The Red Cloud chief., 1913-04-17

nlS little column was mistaken ioT
party OF Beers by British garrison
artillery battery Of Al guns In one OF
the hills guarding the capital. the
shells fell wide and this fact irritated
Ross. He left the column In charge OF
his second In command and rode at
gallop toward the hill from which the
battery was firing. Oblivious to shot
and she'll Ross rode right to the sum
NIT OF the hill. luckily arriving un.
scathed.
Who's the gol.durned fool In com.
mand Of this OUTFIT" he shouted to the
astonished gunners
A young artillery lieutenant came
forward and saluted the major. The
senior eyed the younger man
sternly.
THAT the best practice you and
your fools can maker" he inquired
with deep disgust. "I'll report you
for bad shooting when ! get into Pre-
toria. Maybe the general will let you
hear from him. guess you had bet
ter 60 back to school, young man.
| for your education has been sadly
| neglected"
Ross wheeled his horse and clat-
tered down the hill again to rejoin his
command. For many long day the
lieutenant will suffer from the gibes
Of his brother officers, and the men Of
the battery will probably never re.
cover their self.respect.
| Ross came out of the Boer war with
a remarkable record behind him and
with the undying admiration and
friendship Of Lord Kitchener and 9TH
er generals. His is a name to con-
jure with. The Beers feared him to
a marked degree. SO much so that
when large parties Of them came up
to East Africa to settle after the
war and learned that Ross was an
official. they told the governor that
they were afraid to settle in the same
country with Ross. But they have
learned that the major In war and the
major In peace are two entirely differ-
ent people. The East African Beers
have long lost all fear Of him and
now look upon him as their friend
and brother.
! think ] am correct In saying that
Major Ross Is the only naturalized
American who Is retired major OF
the British army. q companion Of the
coveted Distinguished Service order
and an acting official Of the British
Colonial government service. This
alone proves In what high esteem he
Is held by the British government.
After the Boer war was over, Ross
fought for time in the Somaliland
war OF 1902-l904 as an officer with
the Boer contingent Of mounted in
fantry. Then he came up to East Az
rica and went on a trading and ele
phant.hunting trip into German Eas
Africa. His life there Is somewha,
shrouded In mystery. All have evel
been able to ascertain about 1t II
that he shot large number Of ele
plants. secured grant of land. ant
set up a trading store at one Of tn,
German stations, Bakoga. l believe. OF
!, the Victoria lake.
However. he managed to fall afou
Of the German authorities. and he wa
expelled from the territory and hi
land confscated. by all &C
counts. he was very harshly and unde
, servedly used. When his royal high
! ness the duke of Connaught was Wis
iting East Africa in 1906, Major Ros
, came to meet him at Kisumu on tn
! Victoria lake by the dukes specia
request. They had long talk an,
> the duke promised to take up hi
, case against the German colony o.
. his return to London.
D Shortly afterward. as q result O
;, this meeting. Major Ross was appoint
, ed assistant game warden Of the Eas
: African Protectorate. No more I'll
4 ting work could have been found 10
v him. and he has earned a great nam
d for his rigid enforcement OF the gam
protection laws. Woe betide the ma
who is bold enough to break the gam
!. regulations, for he will have to al
t swer to Major Ross and the court
t of justice as sure as his name
d what It Is.
Day after day Ross rides the plain
" and game reserves in search OF Law
d breakers He thinks nothing OF cove
D. ing SO miles day. He carries hi
Is food and blankets on his saddle, an
e sleeps under tree, In a native hu
y or. II lucky. at farmhouse. He care
nothing for the danger OF attack frol
(" prowling beasts of the jungle or tu
ID bulent natives, or from the hardship
le OF exposure. He spells duty with
he very big capital d.
lr On one occasion, the story goes tn,
:" he rode by moonlight from Fort Ha
lie in the Kenka district to Nairobi-
t. distance of Ga miles When abo,
IN half way, he was held up on the plair
:" by three lions. Ross says that he ha
is much difficulty in keeping his pony
at head on to the lions. but eventual
the lions tired Of stalking him az
as turned their attentions to some zebl
at which Ross could hear near by.
lg wasn't very pleasant experience, b
ak Ross laughs at 1t. He calls the thr,