The times., 1898-05-08
JENKINS OF TIE SD.

| 1t seemed our clothing worked up our
backs and stopped there. My tongue
felt as though it were as big as an
egg, my head throbbingly ached just
as if there was an iron band about it.
and all the time we had to push on
over the soft sand, with the officers
yelling at us to keep the square, the
| camels screaming as only Sudanese
| camels can scream, and overhead the
blaze of the scorching African sun
| trying to set us on fire. while away up
| the baked rocks, we could discern the
Dervishes skipping about and occas-
| ionally waving the green flag of the
| prophet.
| You have seen pictures of an army
! going into battIe-the bands playing
/ the banners fluttering, the men march
| ing in solid lines, the officers on ca
| reering horses and with drawn swords
Well, we didn't look anything like
! that. There was no band and no flag.
| We were all too mad with the heat to
| even keep step, and were scattered
! about lik a lot of beaters at a cours-
ing match. Most of US had our jack
| cts open, and some. of us stuck dirty
! red cotton handkerchefs under the
| helmets to ward off the sun. And our
! clothes were torn and dusty, our boots
were brown and hard; none of us had
| shaved Tor a month, and for the last
| three days there hadn't been a drop of
| water to wash in.
There was no talk about the glory of
| fghting. We didn't care a hang about
victory, or England, or Queen. That's
! ali right to tell folks at dinners they
| give US when We get home after the
campaign.
Ward was fuming about a blister he
had on his heel, and wondering why
the hangment we couldn't form where
we were, and let the Sudanese come
! to us.
| Little Jenkins was in a funk
It's not as I'm thinlIin' I'll be shot"
he said, but my knees are 51st as
shaky as an old nag's. I'm blessed if
| can go much further Lor.' I'd give
weeks pay for a 'aIf pint. Do you
feel dizzy like, Fletcher
"Oh, dry up" | said.
| was wild with agoniss of marching,
the blasts of sand that met US, the
shouting, the cursing when the gun
carriages stuck
This ere fghtin's a rum 'un," he
added hoarsely. Would yer rather be
killed wi bullet or a spear, Fetch
err"
I'm not goin to be killed at ALL" I
growled. Look OUT"
One of the mules appeared as if 1t
had gone mad. for it began jumping
and shriedng. and the whip only made
il worse.
We knew the great mass of the en-.
emy was about two miles ahead We
could see them bobbing about the
rocks
Away on our right. over broken
ground and burnt bushwood, were
about fifty of them popping at us
from behind powders. But the shots
fell short, although we were march
ing nearer them.
Soon there came a singing swish
through the air. Every man who heard
it ducked his head. We looked at each
other and grimly smiled.
That bloke amt much of shot,"
said Ward; ''he fires too high"
Then there started more bullets
w'izzing.
open out, men; confound you! why
don't you open out?" roared the col
onel, who was following up behind the
face of the square.
We scattered a bit. but not much
Everybody seemed to be in everybody
ele's way.
What an ass to put us under fire
like this" some ne shouted a little
way down the line.
A bullet caught a camel in the rump.
The brute tried TO rear, but ii couldn't
And then it tumbled its eyes flashed
with fright as ! had never seen a
camers eyes fash
Il guess" said Jenkins, who was
trembling, 1T I'D be best to get a
swipe in the arm first. Then one 'ud be
able to get inside tn ambulance"
You beastly little shrimp" yelled
Ward. who was on the other side; dye
want to skimp it?"
The bullets began dropping among
us.
There's no use denying it. 1 was scar
edit was miserable sort of way play
ing at war. When / heard one of the
men down the line groan as his cheek
was torn up. and saw another tumble
with his face downward. and COM
menced biting the sand when his thigh
was ripped open, it was difficult for
me to breathe.
I never saw such excitement, The Of
ficers rushed about shouting until we
didn't know what to do. Yet we kept
moving forward over the hillocks of
sand, our lips cracked, our eyes burn
ing and glaring like balls of fire, swear
ing at one another. and all swearing
at the cowardly niggers shelterng be-
yond the powders.
What time is it now at Knights |
BRIDGE asked Jenkins, his thin face |
twitching.
Same time as 1t Is at London |
Bridge" / retorted with an oath.
Look here, Fletcher. if I'm killed, !
will my name be put in the papers?"
Shut up; you're too little to hit"
Cause" he said; I've got a gal |
who's a slavey, and-and-"
We both saw Ward double up. He |
had been hit in the stomach. He !
dropped his rifle and looked around as |
I. ia .l,,4 II, ..l.s
Then a terrible grin spread over his |
features. and he began running like a |
drunken man. He hadn't gone more |
than four steps when down he Topped |
in a heap.
Two of the men turned him over.
He was dead
All the perspiration seemed to jump |
out of me, and | shivered. I just felt |
as if I had been knocked as weak as a
kitten. There's no satisfaction being
killed by man you can't see. If
were going to be killed. I would like
to be close up to the chap.
Jenkins said nothing, but he kept |
turning round. to see who had been
struck. And all the while the wind
was blowing over US in thin clouds,
binding us, choking us, driving US
furious.
why in blazes can't we open fre?"
one Of the sergeants behind me NUT
tered This amt no fun"
Keep closer, men. keep closer: con-
found you, keep closer!" roared the
colonel
Il thought he said we were to spread
out a bit" growled Jenkins
1t was slow work getting forward.
We We're on the sandy plain. and the
black fellows up in the rocks had a
pretty big target
had 4IU-a,-- tbnr,.Il |
when he was ripped into with bullet
He Just groaned and cursed.
Lots OF the shots fell short and
knocked UP little nuffs Of sand-lil,e