Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-06-29
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! A SOLDIERS
; SACRIFICE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES: - sss;;ss5s.

! Sergeant Major Bolitho of the til
hnssars was summoned into his colonies
presence one very bot norning.
Sergeant, l have telegram from the
general saying that mutiny has broken
out in this province. Take ten men, with
four SPARE horses and ride down at once.
Tell the ladies' they are to return with
you as soon as the horses are rested"
! Yes, sir. May l pick my own men?'
E; 'Certainly.' The colonel rose and
walked OYER to the sergeant. II don't
mind telling you. Eolitho what I have
rot told any one else-I feel very nervous
My wife and her sisters would go to this
place last week, and my children are with
: thenl.'
Trust me, sir. I will bring them back
safely. Rest quite assured about that,
I will start at once" Saluti2g gravely,
he left his chiefs room, leaving him
quite at ease about his wife and children.
Ernest Bolitho was the sphinx of the
gallant Seventh. No one knew why he
was in the ranks. Every one liked him;
no one could help seeing that he was
; thorough gentleman. All they knew was
that his past had been an unhappy one
, and that he had been more sinned against
than SHINING.
In All hour the party trotted out of the
station into the glaring heat of the sun.
by dint OF very careful riding and judi
cious short halts the bungalow was reach
ed in four hours. Bolitho dismounted his
men IN the compound and unsaddled the
horses. The natives struck him as look
ing sury, and, full Of apprehension, he
entered the house where the ladies were
at tea. The butler started when he saw
Bolitho enter. and after brief pause
drew him into an adjoining room.
"Quick, man! What do you want?"
"Sahib,' said the butler, g!ancing nerv-
ously round, You saved my poor boys
life when the tiger had got him down,
and if | am killed for it I will repay you.
THE servants have heard that party
Of native cavalry is coming up to loot
the house. '~~--s-easo~.s*S>'.r-~~,>>
HAPPILY entering the tearoom, he in q
few terse sentences informed the ladies;
that the colonel was very i'll and they
We're to lose no time, but to ride as they
! were. Mrs. Rose. with pale face, placed
her children in the troopers arms, and
after helping her sister to mount was
placed in the saddle by Bolitho. Twelve
| miles were covered, and they had arrived
at the foot Of STEEP hill, crowned on the
top with a small wood, round which a
low, broad mud wall had been built. In
pressing up this hill Mrs. Roses horse
fell, fortunately not injuring the rider. In
stead Of rising it remained on the ground,
and Bolitho found that it was dying.
| Calling the men aside, their sergeant or
dered them to place their carbines
against the wall and to put Mrs. Roses
| eaddle on his horse, at the same time in
! forming them in an authoritative tone
that they were to make the best of speed
| On to camp.
Madam, kindly send a horse for me
when you get back to camp, as it is too
hot TO walk
Mrs. Rose, grateful for his considera-
ton and quite unaware of the real facts
| Of the case, promised she would.
| Away they went. the children laughing
| and waving their hands to him, standing
alone in the road. and the ladies wonder
ing how they would find the colonel. b.
litho had seen the dust coming in a cloud
about three miles behind them; he guess
| ed their enemies were on their track and
saw certain death to the whole party be-
fore him. Ciasping the carbines in his
arms, he got over the low wall and ar
| ranged them in such a way as to be read
| lily able to fire them rapidly. He opened
his cartridge case and laid that ready,
and then kneIt down with a gun in his
| hand behind the wall.
! Suddenly aver the brow of the nearest
| hill poured a squadron Of native cavalry.
and came at gallop down to the foot of
| the hill upon the top of which Bolitho
| was intreuched. He Judged when they
We're in range, and. taking quick shot, he
fred his carbine, clutched another and
| another as that was discharged. He
poured five shots in quick succession into
| the mass Of troopers. His aim was dead
~, and, deceived by the rapidity of the
shots, the enemy was checked and. halt
ing suddenly, wheeled off sharply and re-
tired hundred yards, leaving three dead
men and two horses behind them. On
again getting to the foot Of the hill they
unbuckled their carbines and began a
| vigorous fusillade of the wood. In mo-
ment Bolitho was struck in three places.
Realizing all was over he crawled to a
tree and got himself propped against it.
Still unconquered, with a revolver in his
right hand and blood oozing from his
wounds, he was at bay. The natives,
hearing no further firing, began to take
| courage, and after final volley again
returned to the charge.
But bark! He hears his regimental
call brayed out; then the charge is sound
ed, and with hoarse cheer squadron
of his own regiment came gallcping round
! the plantation and crashed into the rebels.
Short and sharp was the reckoning, and
| within FIVE minutes the whole body were
either dead or prisoners.
| Their work DONE the troopers swarmed
| into the wood, headed by the colonel him
self, in search Of their comrade and found
him dying against the tree. Kneelins be-
side him, the colonel placed his arm
| round the wounded man.
my poor fellow! Are you much hurt ?"
'Done for, sir" gasped Bolitho. Are
! the ladies safe?"
Eyes; YOU saved them. A mile from
here we found them, horses quite done mp.
The quarter Of an hour you gave them
! saved them all. How can thank you?'
Listen" gripping him by the arm,
Bolitho huekily whispered to his chief.
"Write to the addresses in my pocket to
say how died. My father is the bishop
Of -. was clergyman. To save my
honor enlisted. Tell Colonel Wise and
Mrs. Wise I died like q man. Prom