The sun., 1901-03-06

Joined, eh? e says 'Certn'y, majer,
/ says, soothin'-like. Then feels
summat a-foolin' about me in the
darkness, an when grabbed it /
found it wos the majer's hand"
"Snipey," said Ripper reproachfully,
"you're blisterin' liar!"
"That's the kernel of it. mate. It's
true about the hand, though, Kip"
Crack, crack! Increasingly the pitt
less rifles told the lurking Chinese
that their British pigeons were safe
in the nest below.
"Kipper!"
"Ole pail"
"We gorrer remember one thing.
There must be no bloomin' surrender.
in"
"Not bit o. surrenderin :" There
was decided quaver in the tone now.
"There wunt be no takin' prisoners!
We've took great responsibility on
fer the regiment. There's lot %
clarse about the regiment, Kip, an,
we amt a-goin' to disgrace it. See?"
"Snipey!"
sKipper, ole mani" There was the
same funny grouping of hands in the
dark, the same tight lingering grip
when they found each other.
Crack, crack!
"Curse this rife!" said Snipey
"How she bumps!"
1t was nearly o'clock when Kip
per spoke again. The blackness was
diluted little over the eastern ridge.
"Snipey," he said, with weary
little sob, "I'm a-gettin' ill" Then
after pause: "Snipey, dyer remem-
ber what that Crucified Chap said
when ZEE got tired-when 'E wos
weary o. waitin', mean?"
Don't give yer neck, mattel"
"IIim wot the mish'nary told us
about when we wos kids" went on
Ripper, pathetically. "Wot was it?
Snipey sighed.
81 know, chummy. ] was just a,
thinking of it meself. SOW long, o
Lord, 'ow long?'"
"That's it'll" said Ripper, through
his chattering teeth. 'Ow long, O
Lord"
! The eastern sky was a golden sea
The rocky ridges and hills beneath
seemed blacker than ever, and from
that black smudge on the glory OF
/ the dawn came half dozen little
i puffs of fame, and Kipper's rife clat.
tered down upon the rocks. Snipey
CROPPED about in the gloom, and
found his comrade on his knees
gasping and splitting mouthfuls oi
warm liquid.
"wot yer doin', Kip?" he said
anxiously.
He stood for a minute, still as thu
rocks around, then stumbled forward
with a sobbing cry of rage and mis-
cry. In the dim light he saw Kippel
lying on his side, trying in vain t.
raise himself upon his elbow.
"Kipper!" he whispered softly, fall
ing on his knees beside his chum.
Ripper groaned. and pressed hi
hand to his right breast.
"Through-th lungs!" he said, il
/ an awed whisper, between the fits 0
i. coughing that wrenched him. Snipe.
pressed his hand, with sob.
For the regiment, Snipey" fl
raised himself on his elbow, and hi
{ chun flung an arm around his necl
I to support him. There's a bit q
clarse about-the-reg--"
; A fresh fit of coughing brought in
. tense agony; after it was over hi
$ head fell back.
j; Snipey pulled out his handkerchie
d to wipe the blood from the dead lips
e 1t was miniature copy of the Britis'
flag. He remembered how the hand
e kerchiefs had taken the fancy of tn
d soldiers just before they left England
1 and how the regiment had bought u
d the whole stock.
). He stared stolidly at the quiet fac
G for minute, them spread the littl
h flag over it.
d When Snipey turned once more t
e face the east the day had broke
v gloriously. His rifle was empty. an
;. he slipped fresh cartridge into tn
breech. Then, with sudden though
c he fetched Kipper's rifle and loade
]. that, too.
/ When the Chinese closed round j
d the growing light tEley found thei
e pot-shot prey had fttwn. A solitar
d British soldier, with hands and chi
b resting on the mlzzle of his gui
II stood awaiting their Vengeance.
e The weapon sprang to the achn
: shoulder, and one yellow foe lay
corpse. With the report Of Ripper
A. gun another pressed his hand to
a mortal wound, and the affair wa
finished.
But that morning, in the mes,
le tents of the rescued regiment, tn
story of how couple of weeds ha
'e been plucked from the garden of S,
a ciety was told with misty eyes an
: glowing hearts.-Chicago Herald.