Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-01
CHAPTER x.
Travers.

They had no light, They talked in
whispers. and now and again. when the
darkness grew TOO oppressive. they
stretched out cropping hands and touched
each other They did this without ex-
PLANTATION. Though none complained or
spoke of fear. each needed the conso,a-
ton of the others company. and touch
was worth more than words. Mrs. Cary
alone needed nothing. She lay on the
rough truckle bed and slept. Thus she
had been for a week-a whole week of
nerve-wrecking struggle against odds
which marked hope as vain Bullets had
beaten like rain upon the walls about
her, the moaning of wounded men on the
other side OF the hastily constructed par
tition mingled increasingly with the cries
IF the evcr-nearing enemy. And she had
lain there quiet and Indifferent. Martins.
the regiments doctor had looked in once
at her and had shaken his head. In all
probability she will never wake" he had
said. Perhaps il is the kindest thing
that could happen 70 her" And then he
had gone his way TO those who needed
rim more.
Mrs Berry kneit by the bedside. Her
hands were folded. She had been pray
Ing. but exhaustion had overcome her.
and her quiet. peaceful breathing con
trasted strangely with the other sounds
that filled the bungalow. Mrs. Carmi-
Chasl and Beatrice sat huddied close to-
Eether, listening. They could do nothing
mot even help the wounded men who Ray
so close TO them Everything was in
pitch darkness and no lights were al
lowed. They could not go out and help
N the stern. relentless struggle that was
going on about them. They bore the
womans harder lot of waiting. inactive.
povcriess, lighting the harder battle
against uncertainty and all the horrors
Of the imagination.
~ am sorry the regiment has come"
Mrs Carmichael whispered. There is no
doubt they will he massacred with the
rest Of us What are few hundreds
against thousands? II Is pity. They
are such fine fellows.
Her rough tired voice had a ring of M
corquerabIe pride i'm IL. She was thinking
of the gallant charge her husbands men
had made only two weeks before: how
they had broken through tho wall of tile
enemy and. cheering had rushed To meet
the besieged garrison. That had been a
moment of rejoicing, transtory and de-
.eptiva. Then the wall closed in about
them again. and they knew that they
were trapped.
Perhaps We can hold out till help
comes" Beatrice said.
She tried not TO be indifferent. For the
sake OF her companions she would gladly
have felt some desire for life. but in truth
u had no value for her. She could think
cS-.iothing but the evil she had done and
Of the atonement that had been denied
her. 1t was to no purpose that she
worked increasingly for the wounded.
The sense of responsibility never left her.
Zach moan. each death sigh brought the
same meaning TO her ear: Won have
helped TO do ths-this is your work
NO help will come Mrs. Carmichael
said. shaking her head at the darkness.
When whole province rises as this has
done il takes months to organize suff-
Gent force. and we shan't last out many
days. I wonder what people I'm England
are saving How well l can see them
over their breakfast cups, Oh dear, ]
mustn't think OF breakfast cups, or j
shall lose my nerve She laughed under
her breath and there was a long silence.
Presently the door of the bungalow
opened letting IN stream of moonlight.
IL was closed instantly, and soft footballs
came over the boarded floor
who is it?" Mrs. Carmichael whis-
pered
"I-Iois.' was the answer. The new
conner crept down by Beatrice's side and
leaned her head against the warm Shout
der. Il an, tired she said. family.
~ have been with Archibald. He has
be:u moaning So. Mr.. Berry says he is