A NEW BILL ADAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 11681, 13 February 1902, Page 5

A NEW BILL ADAMS.

" A small engagement, reported from Reitfontein, whiare a patrol of the Transvaal Carbineers came in touch with twenry of the enemy, was magnified into a big engagement. I vas told the true etory of the great battle (writes Edgar Wallace :r. the 'Daily Ma.il'l and how the mistake had arisen, and got back to Elandsfontein station in time to hear a veritable Bill Adams of an Atkins telling an admiring circle the story of the Battle of Rooiberg. He had been one of the patrol, and had brought the slightly wounded men into Elandsfontein lv means of a convenient train that had happened to be coming the right way.

" 'Ere was them," said Atkins, indicating " them" with the butt of his rifle on the station platform, "and there was us"— "us " being by a weighing machine. " The captin. 'e says, I think we've got 'em now, me lads. All I want now is a. man 'o volunteer to go round the back of that kopje and see if they've got anyone awaitin' be'ind to give us 'ell as soon as we move on 'em. I want, 'e sez a trustworthy, ieliable man, 'e sez,—one that knows 'is dooty and i« an nle soldier, > sez ; none of your three months' service boys, 'e sez. An' Sergeant Jones —that's my sergeant—'e sez : ' send Barker,' 'e sez, 'Vs a good soldier,' 'e sez—that's my name," added Atkins, modestly.

"I dessay,'" said a sarcastic listener. " Aikl did you go? " "I did,"" replied Atkins, "and "' " I s'pose your fa«e frigtened 'em," suggested the interrupter. " Shut up. Go on, cocky." This from the audience.

'•' Well, 1 crawls and I creeps, a-'idin' be'ind bushes and rocks, till 1 gets beside the kopje, an' wen I looks round there was their nibs a sittin' waitin' for the captin to come on. Nigh on seven 'undred. I should say. As soon as I sees 'em 1 nips back to the captin, an' I sez: "There's about eigiit 'imdred burjers a-waitin' for vou there, sir.' And 'e sez: ''Ow many?' 'Eight 'undred.' I sez. 'Did you count 'em?' 'e sez. 'Yes.'pea I, as hold as brass. 'Well,' he sez, 'it strikes me. Barker, you've got second sight,' 'e sez, 'an' it there's eight 'undred Boers round them I'll eat my .boots,' 'e. sez. Any'ow, we got the squadron divided into three sections, an' one went f» tie ieft, the other to the right, and the other straight a'ead. Well, himeby we giv 1 a yell an' charged o;i the kopje, an' sure enough they started firin' from the top. only°it wasn't what you'd call an 'eavy fire, but just, a ' klik-klok. klik-klok.' just about, as fast as I can say it. Well, bimeby up went a white flag, and me. and Jimmy Sparks went up with, our rifles at trie ready—you bet yer life on that —and there were ' three wouded Boers an* two dead 'tins, an' the rest of the commando was gone. Then the captin comes up, an' he starts questionin' the wounded ones* — that one," said Atkins, pointing to one -l the prisoners seated with his arm m a sling on a bundle of blankets —" an' then 'c asks 'im what they called the kopje—the name of hj, I mean—an' the Boer, e sez: ' Baboon's Kop,' 'e sez. 'Are there any baboons about 'ere?' sez the captin. • Lots,' sez this 'ere Boer; 'look over there,' and may I be- if there wasn't a young thousand of 'em chatterin' an' jorring along a ridge near by. So the captin 'e laughs, an' sez: 'Oh, Barker.' 'e sez, ' where'sthem «ighfc 'undred Boers?' 'e sez. 'Didn't you notice they 'ad tails on?' 'e sez."