The times., 1898-05-08

ed with hate. When a soldier gets il
| that state there's no stopping him. It:
not the brave men that score a vic
tory; it's the madmen.
The war cries of the tumultuous
throng away before us broke like q
cannon roar upon our ears. The force
of the Moslems was almost hidden be-
hind 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 swift
I ly. so that he must have good marks
men 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 thirty yards from
us when we saw a horde of the fanat-
les sweeping the side of the hill and
coming in our direction as swift as the
wind.
An oath burst from my lips.
Let's go back, men," L painted.
It's no good. Everyone of us will be
cut down if we go on
Let us go on; let us go on scream
ed Jenkins. in thin, excited voice.
on the other side of me, was hit in
the mouth with bullet. For about
three seconds he danced backward
and then, when the red stream spurted
from between his torn lips, he hung
his head and reeled forward to the
ground.
That was a chance shot-Tn swear
it was chance shot" exclaimed Jen-
kins becoming furious.
Dry up and don't talk like a fool"
My eyes were filed 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 shak-
ing with the tremendous emotion that
seized him, stood up urfder that mad
dening African sun and hissed, 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. We
can-can get to the top of the-Of the
rock afore the beggars get-get with
in a hundred yards of us. What's the
good of going back?"
With spring he was off before us.
l would have liked to hit him in the
stomach with a butt-end, but he was
dashing like one infuriated..
1t was the widest thing on earth to
do. But we had to follow him. and all
the time the bullets whistling about
us.
There was no keeping pace with the
idiot. Before We quite realized the
awfulness of the position he had clam
bered to the top of the rock, waving
thA han6txprp ba had ha-z-1 x-nar-
ing on his head perfect shower of
bullets whizzed about him. but he only
laughed, and the rest of US crouched
for an instant 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 10 a hundred
guns.
Once more came the yell of the bull
lets.
Missed to the right" signaled Jen-
kins.
My heart stood still with wonder.
Again came a volley. For a moment
Jenkins endeavored to steady himself
'BulIs-eye," he signaled.
Then he tottered and came rolling
down the rough stones.
We then double backed until the
skirmishers and the heav-
ing square caught up TO US, when a
sharp advance was made, and. com
ing within range of the blacks a short
but decisive conflict resulted in which
the blacks were defeated with heavy
losses, and Jenkins's death. through
his courageous act in drawing the en-
emy on by exposing himself, avenged. |
-CasseIS Magazine