Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-07-08
THE DRUMS OF THE
FORE AND AFT.
CHAPrER-III.
By RUDYARD KIPLING.

Child I'M, child pn, follow me!
Oh, golly, said the cook, is he gwine to kiss us
all?
Halla-halla-halla halleluiahl
The Gurkhas were pouring through
the left gorge and over the heights at the
double to the invitation of their regi-
mental quickstep The black rocks were
crowned with dark green spiders as the
bugles gave tongue jubilantly:
In the morning-in the morning by the bright
When Gabriel blows his trumpet in the morn
ing!
The Gurkha rear companies tripped
and blundered over loose stones. The
front files halted for moment to take
stock of the valley and to settle stray
boot laces. Then happy little sigh of
contentment soughed down the ranks,
and it was as though the land smiled,
for behold there below was the enemy,
and it was to meet them that the Cur
khas had doubled so hastily. There was
much enemy There would be amuse-
ment. The little men hitched their ku-
kris we'll to hand and gaped expectant-
ly at their officers as terriers grin ere
the stone is cast for them to fetch. The
Gurkhas' ground sloped downward to
the valley, and they enjoyed a fair view
of the proceedings. They sat upon the
powders to watch, for their officers
were not going to waste their wind in
assisting to repulse a Ghazi rush more
than half a mile away. Let the white
l. 10
Hi, yi'' said the subadar major,
who was sweating rrofusely. "Dam
fools ycnder, stand close order This is
no time for close order; it's the time
for volleys. Ugh!'
Horrifed, amused and indignant, the
Gurkhas beheld the retirement US
be gentle-of the Fore and Aft with
running chorus of oaths and commenta-
ries.
"They run The white men runl
Colonel Sahib, may we also do little
running? p murmured Runbir Thappa,
the senior jemadar.
But the colonel would have none of
it. ''Let the beggars be cut up lit
tie, said he wrathfully. ''Serves 'em
right They'll be prodded into facing
round in a minute. - He looked through
his feldglasses and caught the CLINT of
an officer sword.
"Beating EN- with the fat-damned
conscripts! How the Ghazis are walk
ing into them p said he.
The Fore and Aft, heading back, bore
with them their officers. The narrow
ness of the pass forced the mob into
solid formation, and the rear rank de-
livered some sort of wavering volley.
The Ghazis drew off, for they did not
know what reserves the gorge might
hide. Moreover, it was never wise to
chase white men too far. They return
ed as wolves return to cover, satisfied
with the slaughter that they had done
and only stopping to slash at the wound
ed on the ground. A quarter of mile
had the Fore and Aft retreated, and now,
damned in the pass, was qUivering with
pain, shaken and demoralized with fear.
"Get back Get back, you towards
you womenl Right about face-column
OF companies, form-you hounds''
shouted the colonel, and the subalterns
swore aloud. But the regiment wanted
to go-to go anywhere out of the range
of those merciless knives 1t swayed to
and fro irresoiutely with shouts and out
cries, while from ghe right the Gurkhas
dropped volley after volley of cripple
stopper Snider bullets at long Yange in
to the mob of the Ghazis returning to
their own troops.
The Fore and. Aft band, though pro-
tected from direct fire by the rocky
knoll under which it had sat down, fed
at the first rush. Jakin and Lew would
have fled also, but their short legs left
them so yards in the rear, and by the
time the band had mixed with the regi-
ment they were painfully aware that
they would have to close in alone and
"Get back to that rock, gasped
Jakin. '"They won't see us there. -
And they returned to the scattered
of the band, their hearts
nearly bursting their ribs.
"Here's a nice show for us, " said
Jakin, throwing himself full length on
the ground. GA bloomin fine show for
British infantry Oh, the devils!
They've gone an left us alone herel
Wot'll we DOR
Lew took possession of a cast off wa
ter bottle, which naturally was full of
canteen rum, and drank till he coughed
again
Drink said he shortly. They'll
come back in minute or two-you
see. +"
Jakin drank, but there was no sign of |
the regiment return. They could hear
a dull clamor from the head of the val
ley of retreat, and saw the Ghazis stink |
back quickening their pace as the
Gurkhas fred at them.
Were all that's left Of the band, |
an we'll be cut up as sure as death,
said Jakin.
"I'll die game, then," said Lew
thickIy, fumbling with his tiny drum |
mer' s sword. The drink was working on I
his brain as it was on Jakin's.
"'Old onl / know somethin better
than fghtin, said Jakin, stung by the
splendor of a sudden thought due !
nb;oAu IN -uro sETiy, o77r bIooynip Ioru