Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-22
The DRUMS OF THE
FORE and AFT.
BY RUDYARD KIPLING
[Continued from last week. ]

and conducted Themselves with exam.
plary piety for week That is to saw.
Lew started Irritation with the color
sergeant's daughter, aged 13-"not
as ne explained to Jakin, with any in.
tention o. matrimony, but by wav o.
keepin my and in. And the black
haired Girls Delighan enjoyed that fiirta-
tion more than previous ones, and the
other drummer boys ragged furiously to.
gether. and Jakin preached sermons on
the dangers of "bein tangled along O.
petticoats.
But neither love nor virtue would
have held Lew long in the paths Of pro-
priety had not the rumor gone abroad
that the regiment was to be sent on &C.
tive service TO take part in war which
for the sake Of breyity we will cali "the
war Of the lost tribes -
The barracks had the rumor almost
before the messroom, and Of all the 900
men in barracks not 10 had seen a shot
fired in anger. The colonel had 90 years
ago assisted at a frontier expedition,
one of the majors had seen service at
the Cape, a confirmed deserter in f
company had helped to clear streets in
Ireland, but that was all The regi-
ment had been put by for many years
The overwhelming mass Of its rank and
file had from three to four years serv-
ice, the noncommissioned officers were
under 80 years old, and men and SER
geants alike had forgotten TO speak Of
the stories written in brief upon the
colors-the new colors that had been
formally blessed by an archbishop in
England ere the regiment came away.
They wanted 10 go to the front they
were enthusiastically anxious to GO
but they had no knowledge Of what war
meant and there was none to tell them.
Wherefore they cheered Justify when
the rumor ran, and the shrewd, clerkly
noncommissioned officers speculated on
the chances Of batta and Of saving their
pay. AT headquarters men said 1.-THE
Fore and Fit have never been under fire
within the last generation Let us,
therefore, break them in easily by set
ting them TO guard lines of communica-
ton. And this would have been done
but for the fact that British regiments
were wanted-badly wanted-at the
front. and there were doubtful native
regiments that could oil the minor du-
ties Brigade EN- with two strong reg
iments. said headquarters They may
be knocked about bit, but they II learn
their business before they come through.
Nothing like a night alarm and a little
cutting up Of strsgglers to make regi.
ment smart In the field. Wait till
they've had half a dozen sentries'
Threats cut.
The colonel wrote with delight that
the temper of his men was excellent,
that the regiment was all that could be
wished and as sound as a bell. The
majors smiled with sober JOY, and the
subalterns waltzed in pairs down the
nessroom after dinner and nearly shot
themselves al revolver practice But
there was CONSERVATION in the hearts Of
Jakin and Lew. What was TO be done
with the drumsg Would the band go TO
the 'front.' How many Of the drums
would accompany the regiments
They took counsel together, sitting in
/ tree and smoking.
"It's more than a bloomin toss up
hey II leave us behind at the depot With |
he women You'll like that, said !
Iakin sarcastieally.
Cause O. Girls, you meant Wot' a |
woman. or ole bloomin depot o
women. longside o. the chanst O. field |
ervicef You know I'm as keen on go
u as YOU, said Lew.
wish | was n bloomin bugler
aid Jakin sadly. They'll take Tom
Kidd along, that can plaster wall
With, an like as not they won't take
Is.
Then let's go an make Tom Kidd so
'loomin sick e cant bugle no more.
lou old is ands an III kick him,
aid Lew. wriggling on the branch
THAT ais't no good, neither. We
int the sort O. characters to presoon
n our rep tations. They re bad. II they
ave the band al the depot, we don't
o. an no error there. If they take the
and, we may get cast for medical I'M
tness. Are You medical fit, Piggy z
aid Jakin. digging Lew in the ribs
nth force.
sYus. said Lew, with an oath.
The doctor SAYS your carts weak
trough smokin on an empty STUN
lick. Throw a chest. an Ill try
err
Jakin threw out his chest, which ,
ew smote with all his might Jakin ,
lrned very pale, gasped, crowed,
'rewed mp his eyes and said THAT S '
i right =
'sYou II do, said Lew. 1--WE card
men dyin when you it 'em fair on I
lie breastbOne.
Don't bring us no nearer goin, ]
,ough. " said Jakin. do you know q
here we're orderedf
"Gawd knows, an e won't split on
pal. Somewheres mp TO the front to I
II Parliamentary big beggars that '
i'm You inside out if they get old o
N. They say THEIR women are good i