A BURMESE INCIDENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 10466, 2 October 1894, Page 2

A BURMESE INCIDENT.

(Macmillan’s Magazine.) “ Half-past eleven/’ said Masters, looking at his watch. “ One more rubber and then to bed. I want to be off early tomorrow. Go ahead, partner. Attention, please!” “Pardon, one minute,” said Annealey, laying down his cards. “I think I hear something at the other end of the village/* “ Fudge! It’s only tho pariahs baying • little louder. Go on.” But Annealey was already on his way down stairs, and Masters threw down hia cards impatiently. “ He's a keen hand,” remarked Colville approvingly, seizing the opportunity to mix some whisky and water. “By Jove, Masters, I believe there ia something up. Listen! ” The dogs were not baying, but barking, aud the villagers were calling to one another. “ Dnmmyamya, ” repeated Colville, catching the word from many lips, “ Dacoits, of course.” “Of course,” echoed Masters indifferently, as he pushed back hia chair and went to look over the balustrade of the verandah. “ A stray buffalo, in tho jungle, most likely.” A dim figure flitted by in the shadow of the bamboos; another and another, and then a thin silent stream. Annealey came running back from the village, threw an order to the sentry, and sprang upstairs three steps at a time. “ They say it’s Boh Paw,” ha said, as he ran past to his room. “ It’s my step if it is, I swear.” Women hushing frightened children were hurrying from the village now, some to take shelter under the ddk bungalow, others to go farther and hide in the bushes. A hoarse yell from the other end of the village told that dacoits were there and about to attack. Masters called to his servant to get his guns quickly. The sentry in rousing hi? comrades had awakened everyone, and the bustle waa general. Annealey came out buckling the last strap of a new “ Sam Browns ” belt, his eyes shining with exultation.

“Take off your coat!” cried Colville, who, like Masters, had thrown off his to go out in a grey flannel shirt. One shot, and another, rang from the end of the village, and a hammered bullet shrilled by. “No time now,” laughed Annesley, and he ran down stairs with his sword tripping behind. A word to the corporal, and, with carbines loaded, the little Goorkhas filed out at a trot.

Masters* bearer, frightened out oft bis wits by the firing, was slow in finding the cartridges, and the police were half-way up the village when the two started in pursuit. “ It’s going to be warm,” remarked Colville, as long flashes led reports,, and bullets screamed in different keys overhead, or kicked up splutters of earth. Before them rose and fell the dim wave of the Goorkhas in line across the street; it was alraojjf impalpable, bright as the moon was, as it sank and burst into flame, swelled and advanced, to sink and flame again. Annesley’s figure, always upright, stood (Wt white and distinct against the shadows. They could hear him curbing the impetuosity of his men when the dacoits ceased to advance, and, hanging for a moment, crowded back upon the pagoda. “ They’re going to make a stand,** panted Masters. “Loot at 'em, taking cover behind the wall,” A halt to fix bayonets let them up with the police, and they fell in at the end of the skirmishing line to obey Annesley’* orders. The dacoits’ fire spit fitfully over the low wall of the pagoda, but the volume of yells told that the gang was large enough to feel confidence in its strength. Two more volleys and runs brought the police well out upon the open ground beyond th 5 houses, and Annesley’* high young voice sang out joyously, “I say, we'll rush it now ! Charge!” The Goorkhas shouted, and sprang forward like one mon. A roar came from the pagoda. “ The white police-chief! Shoot the white police-chief!” The crest of the wall lightened with a running blaze s there was a clatter of steel on the brick paving, and Colville, pulling :np ■ short, turned to see Annesley fall tearing at the weeds. The .Goorkhas, led by Masters, swept on, giving yell for yell. The bayonets were loft in their dead, and the kookries did what they might on bacW and shoulders. “It is not fighting,” the corporal grumbled to Masters, two minutes after. “It is hunting; these dogs cannot fight." The men were slowly drawing in from the jungle, at whose fnnge Masters had stopped the pursuit. Telling th© corporal to collect the dead he went back to Colville, who knelt by Annesley. “ Is he much hurt ? " A glance at' the now upturned face forestalled the answer. " Dead— there," said Colville, pointing to a blotch on ths breast that showed black in the moonlight. ___________