Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-09-27


to do, and that was to keep right on;
he could not retreat.
Drawing his sword and revolver, the
brave young officer dug his rowels into
the side of his horse and plunged for
ward. One of the Sepoys fell by bull
let from his revolver, another swarthy-
visaged native was cleft half to the
middle by stroke of his heavy saber.
He broke through them and was away
like the wind, without a scratch, only
that bullet from carbine grazed
his scalp, causing a tiny ripple of blood
to run slowly down his face.
The cry of HALT Shoot the Fering-
heel" from his pursuers, and the
beat of hoofs behind him made it
clear that they were in pursuit and
meant to run him down.
The eastern sky was all abIaze and
the sun would be risen. All the greater
would be his danger by daylight, for
he might run unadvisedly into other
parties of the enemy, and besides he
could not SO easily elude the pursuers
already on his track. He did not dare
to look back, he could hear the pound
ing of the hoof-strikes of his pursuers,
and he expected any moment to feel
the sting of bullet from their car
bines. For an hour this exciting chase
kept on, and then something hap
pened.
While passing a low line of bushes
that lay in his path the Englishman
saw slender figure in white rise
suddenly like ghost, and raise a
rifle. There was a swift, sharp re-
port, and as it rung out his horse
stumbled to its knees, pitching him
over its head. He alighted somewhat
stunned, but still unhurt, and seeing
at glance that his horse was wholly
disabled he bent low and ran swiftly
toward the thicket of bushes. He
gainedTheir shelter and then plunged
forward still deeper into their recess
es, for he could hear his pursuers
close behind him. He had no thought
but to escape his enemies by some
means, and get to Delhi to deliver his
message, but he came to a sudden
stop as he saw an open glade in front
and beyond, at the farther side, a
small ruined Hindu temple.
Hope now lent wings to the fugi-
tive; here was a place of refuge, or
at Least place where he could sell
his life dearly, if brought to bay He
had barely time to scramble up the
steps and drop down behind d couple
of fallen columns when the maddered
Sepoys were upon him. There were
dozen of them now, and their
threats were frightful to hear. They
stood in wholesome fear, however,
of the young officers revolver, and
halted ct a respectful distance.
You had better surrender, Fer
inghee," cried one, who seemed to be
their leader. For an answer the lieu
tenant discharged his revolver, TAX
ing the best aim possible, and had
the satisfaction of seeing the Sepoy
bite the dust. A furious howl arose
from his companions, and the next
moment they made a rush. Three,
four, five shots rang out, and two OF
the Sepoys fell but the rest kept on,
tumbling up the stairway and over
the broken columns, only to find that
their expected prey had escaped
them.
In The midst of the smoke he had
rushed in through the temple and
out at the rear, and before they
fairly realized the situation the gal
liant youth had seized one of their
horses which stood tethered to a
tree, and was galloping away. While
they were struggling to unfasten
their horses and remount there waa
heard the sound of a bugle close at
hand, and detachment of English
cavalry cantered by, thus rendering
all. pursuit useless.
The subaltern met with no further
adventure, and as he gained the open
country he saw far off the suns rays
flashing on the minarets of the Jami
| Musjid. A little later he placed his
message in the hands of Gen. An.
son within the English lines. He had
accomplished his mission, and two
months afterward, when the rebel
lion was over, he was rewarded fol
his bold venture by receiving a cap
tain's commission.
That was Al years ago, and the
brave young subaltern who made
that long night ride to Delhi is now
the gr;zzled veteran, Lord Roberts
baron of Kandahar and Waterford
the beloved "Bobs" of the English
soldiery, and the present commander
in chief of the BIRTHS h army.-Youne
People,