The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-23

! and We shall de-.
But Pm not ready to die. Why
should 1? I'm afraid to die moaned the
| poor chap, and in our hearts we echoed
his words.
81 know that, my lad,' said Mr.. Try
I on, and so am l, but it's soon over, and
| we'll die together. It'll be company any
way, won't it? Cheer up. I've got
| mother and father, too, and they won't
| be ashamed of me if l die like a man.
Shall we show these Beers how English
| men die? l know you men agree with
| me- He turned to us and laughed as he
saw our faces. Then one grinned a bit,
and then another, and then the fear of
death went, and we were all as bold as
brass, even the frightened chap at the in
strument.
Good says Mr.. Tryon. Now let 'em
all come
Lord, fair laughed; couldn't help
it. 1t was n bit hysterical, but it made
q man Of me, and | didn't care a blow
for anything. Then the Beers came in,
and their leader began:
well, have you made up your minds|
"'All right said the clerk. shaking
with fear, but with a cocky CLEAN in his
eye. What shall sayY
I'VE held our breath while we watch
ed the play out. standing like dummies
against the wall.
Observation-Disclosures, Observation-Disclosures,
went the instrument, and then there was
horrible silence. He was calling up
Newcastle, and we prayed that they
might be on the qui vive to put us out of
our misery.
'Then q bell rang, and the clerk gave
swift glance at the Beers Martins as
he began humping on the keyboard.
Was he going to play the craven after
all? we wondered. But we could do
nothing but watch and listen to the cease
less tick-tack Of the indicator. The sweat
was dripping off the clerks face, but he
plugged away until he had finished Then
our turn came, and Newcastle began to
talk to US.
"'What's the message? suddenly cried
the Boer leader, pushing his rifle muzzle
against the clerks forehead.
'"The shock was too much for the man,
strained as he was, and he blurted out:
Am sending off to your But he
got no further, for, with an oath, the
Boer roared out in Dut b:
Ito your saddles! he roineksfhave
betrayed usp
without thought US the men
rushed for their horses, while the leader
seemed speeches. with fury. Before lie
could make a move Mr.. Tryon spoke up:
"'On my head be it! l ordered him to
tell the truth! Don't shoot him; shoot
me!
Like lion the man swung round and
raised his rifle and covered our officer
while a shout came from without of
'Slnit! SMITH
HE glared at Mr.. Tryon. but he didn't
blink. and then the rifle went higher and
higher until it pointed full at the ceilis
Course you. Why. weren't you
Boer? he said. and then he pulled ~
trigger and rushed from the room.
Before the smoke cleared away we
could hear the horses hoofs ringing on
the still air, and then it dawned upon US
that there had been two white men in
that Office, for Mr.. Tryon was unhurt.
Thank God. ladsT he gasped. III
was near thing. expect he's told his
men that he shot me, but, mind, you owe
him his life if ever you set eyes on him."
The soldier turned as though to go.
And what became of himH they ask.
ed breathlessly.
Died in the first big battle we had
with the enemy-died in the front. too.
the pride of his regiment" muttered the
veteran. There goes the dress Hur-
ry up now; don't growse any more; the
blessed army's full of Mr.. Tryonsp'-
Navy and Army Illustrated