The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-03-01
hey don't smell nIce In a scuf,e.


I'VE used to try a few navy lodges
on them when we were In laager We
pretended to abandon a gun once and
when they gathered round. looking
down the muzzle. lei her go with
long lanyard. The tricks didn't al
ways come Off. though. Our Gunnery
Jack planned grand coup once-he's
captain now. lucky beggar.'
How was II You never got showed
up over II. old man?' said the major
do you get showed up In the army
for doing your biz without shouting?"
said casemate. MY guv'nor won't let
me go up If he knows Johnny who
could give me shove. he'll ask him as
favor moi 10 do 1t. beca use II might
smell unfair But I'm satisfied A
man that likes his mates Is better off
In a wardroom than perked up In
captains cabin. alone with his nobli-
ty don't want the money. like
my job. and when I'm tired Of 1t III
go ashore and catch butterflies
However TO get back to Gunnery
Jacks coup We used TO be worried
good deal by night attacks. The
beggars used to try to rush us on dark
nights. and even single fellows sneak
ed their way into the camp sometimes
lack laid out some mines at one
place We pitched AT 10 welcome them
with One middle watch the word was
passed thai they We're coming. and we
all turned ont 10 receive them.
"fhere was some loose scrub little
distance OF which had led Jack to ex
ppct attack from HAT side and TO lay
the mines there accordingly We could
see dark forms moving about In the
scrub and rdging toward us. though
rather slowly. and after n rather tire
some wait lack at length shouted
'Heave her" anl touched the key
The whole earth seemed 10 rise up
In front of us. and then "A shower of
earth and stones fell all around A
thing that rather surprised Jack was
the hind lee of a mule which came
flying through the air and howled him
over like Il rabbit. He said ii was the
iirsi lime he had ever been kicked by
leg with no mule on il
in the morning we found the re
mains Of no less than six of the camp
mules scattered about They had got
Oui somehow through soft place III
the ger and nhhlrd their way round
to lit. scrsb lack didn't do any more
mining"
THAT reminds me-" said the ma jor
Of ~ 1
They blew UP Il bridge they'd crossed
trench by and couldn't eF back
agani
'',,ut what about Moses charm"
sand the correspondents Where does
ihaI come inT'
That was another affair" said Case
mate more gravely. I'D almost for
gotten We used to get single niggers
in al night. as | said. In spite of the
sharpest lookout You cant see a
black man far in the dark. you know
One night | woke and saw big fellow
trying to unhood my gun from the tent
pole. He was a gigantic chap and.
standing between me and the tent
door, he doomed like house felt
cautiously for my revolver. but he ell
ther saw me or heard me. for his arm
went up. and just for moment his
assagai stood across the light like u
window bar. and then 1t came straight
at me-"
But the good old charm checked 1t
In mdair." said the major.
Not quite in midair." said the lieu
tenant 81 felt a bang that | thought
had STAYED my chest In. and then he
was on me We scuffled bit. but
got hold Of the revolver and let him
have Mark II just as our fellows
ran in The spear had hit the baccy
pouch In my breast pocket-of course
| WAS lying down all rugged II
was brought up against the stopper
It's pretty hard. but he made a Bit Of
a mark on ii. you see. The matters goi
the assaga at home now with the point
turned up like bent pin"
THE rawhack TO your charm Is
that ii only acts when it's In the line of
fire Sai0 the major still II was
let off old man, and | congratulate
you and ourselves. too. that you're
here to spin the yarn"
And 81 SAY all of u.s. sang the 9th
ers Navy and Army illustrated