The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-03-14

| volunteers for you an me to stop,
a-cause it wos us wot formerlated the
invention. Couple of soaps afore you
joined, eh?' e says 'Certn'y, majer,'
1 says, soothin'-like. Then L feels
summat a-foolin' about me in the
darkness, an when l grabbed it
found it wos the majer's hand"
''Snipey," said Ripper eproachfully,
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"
eve gorrer remember one thing.
There must be no bloomin' surrender
in"
mot a bit o surrenderin There
was a decided quaver in the tone now.
"There wun 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!"
'Kipper, 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' I'LL" Then
after pause: "Snipey, dyer remem-
Der what that Crucifed Chap said
when ZEE got tired-when e wos
weary O. waitin', mean?"
Don't give yer neck, mattel"
Him wot the mishnary told us
about when we wos kids" went on
Ripper, pathetically. "Wot was it?'
Snipey sighed.
81 know, chummy. I was just a
thinking of it meself. COW long, o
Lord, 'ow long?'"
That's it" said Ripper, through
his chattering teeth. 'Ow long, o
Lord"
| The eastern sky was 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 a dozen little
puffs of flame, 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 of
warm liquid.
"Wot yer dom, Kip" he said,
anxiously.
He stood for minute, still as the
rocks around, then stumbled forward
with sobbing cry of rage and mis-
cry. In the dim light he saw Ripper
lying on his side, trying in vain to
raise himself upon his elbow.
''Kipper!" he whispered softly, fall
ing on his knees beside his chum.
Ripper groaned, and pressed his
hand to his right breast.
"Through-the lungs!" he said, in
an we'd whisper, between the fits of
coughing that wrenched him. Snipey
pressed his hand, with sob.
For the regiment, Snipey!" He
raised himself on his elbow, and his
chum flung an arm around his neck
to support him. There's a bit O.
clarse about-the-reg-"
A fresh fit of coughing brought in
tense agony; after it was over his
head fell back.
Snipey pulled out his handkerchief
to wipe the blood from the dead lips
1t was miniature copy of the British
flag. He remembered how the hand
kerchiefs had taken the fancy of the
soldiers just before they left England,
and how the regiment had bought up
the whole stock.
He stared stolidly at the quiet face
for a minute, them spread the little
flag over it.
When Snipey turned once more to
face the east the day had broken
gloriously. His rifle was empty, and
he slipped fresh cartridge into the
breech. Then, with a sudden thought,
he fetched Kipper's rifle and loaded
that, too.
When the Chinese closed round in
the growing light they found their
pot-shot prey had flown. A solitary
British soldier, with hands and chin
resting on the muzzle of his gun,
stood awaiting their Vengeance.
The weapon sprang to the aching
shoulder, and one yellow foe lay a
corpse. With the report of Kipper's
gun another pressed his hand to a
mortal wound, and the affair was
finished.
But that morning, in the mess
tents of the rescued regiment, the
story of how a couple of weeds had
been plucked from the garden of So
ciety was told with misty eyes and
glowing hearts.-Chicago Herald.
The Next Thing to 1t.