Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-08-18
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Z A SOLDIERS
: SACRIFICE. ;
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husSarS was summoned into his colonels
/ presence one very hot morning
sergeant, ! have Il telegram from the
general saying that n mutiny has broken
out IN this province. Take ten men, with
| four spare horses and ride down at once.
Tel the ladies they are to return with
/ You rs soon as the horses are rested"
Yes. sir. May | pick my own men?'
Certainly" The colonel rose and
walked over to the sergeant. Il don t
mind telling you. Bolitho. what | have
not told anv one else feel very nervous.
| My wife and her sisters would go to this
| place last week. and my children are with
| them"
Trust me- sir. | will bring them back
! safely. Rest quite assured about that.
| ! will start AT once" Saluting gravely,
he left his chiefs room, leaving him
| quite ut ease about his wife aud children.
Ernest 5olitho 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 a
thorough gentleman. Al they know was
that his past had been an unhappy one
and that he had been more sinncd against
than SHINING.
In an hour the party trottcd 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 md unsaddled the
| horses. The natives struck him ms 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 brief pause
| drew him into an adjoining room.
"Quick, man! What do you want?'
"Sahib," said the butler, CHANGING nerv-
ously round, you saved my poor boys
| life when the tiger had got him down,
and if l am killed for it will repay you.
1.-The servants have heard that party
| of native cavalry is coming up to loot
| the house."
Rapidly entering the tcaroom, he In a
few terse sentences Informed the ladies'
that the colonel was very i'll and they
We're 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 a steep hill, crowned on the
top with a small wood, round which a
low, broad mud wall had been built. In
fell, fortunately not injuring the rider. In
stead of rising it remained on the ground,
and Bolitho found that it 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 horse for me
when you get back to camp, as 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. Bo-
litho had seen the dust coming in a 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. Ciasping the carbnes in his
arms, he got over the low wall and ar
ranged them in such 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 a gun in his
hand behind the wall.
Suddenly over the brow of the nearest
hill poured a squadron of native cavalry
and came at a gnllop down to the foot of
the hill upon the top Of which Bolitho
was intrcnched. He judged when they
We're in range. and, taking quick shot, he
fired his carbine, clutched another and
another as that was discharged. He
poured five shots in quick succession into
the mass of troopers. His aim was dead
| ly, and, deceived by the rapidity of the
| shots, the enemy was checked and, halt
ing suddenly, wheeled off sharply and re-
tired hundred yards, leaving three dead
men and two horses behind them. On
again getting to the foot of the hill they
| unbuckled their carbnes and began a
| vigorous fuSillade of the wood. In a mo-
mcnt RolithO was struck in three places.
Realizing all was over, he crawled to a
tree aud got himself propped against it.
Still unconquered, with n 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, and after final volley again
returned to the charge.
But bark! He hears his regimental
| call brayed out; then the charge is sound
cd, and with hoarse cheer n squadron
| of his own regiment came Galloping round
! the plantation and crashed into the rebels
Short and sharp was the reckoning, and
| within five minutes the whole body were
either dead or prisoners.
Their work done, the troopers swarmed
| into the wood, headed by the colonel him
self, in search of their comrade and found
! him dying against the tree. Kneeling be-
side him, the colonel placed his arm
| round the wounded man.
"My poor fellow! Are You much hurt? ?"
Ozone for. sir" gasped Bolitho. "Are
| the ladies safe?"
Eyes; you saved them. mile from
| here we found them, horses quite done up.
The quarter of an hour you gave them
| saved them all. How can thank your"
Listen" gripping him by the arm,
BOlitho huskily whispered to his chief.
Write to the addresses in my pocket to
say how l died. My father is the bishop
of -. was clergyman. To save my
honor l enlisted. Tell Colonel Wise and
Mrs. Wise I Ned like man. Prom
ise'- He paused while trying in vain
to catch his breath.
81 promise you. Bolitho, on my word"
They buried him that evening outside
| the fort the colonel, with shaky voice,
reading the service, and his wife as chief
mourner.-EXchange
Merit Is Appreciated.
There is bond of fellowship among
French artists that cannot be found in
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