Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-07-17
A SOLDIERS
SACRIFICE.
Observation-Disclosures

Observation-Disclosures
Sergeant Major Bolitho Of the til
hussars was summoned into his colonels
presence one very hot morning.
Sergeant, have a telegram from the
general saying that mutiny has broken
out in this province. Take ten men, with
four spare horses. and ride down ut once.
Tell the ladies they ore to return with
you as soon as the horses are rested"
Eyes, sir. May pick my own men?"
'Certainly." The colonel rose and
walked over to the sergeant. Il don't
mind telling you, Eolitlo. what I have
not told any one c!sp--l feel very nervous.
My wife and her sisters would go to this
place hast week. and my children are with
them.'
Trust me, sir. will bring them hack
safely. Rest quite assured ;:.'uut that.
will start at once" Saluti.:,; E,avrly.
he left his chiefs room, leaving: him
quite at case about his wife and chiillrn.
Ernest Rolitho was the sphinx of the
gallant Seventh. No one knew why he
was in the ranks. Every one liked him:
no one could help seeing that he was IL
thorough gentleman. All they knew was
that his past had been an unhappy one
and that he had been more sinned against
than SHINING.
In an hour the party trotted out Of the
station into the glaring heat Of the sun.
BY dint Of very careful riding and judi.
cious short halts the bungalow was reach.
ed in four hours. Bolitho dismounted his
men in the compound and unsaddled the
horses. The natives struck him as look.
ing surly, and, full of apprehension, he
entered the house where the ladies were
at tea. The butler started when he saw
Bolitho enter. and after a brief pause
drew him into an adjoining room.
"Quick, man! What do you wantT'
"Sahib," said the butler, glancing nerv.
ously round, you saved my poor boys
life when the tiger had got him down,
and il am killed for 1t will repay you.
1.-THE servants have heard that party
Of native cavalry Is coming up to loot
the house."
Rapidly entering the tearoom, he In u
few terse sentences informed the ladies'
that the colonel was very Ill and they
were to lose no time, but to ride as they
were. Mrs. Rose, with pale face. placed
her children In the troopers arms, and
after helping her sister to mount was
placed In the saddle by Bolitho. Twelve
miles were covered, and they had arrived
at the foot of steep hill, crowned on the
top with q small wood, round which
low, broad mud wall had been built. In
pressing up this bill Mrs. Roses horse
fell, fortunately not injuring the rider. In
stead of rising 1t remained on the ground,
and Bolitho found that 1t was dying
Calling the men aside, their sergeant or
dered them to place their carbines
against the wall and to put Mrs. Roses
saddle on his horse, at the same time in
forming them In an authoritative tone
that they were to make the best Of speed
On to camp.
MADAM, kindly send 4 horse for me
when you get back to camp, - it Is too
hot to walk"
Mrs. Rose, grateful for his considera-
ton and quite unaware Of the real facts
Of the case, promised she would.
Away they went, the children laughing
and waving their hands to him, standing
alone in the road, and the ladies wonder
ing how they would find the colonel. b.
Iitho had seen the dust coming in cloud
about three miles behind them; he guess
ed their enemies were on their track and
saw certain death to the whole party be-
fore him. Clasping the carbines In his
arms, he got over the low wall and ar
ranged them in such n way as to be read
lily able to fire them rapidly. He opened
his cartridge case and laid that ready,
and then knelt down with q gun In his
hand behind the wall.
Suddenly aver the brow Of the nearest
hill poured squadron of native cavalry,
and came at gallop down to the foot Of
thn Il thx, ~ xuh
was intrcnchcd. He Judged when they
were in range. and, taking quick shot. he
/, fired his carbine, clutched another and
another rs that was discharged. He
poured FIVE shots In quick succession into
~, and, deceived by the rapidity Of the
ing suddenly. wheeled of sharply and re-
tired hundred yards, leaving three dead
men and two horses behind them. On
again getting to tho foot Of the hill they
unbuckled their carbines and began
vigorous fusillade of the wood. In mo-
ment Bolitho was struck in three places.
Realizing all was over, he crawled to
tree and got himself propped against IT..
Still uRconquered, with revolver in his
right hand and blood oozing from his
wounds, he was at bay. The natives.
hearing no further firing. began to take
courage. anil after final vollcy again
returned to the charge.
But bark! He hears his regimental
coll prayed out; then the charge is sound
ed, and with hoarse cheer squadron
Of his own regiment cam" galcping round
The plantation and crashed into the rebels.
Short and sharp YVES the reckoning. and
within five minutes the whole body were
either de1d or prisoners.