Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-19
CHAPTER XIu-(Continued)


DY THIS time another man had reached
steadIed it, and a third appeared. The first
gnome whipped out knife, freed Dalroy,
unslung his rifle, and picked up the electric
torch, which he held so that its beam filled
the doorway. Man after man came down.
Each was armed with a regulation rife
Dalroy, for once thrown completely off his
balance, became dmly aware that i'm every
instance the equipment included bayonet,
bandoler and haversack.
The cohort formed up, too. as though
they had rehearsed the procedure in the
gymnasium at Aldershot There was no
muttered order no uncertainty. Rifles We're
| unslung, bayonets fixed and safety catches
turned over soundlessly
ConquerInR his blank amazement as best
he could, Dalroy inquired of the first sprite
how many the party consisted Of all told
Twelve an the corpral, SIR" came the
prompt answer "The lucky thirteen we
calls ahrselves An we wanted n bit o.
luck ter leg II all the wy from Nome to this
ole. Not that we admit ter kill any Cords
| quantity o. Yewlans when they troied ter
| be funny an stop us. Here's the
corp'ral, sir"
Dalroy was confronted by a cear-eyed
man, whose square shouldered erectness was
| not concealed by the unlSempt clothes OF a
Belgian peasant. Carrying the rifle at the
slope" and bringing his right hand smartly
across to the small of the butt, the leader
OF this lost legion announced himself
Corporal Bates sir. A company Second
battalion OF the Bluffs. That German officer
made out sir that you were in our army
"Yes, am Captain Dalroy Of the Second
Bengal Lancers."
Corporal Bates became, IL possible even
more clear. eyed.
stationed where last year, sir?"
AT Lucknow with your own battalion
well. Im-beg pardon, sir, but are you
the Lieutenant Dalroy who rode the winner
of the Civil Service CupH'
"Yes, tho Maharajah Of Chutneypores
Diwan."
Good enough! You understand, sir, l
had TO ask VIII you take command, sir?'
mo, indeed. corporal. shall only
humbly advise. But We must rescue the
lady , T., ,r,,
Germans are mounted. The ladys in the
car we were watching through hole in
the roof The last man remained there 80
as 10 warn us II any of 'em came thls way,
AS YOU know their lingo, sir l recommend
that when we creep out you zen en- ~
dismount They'll do it like shot. Then
we'll rush 'em Here's the officers pistol
You might take care of the shutter and the
chap by his side -.,-.,
"trxcellent. corporal Just one suggestion.
Let half of your men steal around 10 lHe
r
They should be headed off from Oombergen'
the village near here, where they nave TWO
"Rieht, sir-smithy. take the left half
section, and cut off the retreat on the Ielt'-
Ready, sir?-Douse that glim!
i'ISuy' o',fy want the torch. Fourteen shadows
alfred forth into the darkness ana ram,
The car with its staring headlights was
drawn up about thirty yards away, anS i
somewhat TO the left on both Sues anu anu
in the rear were grouped the hussSi ., -
and horses looming up in spectra! Shapes,
rbo raindrops shone like tiny shalts Oh
roIished steel in the two cones OF raulahSe
cast nv the acetylene lamps. ,,,..
Dalroy. miraculously become e-oLu'et -
again. saw instantly that the uOopSla p.,Ns.'
ctooled and their carbines IN the DuCne's,
~, ,,oited a few seconds whi1e "Smithy
"a bIs hand crept swiftly along the wall
~ the barn. Then, copying to the pest ol
,is ability the shriu yell OF Eetiia' i
OFFICER giving command he shouleu'
"Squad-dsmount' ,...,. % m
,,,,torr,ents He ran forward. Not know
inS the "system" perfected by the lucky
thirteen" he looked for an irregular Noliey
al close range, throwing the hussars INTO INTO
was lred until some seconds after he him
seIS had shot and killed or seriously wound
ed the chauffeur and ,the escort For all
that thirteen hussars were already out OF
action. The men who had crossed belgium
from Mons had learnt to depend on the
bayonet, which never missed ana was
silent and efficacious.
THE affair seemed to end ere 1t had well
begun only two troopers succeeded in
mounting their plunging horses, and they
hnding the road to Oombergen barred
| tried 10 bolt westward, whereupon they
were bowled over like rabbits. Their ter
rifed chargers, after scampering wildly
| few paces, trotted back to the others, Not
| one of the twenty got away Hampered
| by their heavy cloaks, and taken completely
| by surprise. the hussars offered hardly any
| resistance but fell cursing and bowling
| AS for the pair seated in front Of the car
| they never knew why OF how death came
Now, then. Smithy, show light :"
| shouted Corporal Bates "Ah! there you
are. sir! / meant TO make sure of this
| chap l got him straight on"
The torch revealed Corporal Franz
| stretched on HIS back, and frothing blood.
| Batess bayonet having pierced his lungs
| n were better for the shrewd Berliner II
| his wits had been duiler and his miaa
! cleaner No soldierIy zeal but a gross
anirnallsm LED him IN the hrst Instance