The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-30

up the train as 1t goes down tomorrow,
and we may-mind. say may-save our
skins. II, on the other hand, you wire
mp the truth to Newcastle, the regiment
will march down with all precautions,
and we shall die
"'But I'm not ready to die. Why
should II I'm afraid to de- moaned the
poor chap, and in our hearts we echoed
Lis words.
"I know that, my lad, said Mr.. Try
on, and SO am l, but it's soon over, and
we'll die together. It'll be company any
way, won't it2 Cheer up. I've got a
mother and father, too, and they won't
be ashamed of me IL die like man.
Shall we show these Beers how English.
men die? l know you men agree with
me-. He turned to US and laughed as he
saw our faces. Then one grinned bit,
and then another, and then the fear of
death went, and we were all as bold as
brass, even the frightened chap at the in.
strument.
"'Good,' says Mr.. Tryon. Now let em
all come
Lord, fair laughed; couldn't help
1t. 1t was bit hysterical, but it made
man Of me, and didn't care blow
for anything. Then the Beers came in,
and their leader began:
"'Wcll, have you made up your mindsT
"'All right said the clerk. shaking
with fear. but with cocky gleam In his
eye. What shall sayT
Say what told you, or
1--WE held our breath while we watch
ed the play out, standing like dummies
against the wall.
Observation-Disclosures, Observation-Disclosures,
went the instrument, and then there was
a horrible silence. He was calling up
Newcastle, and we prayed that they
might 81 on the qui yive to put US out Of
0ul mhery.
"Then bell rang, and the clerk gave
a swift glance at the Beers Martins as
he began humping on the keyboard.
Was he going to play the craven after
all? We wondered. But we could do
nothing but watch and listen to the cease
less tick-tack of the indicator. The sweat
plugged away until he had finished. Then
our turn came, and Newcastle began to
talk to us.
"'What's the message? suddenly cried
the Boer leader. pushing his rifle muzzIe
against the clerks forehead.
'The shock was too much for the man
strained as be was. and he blurted out:
sam sending off to your But he
got no further, for, with an oath, the
Boer roared out in Dutch:
"'ro your saddles! The roineks have
betrayed us!
"Without n thought for us the men
rushed for their horses, while the leader
seemed speechless with fury. Before lie
ould make move Mr.. Tryon spoke up:
"'On my head be it! | ordered him to
tell the truth! Don't shoot him; shoot
me!'
Like lion the man swung round and
raised his rifle and covered our officer,
while shout came from without of
'Smit! Smit"
"He glared at Mr.. Tryon. but he didn't
blink, and then the rifle went higher and
higher until it pointed full at the ceiling.
Curse you! Why weren't you q
Boer? he said, and then he pulled the
trigger and rushed from the room.
Before the smoke cleared away we
could hear the horses hoofs ringing on
the still air, and then it dawned upon US
that there had been two white men in
that office, for Mr.. Tryon was unhurt.
"Thank God, lads! he gasped. 1t
was near thing. expect he's told his
men that he shot me. but. mind, you owe
him his life II ever you set eyes on him."
The soldier turned as though to go.
"And what became of himY" they ask
ed breathlessly.
"Died in the first big battle we had
with the enemy-ded in the front, too,
the pride of his regiment" muttered the
veteran. "There goes the dress Hur-
ry up now; don't growse any more: the
blessed army's full of Mr.. Tryonsv'-
Navy and Army Illustrated.