New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24

"a wise man." said the sergeant will often be
fool but a fool Will never be anything else sAnd
a few wise men are worth more than a neso OF
fools. perhaps even than heap Of wise men
And a few fools are worth more than heap or
fools. As how2 Thus When We were at Pardar Up
IN what they call the Hinteriand. beyond Fan boa.
which is On the west coast Of Africa ieute faat
and I. and a sergeant Of the Lions the Kings
Own. and two hundred OF our uiggers mace
reconnaissance. When were three days march
beyond Parda We became aware OF big crow1 OF
nigsers. who seemed to wish 10 bar our way. We
judged that BY the fact that fewer than two
thousand OF them came Up against Us with al tAs
weapons they could muster-OOws and arrows
spears. and such things. Those Of them who had
trade guns, with gallant disregard OF the danger
TO the a the butt ends OF the old SasDlDeS.
fired them a At last the lieutenant said:
Sergeant Harding. the men. for raw blacks.
have stood very we'll But they're getting DIT OUT
Of hand now, and there at least dozen down
DO you think Of yours have enough grit IN
them 10 cover the-er-retirementr
Wen. sir. don't feel very sure Of them Their
fellow heathens have put the fear Of God into them
But I'll try with them
They stOod-oh, yes they stood-ever so much
better than I'd ever expected to see them stand
retired them BY alternate half-sections The re-
firing haIfsectOn did its work thoroughly. and re-
tired for al it was worth The covering half-sec-
ton did have its heart in its Work quite
so much as the other had. but when saw man
enemy By attacking him IN the with nay boot
They would rather facs possible bullet than
certain ammunition boot The difficulty with me
was 10 keep in touch with the two haIf-secti01s
II left the covering half-secton 1t had tendency
to be afraid Of bullets. and If left the retiring
half-ssction had a tendency TO keep on reLlrlng
But kept them Up 70 the scratch with a. the
abusive terms that had been able to PICK up out
Of their language, and filed Up the gaps with a
little Tommy language at the top OF my volcS-
7 IS rhe ofg X u.
And. when language Of all kinds failed. recolected
that some philosopher before had said, Actions
speak louder than words Now, have always
been q bit Of a philosopher myseLf-that Is. WIN
regard TO other foIks-and brought N the BOOT
When night fell the attack dropped on BIT by Dit
TIL 1t ceased. and rejoined the main body.
Very good. very good. indeed sergeant said
the lieutenant
They're AL plucky. sir said I. our niggers
and the other niggers. too They're very HANDY
in free hght and they enjoy it as much as II they
were Irish members Of Parliament
e Yes sergeant But what was surprised 70 see
was how well they kept the defensive In re-
firing rear guard action IS trying 70 tns 0es1
troops
1T was their fear for their rear that kept them
up. sir -..--,.. - =,
would never do for officer te acknowledge 70 al
" c O. that he didn't understand
We seem to have beaten or the enemy ST
" M vou mustn't congratulate yourself on haV-
,,1 5one unite as much that sergeant 1ou
o,1zb+ 10 know by now that black man are very
s1,rerStiteus and that they dislike 70 DO anything
a. night for fear OF evil spirits Eyen our own
trained blacks won't do anything IN the DARK unless
-, ara Led nv white men These natives VINO al
tackled Us have certainly formed camp Tor ths
rfpbt. Won can even see from here tns hres IAsS
have lighted 10 keep of evil spirits-
.. yes sir. I Judge them be about three niles
Off
:. That is about it
=. .couldn't We push on a bit sir. while they are
resting?' .-
NO. YOU had the best OF the men. and your men
,vars kent going BY the fact that they were ngh'-
Ing But the bulk OF the main BODY are cle1h Co,-='
and r7anv OF them couldn't march another InIIe-
Can't we leave them behind. sir
Not to be killed and eaten, though Il NO-'u
do the enemy good and serve them rlsn- % -
them eat some Of our niggers Ihere IS no'n-ls
for It but TO camp till the morning, and then 70
carry on as before
$50 the lieutenant and I and the Lion TOOK our
ra+ious together for when YOU are schooling nis-
gers in West Africa there Is more difference De-
tween a white man and q black man than there IS
between an officer and y. c. o.
II reminds me- sir said the Lion with his
mouth full of what happened in 81 n the Mu-
1inv 10 nv father. who then corporal IN
the
Thank YOU sergeant said the lieutenant, 'Dut
I'VE often heard OF things which remind you or
what happened 20 your relations And I must say
that I never-out Of the Engineers, that tS-kneV.
IN spite OF the fact that the surface you appear
ri++fa heavy r-ore lively Imagination IN draw
frg naraIale But please get that MacouOcnls out
Of your mouth before telling Us any more