New-York tribune., 1908-11-01

spurred them to their utmost speed along dip the
plain that concealed our race. and being somewhat
nearer the hills than the English cavalry were in
the high places among the rocks when, deplOy1ng
fully, they rode up. We greeted them with shower
of bullets They Immediately wheeled and gallOped
back leaving behind them fallen men, and horses
rolling and kicking from the pain of wounds Numer-
animals ndeTless, ran here and there alrnlessly
and raced after the retreatIng horde.
Cannon were rushed into position. We watched
the curves and heard the angry screaming OF shells
that sailed toward US. Heavy explosions and the
abrupt pounding of machine guns beat and rent the
Soldiers IN extended lines OF infantry, beautiful
pictures from the height came forward with swing
ing steps, and with automatic regularity dropped to
their knees to fire. Thousands OF small messengers
of lead sped by US singing vicious little songs of
death But most Of them were above our heads.
It impressive spectacle, this of the great
army spread out the plain In the thin air Of
the highlands | could individual figures with
wonderful dIStlnCtneSS. | watched Orderles gal
lOr I'D to commanding officers, salute, and receive
instructions | gunnerS wipe their perSplrng
brOws, doctors leaning over wounded men, heuten-
ants admOnIshlng tagging prlvates. Far back TIL
they grew very small IN the distance reached this
sea OF men, and II seemed laughable to me that
they should be making much ado about the few
hundreds of US lying among the rocks.
Nv enjoyment of the scene OF martial movement
and excitement marred only by the fear that
they might decide to send their infantry charging
upon our fianks They would lose, TO be sure, at
least a thousand IN assault Ike this, for the
hill was steep but upon the crest, IN nand 70
hand conflicts, they could have anmhlated US with
force of numbers | concluded that they were AFRAID
there were many more of than there really were
that they still had vivid memories OF JOlenSo when
rocks that Law calm and quiet beneath the sun
suddenly burst into eruption OF BOer shells and
bullets Nv conclusion. | learned little later was
correct as far went but II did not 60 tar enough
The English were indeed afraid to attempt TO carry
the Op1e by assault Just then but they felt that this
was needless. They had a safer Plan-a plan to
surround US to cut us or from the man IorCe OF Ie
Beers and then roll over from all sides, ike high
tide engulfng sailors stranded on a sand bar
General Spruit's Warning
THE sun had begun its westward course down the
L slv but the thrill of the fight still on We
were enjoying ourselves with a tne sense OF power
and exhIlaratIOn Suddenly noticed the lone nguTe
of a man climbing up over the rocks behind us. tie
came running toward me, but was Stu some yards
away when he called out. General SprJit says TO
oct your men out Of here quick you cam
Then he turned on his heel and hurried back the
Wav he had come.
Whats the trouble?" l shouted after him. He
was taking long str des down the hillside and paid
no attention Because OF his refusal TO explain l
gazed after him anger; but was soon 70 learn that
he was a brave man who had a gauntlet to
save US from destruction. / was well acquainted
with the character Of General Spr1t and knew that
when he sent a message to get out quickly II Was
time 20 get
along the line, cease firing! Something's wrong
We must leave tins place!
In five minutes we were all Scrambhng down the
hill for our horses When we had mounted and
ridden around the kope that had shut of our view
to the rear | what the trouble was The hill that
had been occupied by the Heidelberg commando IN
the morning was bare of men. II was evident that
our allies had long since fled. And the tail koPle
across the plain over toward Brandtort from Whch
we had viewed the situation at sunrise, covered
with British soldiers Yet this hill directly overlooked
the narrow pass that our only hne OF retreat
through the mountains our only outlet from the
trap.
If we went in the opposite direction, We should
run into the big force we had been fighting If
we rode straight across the valley, We should
be confronted bv abrupt walls of rock that
man or horse could climb. We were hemmed IN.
4 be canht alINe and