The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-05-22
THE PASSING
OF THE LAIRD
A Story of the South African War.

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1t was that field of dread memory
Magersfontein. From dawn-when the
belching hill front Of fire had moved
in swathes the ranks of the Black
Watch-till dusk-when the last gun
had sent its whistling shrapnel-the
air had seemed to live and screech and
scream and to MAIN, blast and wither
the men of the Highland brigade.
The dark African night had flung its
blackness over Magersfontein, and in
the scanty scrub and hollows remained
those who could not we'll retire when
the bugles, with reluctant notes, sound
ed the retreat.
Piper Duncan Farquharson sat up
and groaned. His last experience of
life had been rather mixed. He re-
membered retiring behind wire fence,
and after he had scampered over the
veldt a few dozen yards something
happened. What this was Duncan
was uncertain, but as he felt his head
he knew he had been hit.
The blood had caked hard on his
neck and collar, and as he moved it
began anew to trickle 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.
P.,1
thirst. His water bottle was still in
tact, and he raised 1t to his lips. Still
the thirst continued.
He sat up and considered. Where
was his company? Where was the
captain and his lieutenant, the young
bore? He would go to them. So he
went
He rose up and, Keeling, fell. He
rose again and once more came down.
Then he crawled.
There were groans and curses 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-
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 bowlder 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.
'Is that you, lairdY" said Piper Dun
can Farquharson.
"Ah, it's you, Duncan" said Lieuten-
ant Duncan Farquharson.
"Ah, it's me. laird. Are We sair
hurtit"
''Oh, | don't know, Duncan. For
heavens sake, If you have any water,
give me some1'
Eve nae water, laird, but I'll get We
some. Ye are awfu' cauP. 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 1t Jock
Scott he used? don't remember"
He shivered; then lie came back to
Mo 0a,.cfoptoiu
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 comprehended.
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 1t, limited
though it might be.
Duncan pillaged from an officer 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.
"Steady, Duncan! I've enough. I'm
going. Keep it for yourself"
ma, ma, laird; TAX some mair OF
| I'll tax some myself, though"
He drank the mixture, and, as the
spirit brought back life into his trem-
bling frame, he said:
"Man, laird, houp that officer chiel
was a good levin man. He deserves to
gang to a place there's nae SIGH a
! drought as there's here"
"You were always plucky, Duncan,
said the lieutenant But Pm going"
His voice was now at a whisper.
INA, ma; yell TAX anither drappie!'
said the piper, and again he poured a
few drops between the laird's lips.
Duncan, could you play march be-
fore l go?"
'T'll try, but ma held awfu' queer.
Hiv We my pipesY'
"Yes; l kept them in my left hand"
Piper Farquharson tuned his pipes.
"Now, the 'Haughs O. Cromdale,'
Duncan. Pm going" whispered the laird
INA, ma; yer nae gaun, laird! I'll play
We a reel" And over the desolation
ioated the springing crispness of the
PERTH Hunt
From the darkness the sentries on
the 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
a night attack. Suddenly the music
stopped.
"Dae We mind that? 1t was danced
at yer coming O. age"
"Yes, remember. Duncan. But play
the march and sit down here beside
me. Pm cold. 1t will soon be snow
Duncan"
Duncan, whose head was throbbinl
with the effort In playing the reel
crawled down beside his laird
AYE: l think It will be snow afor'