The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-12-10
Two Warriors and Their Last Charge.
BY JOHN W. HARDING,
Author OF 1.-THE Gate OF the KISS"

interception by the war Office authori-
ties, who had learned of his departure.
I'VE had made a forced march of IS
hours and were nearing the wells at
Abu Klea. Not man had had NOR
sci to eat or drop to drink during
all that time. Most of us were on the
verge of prostration from fatigue and
the torture caused by the sand and fine
dust which clogged our mouths, ears,
and nostrils, causing an intolerable
thirst, and penetrated our worn and
in many cases ragged clothing. The
scouts dashing in at breakneck speed
apprised us of danger, and we barely
had time to form square about our
baggage and animals when two mighty,
surging torrents OF black humanity
swept upon us.
Three minutes after the first horde
got within range We could scarcely see
each other, owing to the smoke from
the rifles. There was no wind. The
atmosphere, heavy with the terrible
heat, as it seemed to us, appeared to
concentrate the powder smoke in q
dense, acrid, choking pail through
which it was impossible to see the on
rushing tribesmen. The screw guns
had to be cleared of sand before they
| could be put into action. AS for the
Gatlings. they had to be taken to
pieces and cleaned. Bluejackets in
side the square were doing this ex-
peditiously, but with the utmost calm
ness, amid pandemonium, for the men
told off to look after the animals were
having the tussle of their lives. Some
of the camels and horses had been
wounded, and were squealing and
plunging madly. Meanwhile officers
were rushing along the rear of the
lines Of the square, shouting amid the
din into the ears of the men to aim
low at their invisible foes.
Suddenly, on the left rear of the
square, where the heavy cavalry and
camel corps men had formed, an I'm
mense black mass which had broken
through the terrible circle of fire
loomed through the smoke cloud at
the very barrels of the rifles, and,
hurting itself upon the square with
the irresistible force of an avalanche,
broke through the lines. Some of the
cavalrymen, true to their instincts,
and lacking the infantrymen's train
Ing to meet such an emergency, broke
ranks and rushed at the enemy. The
Others and the infantry stood their
ground, and by dint of terrific fighting
closed the gap. Many OF the hapless
cavalrymen thus shut out fell, pierced
by the bullets of their comrades. Tne
tribesmen who had broken through
were quickly cut down, though not
before Col. Burnaby and many oth~r
gallant fellows had been killed. Bur-
naby, you may recall, received a spear
thrust in the throat. Gen. Stewart
himself had narrow escape, his horse
being slain under him.
Meanwhile one of the fiercest and
bloodiest hand-to-hand fights in the
annals OF warfare was In progress all
along the line. Every man, handi-
capped from the first by exhaustion
through he was. knew that not only
his own existence, but the lives of the
entire command. depended upon the
square being kept intact Tommies
and tars fought like demons, and for
the first time understood how the
expression to swear like a trooper
probably had its origin. for while they
fought they swore continuously and
horribly. and the curses Of the wound
ed would In any other circumstances
have been frightful to hear. What
they were up against az you Ameri-
cans say, will be better understood
when ! tell you that those gigantic
and absolutely fearless blacks hurled
themselves upon the bayonets and d.
liberstely inpaled thsmseIvee = eelss