Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-10-05

BIC IS HdLurdl lO tuelu, Ike curly udtAs
1 ''However, to get back to the charm
The poor old mater, who firmly be
lieves in the thing, made me promise
to carry 1t. So I've kept 1T in the
pouch and used 1t as a pipe stopper
ever since.
''You remember how the Shah got
into the Zulu scramble, Of course
We'd done four years on the Pacific
and were homeward bound, with
Pleasure at the helm, when we were
brought up at st. Helena by the news
of Isandhlwana. Old Dicky Bradshaw
| brought us back here on his own, and
three weeks later we were landed and
| working our way up to Eshowe.
There's been some talk lately about
first class fighting men We've tackled
several sorts of them in our time, but
for sheer pluck the Zulu was second
to none, in my opinion. Some of them
would actually throw themselves on
our bayonets so that others could get
through. If that isn't the real thing,
should like to know what is. But
they don't smell nice in a scuff1e.
eve used to try a few navy lodges
on them when we were in laager. We
pretended to abandon a gun once and
when they gathered round, looking
down the n1uzzle, let her go with a
long lanyard. The tricks didn't al
ways come off, though. Our Gunnery
Jack planned grand coup once-he's
captain now, lucky beggar."
"How was it you never got showed
up over it, old manY said the major.
''Do you get showed up in the army
for doing your bit without shouting?"
said Casemate. my guY'nor won't let
me go up. If he knows Johnny who
could give me a shove, he'll ask him as
favor not to do it, because it might
smell unfair. But I'm satisfied. A
man that likes his mates is better off
in wardroom than perked up in
captains cabin, alone with his nobiIi-
ty. l don't want the money. like
my job and when Pm tired Of it I'll
go ashore and catch butterflies.
However, to get back to Gunnery
Jacks coup. We used to be worried
a good deal by night attacks. The
beggars used to try to rush us on dark
nights, and even single fellows sneak
ed their way into the camp sometimes.
slack laid out some mines at one
place we pitched at to welcome them
with. One middle watch the word was
passed that they were coming, and we
all turned out to receive them.
'sThere was some loose scrub little
distance off which had led Jack to ex-
pect attack from that side and to lay
the mines there accordingly. We could
see dark forms moving about in. the
scrub and edging toward US, though
rather slowly, and after rather tire
some wait Jack at length shouted. |
'Heaye her! and touched the key.
"The whole earth seemed to rise up |
in front of us, and then a shower Of |
earth and stones fell all around A |
thing that rather surprised Jack was
the hind leg of a mule which came
flying through the air and bowled him
over like rabbit. He said it was the |
first time he had ever been kicked by
a leg with no mule on it.
''In the morning we found the re-
mains Of no less than six of the camp
mules scattered about. They had got
out somehow through soft place in
the lager and nibbled their way round |
to the scrub. Jack didn't do any more
mining"
"That reminds me-" said the major,
'of the mining battalion at Chatham.
They blew up a bridge they'd crossed
, trench by and couldn't get back
again" :.
"But what about Moses charm ~
said the correspondent. Where does
that come in?'
THAT was another affair" said Case
nate more grayely. 'T'd almost for
gotten. We used to get single niggers
II at night, as said, in spite Of the
'harpest lookout. You can't see. a
black man far in the dark, you know.
One night ! woke and saw big fellow
rying to uuhood my gun from the tent
'ole. He was d gigantic chap. and,
tanding between me and the tent
Ioor, he doomed like a house. felt l
alItiously for my revolver, but he Ell
her saw me or heard me. for his arm
vent up, and just for moment his
ssagai stood across the light like "a
Window bar, and then it came straight
t me-"
"But the good old charm checked it
d midair," said the major.
'''Not quite in midatr." said the lieu
snant. II felt bang that I thought !.
ad STAYED my chest In, and then he
7as on me. We scufied a bit, but. 1.
OF hold of the revolver and let him.
ave a Mark II just as our fellows.I J.
N In. The spear had hit the baccy;l
ouch in my breast pocket -of counsel 6
was lying down all rugged land it Y
as brought UP against the stopper. 2
Is pretty hard. but he made BIT OF 9
mark on It, you see The matters got 4
le ,assagai, at home now with the point z
lrned up. like bent PIN" P
'1The drawback to your charm is 9
lat it only acts when it's in the line OF P
re-" said the major 'Still 1t was !.