Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-26
on THE vILDT,


the belching hill front Of FIRE had
moved in swsths the ranks Of the
Black Watch--till dusk-when the
last gun had sent its whistling 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 bIackness 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 W
and groaned. His last experience Of
life had been father mixed. He re-
membered retiring behind . wise
fence, and after he had scamperei
over the veldt a few dozen yard,
something happened. What this was
Duncan was uncertain, but as he left
his head he knew he had been hit.
The blood had caked hard on hi,
neck and collar, and as he moved Il
began anew to trickle down his face
He took out his handkerchief and
bandaged his wound as well as he
could
His pipes were 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 81 u
intact, and he raised II to his lips
Still the thirst continued
He sat up and considered. Where
was his company? Where was the
captain, and his lieutenant-ths
young laird, who bore the same
name as he bore? He would 20 to
them. So he went.
lie rose up, and, Keeling, fell. He
rose again, and once more came
down. Then he crawled.
There were groans 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.
i Duncan crawled trough them. Al
last he came to, the barbed.wire en-
tanglements. As he crawled through
these. the barbs tore his kilt and
hose, and he felt them enter his
flesh, but at last he drew himself
clear.
| Then he rolled down q short wny
and bowldcr brought him up n,
put out his hand TO protect his face
and caught another hand, cold and
clammy. in his own
The other groaned aloud.
us that you, laird?" said Piper
Duncan Farqubarson.
"Ah, it's me, laird Are ye sail
hurtit?'
"Oh. I don't know. Duncan! Fol
heavens sake, il you have any
water. give me somel"
VI have nae water. laird. but II
get We some. Ye are awfu'. caul'
though" said the piper
He took off his tunic and wrapped
, the laird in 1t, as well as could \,
done under the circumstances
, The laird suddenly stirred
DO you mind the loch your fathe
and we two used to fish at back q
Bend houran? Now, was it a Jc
Scott he used? don't remember"
He shivered. Then came back t.
Magersfontein.
Duncan, lad, II you can move
bring me a drink Of water"
Duncan sat still and felt his head
He heard with his ears but his braii
had not yet comprehended,
Then consciousness returned tt
him. He must obey The laird
It was in these circumstances tina
Piper FarQuharson robbed the deaf
on Magersfontein
] His field Of operations was limited
but he had many within it, Limited
though it might '"
Duncan pillagt flea an officer
silver flask which its owner woult
n never more require
Il With other melancholy loot, Dun
can crawled slowly back to the laird
/ and, feeling for his face, he poure'
4 whisky and water between his lips
The laird caught his trembling
3 hand.
. STEADY. Duncan! I've enough
0 I'm going. Keep it for yourself"
81 "Na, ma. laird: TAX some MAR OF
I'm taxi some myse' though"
He drank the mixture and. a. th
spirit brought back life into hi
trembling frame Ne said:
"Man, laird, ] houp that ONCE
chiel YVES a good.levin' man. He d.
I serves 10 gang TO q place there's n
sich a drouth IN as there's here"
: "You were always plucky. Dur
: can said the lieutenant, but II
!. going" His voice was now at
whisper.
INA, ma, ven TAX another dral
pie!" said the pirer. And again b
poured a few drops between N
laird's lips.
Duncan. could you play o marc
!. before l go?"
i Eyes; I kept them In my lie
hand"
an try, but ma ht'd's av
, queer. Hiv ye my pipes?"
Piper Farquharson. tuned his pipe