Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-07-06


guns, having disposed of the imperti-
nent mud fort aforementioned, dropped
shell after shell into the clusters round
the Pickering green standards ON the
heights.
"Charrgin is an unfortunate neces-
sity, 4" murmured the color sergeant OF
the right company of the highlanders.
1T makes the men sweer so, but |
am thinkin that il will come TO a
Charge if these black devils stand much
longer Stewart, man, you're firm
into the eye of the sun, and he'll not
take any harm for government ammu-
neetion A foot lower and a great deal
slower What are the English doin
They re very quiet there in the center
Runnin again"
The English were not running. They
were hacking and hewing and stab
bling, for, though one white man is sell
dom physically a match for an Afghan
in a sheepskin or wadded coat, yet
through the pressure Of many white
men behind and a certain thirst for re-
venge in his heart he becomes capable
of doing much with both ends Of his
rife The Fore and Aft held their fire
till one bullet could drive through five
or six men, and the front Of the Afghan
force gave ON the volley. They then Sc
lected their men and slew them with
deep gasps and short hacking coughs
and groanings Of leather belts against
strained bodies and realized for the first
time that an Afghan attacked is far
less formidable than an Afghan attack
ing, which fact old soldiers might have
told them.
But they had no old soldiers in their
ranks
The Gurkhas' stall al the bazaar was
the noisiest, for the men were engaged
to nasty noise, as Of beef being cut
on the block-with the kukri, which
they preferred 10 the bayonet, well
knowing how the Afghan hates the half
moon blade
As the Afghans wavered the green |
standards on the mountain moved down |
to assist them in a last rally, which 4
was unwise The lancers, chatting in the I
right gorge. had thrice dispatched their /
only subaltern as galloper to report on I
the progress of affairs On the third &C. /
casion be returned with a bullet Craze
on his knee. swearing strange oaths in /
and saying that all things
were ready, So that squadron swung
round the right Of the highlanders with
a wicked whistling Of wind in the pen
mons Of its lances and fell upon the
just when, according to all
the rules Of war, it should have waited
Tor the foe TO show more signs Of wav-
sring
But it was dainty charge, deity
delivered and il ended by the cavalry
inding itself at the head Of the pass by
which the Afghans intended 70 retreat,
md down the track that the lanees
rad made streamed two companies of
which was never intended
)y the brigadier. The new development
vas successful IL detached the enemy
rom his base as a sponge is torn from
rock and left him ringed about with
ire in that pitiless plain. And as a
PONCE is chased round the bathtub by
he hand Of the bather, so were the Al |
hans chased till they broke into little
attachments much more difficult TO dis.
lose Of than large masses.
''seel' quoth the brigadier Every ,
hing has come as l arranged We've
ut their base, and now Wen bucket !
EN- to pieces
A direct hammering was all that the
rigadier had dared to hope for, consid-
ring the size Of the force at his dis.
osal, but men who stand or fall by the 8
rrors OF their opponents may be for
lven for turning chance into design
he bucketing went forward merrily. +
he Afghan forces were upon the run c
the run of wearied wolves who snarl
nd bite over their shoulders The red
'nces dipped by twos and threes. and. q,
nth shrek, mp rose the lance butt.
Ike spar on stormy sea, as the troop
= cantering forward, cleared his point
he lancers kept between their prey and
ne steep hills, for all who could were
wing TO escape from the valley Of
cath The highlanders gave the fugi-
yes 200 yards law, and then brought h
lem down, gasping and choking, ere
icy could reach the protection Of the y
'wlders above. The Gurkhas followed :,
III, but the Fore and Aft were killing
their own account, for they had pen
ID mass Of men between their BAY
lets and wall Of rock, and the fash bi
the rifles was lighting the wadded
ats "a
I'VE cannot hold them. CAPTAIN b,
IhibP painted a ressaidar Of lancers
Let us try the carhine The lance is
cd, but II wastes time
They tried the carbine. and still the IT
envy melted away-fled up the hills
hundreds when there were only 20 =
llets to stop them. On the heights the 1t
rev guns ceased tring-they had run
OF ammunition-and the hrigadier
oaned' for the musketry fire could not do
smash the retreat Long he Il
'e the last volleys were fired the lit
: We're out in force looking for the ar
'unded The battle was over. and lint
want Of fresh troops the Afgbaps
uld have baap yr.3,.g1 a -