The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-08
THE PASSING
OF THE LAIRD
a Story Of the South African War.

o.o.o"o.o"osoo so"o.o"o"os
1t was that field Of dread memory
bclching hill front of fire had moved
in sWathcs the ranks Of the Black
Watch-till dusk-wlen the last gun
had sent its whistlng shrapuel-thc
air had seemed TO live and screech and
scream and to MAIN, blast and wihcr
the men of the Highland brigade.
The dark African night had flung It's
blackncss over Magcrsfontcin, and in
the scanty scrub and holows remained
those who could not well retire when
the bugles, with reluctant notes, sound
ed the retreat.
Piper Duncan Farquharson sat up
and gronned. His last experience of
life had been rather mixed. lie re-
membercd retiring behind Il wire fence,
and after he had scampered over the
vel1t a few dozen yards something
happened. What this was Duncan
was uncertain, but as he felt his head
lie knew he had been hit.
The blood had cakeI hard on his
neck and collar, and as he moved it
began anew to trickle down his face.
lie took out his handkerchief and band
aged his wounds as well as he could.
His pipes were safe. lie could feel
the reeds lying over his knees. lie
bent to grasp them.
He was tormentcd with an awful
thirst. His water bottle was still in
tact, and he raised it to his lips. Still
the thirst continued.
He sat up and considered. Where
s. was his company? Where was the
captain and his lieutenant, the young
laird, who bore the same name as he
bore? He would go to them. So he
went.
lie rose up and, reellng, fell. He
rose again and once more came down.
Then lie crawled.
There were groans and curses and
sobs from the darkness, and sometimes
a wild yell tore the night asundcr.
There were calls for water In all the
dialects spoken north Of the Tweed
and In many forms of southern Anglo
Saxon.
Duncan crawlcd through them. At
last he came to the barbed wire en-
tanglements. AS he crawled through
these the barbs tore his kilt and hose,
and lie felt them enter his flesh, but at
last he threw himself clear.
Then lie rolled down short way,
and a boWlder brought him up. lie
put out his hand to protect his face
and caught another hand, cold and
clammy, in his own.
The other groaned aloud.
as that you, laird| said Piper Dun
can Farquhnrson.
"Ah it's you, Duncan" said Leuten-
ant Duncan Farquharson.
"Ah, IFS me, laird. Are We sair
hurtit"
ooh, ! don't know, Duncan. For
heavens sake. If you have any water,
give Inc some"
eve nae water laird, but I'll get ye
some. Yc are awfu' caur, though"
salu Inc piper.
lie took off his tunic and wrapped
the laird in 1t as well rs could be done
under the circumstances.
The laird suddenly stirred.
do you mind the loch your father
and we two used to fish at the back o
Ben d-houran? Now, was 1t Jock
Scott he used? l don't remember"
He shlvcrcd; then lie came back to
Magcrsfonteln.
Duncan, lad, if 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 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 operation was limited,
Out he bad many within it, limited
though it might be.
Duncan plllaged from an officer sill
yer flask which its owner would never
more require.
With other melancholy loot Duncan
crawled slowly back to the laird, and,
feeling for his face, he poured whisky
and water between his lips
The laird caught his trembling hand.