, 1908-06-25

~
Hampton Fired Madty Right and Len.
lines of savage watchers. A long.
wailing cry Of agony from out the
thick darkness told the fate of their
first messenger. while Casey, of the
XII" crept slowly. painfully back,
with an Indian bullet embedded deep
in his shoulder. Just before the com
ing Of dawn, Hampton, without utter
ing a word, calmly turned up the collar
Of his tightly buttoned coat. so as
better to conceal the white collar he
wore. gripped his revolver between his
teeth, and crept like some ~wriggling
snake among the black rocks and
through the dense underbrush in
search after water. By some miracle
OF divine mercy he was permitted to
pass unscathed, n came crawling
back, a dozen hastily filled canteens
dangling across his shoulders. 1t was
like nectar to those parched, feverish
throats; but of food barely a mouth
full a piece remained in the haver-
sacks.
The second day dragged onward, its
hours bringing no change for the bet
ter, no relief, nc slightest ray of hope.
The hot sun scorched them pitilessly,
and two of the wounded died d%elirious.
From dawn to lark there came no
s~lackening of the savage watchfulness
which held the survivors helpless be-
hind their coverts. The merest up
lifting of a head, the slightest move
ment of a hand, was sufficient to dem
onstrate how sharp were those savage
eyes.
Another long. black night followed,
during which. for an hour or SO In
turn, the weary defenders slept. toss
ing uneasily, and disturbed by fearful
dreams. Then gray n solemn. amid
the lingering shadows Of darkness.
dawned the third dread day Of I'M
equal conflict. All understood that 1t
was destined to be their last on this
earth unless help came.
For two days Wyman had scarcely
stirred from where lie lay bolstered
against the rock. Sometimes he be-
came delirious from fever, uttering in
coherent phrases. or swearing in pitt
full weakness. Again he would par
TALLY arouse to his old sense Of SOL
dierly duty. and assume intelligent
command. Now he twisted painfully
about upon his side, and, with clouded
eyes, sought to discern what man was
lying next him. The face was hidden
SO that all he could clearly distinguish
was the fact that this man was not
clothed as a soldier.
"Is that you, Hampton" he JUGS
toned, his voice barely audible.
The person thus addressed. who was
lying fat upon his back. gazing ST.
lently upward at the rocky front Of
the cliff. turned cautiously over upon
his elbow before venturing reply.
Yes; what is 1t. sergeant? 1t looks
to be a beauty of q morning way up
yonder."
There was a hearty, CHEEKY ring to
his clear voice which left the pain.
raoked C1' e~lAier onvi0rs
my God!" he growled %savagely.
"'Tis likely to be the last any OF US
will ever see. Wasn't 1t you l heard
whistling just now? One might i'm
agine this was to be . wedding, rather
than a funeral"
anu why uOt, "y"oh' Wv
know they employed music At both
functions nowadays? Besides, 1t is not
every man who is permitted to assist
at his own obsequies-the very unique
ness of such q situation rather appeals
to my sense Of humor."
The sergeant, his teeth men
tightly to repress the pain rackins
him. stiied his resentment with an
evident effort. You may be less
light-hearted when you learn that the
last of our ammunition Is already In
the guns" HI remarked. stifiy.
81 suspected as much And the
speaker lifted himself on one elbow to
peer down the line of recumbent ng-
ures. ITO be perfectly frank with
YOU, sergeant, the stun has held out
considerably longer than l believed 1t
would, Judging from the way those
dough boys of yours kept popping at
every shadow in ron of them. It's
a marvel to me, the mutton heads they
take into the army. oh, now, you
needn't scowl at me like that, wy
man; I've worn the blue. and seen
some service where a fellow needed 10
be a man to sport the uniform. BE-
sides. I'm not Indifferent, old chap
and Just so long as there remained
any work worth attending to in this
skirmishing affair, l did 1t, didn't l!