The National tribune., 1902-07-03

/ near NE. IL tiiii tNO tdIiitIS up
proach. or they be armed, in that instant
they shall perish. You have my leave to
gor'
The torches dropped behind the screen
of the battements. The prisoner was
dragged out Of sight. The shadowy sen
tries began to patrol the battIements again,
and Fenton was left with his troopers. be-
wildered. hesitating. bafiied. lie had
eight hours TO make up his mind-cisht
only. He babe half-a-doZen troopers draw
off into the cover of the hill shadows and
keep watch, while with the remainder he
| galioped back to take counsel with his
| comrades.
| The stiffness of the camp woke to furi-
Gus uproar when the soldiers heard the
tale their fellows had to tell. The ressal-
dars and subadars came as Il wrathfui
| deputation- demanding to he led against
| this nest of hill-eats upon the instant. For
the time being they were quieted with
| promises. y great vengeance should be
| taken-that Fenton Sahib promised bat
they must wait. The little Gurkha in
fantrymen trotted back to their camp fires
and began to whet their kukries impati-
emily.
Yet. for all his cheerful words to the
mon. despair WIS on Fcnton's face as he
met his brother officers eyes. What in
Heavens name could they do? Could
they only carry ont Macworth's orders
NattU, DtSltgt- anu HtRI. IUp
tortured cries of English women i'll silence?
They swore not. The lives of 400 men
should he wasted before that came about.
Eut was there no other way? The night
was drawing on. Was nothing to be at
tempted?
And then Forrest spoke.
The coolies with the first load might
take Il charge of dynamite, leave it be-
meath the walls. and tlow IL breach liz
" an wa m th., triu b1I
half Il mile on we might win Il way in
before the first confusion has subsidized
tcntOn nodded.
Something of the kind has been haunt
ing my own Brain he said, but it can
not he left to coolies. They would finch
at the last and give the whole thing away.
And .AsrUiiah Khan is 10 fool. There
can be no fuse-hc would send his
unGrrlings cat and extnguish it. But a
man might blow in Il breach with Il per-
cassiop fuse the instant he laid the case
DOWN
And be blown into fragments himself? -
said CalIuthrrs.
k'enton nodded.
OF course, he said, simply. And for
me there Is 10 question of living if those
Indies are not rescued, he added, qnietly.
For the moment they stared ut him in
silence. W hat was there to say!
And as temporary commander of this
force 1 claim the right to do the thing
myself, he went on, rising to his feet.
We may Gail that settled
The six Others hurst into n tumult of
representations Each spoke at once, Civ
ing ID reasons why he and he alone should
die. Fenton silenced them curly. The
thing WAS already arranged
And then from the background n new
voice joined the discussion. Haughton,
the doctor, asked huniiy if it WAS per-
mItted me. lon-cunbatant To speak.
Fcrton shrugged his shoulders. Time
is drawing on. he said, shortly.
Il don't want To waste time said
HaughtOn. smiling. and ut the same time
| don [ want to waste Il man : life. Your
plan Is worthy of you, Fenton but why
not let the river do for you what you have
decided TO do yourself: The torrent there
can take II charge of dynamite into Afful-
;h Nhan's stronghold IL great deal more
Get tai!,lE than you can, ch?''
Fent0n looked ut him earnestly.
'iou mean we might set charge of
dynamite ati0at on 1t, raft! The men in
the fort would see the fuse burning and
rush out ana drown ii. even if it were not
das:lrd to pieces long before it arrived"
No; | didn mean that said Haugh-
ton.
What did you lnean, then?' cried Fen
ton, impat!untlr.
IIau.hton Jr:icd his thumb over his
shoulder.
III yor viii come with me to the hos
pital tent can explain much more quick
~, he said, and led the way into the dark
nesS. Fcnt0n followed.
Private Jones has fractured his
patclla.' he said, as he entered Il tent
where Il night-lisht burned .limly, and
have managed 10 make his leg comfort
able. Now it will have to be uncomfort-
able till we get up to Aisotrah. but | don't
think he will mind when | tell him why
He gently reused the sleeping man in
the cOt-bed. I he soldier stared up ut the
two wunderingly.
Il have to borrow that air-cushon be-
meath your knee for the Colonies lady,
Jones' said Haughton
The man bent forward and plucked it
out from beneath the clothes without
word of comment. lIuughton smiled as
he arranged Il pillow to take its place.
You don ask what I'm taking il for" he
said
Isn't it for the Colonci's wife, said
the private, simply. Sure she may have
1t and welcome. Not i'll, | hope, sir:'
And then Ilaughton gave him IL short
explanation, which unfortunately sent the
patients temperature UP three degrees ut
Il bound. 1hey left him writing beneath
the agony of the knowledge that there was
fight III immediate prospect and that he
Haughton held up the bulky gray bag TO
Fenton.
Now do you underestimate" he asked.
No, said the other, stolidly; I'm
blessed if | do"
Its simple enough" said Haughton.
Il uurip one side of this, suspend in the
middle of it Il glass phial with i few of the
pierre acid detonators you showed me the
other day, add Il pound or two of gun
cotton, and sew up the slit again. Then
blow out the bag to its fullest extension.
If we set it alioat down the stream it can
come to no harm till it reaches the graf
ing, because it is 80 light and pliabIe.'
And them queried Haughton.
Then it will Jostle ana hang about the
iron bars"
Yes. For hours, probably
NO. said Haughton, for the simple
reason that | shall have made minute
puncture i'll it.. When sufficient air has
escaped, the phial will break as it is
tossed against the bars, explode the dyna-
mite or gun-cottOn-l know you have
brought plenty for road-making-and then
Afrullah khan's battlements''-
Fly into the air. cried Fenton, as he
slapped him on the back BY Jove!
Haughton, l believe you've saved us.'
Il hope | have saved you, at any rate"
said Haughton, as he began his prepara-
tons. Now go and make your own ar
engagements and try to remember that you
are going to see Miss Nane again. That
hagsard face of yours fairly frightened ME
Il few minutes back"
Fenton wrung his hand silently and hur-
Il Il