The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-11-14
had been formerly, and it naturally be-
came the subject of comment.

uAu Uecu 4OilueIly, AHu IL 1ldIuiduy De-
came the subject of comment.
"Blount is jealous, believe said one.
"More likely Cousins has been bitten
by the green-eyed monster. If they are
both in love with Maudie Finlay should
say that the captain would stand the
greater chance of winning her, and
Cousins knows it," said another.
Already we spoke of the love affair of
the "Inseparables" with an 'if."
Cousins, like every subaltern leaving
home and England for the first time, had
his ambitions, dreamed his dreams-jn
all of which Heroes" Medals" F'Vic-
toria Crosses" and promotion figured
largely in delightful tumble, and all in
connection with himself. And who has
not dreamed those dreams on the voyage
cut? Who has not looked back on those
dreams with weary smile of resigDa-
ton, acknowledging, reluctantly enough,
that things are not what they seemed
on the voyage home?
As had expected, the campaign was
not Of very long duration, neither was it
of deadly peril or full of the trials and
sutferings so many expeditions are ell
tirely made up of. There was the usual
amount Of trouble, work and endurance
to put up with, the fatiguing marches
being the most active part of it, and I
felt almost sorry for our Juniors who
had expected so much-most sorry, not
knowing what was to come, for young
Cousins.
Our wounded were few, our dead
fewer; the most terrible part being that
many fell victims to a dread disease,
losing their lives, if not in actual con-
flict with the enemy, nevertheless while
obeying the call of duty.
However, it is of one battle I wish -
write, no other event having any bearing
OH my story.
It was a Saturday. the 10th of Sep
TENDER, and we were reused from sleep
sand and among the halfa grass, too
tired and worn out to think of enemies
other than human, of vipers, scorpions
creeping along in the dark, uncertain of
what we might come upon; but when
the rays of the early sun came to our
We discerned X to our right, but
not all the noise of the cavalry, nor the
rumbling of horse batteries awoke the
apparently sleeping Dervish camp.
We were unopposed.
The reason was soon Forthcoming.
Wad Bishara had taken his men to
Hafr in the dead of night.
No rest was given us, no break in the
long march; our orders were to advance
two miles farther, and then we faced
Hafir. 1t was nearly o'clock before we
opened fire on the Dervishes, but it was
not till later in the day, till the lead
came splashing at regular intervals into
the water to our right. rafting like hail
against the gunboats, and bullets came
flying through the air, that CHANGED to
como upon the "Inseparables." I saw
them standing side by side, their faces
turned to the enemy. Suddenly, as I
looked, young Cousins sprang forward
and threw his senior on the ground with
the force with which he hurled himself
upon him, and then-the most tragic
event Of the day-Reggie Cousins rolled
over MORALLY wounded at our feet!
Quick as lightning I turned. just in
the nick of time.
The Dervlsh soldier who had crept un.
awares upon us, half hidden in the long
grass, had turned his weapon upon me.
But / was before him.
I take a sort of grim satisfaction in
chronic|ing the event in those few words.
Had stayed a moment longer nothing
could have prevented me from cutting
the dead body Of Cousins murderer to
thousand pieces. .....
With Blount's help I got the young
fellow to the rear, and, once in safety,
stopped to see what could be done for
him. The captain knelt with his face
buried in both his hands, down, which the
blood was trickling. He had received a
wound as we lifted the boy to carry him
away. Ibid not realize how bad and
serious a one it was. .,,.>.x:, ~
Cousins opened his eyes and his lips
moved. -.
''You are hurt" he said, looking at his
chum. IL wanted-to save-your life.
Haye-I-failed % II .;.. -.;..rf = r.
His voice was terribly weak. 80: IT, t.
Blount was sobbing in heart-broken
fashion. :
STEADY yourself, old man, I whis-
pered, ''and speak to him."
"It-was Maudie;" Cousins continued.
I'll fancied Monica was-much the