THE STORY-TELLER.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STORY-TELLER.

Yellow Ifhmmer.

By MABEtI BE AMES.

[Axx Rwuts Rksehvkd.] A certain oldfairy tale tolls us of "A •jjouth who could neither shiver 'nor •hake." Such a youth waa Gilbert Homo when he joined his regiment, which had been quartered in Indin for many years. The official name' of the regiment I am not at liberty to disclose, noither is it of the least importance- hero. Suffice it to say that they were known throughout India as "The Khabadars!" Gilbert Home joined them straight from Sandhurst, where ho had made both entrance

and exit with honours ; ho was one of the new school and had heen "crammed" for exams, almost since he had been ablo

to road and write. .xj.e was exceedingly youthful in appearance, and though past nineteen might easily have been mistaken for seventeen. He wai of mitKUe height,, and slightly built, with a" smooth, fair young face and golden hair. The latter ( wns the most remarkable- thing about him — it was such beautiful hair; so unasually golden, so glossy and well-groom-&d that it was tho first thing one noticed an seeing young uubert Home. He had not joined halt an hour before he was dubbed with a name that wns destined to elir.g to him for his entire service. " That's a chubby child they've sent us !" remarked Captain Slade, tho Adjutant, when Gilbert was out of car-shot. " Did you ever see such a head in your lifo?"

• He's like some bird, they have afc home," replied another, Uniacke by laino, screwing up his mouth, as he tried •o remember the bird's name. ' I know 1" le exclaimed. "He's just like a Yellowaammer, isn't he?" and tho name clung.

Gilbert Home was not received with .mich enthusiasm by his regiment, for the officers Were not men who' had entered tho service flushed with brilliant literary victory. They had oil jußt contrived to wrape ia, and consequently looked rather askance at this new arrival, who had done such great things at his exams. Gilbert uome did not smoke, which was another disadvantage, judging from Mr. Uniacke's expression when he offered the former a cigar oa his arrival, and was answered, " Thanks, I don't smoke."

"Afraid of spoiling his teeth!" said Mr. Uniacke, contemptuously, -when referring to the occurrence afterwards. " I don't wonder at that. He's got a glorious set!" replied Captain Slado heartily, vho suffered martyrdom periodically from toothache. "Do you know, I think you're making rather a mistake about this Jittlo subaltern of ours," he went on musingly. " Why do you all take it for granted that he's a mollycoddle? He can't help looking like a girl, can ho? And, upon my word, his clean little face does one good to look at after all the dirty niggers we've been staring at these leu years, to say nothing of your own phiz, Uniacko, which is getting blacker every day with »vis beastly Indian sun, or poor 6ld Mortimer's, which is as yellow as a guinea from bad honUu." - -

He nntupd for breath, and another took up* tho tale.

" Uifelu ,\uu are, Slnde — Yellow Hammer's a good sort. I've been studying him* and I'll back him to play polo and ride agoinst the oldest hand in the' station. Where ho picked ' it up, I can't say, but I haven't seen a better game than he plays, or a prettier seat, and I don't' mind taking three to one you haven't either."

"I don't want to run him down," said Uniacke. "On tho contrary, I shall be very glad to find he's a good sort, but really the weeds they are turning out now with all thin cramming makes one rather shy of a chap of nineteen with a face like a girl and double honours in Sandhurst 1" And he laughed goodhumouredly.

"I say, young Yellow Hammer, who taught you polo'i" said Captain Slade one day. "My father, • was the reply. " I've Defen at it for six or seven years-——" The Adjutant looked incredulous and Gilbert hastened to explain. "I bogan when I was twelve. We've got a place in Yorkshire, and I've got seven brothers. My father turned, us into a big field and taught us. We used to tame young ponies, v and rido them half-broken, tin wo outgrew them. My father said he killed two birds with one stone that way." Captain Slade laughed. "More like killing two of his boys at a time, I should say," he said, and went away and repeated the story to Uniacke. A little later it transpired that Yellow Hammer could box also; in fact there Vail only one man in the station who could beat him, and that was Geoffrey Uniacke. "Who taught you to box?" some one asked one day, and the reply was, "My father. We had a private gymnasium in Yorkshire, and on wet day« he used to •et us to work, twos and twos. Whoever got beaten had to look on and mop the others next time. We didn't like that. It was beastly slow, so we got pretty even after a bit." He flpoke very quietly, without tho least attempt at bragging,* in fact he seemed quite unJouscious of anything praiseworthy in his performances. The others grinned. "Can you swim too?" was tho next question. Yellow Hammer nodded. "We had a vncht in tho summer," he said, "and wflcu we were little kids my father used io chuck us into the water, and let us kick about till we learnt. They fished is out when we were going down ; but rwimming's awfully easy to learn v we Bdn't take long!" % . And so it was with everything. This yellow-haired seraph was proficient in every sport and pastime that could be roughly taught, and tho difficulty was , to find anything that he could not do. "Yellow Hammer reminds me of an ©Id fairy tale called 'The youth who could neither shiver nor shake/ " remarked Uniacke one clay, " and I shan't oe satisfied until I find sometlnng that he can't do." It wa* several months before Mr. Uniacke succeeded, and meanwhile Yellow Hammer's popularity increased day by day. Ife had upheld the honour of the regiment at polo, cricket, tennis, and everything else, and his brotherofficers gloried in him, particularly Captain Slade, who had been Ms -first friend. How Yellow ■ Hammer repaid him my etory will show.

At the time of which I write "the' Khabardars" were quartered in an out-of-the-way place, which has since been condemned as useless* for a military station and also .unhealthy. The regiment was commanded then by Colonel Hyde, whose eldest dnughter had lately come oat to her father, whilst Mrs. Hyde was in England. Not far from tho cantonments of " the Khabardars " stood an old building of cireulur shape, like a fort. It -was the abode of three harmless did priests who kept a wcreo fire for ever alight on the summit. There was no door and no one had ever been seen, to

entef. The natives supplied the priests with food, which they laid at the foot of tho wall, and for A\hich the inmates let down a rope twice a day. '"The Kliabardars" could see ' tho everlasting tire distinctly from their mess, and they ofton spoko of tho possibilities of exploring the old tower. But it was never attempted, for tho regulations wore very strict about interfering with tho religion of the natives.

" How uncanny, that fire looks, blazing away eternally. I don't like it, and I wish tho old tower were blown up altogether," said Captain Slado ono day at dinner. He little knew what cause he was to havo for disliking the tower. • Geoffrey Uniacke and Yellow Hammer were sitting together the following day in -the verandah. t

" Have you heard tho news ?" said Uio former. " Slado is engaged to the Colonel's 'daughter. He says he hates the sight of the everlasting hre so much that ho mubt got married, so , ho won't Save to dino at mess any more, .and then he need not sit night, after night looking ,at the, glare,'.' „and,,Qeqffrey l^niafike .luugh. T . cd. He was carving the handle of a stick, 'and looking up from his work" as ho spoke, r tho chisel slipped and almost cut ono of his fingers off. With an exclamation best described as"unparliamentary," he jumped up and ran to the mess,, calliiig for water. Tho doctor was there, fortunately, and promptly bound up the wound. When Uniacke returned to where he had left Gilbert Home, he found the latter looking a« if he had b<>en asleep,' but with a greyish-green colour in his face.

"What's up, Yellow ITammer?" ho cried. "You do look seedy." He wus really alarmed, fdr disease was rife in the neighbourhood. But Gilbert had risen to his feet, nnd though his face was green nnd his teeth chattering, the lad declared there was nothing wrong. It •was tho heat, ho said, and lie went to his room to lie down. Uniacke thought no more about it, as tfie youngster was .quite himself when. he sa.w him again, and other matters far more important engrossed every one'H attention. There was trouble in the Black Mountains. ■ F/Very dny forces passed the quarters of the "Khabardars" on their way to the scone of operations. Tho regiment •was' pining for n finger in the pie, but alns, it was otherwise ordained. The powers that be had refused their petition to send them to the front; for they had had more than their share of fighting and glory, and it was decided to leave -- om behind now. So they fed the more lucky people who passed .their quarters day by day, and made bitter lamentations for their own hard fate". Disease was devastating the neighbourhood. The natives were dying in large numbers, but as yet the Europeans had not suffered. Very little could be dono for the sufferers, but what medical aid could do was done, and in the midst' of .all the trouble the astounding news came to the mess of the "Khabardars" one morning that Miss Hyde, the Colonel's daughter, was missing! There was fearful confusion then, and every one suggested something different to every one else. Ihe country around was scoured but without success. Miss Hyde, when last seen, was riding with her syce in attendance. She had sent the syce homo, saying that she won going to meet Captain Slade in five minutes and ride back with him," but Captain Slade had not seen her at all, and her horse had trotted back to his stable, riderless, some hours afterwards. Uniacke was on duty, so could nof> join the search party, and "Yellow Hammer" had lent his horse to some one else, so these two were left behind. Having nothing elso to dp, Gilbert walked round the place with Uniacke. They spent a quiet day together, and were sitting peacefully in easy chairs when loud shrieks burst upon their ears. They started up and rushed in the direction of the yells as fast as their legs could carry them. They found two natives righting, and as the officers arrived upon the scene, one made off, and the other, bleeding profusely, fell to" the ■ground. "what a storm in a tea-cup!"'ejaculat->ed Uniacke — "here, 'Yellow Hammer,' 'help me up with this chop. My goodness! he's liad a mauling." But Gilbert Home was . trembling like a leaf. His face was ghastly, and he turned away his head with a shudder. Then he did an extraordinary thing. He spun round, nnd fell in a dead faint to the ground. Uniacke stared in annoyance for a moment or two, then a light dawned upon him. He took up Gilbert in his arms and dragged him into his own room, where ho laid him on his bed, and sent a man to attend to tho wounded native outside. This done, he Bet to* work to restore "Yellow Hammer." He was disgusted at what he considered the boy^s cowardice. "So that's what was the matter with you the day I sliced my finger," he said contemptuously. "Upon my word! A bright lot you are to faint at the sight of bjood'" The unhappy youth stood before him with hanging " head. He was norrirj'.y ashamed of himself, nnd scarcely dared to look at Uniacke. He had tried so har.i to kee"p hi* Secret, only to be founl out by the ono man of all his regiment from whom he had mpst wished to hide it. "For God's Bake, XJniacke, don't tell the other fellows. I cannot help it. I've tried for years, but I can't get 'over it—" Uniacke was sltent, and the boy resumed : "I'm not afraid of man or devil, Uniacke, but the sight of blood makes me sick. I'll prove to you any way you like that I hm telling the truth if only you will believe me. If you tell the othors. i I swear I will blow my brains cut.*' The miserable boy was getting desperate. Too much so to notice tha, smile growing round the brother-officer's lips. I do not mean that Geoffrey Uniacke was laughing at the distress of lur companion. Far from it. But ho had made a considerable bet the night before tJul he would put out, by aomo means or other, the everlasting fire kept alight by tho three priests on the roof of the old tower. Yellow Hammer's frantic appeal to prove his courage had suggested moHt unexpectedly a solution of his own difficulty. He had been racking his brains all day .as to how he was to win hia bet. It was quite clear now Not for a moment did ho doubt young Home's courage, and neither did he dream of publishing the fact that he had found out how to make him "stiver and shake." But temptation was too strong for him, and he said at length — "I will believe you, youngster, if you have pluck enough to face those throe old niggers alone to-night and put out their bally fire." Rapture burst out upon every line ot poor Yellow Hammer's face- as he seized Uniacke's hand. "God bless you!" lie said. "I'll do it," and bolted out of the room. Uniacke sat down. "Didn't know I was such a cad !" tie murmured to himself, feeling far from comfortable. 11. HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. Yellow Hammer stood alone at the foot of the old tower. It waß quite dark save for the glare in the sky from the eternal fire. His mind was far from clear an to

the ways and means of gaining access to the place ; but on one point ho was quite determined, and that was that over his dead body alone should Uniacke publish his shame to the regiment. Yellow Hammer had sworn that he would blow Ins own brains out if he failed to-night. Ho stood between tho cantonments and the tower, and threw his head back to take m tho height. Tt would be impossible to scale the wall, for the side tfas almost smooth, and what inequalities could be found were not nearly sufficient to give a hold even to his fingers. For quite live minutes he stood there, and then he hoard voices behind him. He had ]Ust time to creep round the wall quickly before tho natives, carrying large flat baskets, came close enough to have seen him had he remained standing on the same spot. -He heard then) distinctly as he crept away, and as he kept moving round the tower they seemed to follow him till ho reached the place ho had started from, when, hearing no more, he concluded that Ihey were departing their burdens on the other side. IWr nearly ten minutes he waited, then hurried round, for a bright -idea had occurred to -him.

The natives had deposited the food they carried in n hnge circular basket about three feet deep. Gilbrrt starffd at it in amazement for a moment. His. surprise gave place to satisfaction, for he noticed that this receptacle had been let down from above by ropes and pulloys, evidently worked by a crtvne or windlass. The ropes were quite slack, but he was afraid to try their strength lest his movoments might Bo taken for a signal before his plan of action was decided. Of one thing he was certain, which was that there was a mystery about tho tower and its occupants. Three old priests could never consume such an enormous quantity of food twice n day .' There was enough in the basket to feed ten or twelvevinen.

With intense satisfaction he observed that there was also a gqodly supply of water. He would want that to put out the fira!

"Now or never," he thought, and seizing one of tho ropes lis Rave it a hearty tug. Nothing happened— he pulled again, and a third time. Still no response. Bo up he went, hand over hand, lie reached the t<'P and looked over. There was no one there. The "Eternal Fire" burnt in a huge brazier in tho middlo of an iron platform. This platform occupied almost tho entire top of tJiu tower. Jn one part (just beneath wln-ro Gilbert clung) a ladder gave access to a brightly lighted room. Looking down he saw strange things. . 'Ten men. tthtives, he counted, ana from- their locks he rightly judged them to bo thieves of the worst description. There wus one old woman amongst them and they were seated on the floor in it circle. Ho could not sec what they were doing, but they seemed to be distributing something. Fascinated, ho climbed higher and lay face downwards on the parapet. "ill just? put out their old fire first," he said to himself, "and then I'll spring the regiment on them — " Firmly fixed in tho stonework of the tower vnis a stout jroh rou with a pulley at the end. Ho cropt along tho parapet till he reached this, seized the end of tho rope that hung loosely over tho pulley, and exerting all his strength hauled away vigorously. It took all his powers to draw the great basket up, but he managed to do it, and was rewarded by «t last seeing it swing over tho parapet. Then ho gently slackened the rope until the basket rested on the iron platform at his feet. Tho occupants of the room beneath had not been disturbed by his movements, thanks to the. roar of the fire in the brazier.

"I'll just havo another lo.ok at those blackguards downstairs boforo I do for you," ho said to Himself, nodding complacently at the fire, which was now burning ' considerably lower than usual. Ho knelt down at the trap door, and peered into the apartment. He could hear their words now distinctly. A very old man was speaking. "It is well, my children;" he was saying — "the plague must be stayed. It can only bo one lby sacrifice. Have w.e not proof that it is a curse sent us by tho accursed Europeans, for not one of their sons has suffered? Wo must offer one of them in sacrifice this night, and have we not this maiden in our hands?"—

A -woman's cry burst out. Not- a loud one — "Mercy!" said an English voice, and Gilbert Home turned sick a 8 he saw that the owner was the missing Kathleen Hyde, standing against the wall with her hands pressed over her eves. He almost lost his' self-control at the sight. The horror of tho situation appalled him. As the .old 'man ceased speaking a storm of applause burst forth. "To tho Sacred Fire !" they screamed with one accord. They did not immediately ascend the ladder. Some formalities delayed them, and Gilbert, seeing in this n. ray of hope, rushed like a madman to tho bafaket. Throwing the food to right and left ho seized the water-skins. There were, six of them, and with his great hunting-knife ho hacked at the neck of the first, and opening it wide 'threjv the skin bodily into tho brazier. The fire hissed and' spluttered, but was mot extinguished. A second skin had no effect, but "the thirTT reduced tho Eternal Fire to a heap of blackened cinders. A shriek of rage from the foot of the ladder told him that his work was discovered, as the old priest rushed up, closely followed by a man carrying Miss L'de. As the last glimmer of the fire expired theso men reached tho platform. Tho priest, yelling with rage, rushed to his tire to make a desperate effort to rescue it. The man wjio carried Miss Hyde received young Gilbert Home's fist straight between the eyeß, and fell like a log, dropping his burden as ho did so. Yellow Hummer seized tho ladder, and with all his force dragged it backwards just as the rest wore swarming up. It came up with a rush, and knocked him over flat iiat upon his back. "Tho basket, Miss Hyde!" he shouted, picking himself up as quckly as ho could — "Get into it, and swing over tho sidel" But this was more than tlic_ terrified girl's nerves wero equal to, and Gilbert had almost to lift her in, and push the basket over the edge, where it' hung, swinging round and round. Ho was preparing to set the rope going over the pulley, when ho felt, a crushing blow on tb© back of his head, and with a confused sound of bugles, mingled with tho cheering of British soldiers, he fell.

When ho opened his eyes again ho was surrounded by brother officers. It was Uniacko who poured brandy down his throat, whilst Captain Slodo supported his head on his knee, and Kathleen Hyde, ' rescued from her terrible position, buthed his face. The tower-top was alive with soldiers, in the midst of whom stood a sullen band securely bound — not one had escaped. Even the mau whom Gilbert had knocked down was • there, his face a ghastly object, ami his noso shattered. Yellow Hammer was surprised to find that he did not turn faint or shudder at the sight of blood now. Perhaps there was so much of it* about that he waa getting accustomed to it. Uniacke told him all that had happoned afterwards. About tho same time that Gilbert had reached the towev, the native who had been wounded early in the day sent for Uniacke and confessed that ho wa« AUgs Hyde's syce, wiuo had

been in league with tho frequenters of tho tower to betray his young mistress into their hands. Ho hud been persuaded that s ' 10 would morely be detained for a few hours and then rausomed, but had discovered, when too late, thut the fanatics intended to .sacrifice tlie unfortunate girl in the belief that by burning a Europeon alive in their Sacred Fire the plague might be stayed. The syco had been on his way to confess the whole plot when set upon by one of the band, who suspected his fidelity, uncl almost murdered him.

Uniacko lost no time in giving the alarm, but ho had not betrayed Gilbert's secret in doing so. Ho merely said that Yellow Hammer had gono to put out the lire 5 and if he and Miss Hyde (who he had just heard, ,hnd been tiepanncd there) were to be saved, no time must be wasted. Tho result we have seen. The rescue had arrived just in time, and Gilbert's ears, as he foil, hud not deceived him. JTho men had cheered loudly as they scaled the wall, ami Uniacke had given the orders for the bugles to sound to let him know that they wore coming. "I thought the bugles would cheer you up, old man," he said, "and let you know tho regiment was turning out." "Yellow Hammer" he will be to tho with Geoffrey Uniacke, but it is now a thing of the past; and the two, who have been fast friends ever since, often talk over the terrible night when a gr.ea,fr emergency completely curad young Gilbert Homo of his one weakness.

"Yellow-Hummer" ho will be to the end of his days, 1 but to Unincke ho "is "tlio youth who cau neither shiver nor shake."