Hutchinson gazette., 1900-04-26
N4AN4AAN4@NAA@9999o4ttt4
ON THE VELDT,


Black Watch--till dusk--when tho
last gun had sent its whlstllng sharp
nel--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 blaclNness over Magersfontein, and
in the scanty scrub and stony hol-
lows remained those who could not
well retire when the bugles sounded
the retreat.
Piper Duncan Farquharson sat up
and groaned, His last experience OF
life had been rather mixed, He re-
membered retiring behind wise
fence, and after he had scampered
over the veldt few dozen yards
something happened. What this was,
Duncan wns uncertain, but ns he left
his head he knew he had been hit.
The blood had caked hard on his
neck and collar, and as he moved II
began anew TO trickle down his face.
He took out his handkerchief and
bandaged his wound as well rs he
could.
His pipes we're safe; he could feel
The reeds lying over his knees, lie
bent to grasp them.
He was tormented with an awful
thirst. His water bottle was still
intact, and he raised IL TO his lips.
Still the thirst continued
He sat up and considered, Where
was his company? Where was the
captain, and his lieutennnt-the
young laird, who bore the same
name as he bore? He would go TO
them. So he went,
He rose up, and, reeling, fell, lie
rose again, and once more came
down. Then he crawled.
There were gronns and curses and
sobs from the darkness, and some
times 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 trough them. At
last he came TO the bnrbed-wire EN-
tanglements AS he crawlcd through
these, the barbs tore his kilt and
hose. and be felt them enter his
flesh but at last he drew himself
clear.
Then he rolled down 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. q
as that you, laird?' said Piper
Duncan Fnrquharson.
"Ah, it's me, lalrdl Are ye sair
hurtit2"
"oh, don't know, Duncanl For
heavens sake, II you have any
water, give me some"
81 have nae water, laird, but I'll
get ye some. Ye are awfu' caul',
though" said the piper,
He took of 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 back o.
Ben-d-houran? Now, was II Jock
Scott he used? | don't remember"
He shiyered Then came back to
Magersfonteln,
"Duncan, lad, IL 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 comprehendcd.
Then consciousness returned to
him. He must obey the laird.
II was in these circumstances that
Piper FarQuhnrson robbed the dead
on Magersfontein.
His field of operations was limited,
but he had many within II, limited
though II might he.
Duncan pillngcd from an officer
silver flask which its owner would
never more require.
With other melancholy loot, Dun
can crawlcd 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 Duncanl I've enough!
I'm going Keep it for yourself"
'Nu, nu, laird: TAX some mair OF. |
I'll TAX some myself though"
He drank the mixture and, as the
spirit brought back life into his
trembling frame he said:
MAN, laird, houp that officer
chiel was n good-levin' man. He de-
serves to gang to a place there's ma
sich a drouth in MS there's here"
"You were always plucky, Dun
can" said the lieutenant, "but I'm
going His voice was now at
whisper.
ana, ma, yen talk another drap-
pie!" said the piper And again he
poured few drops between the
lnird's lips.
"Duncon, could you play a march
before ! go?'
"Yes; | kept them in my left
hand"
an try, but ma heid's awful
queer. Hiv ye my pipes?"
Piper Farquharson tuned his pipes
"Now, the 'Haughs o Cromdale,'
Duncan. I'm going" whispered tho
laird.
"Na, ma, yer nae gaun', laird! I'll
play We reel" And over the desc.
lation foated the springing crspness
of the Perth Hunt"
From the darkness the sentries ON
the heights and in the trenches