The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-29
By Edmund Smell

bat Pilai on our way round. l don't
like the idea Of that teller wanderin.
about with all that information with
regard to our movements" remarked
Pennington. He's in possession Of a
note signed by myself, into the bar
gain. heaven only knows what use
ne intends to make Of it,
The deluge mad given way to a
STEADY downpour AZ the two men
passed Clay's tent. ~
The taller man, who was follow
ing close upon Pennington's heels,
stepped as de to avoid stump and
hit his foot against something soft
and bulky.
Il say, Pennington! - just sec
ond."
The other stopped and came slow
ly back.
He found Clay STOPPING over a
PROSTATE form.
whats the matter
"I'm not quite sure. There's a
Teller herc-yes, by Jove, with knife
stuck in his back. Confound it, the
moons gone in! Got light?
!; An electric flash lamp threw a MAJ
F., row silver ray.
Clay came to his feet.
Dawson was right" he said quiet
! ly. "He was dead right
| "Who is it,"
my o1derly-that's ALL"
Dawson moved restlessly in his
sleep, then sat bolt upright. A hur,
ricane was blowing outside.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
He was still in sole possession of
Penningtor's tent. He consulted his
watch. 1t was close on three.
Suddenly-borne on the wings of
the wind-there waited to his ears
the sound of rapid firing, babel of
discordant cries, and something
scared through the material above
his head with a spiteful, significant
zip. And then from somewhere
close at hand-came the deep dron-
ing note of Dunsun gong.
"Hell!" calculated the District
Officer - and began lacing up his
boots with nervous haste. He raked
out his tunic and macintosh, felt
to see that his automatic was there,
and plunged for the open.
The night was alive with shadowy,
fitting forms, with blazing torches,
the incessant rattle of musketry.
And still the dcep-throated haste to-
its warning message into the dark
ness.
He splashed his way through the
trees, lit upon bunch of barefoot
ed native soldiers that happened 20
be taking no useful part in the affray,
and led them in breathless haste to-
ward the spot from which the alarm
seemed to originate.
Get down-all of you," he shout
ed-and fell on his hands amost on
top of Clay, whose long legs trailed
from behind a rock and whose cheek
was pressed against a rifie-stock.
THAT you, Dawson? Pennington's
round on the far SIDE at the only
other possible point for them to
break through"
Clay's rifle spoke.
THAT was a beauty, Dawson
We've been at it for about an hour.
The enemy achieved minor sue
cess at the outset. Caught our rear
defenses nappin' and a dozen or so,
carryin' something on a pole, man
aged to squirm their way through
and join the main body. The Yellow
Seven opened up to cover their APP
proach-and we decided to attack"
He fired again. "We're advancin'
gradually all along the line. I've
promised to take the slope at the
point of the bayonet before dawn"
He shouted to someone behind
and a rife was pushed against Daw-
sons elbow. His eye fell at the
same moment upon a pile of chips at
Clay's side. He thrust one into the
magazine.
"Chai-Hung's still up there, sup
pose?'
"As far as I'm aware. nobodv.s
broken out. l can't for the life of
me imagine what is was the snug
gied IN. 1t was evidently something
because they weren't in
ciined to save rounds to secure its
safety"
tie glanced behind him. "Your fell
!ers should be pretty s.esh by now.
l fancy I'll try sortie with nv own
chaps-and you can follow with the
second wave, moppinx up every
thing we've. left behind"
I'll toss you for it," suggested
Dawson.
BE hanged to you!" laughed tho
other. "I'm in command here and
I'm going to handle the first attack"
he blew a shrill blast on his whis.
ne and. before Dawson could realize
what was happening, Clay was CON.
win thirty odd shadows fitting after
lawson waited fully FIVE minutes
W nus wr'st-watch, then, crawling
'asE. mustered his men.
Fix bayonets. Not a sound ur,,,
tell YOU. Spread out in skirmish.
"S order and don't lose your he.ds,v
Neatly rat people are often canable
!, astonishing feats! Dawson scales
ne slope with the agility of an ante
ope' Wild-eycd. keen with en,hnsi
'sm TO come up with Clay, he pau.ed
o round up those of the enemy thu,
'Sd escaped the initial ons,,u.a.