The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-10-19

shown more boldness than hitherto
the cartridges were woefully less, and
fresh attack was clearly impend
ing.
The lieutenant's heart sank within
him, and yet he spoke a few words
Of praise and encouragement to his
men. His speech was never ended.
Distant but distinct there rang out
a bugle-call, and then from the green
depths around came the rafting
crash of fusillade and the constant
pop, pop, pop of the ubiquitous
Maxim.
Fort Mutt was relieved.
splendid, my dear boyw said a
major of the line 20 minutes later.
'sYou have done capitally, and if
can manage it you'll have the D.S.O.,
for you deserve it if anyone does.
Now take pull at this"
Perhaps he guessed that the lieu
tenant was on the verge of disgracing
his manhood.
Three weeks had come and gone,
just half as long as the ordeal at
Fort Mutt had lasted, and the reliev-
ing column was cutting its arduous
way through the dense bush to yet
another isolated post whose fate
hung in the balance.
The lieutenant had been offered his
chance to return to the coast or to
accompany the expedition, and, like
a boy, he had chosen the latter
alternative. His feeling of malaise-
those shivers down his spine, that
dragging pain, slight, but never alb
sent from his left side-should have
warned him. The surgeon did so;
but the lieutenant merely laughed
and lied to him, and threw dust in
his eyes, for the surgeon was wound
ed and scarcely so keen at a diagno-
sis as was his won't. So the heuten-
ant journeyed with the rest, and was
wild with delight at having four
white men to talk to and something
decent to eat, while the fizz of soda
water was as the FLASHING of foun-
tains in his ears. His spirits were
high, and his head just little
swelled with success. He began to
talk Lig, and was somewhat of
nuisance with his tales of how 81
thought this" and how ST did that"
but his fellow.officers pardoned much
and smiled grimly. 1t was one thing,
they told him, to fight from cover,
and quite another to face death in
the open; and the lieutenant was of
dod
his head swan, and why he started
at every sudden noise from beyond
the double wall of creeper-clad trees
which hemmed in the long, snake
like, crawling column.
He grew snappish and irritable, and
was no pleasant companion The
others, who did not know him well,
put him down as conceited young
ass, for their test of illness was ap-
petite, and the lieutenant ate like
a horse. They did not know that
after each meal he was sick as a
dog. The malaria, peculiar and in
sidious form, fastened upon him slow
ly; for his body had been healthy,
and he was young and sober, but it's
grip was none the less sure. His
poisoned blood reacted on his brain,
and as he stumbled forward he would
start at the sight of a snake, and
peer fearfully into the green screen
behind him, where, had he but known
it, glided the naked foe. At last the
column received sudden check.
Without warning, just as its head
debouched from the long gloomy
lane into an open space leading to
sluggish stream crossed by mar
row bridge, a heavy fire was opened
upon it both in front and on the
fianks. Men fell rapidly. but there
was no graphing with the enemy
in their beloved jungle. The bridge
must be carried and the cluster of
mud huts beyond 1t captured. The
major glanced about him. His senior
officer was down, shot in the leg,
and the surgeon was already getting
tourniquet upon his femoral. The
next in command was far in the
rear; but the lieutenant was close
at hand.
Take couple of dozen men and
clear the bridge" shouted the major.
The lieutenant looked at him and
looked at the bridge. fiimsy thing
of cane and creepers, swept by a
hot fire from the low mud wall, above
which cropped up the domed roofs
of the native huts. The brown river
drifted sullenly beneath it. The air
was full of death: men were becom-
ing confused; 1t was no time to lin
ger. Mechanically the lieutenant sa-
luted; but he made no move, he is
sued no order.
Instead he crouched little, and his
hands shook, while his yellow lips
went white.
'Do you hear me. lieutenant ?"
roared his commanding officer.
"Take that bridge, and at once, sirl''
Still the ping ping went on. min
gled now and then with dull. sicken-
ing thuds and the cry of men In pain,
or the horrid gurgle which blood
makes in the throats of those who
die.
The lieutenant looked behind him.
There was no way of escape.
Lieutenant -, for the last time
I order you to take the bridge" The
majors voice was harsh yet trem-
ulous with passion. His sword point
ed the way.
''Men of the police. myself viii
lead you'll Follow mel" he cried, and
with a wild cheer the men of the
Lee 1;,<- o1,,,ran. do.Aol - A.. 80