The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-07-21

yeldt Il few dozen yards something
happened. What this was Duncan
was uncertain, but as he felt his head
he knew he had been bit.
The blood had caked hard on his
neck and collar, and as he moved ii
began anew to tricklc down his face.
He took out his handkerchief and band.
aged his wounds as well as he could.
His pipes were safe. He could feel
the reeds lying over his knees He
bent to grasp them.
He was tormentcd with an awful
thirst. His water bottle was still in
the thirst continued.
He sat up aud 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.
He rose up and, reeling. fell. He
rose again and once more came down
Then he crawled
There were groans and curses aud
sobs from the darkness, and sometimes
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 barbcd wire en-
tanglements. AS he crawled through
these the barbs tore his Kilt and hose,
and he felt them enter his flesh, but at
last he threw himself clear
Then he rolled down a short way,
and a bowldcr brought him up. He
put out his hand to protect his face
and caught another hand, cold and
clammy, in his own.
The other groancd aloud.
''Is that you laird?" said Piper Dun
can Farquharson.
"Ah, it's you, Duncan" said Licuten-
ant Duncan Farquharson.
"Ah, it's me, laird. Are ye sair
hurtitt"
"Oh, | don't know, Duncan. For
heavens sake, if you have any water,
give me some"
1--WE nae water, laird, but I'll get ye
some. Ye are awfu' caur, though" "
said the piper.
He took off his tunic and wrapped
the laird in it as well as could be done
under the circumstances.
The laird suddenly stirred.
do you mind the loch your father
and we two used TO fish at the back O
| Ben-d-houran? Now, was it Jock
Scott he used? don't remember"
| He shivercd; then lie came back to
| Magersfontein.
Duncan, lad, if you can move. bring
me drink of water"
Duncan sat still and felt his head
He heard with his ears, but his brain
| had not yet cOmprChcudrd
Then consciousness returned TO him
| He must obey the laird.
1t was in these circumstances that
Piper Farquharson robbed the dead on
Magersfontein.
His field of operation was limited
but he had many within it, limited
though it might be.
Duncan pillaged from an officer Il sill
yer flask which its owner would never
more require.
With other melancholy loot Duncan
crawled slowly back to the laird, and
feeling for his face. he poured whisky
and water between his lips.
The laird caught his trembling hand
"SteH,Iy, Duncan! I've enough. I'm
going, Keep it for yourself"
Ma, na, laird; TAX some mar ct.
! I'll TAX some myser, though"
He drank the mixture. and, as the
spirit brought back life into his trem-
bling frame, he said:
"Man, laird, ! houp that officer chicl
was a good levin man. lie deserves to
gang to place there's nae sich IA
drought as there's here
You were always plucky. Duncan,
said the lieutenant. but I'm going"
His voice was now at a whisper
Ma ma; ye'll tax anithor drappie!'
said the piper, and again he poured a
few drops between the laird's lips.
Duncan. could you play Il march be.
fore l go?"
IN try, but ma held awfu' queer
Hlv ye my pipcst'
Yes | kept them in my left hand"
Piper Farquharson tuned his pipes.
"Now, the 'Haughs O CrOmdale,
Duncan I'm going" whispered the laird
"Na, ma; yer nae gaun, laird. I'll play
ye a reel" And over the desOlatiOu
floated the springing crispness of the
Perth Hunt"
From the darkness the sentlies on
tile heights and in the trenches fired
off their rifles, and their sleepy com
rades stood to their arms. These yer
domed petticoat rooineks were to make
night attack. Suddenly the music
stopped.
"Dae ye mind thati 1t was danceC
at yer coming o age
Yes, | remember, Duncan. But play
the march and sit down here beside
me. I'm cold. II will soon be snow
Duncan"
Duncan. whose head was throbbinG
with the effort in playing the reel
crawled down beside his laird.
Aye; | think it will be snow afort
mOrnin," he said.
Then Piper Farquharson playct
marches and strathspeys, and in tn,
cold and darkness death came TO man.
, of his audience. But as they fel
asleep and their thirst was sated an'
their pain eased, their lullaby was, t.
them, the sweetest they had heart
since childhood.
Duncan could play no more. 1t wa