The Ravalli Republican., 1898-03-30

opening them again to lind the line
filled up by fresh men, and the ad-
jutant standing beside him with
rage and contempt in his childish
eyes. w..=. .@~M. .- ...
For Gods sake, forgive me!'
whispered Marmuduke. A furious
retort was On the others lips, but
he checked himself at the look Of
unutterablc anguish on Wylme,s s
face. a plying haze came to his
eyes and he turned away, Struggling
his shoulders. -m.=".
The fire ceased on all sides Of the
square, and handful Of hussars
Hallopeu forth to ride down the re-
treating eEemy.
Marlnaduke lay painting. on the
ground by the wells. A fatigue par
ty, 20 feet away, was pumping up
the yellow, fetid water through a
leaky hose. A squalid crowd Of men
were scattered about, cropping in
odor Of decay. Marmaduke was dy-
ing Of hunger and thirst, but no
dared not eat such food. 1.-THE sight
of it his hand went instinctively to
his nose. So it was with the water.
To assuuge his thirst he sucked the
buckle of his sword belt; to keep
down the pangs OF hunger he MUNICH
ed a piece Of biscuit, turning it over
many times in his mouth and only
swallowing a particle at q time. 1t
was not hunger that he minded; it
was thirst.
Suddenly the pumping stopped.
Hulleluiahl sang out voice.
"Well, of all the blooming things"
"What's the matter2' ~..:
"Who'd have thought we'd ave
chaWnced on the blessed maWdie S
wine cellar9'' M-.. ...
Malmaduke sprang to his feet.
One OF the fatigue party stretched
over the well had pulled out from
somo esoteric place Of concealment
one, two, three, four, five, six bot
Ties Of champagne. The men, gath
cred. 1ound.
Koch Fills, 1854, read one slow
| ly. "Guess this amt no ginger
beer, anyhow"
For once Marmaduke had his wits
about him. "GiNe you.a tenner for
the lot /" he shouted. The finder of
the treasure trovc stared at him lnl-
pudently. It does not take long for
a. soldier to reckon up his officer
when he has seen him under fire..
Five, quid apiece is my price:':'
he replied. "There ain t no b]oomin
civil service stores out here
Marmaduke flushed angrily, but
he handed the man promissory
note and took two bottles. -..
Marmaduke cracked his first bot
tie and swallowed half of it at one
gulp 1t made him feel light in his
head, but, God, how delicious it was
He saw tho adjutant looking at
him wisttully, a. canful Of the
muddy water i'll his hand. Wynne
was about to call to him when he
remembered the events of the day,
and turned SO that the other might
not see his face. Then his moral
courage, of which he had plenty,
came back to him, and, clinching
his teeth he wheeled sharply about
and approached the adjutant.
"Will you condescend to drink
some Of my winel'' he began sturdi
ly, but his voice faltered as he add
ed, II do not ask you to drink Will
me- .a.-
The other looked askancg at him
a moment, then, said: Don't be
dashed idiot. Of course I'll drinl
with you, and jolly grateful. "
"I'm afraid you must hav
thought me q beastly funk today,
said Marmaduke, his tongue, Wag
ging with wine.
ooh, nonsense Youmere1y had ;
touch Of the nerves, said the boy
Wynne was still sober enough tt
grasp greedily at this merciful theo
ry.
"That was all, he said thickly
"that was ALL. And lie took anothe
pull ut the bottle.
"Dashed heady tizz this of yours,
yaWned the adjutant ITS making
me sleepy >
"Wino doesn't have that effect o.
ME, )" declared Wynne tiercely. y
eNcites me; it sends the blood rush
ing through my veins, through an
through; it braces my nerves;
wires my muscles; tit -
"lt whati' asked the adjutant.
, Wynne's voice took q motalli
note.
1T makes 111e bravo.
, "You're drunk" said the sui
, altern. "At least he added hast:
0 ~, "you'ro not yourself
. II am myself, retorted Wynn
E oxcitedly. oh your insolence
). What do you know about meS 4
!, this moment am really myself.
v always am when I've wine in NJ
y. Look at me- he said, jumping
: his feet and striking a half ride