New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-10
Continued from Page ,

ultimately we won through to the pla,,
tcau, -jiggcrcd if | quite know now anu
one clear morning gained a position on al
elevated bench commanding, across q Ia! az
row valley leading up toward the hdlld5
peaks, the fortified town IT had been pl'ili'ou
we should strike.
Planted, like the StronghOldS OF all noun
tainccrS. on a narrow cliff buttress Jutun9
out into the valley, the place could nol DC
stormcd without terrible losses: must DE
subducd and taken either by long rang,
howitzcr fire or by the winning OF the wall
crest on a night surprise.
Quickly the guns Of our little battery
were set up, the range got; and then iOr SIX
days and nights we hammered the Dcggars
pcrsistcntly. But all to no purpose; ior,
with their antiquated firearms, helpless Of
offcnsc across the five hundred yards OF IN,
tcrvening distance between the town ana
our position, all but a few watchers OF the
Tibctans lay, rs we later learned, safely cue
died in rock-hcwn retreats beneath thclT
houses. which, stone and mud OF wall, sui
fered little from the fires that here and there
started but soon fckcrcd out.
something had to be done. Tucker was
getting low. Troops were weakening last
from long continued exposure n direct
assault must be made; but how: All the
Old-uns puzzled over the situation and gave
il no: considered there was nothing Tor II
but retirement for supplies and ammunition
while our Ghurkas remained able TO march.
RUT right there the junior Captain cut
- into the gamc.-a wild little rip, about
nv size. who was aways drinking too cursed
hard and raising merry hell in garrison; but
who, the old Colonel used to say, was never
off his feed or feet when there was anything
warm doing in the field.
Convinced that there must be prac-
ticablc path up the hill, short cut between
stream and town, the little Brighter got per
mission 10 have 4 try on his own; descended,
before daylight Of the seventh day, into the
valley, and crossed it until he came close 10
the margin of the stream and within seventy
five wards Of the walls Of the town. And
there he buried himself in the snow, IN such
a position that, with his eyes uncovered, ne
could command a full view OF the cliff and
the toxin walls above II. So burroWed IN the
snow he STAYED throughout the day, the
night. and the next day, without detecting
any sign to verify his theory; when, numb
and starved out, ne Stiffly clambcred up to
camp after nightfall.
odd I'm wanted him to give It up; but
the little beauty was ever a stubborn tikc,
and persuaded the granting Of a chance for
another try.
$50, early the morning Of the ninth day OF
the siege, rested and fed again he buried
himself: but this time in new position,
from which he would have view from a
new angle.
And by midaftcrnoon the Johnny's stub
bornncss was rewarded. Reused from a
momcntarv dozc. come Of his long hours OF
vigil he saw a goat winding down the cliff,
plainly following the line Of a path hidden
in the snow. Following upward the route
of the goat descent, presently his eyes rec
ognized the outline Of a cunningy contrlvcd
chute a platform loaded with huge boul-
ders whose support could be released by a
cord leading up to and within the walls, and
discharged TO sweep the path OF any enemies
mad enough to attempt scaling It.
Same bally Junior Captain led the adj
vance Of the assaulting column the next
night, found and cut the trigger cord Of the
chute, and safely priSoned it with wedge;
and in the hours hard house to house fight
ing that served 70 convince Western Tibet
that it is easier and more profitable to trade
with Indo-Britain than to fight her, he did
his CORY bit, did that little Brighter OF a