Gaspards lips. and he tried
to swallow it. Then, in moment, his
eyes frightened, and he opened his
mouth for more, and swallowed it, and
mumbled that he wanted still more.
So, having surrendered, he was cast
loose and carried to a hut, where he lay
for a week between life and death; and
when three weeks had passed he came
again upon parade, a hollow checked,
sunken-eyed wreck. hardly able to
stand. His rife was in his hand, and
mechanically he went through his drill,
managing to last out until parade was
dismissed and he could rest again.
Next day some of the soldiers went,
as was their daily custom. to battle in
prised by a body of Mandingoes, who
killed ten or twelve of them before help
could arrive There was a fort just out
side the village, and the garrison, tWen-
ty in all, had rushed out to the rescue
but they, too, were so far outnumbered
that they could only show bold front
and retreat to their fortress with the res
cued men in their midst. The remainder
of the garrison left in the village We're
already engaged with a numerous enc
my and no help could be expected from
that quarter
Only that morning Gaspard had taken
his place with the garrison OF the fort,
and he, with the. others, had sailed out
to beat back the enemy: but although,
like tho rest, he placed himself between
his defenseless comrades and their
foes, he made no attempt to fire his
rifle merely threatening with it, and
falling back step by step.
BY the time they reached their mud
fort they were almost surrounded by
a ferocious horde, mad with the lust for
blood and only one person at time
could pass in through the small door
to safety. The fort, which had been
built by the Arabs and repaired by the
French, was pierced for musketry above
the line of the door and those who were
within fired down into the black crowd,
keeping them somewhat at bay.
Still the enemy fired and advanced,
and Frenchmen fell dead and wounded
| and those who We're able to stand strug-
gled among themselves to gain access,
until at last the inevitable result ar
| rived and the door was blocked
| Gaspard never looked at the door, but
| faced the foe with a calm and resolute
courage that moved the Sergeant, VINO
| was near him, to admiration, SO that
he cried out words of encouragement TO
him. Every time the foe made a rush
he pointed his rifle and they 1eI pack
| before the determined looking soldier,
| and fired shots at him instead. IheS
were bad enough shots, those dark
skinned warriors. and yet Gaspard was
bleeding from half dozen wounds
when the Sergeant shouted to him,
you've done your share, mon brave!
Run in
Gaspard would not move. but stood
there a few PAGES in front of the door
through which the last Of his comrades
was retreating until only he and the
Sergeant were left.
Now Private Meudon, I'll cover
you,'' cried the Sergeant.
Il wait for you. Sergeant" and the
| Sergeant seeing how determined he
was, made rush and got through the
door in safety.
Then Gaspard turned his head toward
| the door, but in that moment the enemy
rushed in upon him with yells of tri-
| umph and he was lost to sight; only a
| struggling mass of black warriors was
, to be seen, hacking and hewing at
| something in their midst.
-.-l,