Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-05-04

Black Watch-till dusk-when the
last gun had sent its whistling shrap-
nel-the air had seemed to live and
screech and scream, and to main,
blast and wither the men CT the High
land Brigade.
The dark African night had flung
it's blackness over Magerafontein, and
in the scanty scrub and stony hollows
remained those who could not well
retire when the bugles, with reluctant
notes, sounded the retreat.
Piper Duncan Farquharson sat up
and groaned. His last experience OF
life had been rather mixed. He re-
membered retiring behind g wire
fence, and after he had scrambled
over the veldt few dozen yards
something happened What This was
Duncan was uncertain, bat IS he felt
his head he knew he had been hit.
He sat up and considered. Where
was his company? Where was the
captain, and his lieutenant--the young
laird, who bore the same name as he
bore? He would go to them. So he
went.
There were groans and sobs from
the darkness, and sometimes a wild
yell tore the night asunder. There
were calls for water in all the dialects
spoken north of the Tweed and in
many forms of southern Anglo-Saxon.
Duncan crawled through them. At
last he came to the barbed wire en-
tanglemants. AS he crawled through
these the barbs tore his kilt and hose,
and lie felt them enter his flesh; but
at last lie threw himself clear.
Then he rolled down short way,
aud boulder brought him up. He
put out his hand to protect his face,
and caught another hand, cold and
clammy, in his own.
The other groaned aloud.
SIS that you, laird?" said Piper
Duncan Farquharson.
"Ah, it's you, Duncan" said Lieu
tenant Duncan Farquharson.
Say, it's me, lairdl Are We sair
hurtit?"
ooh, don't know, Duncan! For
heavens sake, If you have any water
give me some!"
GIVE nae water, laird, but I'll get
We some. Ye are awful caul', though"
said the piper.
He took off his tunic and wrapped
the laird in it, as we'll as could be
done under the circumstances.
The laird suddenly stirred
Duncan, lad, if you can move,
bring me a drink of water"
Duncan sat still and felt his head.
He heard with his ears, bat his brain
had not yet comprehonded.
Then consciousnessret returned to him.
He must obey the laird.
1t was in these circumstances that
Piper Farquharson robbed the dead
on Magersfontein.
Duncan pillaged from an officer
silver flask which its owner would
never more require.
With other melancholy loot Duncan
crawled slowly back to the laird, and,
feeling for his face, be poured water
between his lips.
He drank the liquid, and, as 1t
brought back life into his trembling
frame, he said;
"Man, laird, I houp that officer
chiel was a good-levin' man. He de-.
serves to gang to q place there's nae
SIGH drought as there's here. "
"You were always plucky, Dun
cam" said the lieutenant, but I'm
going" His voice was now at a
whisper.
"Na, ma, veil tax anither drappie!"
said the piper. Aud again he poured
r few drops between the lalrd's lips.
Duncan, could you play march
before I go?"
9TH try; but ma heid'sawfur queer.
Hiv ye my pipes?"
eyes; L kept them in my lett hanu.
Piper Farquharson tuned his pipes:
"Now, the 'Haughs O Cromdale,
Duncan. I'm going!" whispered the
laird. ;, -,
"Na, ma, yer nae gaun, lairdl I'll
play ye a reel" And over the DESC
lation fioated the splinging cnspness
of the Perth Hunt.