The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-07

uSleHueiS uI tne nlll WHO htlu DeeH lel
 behind in the fight.
 He had tied Up the Boers leg wit
 tender fingers and air of importanc
 which had brought a quite smile to tn
 bronzed face of his patient.
 Now I'm just a-gonin' to Dorroy
 that there Mouser O yourn for bit c
 shootin'!' he had remarked colly whel
 he had concluded the operation to hi
 fancy; that is, if you don't mind m
 pottin' at your pals" he added witt
 somo diffidence.
 The Boer laughed. He was am Irisl
 "Boer,' and, although citizen of thu
 Transvaal, had no great sympathy witt
 his friends who had left him so pre- cipitately when the Tyrones had rushed the kopje at the point of the bayonet,
 Never mind me, youngster," he re piled as he slipped off his bandoier which was well filled with cartridges I'm only prisoner of war;
 You talk jolly good English for a I Dutchy" remarked Bugler Simmons, a! the Boer showed him how to load the strangd weapon.
 My father was Irish" answered the Boei
 Then you're on the wrong side, cocky," said Bugler Simmons with con said Bugler Simmons with conviction
 T shan't be tomorrow morning, ' meaning.
 ! You mean we shall all be dead if those endorsements don't come up?' quered Bugler Simmons. His prisoner nodded
 Looks like it. don't it?'' remarked the boy cheerfully: but we aint dead yet, wot ho We ain't got much money, but we do live!" he added, as 1 he sighed and fired.
 Hit anything?'' asked the Boer l with a laugh.
 Kicks a bt"' suggested Bugler Sim mons, rubbing his shoulder.
 She's a bit heavy for young 'un like you,' answered the Boer, as he slipped another cartridge into the breech
 By the way, sonny he added, "how old are you?"
 Fourteen last birthday" replied Bugler Simmons promptly.
 ITO young for this busness." mur- mured the wounded man to himself
 Ddy DulCi, Sdlu lle Du5lSI, ye see that chap down there, crawling be- hind that rock? Is he pal O yours?"
 T don't think so," answered the Boer. "Why?"
 "'Cos I'm going to pot i'm" replied Bugler Simmons quickly, as he cuddled the stock of the rifle against the cheek which the lady had kissed, and sight ed
 The Boer behind the rock was aim ing at wounded British soldier who had dropped in the rush for the kopje and was now trying to crawl to cover.
 There was a sharp report, as the whole of the bugler's little body twist ed with the recoil of the rife, and the Boer behind the rock pitched forward on to his face.
 Got inn" said the small savage triumphantly; my, but 'that was a close shave for Private Jones!"
 He had certainly saved the wounded private's life. M
 That was clean shot, young 'un,' said the Boer with approval, but you mustn't show your body like that when you fire, or you'll get plugged, as safe as eggs!"
 Right, oh, Dutchy!" acquiesced the delighted bughler Then a thought struck him. T say, would you like to read?" he asked, thrust ing his smoke-fouled little paw into the breast of his tunic. s'Ere's the ha'penny journal wot I take in when I'm at home. It's six weeks old, but there's some proper reading in it; all about pirates and snakes and buried The worst of it is that those chaps always knock off their stories in the most in- citin parts. Now. there's Jack Dasha- way in that story, 'es just going to get nobbled by the pirates wot are coming up the hill after him. apd you gets so excited that it fairly makes you sick when it cuts off short just as the pi- rate king comes up the hill with his mouth full of knives an about 5000 pirates behind him"
 The Boer took the tattered dogs cared paper, and queer look came into his eyes as he regarded this re- markable youngster, who, in the very face of death, was more interested in l the fate of novelet hero than in his own. q say youngster," he said; ''why | don't you clear out of this and get back to the army?' "Wot! an leave our chaps be'ind. | Not mel" responded the bugler rtaher l indignantly. There will be about 1000 men on to l you by daybreak, and your general | seems to have forgotten you. If you | keep those two stars in a line with l the top of yon mountain peak, you will | come to the horses of the commando | which are surrounding us now. Why 1 not take my hat and run down there, ! collar horse and ride for reinforce ments. Your general has mislaid you. There are some good horses down l there, too; some thta we collared with ! squadron of your dragons" added | the Boer
 Then Bugler Simmons made nd more 1emur. He sought his officer, who had | been mourning him as dead, and laid q plan before him. His officer gave him lis blassing and compass, the face of which was painted with luminous paint, ~ EA IA E A M .A