DELIVERING THE DISPATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

DELIVERING THE DISPATCH.

(By 11. Leor.ard Heatler. 20. Kelvin Road. Iteinuera, age 10.) Edward Aldred raised his aching eyes and scanned the horizon. As far as he could see, tumbling waves predominated, while a coppery sun shone from a leaden sky. Two days driftiug in an open boat, with no food or water, bad fallen to his lot, and be had practically given up all hope. He fell to the bottom boards with a groan from his blackened and parched lips, and the boat raced on before the rapidly-increasing storm.

It was the downfall of rain that awakened him, and he thankfully drank of the water that had collected. The rain stopped as suddenly as it had come on, leaving the sole survivor of the tramp steamer "master - ' in a more hopeful mood, but thoughts otf rescue were coupled with thoughts of revenge against the unscrupulous gang who had endeavoured to prevent successful termination of a mission of great importance Here a brief biography will I>e Helpful. Edward Aldred was the only son of a general officer in the British Army, and had been educated at Harrow and Cambridge. On leaving the latter college he had entered the diplomatic service, and he had been entrusted with a dispatch of great iinj»ortance from the London office to the Government of a South American Republic. Rut lie bad soon found that it was not all ea*y going. Agents of various foreign countries, not caring to what cuds they went, bribed a Lascar fireman in the Master to ojkmi the sea-cocks at sea.

The first intimation that anyone had of danger was when a decided Hit to port and then a sluggish roll to starboard announced the fact that there was twelve feet of water in the engine room. There had been some hopes of the bulkheads standing the strain, but they had collapsed like paper under the pressure. Orders were then given to abandon ship, and that resulted in the crew rushing the boats and leaving Aldred to lower by himself the eijhteen-foot dinghy that hung over the stern. It may, perhaps, be wondered why a diplomatic messenger should take passage in a tramp steamer, but there were many things that were best left unquestioned, and Aldred had little lime for questioning. The other three boats, through the incompetence of the dark crew, had been swamped, and Edward Aldred, fresh from college, found himself drifting =n an open boat at the mercy of the wind and waves, with little prospect of again reaching land. But while there was life there was hope

Howard Stayton. sublieutenant of His Majesty's ship Peroll, had i«aeed the bridpe for three hours now, and he was wishing there was some excitement to liven up the remaining hour of his watch. He had just reached the wing of the bridge when his eye caught a speck far out. Bringing his telescope to bear he identified it as a boat, ami it was seemingly deserted, but as the cruiser drew nearer and the quartermaster ported helm in obedience to Slayton's orders. he could make out the figure of a man! but to all appearances he was dead. The sea boat was sent away, and in about a quarter of an hour returned with the man in it, and towing the boat behind.

Sub-Lieutenant n. Stayton. 8.X.. then received one of the biggest surprises of his life. No sooner had he seen the rescued man than he invohmtarilv said: "Why, great Scott, if it isn't old Ted" and he impatiently waited for his relief.

Kdward Aldred again lifted up his aching eyes ;:nd canned tlie cloudflecked horizon. This time there was cause for the shout of joy that ho gave vent to, for, bearing on a course That would eventually bring herself across hi* bows was a light-cruiser of the latent type. He had nothing to wave, and hi* only hope was that there wa* a keeneyed oßic«r keeping watch t:a her h-i->e His hope was realised, for she ported helm and swung toward* him. and with a smart bit of seamanship a boat was lowered. The midshipman pulled him in, and he immediately lost consciousness.

He awoke to the accompaniment of hammerings in his head, but the dean sheets and bed clothing somewhat refreshed him, and he drank the content* of the glass that someone offered to him and a voice, that seemed far away a*kod if he would like to see the captain. The voice he seemed to remember, but it v»a* not until he struggled on one elbow did he see his old friend Stavton.

The captain, a man >;jn ,-„ tlle thirties, came down. l„it the interview was brief, as. on the recommendation of the fleet surgeon, Aid red needed more eleep.

It was some twenty four hour- later that A Id red. arrayed in some of S'avton's clothes, walked the de.-k una his friend, and told him evtrvthiiig. As luck would have it." cruiser Peroll was proceeding to the South American station, so that there wa* little difficulty left for Aldred to <lcl : \'cr li-

dispatch. So he thought, and m thought everybody clm\ but he would have a few more adventures before b» was back safe in London.

On the eighth d->y after his rescue tit cruiser d..cked at San Pedro, and Aldred went on his way with Stayton. wJo nad got leave, as eompank n. For their protection against marauding bands theT had c.ioh a six-chnul>ered revolver, and just before they had left Aldred had been seen doing someti-b g to his weapon. T'-~y passed the n.v'ji in bumping and jolting r. ong the in..-.i.:'ain road, tojeet:mc .'keeping and fu"jetimes w!;>'c all the time tie mules jo;™ed alotig. It would be :L< ut four »*-.: lock and y.f t downing when the wascn mn% pulled np sharply Looking out, the two travellers ascertained the reason. They had stopped at the entrance to a gorge. On one side lurked death by way of a nine-hundred feet drop, whilst the rocVf side of a mountain reared itself on the other hand. Voices they heard in argument, and presently a swarthy fare appeared at the window and requested them, in passable English, to surrender. They looked at each other and hesitated, but the appearance of a glittering oltjeet in the harrdit's band compiled them to come to a decision. .Suddenly Aldred, who was nearest to the window, struck up and out with his arm at he same time motioning to bis companion to close the door. On nearer inspection 'he roan that had been lilted in proved to be a veritable armoury, for. in addition to tie revolver that he carried, lie a]*<> had t Mauser rifle of the 1912 pattern, a sword and four knives. A varied assortment. A shot outside decided to what fate th« driver had come, and preparations went now made for the defence of the coach.

The one df>or was securely locked anl bolted, and while Aldred stationed lawself at the window, armed with the captured rifle, his companion busied Limself with cutting a loop-hole directly under the drivers seat so that he held a, good position for checking a rush in the only direction from which a rusk was possible with any chance of success. They waited half an hour and nothing happened. They waited another hour and still nothing happened, and by tint time dawn was breaking over the mountains. They had no time lo admire IJ» view, for with a yell that would bar* done credit to a mob of a thousand, I score of men ran towards the wagon. Careful how they used their scanty ammunition the two defenders disputed of half the dagoe= before the rest saw the futility of further efforts in that way; so they withdrew. The sole ammunition remaining wa« Eight more .cartridges for the Mauser, three in Aldred's revolver and none in Staytoifs. It will be feen that they were in a critical position. There was one way out of the difficulty, however, aud Aldred determined t» make use of it. Taking care not to show himself more than was necessary he crawled on handi and knees round the roar of the coach, and hugging it to prevent himself falling over the cliff edge, drew gradually toward- the dead men that lay as proof 1» the two Englishmen's marksmanship. Availing himself <«f c\ery bit of cover he worked his way towards them. At la=t he hail in hi- po--e—ion four won rifles of Engli-h manufacture and sixtvseven serviceable cartridges, and witi these he safely reached the coach. The hot day seemed like a nightmare lo the two men in the stuffy, confined space, and they wondered whether the bandits had drawn «iT for good, hiit when Stayton sin.wed his head, a bullet that mi-scd him by inches warned him that they w <-r.- -til] ,m \hr alert. Belief came in a w,.\ that they had not expected.

A distant droning .mind came to Ihfir ears, and pre-<nt !\ thev id ulificd ".*- a* an a<-r<>jda:i<-. Aldr.-d ri-ked aiK»ii» (-r bullet from the watchers and looked up. At a hci«ht of five hundred feet tiv observer '--~uld be di-t Itvjui-hcd le« 11 : T 'g over the fu-ilaje. and M«_vl««n recognw-J him a~ one of lh< ra\a! airmen from the Pcroll. The j,--\' iiiiuuic a tinj black olijeil. Mipp«>il<'d \<\ a puraebcli', fell from hi= hand and dropped martl? leu yards froiu the coach. Aid red ag* :n went out, and when he returned tii-ry opened it. A message »J: contained in it. and -,ijd: "Double back toward* San Voir*. Three mile*. WW) ;•'•• k \.>u up i" n,:u the Plateau on the |e:'t of'the Dun Crnz K«.».|. Will keep ,■::• v.i -i-v." They did a- i;,-iri ■■: ■■'~ and sem* twelve hour, latet AIJ.eJ \- as "reJ^Ws hinw.f at Sa?itan<*. "But \\ t -re i- \ our .'-;'Hfh. scnor, queried the go\ ( r l; ,.r. "Oh. here, sit." v..-- ••:, teply. *v& drawing hi* n\o\.r ... « \t: acted three cartridge, ard hav.dt-d 1 «■:■.. over. • • • • The 1>iph..,..,;„. »•-•.•. .- • ••- veil :.."»t to bioHi'.a-t :■]>] :<•■ i.if.-n u ; .:- "-•rk. but it ' .iprrcciat. - s- this show. '"For excellent v-"k clone in the *" tenuis of the K'-npdom of <ireat BritaO Vi.ii are j.iMivot.-,] jn,i o'dered TO reP** at Pari- 0.. ~r b-f.-rc tin "]-*."