The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-11
CHAPTER XXI.
The English Forces Hear Strange News.

The English Forces Hear Strange News
The British lion was aroused at the
death OF Gordon great expedition
was Immediately dispatched 10 take
Suakim and punish the dervish forces.
One evening. after a terrific engage
ment with the natives. in which they
were put 10 flight. the British forces
had withdrawn into the protecting circle
of a zereba stoclade for the night.
Ambulances and nurses had gone out
on the battlefield 10 bring in the wound
ed. With the hospital corps were two
brothers just out from the Old country.
and new 10 all the sights Of the Nile
region.
As the two worked over the wounded
one OF them CHANGED 10 spy a vulture
among the dead. He jumped up and
called out:
Say. fer the love o. heaving. wots
these birds fiyin' around us and squawk-
in like fishwomen?"
Them? Why, you blasted hidjut. them
is wultures."
WHAT"
Bloody wultures. yer fool Don't let
nobody hear you arsk any such igno-
rant questions WheW, but the lean
buzzards must be mighty hungry"
Hello. Tom. ef ere amt a wulture
with his leg done UP in a red rag. as
ef he'd been just discharged from a
blGomin wulture 'OrspitaI"
law, g'on" The skeptical brother
was turning over lancer and look
ing earnestly into his face for a sign
Of life.
Fact. and I'll prove It," said the
other doggedly. as II his word had been
impeached. The yulture was famished,
and suffered the inquisitive man TO
draw near. Then came a pistol shot.
and the big bird fell 10 the ground
Down inn"
yep; and us agin orders, too. Hor-
fcer lookin' at me with his bloomin
field glasses. thinks ] plunked a wounded
sheik. III show him. lie lifted the
dead vulture in fun view.
wait a bit,' he said. I'm going 70
see wot this COMPOUNDED feathered hy-
eua carries around with him
Come on, or Wen get TeprimGnd. ="
gsrovyIed the elder brother.
Just q minute" persisted the o,her.
"JOve. 81 Their isn't some sort 0r
paper wrapped up inside Of the scarlet
rag. and wrritin' all over 1T. too"
Mighty queer" said the other Lets
see g. Sure enough. There's writiu
and damme II it amt English writIn'
TOO. Wish it wasn't so dark he unused.
"Rawther Ike 10 see what the cove has
got 10 say whoever e. is
See here" came a sharp command
from the left. You Orderlies are a long
time making trips. What We're You
shooting out there
"A bloomiu' halbatr0ss, sir, with red
rags tied 90 his legs"
"HaIbatross Hothlu'. you fool. II was
a Wulturc, sir"
Il mean "a wuitlIe" apologized the
younger. And the rags done up a mes
sage In English. sir. Don't know were
il come from. Here f. is, sir"
The officer approached and took the
crumplcd sheet.
II say simmons be called out 90 "a
brother officer near. look at this Two
orderlies found it tied 10 the leg Of a
vuIure they killed Mighty queer"
lie passed ia TO his comFade at arms.
81 don't sec anything so remark
able"
you don't? Why. read. man. It's a
message from some one escaped from
Ehartoum-
The officer gave "a sheer. Nobody es-
caped from Khartoum-nobody could es-
cape Don't I know these Mahdists like
nv book Of tactics: BAH
but see, The man says that the
AIahdI is ead-poisoned-ten days ago
or more. and that Abdulla is his success
sor You must agree tnat the thing Is
very extraordinary
The listener was rubbing his chin
meditatively Take il TO tuc colonel. %
BE- said. and turned away 10 his work.
So the message went to tae colonel.