The Southern herald., 1900-06-01
CATCHING A TARTAR.
BY DAVID kER.

"What a place for a picnic. We
really ought to come out here and
have one, one Of these days"
So spoke Lieut.. Henry Nane, Ofthe
-th Native infantry, as he stood look
ing down, with his two companions,
into a deep gorge in the Marn hills,
which form the boundary line be-
tween northern Beloochistan and
southern Afghanistan.
Theyomg officers complimcntvas
certainly not undeserved. Justinthe
narrowcst part of the gorge, the little
river that ran through it had hewn
out for itself deep, rocky hollow, in
which lay a dark, still pool. AboVeit,
on a little patch of earth kept fresh
by the tiny streams that tricked
from the huge cliff overhead, grew
cluster of trees, whose bright green
leaves contrasted very prettily with
the gray, lifeless desolation Of the
sun-scorched rocks all around, and
behind them, a breakneck path,
which seemed from below no bigger
than a worm-track upon an apple,
wound its way up the face of theprcci-
plce.
As Vane spoke, he threw himself
upon the ground under the shade of
the nearest tree. with the natural en-
ioyment of a man who had been clam
bering for an hour past, beneath
burning sun, over some of the steep
est hills in all Asia; for, although the
British camp was just on the other
side of the ridge, yet to scale those
cliffs at any quicker pace than walk
would have been beyond the power
of Deerfoot himself.
"Well, I'll be glad to come to your
picnic, Harry" said his neighbor,
Capt. Jack Lumley, of the Puniaub
engineer corps, you'll undcrtaketo
provide the requisite number of rifles
and revolvers, which will be far more
necessary here than salad or cham
pagne."
80 you say" retorted Vanc; "but
because you're fond of shooting your
self, it doesn't follow that every mans
to go about with revolver in his
pocket"
"In his hand, youmean,' said Lum-
ley; "for in this country the timeyou
would take to pull it out might make
all the difference of your own life.
What do you say, Archer? Asunevs-
paper correspondent Of experience,
your opinions worth having
g As man who has never beenhere
before, my opinions not worth a
straw, said Archer, grinningthrough
his bushy beard. 81 must say how
ever, that this gully looks just the
place for robbers. Are there many
here?"
"Any amount in old Jacks haunt
ed Imagination" laughed the lieuten-
ant, "but in actual fact the place is
quiet enough ever since we made
raid through it last year to teach the
Mari tribes good manners. I've
heard enough about these terrible
Marris, but l only wish l could sec
afew Of them"
You're in luck, then, my boy"
said Capt. Lumley, quietly, "forhere
they come"
Vane looked up with a start, and
saw, not without some inward dis
quiet, line Of gaunt, brown, wild.
looking figures, in sheepskin cloak;
and pointed caps encircled withsoileC
white turbans, filing out from behinC
q rock on the other side of the valley
and coming right toward the sror
where they stood.
You may always know the Mcr
MS, pursued the imperturbable cap
taln, as cOOlly as if he were giving {
lecture, "by that peculiar way wear
ing their sheepskins, which, as yor
see gives the right arm as much free
dom as possible"
Eight Of them," counted Archer
an ana every man dagger and lOnl
rliie. Its pity left my revolver a
the camp"
ITS lucky I brought my rife
sad Lumley. @But it's no use show