Evening star., 1933-05-19

the center OF the post, the bu-
glers marched to the gate and
Il 4 again sounded the Ass sembly"
outside the post. They then
marched right round the walls sound
Ing their strident urgent call to each
of the other three points Of the COM
pass.
do put on moo record. That ones
rettin' wore out" observed Sailor Har-
ris as he stuffed a small kit into his
sack
Wore out!" grunted William Bos-
sum, rolling spare boots in blanket and
tent canvas that he proceeded to strap
to his knapsack. Il reckon it's broke.
They broke it. Yus they broke the
record" he chuckled. "Playin it five
times round five square yards to i've
men and a boy
"Bh'me! joke!" observed Sailor
Harris in an annoying manner.
You break the record for speed,
my lad, or you'll be in for it" urged
Joe Mummery, as he spun round ana
round winding II feet of broad woolen
belt about his middle.
In the cook house soup is being has
tily prepared and loaves of bread laid
out for distribution.
The tightly packed sacks, and the
rifles are brought out and, by each
man, laid in the place where he Will
fall in.
Once again the bugles sound. and al
most Immediately everybody is in his
place, and the roll is called. Cartridges
are distributed, the quartermaster and
his orderlieS issue reserve rationS to
each man. two tins, a pound OF corned
beef and a pound of biscuits. Each
man also receives a little bag of coffee,
one of salt and one Of sugar.
Mai. Riccoli mounts his horse.
The men stand silent and steady as
q rock, buglers 10 PAGES to the right,
The Senegalese come to attention.
Their guard present arms.
Forward! Marchl
The buglers strike up the March of
the Legion" and once more the Legion
marches.
Always the Legion marches .
Some feel that Maj. Napoleon Riccoh
Is being a little excessive. They have
every intention of marching-when on
the way to billets in a real town, and
all the joys thereof.
If all his men would not follow him
to the Gates of He'll and through them,
as ne is fond of boasting. they will cer-
tainly follow him to the Gates OF Me-
kazzen and through them
But it is a weary march across the
WdIGllGSS OSSClts bAAdb 10 OAlC
of the chief factors in the impregnabil-
ity of Mekazzen; most powerful of the
defenses that had kept the country in
violate since the days when the great
Shereefian warrior ancestor of the Kaid
conquered and coloniZed it. centuries
before his descendants conquered and
coloniZed Spain.
A weary march, needing no human
enemies Gin alliance with those Of heat,
thirst and sandstorms) to render 1t al
most impossible.
How long ago it seemed to the over
strained; heat-stricken men, since the
detachment of Senegalese infantry ar
rived at the post and took over charge;
how long since their own bugleS blew
the assembly.
AS usual, it was the aged and alco-
holic Tant de Soif who could find
breath for song and conversation.
do you know what we are?" he
asked, as the column halted and flung
itself down for it's 10 minutes rest, at
the sound of Maj. Riccolfs whistle.
Sailor Harris reply is better un-
recorded.
Speak for yourself" rebuked Tant
de Soft 81 will tell you what we are
as distinguished from yourself. We are
sheep. Sheep, I say - and I don't
like it"
I'VE are being absolutely shepherded
along. There are at least four scouts
in touch with us. l don't like 1t, I
say. I have lived for France and de-
sire to 60 on living for France. have
no wish to die for her. And when
have to do so, prefer to die discreetly
and in the newspapers. If you know
what I mean-like the heroes Of
Camarron."
Die in the newspapers" grumbled
Pere Poussin. Personally I'd prefer
to die in the canteen."
Live there, you mean"
whats this about being Shepherded
along?" asked Joe Mummery.
Have you seen no cloud Of dust on
the horizon, every now and then, and
from almost every direction?" asked
Tant de Soft Haven't you seen sus-
piciox- looking riders, in twos and
threes, suddenly appear above a sand
dune and quickly disappear? Haven't
you seen a solitary scout. sitting like
a craven image, on racing camel, at
dawn of every day since We left the
post?"
mo, I haven't" stated Pere PouSsin.
mo? Well, you should march with
your eyes open, instead Of staggering
along half asleep, bent double and with
your eyes on the ground-as though
you were looking for your lost inno-
cence."
''Oh, shut up, you old windbag."
"You leaky wineskin, be quiet :"
"All the same-I don't like it," per-
sisted Tant de Soft