The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-29

Heavens sake, if you have any water.
I've 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 I'M
der the circumstances
The laird suddenly stirred.
DO you mind the loch your father
ana we two used to fish at the back o.
Ben-d-houran? Now. was it Jock
Scott he used. don't remember ~
He shivered. Then he came back to
Magersfontein.
Duncan, lad, if you can move bring
me a 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 operations was limited
but he had many within it. limited
though it might be.
Duncan pillaged from an officer a sill
yer flask which its owner would never
more require.
With other melancholy loot, Duncan
craWied 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 enoughi I'm
going. Keep it for yourself
Ma, ma, laird; tax some mair OF
III TAX some myself though"
He drank the mixture, and as the
spirits brought back life into his trem-
bling frame, he said:
Man, laird, I houp that officer chieI
was good-levin' man. He deserves to
gang to a place there's ma SIGH a drol1th
as there's here"
You were always plueky Duncan"
SAID the lieutenant, but I'm going.0
His voice was now at a whisper.
Ma, ma, yen TAX anither drappfe,"
said the piper. And again he poured a
few drops between the laird's lips
Duncan, could you play a march be-
fore l go?'
TN try, but ma held is awfl' queer.
Hiv We my pipes?''
Yes; l kept them in my left hand''
Piper FarquharsOn tuned his pipes
Now, the Haughs o. Cromdale'
Duncan I'm goin'," whispered the
Ma, ma, yer nae gaun, laird! I'll play
We a reel And over the desolation
fioated the springing crispness of the
From the darkness, the sentries on
the heights and in the trenches fired off
their rifles, and their sleepy comrades
stood to their arms. These verdomed
petticoat pooineks were to make a night
attack Suddenly the music stopped
Dae We mind that? It was danced
at your coming o. age"
Yes, 1 remember, Duncan. But play
the march, and sit down here beside
Duncan"
Duncan, whose head was throbbfng
with the, effort in playing the reel,
crawled down beside his laird
'Ay; I think it will be snow afore
mornin'.'' he said.
Then Piper Farquharson played
marches and strathspeys and in the
coin daVEndSS loo n =,
OF his audience. But as they fell asleep,
and their thirst was stated. and their
pain eased. their lullaby was to them,
the sweetest they had heard since child
hood.
Duncan could play no more. 1t was
indeed, only f1tfully he had played at
all.
And the laird was passing.
Goodbye, old man, and thanks!''
sighed the laird. IF you go home, tell
them I sent my love. 1 wrote to them
all yesterday. Good"
There was a slight tinkle, the laird
fell sideways. He had gone with his
comrades.
The dawn would come soon. Already
the SUBMITS of the eastern hills were
beginning to appear through the gray
ness Day was coming and the night
and those who mad gone under its
blackness were now to be numbered
with that which had been.
Duncan, however, was only concerned
The laird was gone. He had asked
him for a march: he should have one
Duncan rose, propped himself against
the bowlder, and stood over the body of
his lieutenant.
Then over the veldt the low, wai1ing
strains of ''Lochaber No More" rose and
swelled in the dawn. like the voice of a
mother mourning with a sore articulate
grief the loss of her children
1t was well played. The infinite sor-
row, the wild hopelessness of the music.
rang out over veldt and kopje, and the
more superstitious among the Beers
muttered that 1T was the wailing of
the souls of the petticoat rooineks." 1t
was probably Piper Farquharson S best
effort; it was his last.
The Boer sentinel in the advanced
trench saw. as the dawn came, a roo
mex standing facing him He was a
petticoat. and might have thousands
behind him. The sentry brought his rife
to the present" 1t was an easy shot
a tall man, with no khaki tunic to de-
ceive the marksman. Then the Mauser
barked.
In this wise Piper Duncan Farquhar-
son of the Highland brigade rejoined
his laird.
Citizen-See here. III give you dime,
but I believe you asked me for money