STORIES OF ADVENTURE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 3

STORIES OF ADVENTURE

, By HAROLD BINDLOSS.

\ (All Bights Reserved.^

IMRiE'S QUARREL; OR, AMONG THE BOER SCOUTS. It was- a heavy afternoon in the time of the previous war when,lmrie lay l*ee downward among the withered grasses of the the South African veldt. He had opened the breach of his rilfie to cool the chamber, and, fingering a black-beaded Martini cartridge, he now stared intently into the blue smoke haze which hung over the fighting line. A little puff of hot wind rolled some of it aside, and he saw the stone-sprinkled hillside before him darkened by running men, who swarmed among the boulders, after which it was mottled by wisps of vapour. Then the rifles - clanged about him, there was an erratic snapping of levers, for the order was, "Independent firing," and when the acrid haze curled down again he could see nothing. Still, he heard more than was comforting, for with a vicious "phit-phit," whirring missiles flattened out upon the . stones, ripped through the whitened grass stems, and one alighting near him'ilung earth into his eyes. Next a groan rose up a few paces away, and rifle fell with a clatter, and his n irest comrade clawed at the grass. Imrie crawled towards him, but when he laid his hand on the slightering quivering limbs there was no answer to his hoarse whisper, .only the grating cry of another stricken man further along. the line. Then again the vapour rolled backwards, and he saw the foe were worming themselves through the grass and hot stones much nearer, and cramming in.another cartridge, strained his bloodshot eyes upon the wobbling sights as he squeezed the trigger. His throat was parched, his eyes and nostrils smarted from the singing powder-smoke, and in common with the rest of the thiunedout rearward company, he wae savage and hungry. Tho battalion had lost heavily that day, falling back through the flat-topped ridges before a crafty foe, who, by force of numbers and murderous rifle fire, pushed them relentlessly from shelter to shelter. Now the ammunition was failing, and they longed that night would come, or the foe at least might be drawn out into the open. the -wily, veldt marksmen khew better than that. They crept on from boulder to boulder, or dropped from ledge to ledge, a searching hail of. bullet? going before them, and the privates, who muttered that they were neither rats nor snakes to hide themselves in holes, cursed the one-sidedness of it all, or died with grimy fingers, clenching the hot rifles. So all day the din of battle echoed among the sun-baked hills, and at every lralting more dead were left behind, while afterwards the bearded foemen told how by special assistance of the Almighty they drove and shot-the Rooineck like buck. Now, Imrie had not aspired to the rank of Corporal, which ho beld, or. even that oL He came of a- soldier race, and after studying hard at a military college found he could not get marks enough even to pass him into the So, ia a reckless fit, he enlisted as a private, determined to win his commission by valour if he could not get it by wit, and found it a trying process. Singly, and sometimes by twos, he fought the persecutors who played dog-tricks on him, mastered his indignation at the petty tyrannies of the younger non-coms, who were jealous, and for a time suffered in silence. Then, little by little, the men of his company learned first to respect .then like him, and Lance-Corporal Imrie became an influence, and was cheered in the canteen when he won his second stripe. But there was still a fly in the ointment, for the young Lieutenant Gilroy on opportunity delighted to harass him. This was the result of an old feud which commenced earlier at the same college, where, except in examinations, Imrie took the lead, and the other hated him for it. Now fate had made the best man a corporal, the other a lieutenant, and the latter did not forget it. Thus it happened that looking up through the drifting wisps, Imrie saw his former rival standing cooly upright, which it was not incumbent upon him to do, and admired his courage, though he did not think it was either nice or judicious to glance contemptuously at the men behind. Unfed, outnumbered, and weary, they were doing their best, though perhaps that best was not very good, because high-class shooting is not merely a mechanical art. As every sportsman knows, proficiency in it also depends upon the shooter's frame of mind, and there are days when, starting ill, ha liecomeß disheartened, and makes n clenii miaa with almost every cartridge. The rearguard company were very much in this condition, and, under-any circumstances, it is difficult for a target-trained marksman to hit a foe who never stands still, but runs among the boulders or wriggles through the grass, the more so when the latter gives of superior skill. So as the pattering grew steadily faster, and more dusty objects lay still upon the veldt staring aloft with glazed eyes that saw nothing, or worse even writhed among the grasses, the men began to mutter and wonder how much longer they were to be made a target of. Then behind them they saw others marching hurriedly out of the deadly hollow, and a second hill above them became streaked with drifting vapour, as from two sides the foe closed in. Acting instinctively, some crawled backwards towards a mass of larger stones, while others, the section frankly owned it, rose half upright and ran, and Imrie also edged himself towards a snugger shelter. Perhaps the young officer did not understand the manoeuvre, perhaps he felt he must pour out his wrath upon someone, for his temper was not of the best, so he hurled bitter words at them, and when Imrie halted struck him with the flat of his sword. "Stand .fast, and wait .for orders, you cowardly brute," he said. "Are you going to leave mc here alone, you halflicked skulkers?" and Imrie, knowing that many had heard and seen, felt his throat cleave together, and remembered there was a cartridge in his rifle. But he only clenched the stock until the knuckles shone white through the skin, and fir a moment the two men stared; into each other's faces, while the bullets j whined about them. Then Imrie said! hoarsely: "I was merely looking for bet-j ter cover,. sir," and after the sharp an-j swer: "Stay here until I tell you to find] it," saluted and lay down again. He heard a murmur behind him, as though the spectators had looked for a dramatic termination, and were disap-

pointed, for part of bis story had leaked out, and he felt he might never live that incident down. Then through the patter of firing a bugle call rang out, and hoarse orders rolled along the line. Men leaping from. the grasses straggled off towards the mouth of a vaj-iey, realising sullenlyl they were beaten at last The pace grew faster, for the galling fire never slackened behind, and they began to grasp the situation. The twilight was fading already, and they must pass the defiles by sunrise or be taken in a death-trap among the ranges, while there was help somewhere uppn the other side.

So with- the tramp of weary feet echoing among the hills, they pressed forward through the darkening - hollow, in a very dangerous mood. Some, in-, stead of helmets, wore dirty bandages bound about their heads, others held on by a comrade's shoulder, and there was| dust and smouldering fury in the lowering faces. All wore their belts drawn in to the last hole, for it -was many hours since they had eaten, while haversack and water-bottle alike were empty. Like others, Imrie limped painfully, for the heavy boot had eaten a raw wound in his heel. Still, all this was nothing to the black wrath and shame in his heart, and he was glad when the merciful darkness hid! him from bis comrade's sight. In places, above them, , fantastic and shadowy, rose spires of fretted rock. In others, the black hillside sloped back from ridge to ridge until it ended in a hard edge against the soft indigo, with her and there a planet hung low down over it. So as they trudged onward, the worn-out men almost hoped the foe would follow, because that darkness would hamper the marksman's aim but not the bayonet thrust, they said. But no bright flash leapt out from the hillside, and tihera was only the monotonous tramp of tired feet, a grating sound of wheels, and a mutter of sullen voices to break the solemn stillness of the mountains. At last an officer came back from somewhere ahead, <saying "something about a map to anotner, who, fumbling with some papers, struct a match. He held'it up above him while his companion opened the map, and then, as it sputtered out, struck another, and for a moment the two kharki-clad figures, standing with their backs towards the soldiers, were outlined against a flickering glow. It was long enough, however, for a lurking marksman, and a whirring bullet sang past Imrie's head, while the clang of rifles fell from above. High on the oppositeridge there appeared flickering flashes, and black darkness closed down as the tiny light went out. Someone fired from the valley, a bugle brayed ahead, and a mounted officer clattered towards them, after which there was one short blast of riflery, and no answer from the hill. Imrie fancied he heard a faint cry close by, but forgot it obeying an order, and the march went on again. Presently a hobbling private said, "Anyone seen our bloomin' lootenant? I ain't heard bis precious tongue lately, an' I'm feelin' homesick without it." "No, an' I don't, want to," "apiswered another. "He always has such pleasant things to say. Wonder how he'll talk to .the Boers, if they've got him. Wishit was him instead of the poor captain— that one was a man. Chucked mc his water-bottle when I was trying to revive poor Emmonds with coffee-grounds an' mud. 'Poor devil wants it most,' he says, an' by-and-bye he just crumpled over and fell down aside of mc. 'Go on with your firm'; they have got mc this time,' he says." "Hallo, greasy pa-ws' again;" "said a,, comrade as a rifle dropped with a rattle, and Imrie answered nothing as he stepped out of the straggling line. It dawned upon him now that the call he heard was the voice of Lieutenant Gilroy, who. struck by one of the builets, must have, been left behind. Acting under impulse, he would go and find him, exactly why he did not knowj but, overwrought and starving, his brain -was muddled, and the shame of the insult lay hot upon him. At least he would show his persecutor he was not afraid, and if the Boers came down upon him there would be an end of it. It was, of course, madly foolish, as he afterwards recognised; but in such cases a man is rarely logical, and, grimly determined, Imrie tramped back. He was unnoticed, for he heard his comrades' dragging footsteps growing fainter and fainter up the defile, and pressed forward through what seemed a crushing silence until a low growl greeted him, "Stand fast, or I fire! Who are you?"' Then he dimly made out a figure crouching behind a ridge of stone, guessed a revolver muzzle bore upon his breast, and said, "You needn't; it's one of your own company." The other recognised the voice, for he answered, "Corporal Gordon Imrie! What luue you come back for? I think they've smashed my thigh bone, for I cannot use my leg, but I can the revolver." "No," said Imrie, "it isn't that. I thrashed you once four years ago, and if ever I leave the service I'll repeat the process. Meantime, you called mc skulker and coward; I came back to make an opportunity for you to prove how far your words are true. Shortly, I think, the chance will come." The wounded man tried to laugh, but failed in it, and said, "It was very foolish, Corporal Imrie. Now lift mc so I can lay my right elbow over that rock. Slip off my cartridge belt—don't do it clumsily." A twinge of pain shook a gasp from him, as the other man did his bidding. Then the latter eat down, and said, "For to-night we'll drop the 'Corporal.' You can say I have deserted, and I'm here as—pshaw, you know who I am. We'll talk again in the morning, if we ever see it; I'm somewhat doubtful. The Boers are coming now." - He pulled out a, pipe and lighted it methodically, and Gilroy, who was great on discipline, said nothing. Meantime a clatter of horse-hoofs drew nearer and louder up the ravine, mingling with the footsteps of hurrying men, until a line of dark figures appeared hot far away. Voices came up in the Cape Dutch, the foremost halted, and Imrie made out that someone maintained he had seen a light, and, acting under impulse, knocked the hot ashes out of his pipe. Then as a puff of \. Jid whirled the sparks about, there was a sharp challenge. "Imrie made no answer, and Gilroy said, "Imrie, you're a fool; but I admire your courage. Now I trust the result will satisfy you." "Rifles flashed in the hollow, lead, splashed about the rock, and Gilroy, lying with his chest on the ledge of stone, pressed his revolver trigger. He was suffering grievous pain, and even with an elbow-rest a revolver is an awkward weapon; but the target was a wide one, and two shots got gome. Then Imrie, sitting on his right heel, pressed his cheek down on the stock, and when ; the muzzle tilted another man went down. This was sufficient, and the assailants proceeded to efface themselves, while they discussed the matter. "It's a scouting detachment," said Imrie; "hut the others can't be far away. They'll come back again when they've talked over it, Can,'t quite make "out 'yharc inanv; wa are."

'You're right," was Gilroy's hoarse answer; "and in any case it doesn't matter much. You have n practically signed our death warrant. Still, we may as well make a fight of it. 11l trouble you to spread out more cartridges." "Ckime out, you cursed assassin Englishman, and we shoot you!" yelled someone below. A deep voice growled, "Voorwart!" and again running men came straggling up the slope. Sitting fast behind the sheltering stone, thrice Imrie pressed the trigger, and thrust another cartridge home, While the lieutenant's revolver spat cut little flashes from the slant of the ledge, until, leaving aome behind them, again the foe drew back. They were stubborn men, most of them, hurt they liked to fight in their own way, and being shot down by men under cover was not that way; indeed, they generally practised the very reverse of it. So at different ranges the spitting rifles played upon the corner from whence the deadly fire had come, and the two Britons, with parched throats and teeth set, lay closer waiting. Imrie remembered how the little spurt of red sparks came first, then an evanescent yellow flicker rent through the darkness and held his eye, while by a curious mental process he followed the bullet and heard it strike 'With a soft splash somewhere beside him. At tirdes he was disappointed, for the projectile landed where he had not expected it. Then there would be a few seconds' interval, and he could only see the great black shoulder of the hill, with a few stars twinkling through a dim blueness above it. Then there w_s a low whistle, and Gilroy said, "Gordon Imrie, I called you a coward, and I apologise for it. -I've been thinking hard the last minute, and it seems. you have done sufficient to save your honour, and I may say in parentheses, made an end of mc. Now I'm helpless with a broken leg; but I might check them with the revolver while you slip away. I can't see anyone very near—it's as black as the pit —and the other thing would only be blanked madness." "No," was the answer; "I brought it on you, and I'm going to see it through. It's strange, I hated you an hour ago •with a deadly hatred; the feeling has vanished now, and we needn't take our quarrel into another -world with us." Gilroy stretched out a hot hand, Imrie took it, and while the rifles flashed above them men leaning forward came scrambling towards their shelter. Then, grim with despairing purpose, crouching behind the rock, dishevelled, black-lipped and his eyes bloodshot, Imrie clenched his fouled hands tighter on the rifle stock, ready to meet the first with a thrust of the bayonet. But he caught his breath, for there was a rush of hurrying feet coming down the pass. The assailants halted and stood irresolute, until a voice Imrie recognised fell ringing, "Don't waste time in firing; give them the bayonet!" It was an unneeded encouragement. The men of the rearguard were deadly flick of rifle practice;' they had had far too much of it, and only longed to try the steel instead. So some ran fiercely silent, and others with a kind of- wildbeast howl which bore no resemblance to the poetical cheer, sweeping past the strangely assorted comrades, and Imrie felt something in his throat rise and try to choke him as he said, "Bravo 1 This time they mean business, and I wouldn't like to he the men who get in their way. It is their turn now." There was a rattle of somewhere ~ belowj a roar of exultation" breaking through a mad rush of feet, shrieks, yells, and curses, and later the calling of a bugle. Straggling in any order, the rearguard came back, bringing with them niore wounded, and several bearded men, each slouching between two files with reddened bayonets. Imrie stood still like a statue with the fouled rifle in his hand, and his heart throbbed with something between a sense of relief and exultation at what he had heard and seen. Gilroy lay huddled on the stone by his side, until a mounted officer, followed by an oroerly with a lantern, pushed through those who halted about them. "Are you badly hurt, Gilroy?" he said. '"Gave you up as shot heard the firing; very glad to find you alive. Corporal Imrie also reported missing; I suppose this is him?" "I've a broken leg," was the answere; "but I can go on in a Coolie. 1 This is Corporal Imrie, and I wish to testify he stood beside mc and held the enemy off with reckless gallantry." "Ah!" said the officer. "There is a sergeant missing from that section. Corporal Imrie, you will meantime take his place; we'll examine your qualifications afterwards. Heady with the doolie. Captain Swanson, take on your company." There was a calling of orders, and as the men passed on a grinning private said to a prisoner at his side, "Wake up; grizley, and look at the two who held you crawlers off." "Almighty!" said the bearded man, staring astonished, and there was a ripple of laughter from the beholders, while a comrade said to Imrie, 'You're a lucky devil. Old Ironface doesn't say much, but he thinks like sheol, an' he's mad on what he calls individual gallantry in case. of emergency. If he hears the whole story right, you'll remember mc, won't you, when you're a starspangled officer?" What the prisoners told the leaders Imrie did not know, for the latter did not take the rank and file.lnto their confidence; but a rumour spread presently that the two men had stopped the front of a considerable force who probably intended to scale the heights, and, pushing past, roll down big rocks on them, or otherwise block the path. The timely interruption sadly interfered with the success of the project, and the bayonet charge settled the matter, while though the. march was hurried all that night the dawn brought reinforcements. Gilroy was finally invalided home, and later, as a reward for special gallantry, though there was also a hint about influence. Imrie received his commission. Nevertheless for a long time only two men knew the whole story of that night, and both had reasons for not telling it. NEXT WEEK: THE VAGARIES OE COWSIDHfE ; or, a. Last Good Time.