The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-11-14

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the officer, by powerful effort,
wrenched himself free, and faced up.
on his captors with look rendered
more terrible 10y its despair than by
it's anger. While they hesitated, the
Major turned to his companion with
extended hand.
'Halliwell, you have my word. Ii
l escape will deliver your message.
Gcd bless = darling girl.
Halliwe, pped the hand offered
to him aud wrung it fervently.
Thank You, Major. Heaven help
you. Goodbye. And run hard
hard, One never knows, You know. ,"
The next instant the Major had
gone.
In few moments he appeared in
the court and took his station in front
OF tho iron shield, facing the gun.
Two Sepoys held him by the arms.
awaiting the signal. Halliwell could
see it all clearly; the loading of the
gun, the careful adjustment Of the
fuse.
,'iIe will never do it, groanod the
"''NA -''tl - GlNl II NbtttlN. lie 100
fat. He will be blown to shivers."
Suddenly the man at the gun raised
his hand anl touched off the fuse. AT
tho same instant tho Major was
pushed forward. He bounded with
great swiftness down the passage, SO
narrow that he had scarcely room to
swing his arms. In Il trlcc he had
covered 4 quarter of the ground-a
halt-thrce-quarters. Then Halliwell
cried, 'Merciful Powersr' for n hor.
riblo jet Of red lame burst from the
cannon's mouth.
\ mans body cannot check a charge
Of grape shot, SO the missiles came
ON, all bloody, ana smashed into the
iron shield. Major Lascelles had been
blown to pieces. The watchers Mt the
window heard the pntter of a ehastly
rain upon the stones.
Halliwell turned his face to the
prince, to show him that n soldier can
look upon soldiers death and not
finch. The Nana's dusky skin had
paied little. lie took some grapes
from n dish, and ate them slowly.
Then he turned to one of his retinue.
The cursed Feringhee mas lost o
dinner"
The man smiled and bowed without
replying.
will run faster?"
Your highness will have the bet.
ter sport Dundoo Pant traced pat.
tern with his foot upon the cloth of
silver. His brow grew sullcn: he
seemed to anticipate the vengeance of
Havelock. Presently he said:
Let him try"
Halliwell was led from the apart.
ment. He paid no heed to the changed
scene. y face swan before his eyes.
tho face Of a woman into whose heart
great sorrow would shortly come. a
woman left fatherless. The vision
lent him strength, gave courage to his
sinking heart and vigor to his limbs,
which priyatiou and Imprisonment
had weakened
Then he realized that lie was facing
the grim muzzle of the cannon. Never
runner toed the mark in so dreadful a
race. He saw the gunner attending
to his piece. watched him brush away
the printing and carefully reload.
| His feelings were inIescribable. The
sunlight flashing on the steel trun-
Mons dazzled his eyes. He clenched
his hands, cIenched his teeth.
For life and love, he muttered.
''aud the resi- with God.
Suddenly hereceivod violent push.
and knew that the fearful sprint had
/ commenced.
Have you ever, in the grip of night
mare, run from one who follows fast?
You strive to fly, but your feet cling
20 the ground, and you only crawl.
The sensation is maddeniug. SO IL
was With John Halliwell The stone
| flags seemed glued TO his limbs: in
reality he scarcely touched them at
all. Every nerve, every muscle Of
the man were engaged in the fright
ful struggle The gunner, who stood
| by his piece recoiled with amazomcnt
| from the face of the Englishmau, who.
rushing down upon him, cleared the
gun with one superb bound, even MS
| tue leadou death rOauel ont.
The C)lOr-Sergeant waited not to
test the verify of the Eajah's word.
and tho initiation to dinner failed 60
tempt him JUS. then. he continued
his rapid course, through the maze of
mul-huts aud cocoa palms, over the
baked plain, and finally plunged into
the river, which bore him, half-swim-
ming half0oaJiug upon its deep and
| even current Tho Mana never saw
/ bis prisoner again.
Tho Color-Serggan, had won his life.
Two years subsequently Lieutenant
/ Colonel John lalliwell won n prize
even more dear TO him. Cossc)'s Maya
| zine