THE SNIPER OF VAN NOORDAN'S RIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 234, 28 November 1900, Page 1

THE SNIPER OF VAN NOORDAN'S RIDGE.

A BHORT STORY ON THE ROKR WAR. "What'll they do with him!" asked Kelly, m he mediatlvely took from his pouch the last) remnant tf tobacco and pOßhed it tenderly into the bowl of his pipe. " They il have to shoot him," replied Private Gosling, with qaieb decision. "General Gnndle is a bit of a softhearted bloke, bat it's contrary to rales and regulations to let this chap go scot free. Why, man, we've brought! the case dead 'ome; if he's sniped one of our lot he's sniped a dozen. Don't yon know that them as hides in 'ills and acts without commands is brigands, and as brigands must be shot at Bight V " Then was two on 'em," suggested Kelly. " I 'eard one of our caps say as Gnndle would 'are the other one if he had to plank a thousand pounds' worth •of lyddite into the hill." "I think ws've got the worst of the

two," said Gosling, "and a mighty fine time it was to get him. There we goes, swarming on our hands and knees

over them rocks, every man a-going on like fan, and all on account of two miserable half-starved, knock - kneed Dutchmen. I tell you it was no beanfeast, Kelly, more especially when

lomMns gets a bullet in 'is jaw which 'takes off half 'is bead; aud every now and then we hears the ping of a Manser I and the hiss of a ballet, bat can't see na more where id comes from than the man in the moon. If it hadn't been for Charlie Harris missing his footing, and fallin' like a bull down the Bide' of 3 ill, we should never 'ave tracked 'im. <But Oharlie was always a lucky cove. Down he goes—plump, knocks ofi a <comsr of the rock as big as your 'ead, 'which, in turn, goes scattering down the kopje side, creatin' a peif ect avalanche, and in the middle of the ava-

lanche who should there be but the sniper hisself, cut and bruised, dazed And what not, but still with suffisient jo in him to stick to his gun, and as we scrambles in on to 'im so he lets fly; hut, with a broken arm, and eyes banged up with dust, 'e don't do much damage, and we collate him and hauls J imdown." "Well!" said Kelly, the other 3»uned. "We starte luggin' him ioto camp. Old Bill Jackson of D Company 'as 'im by the scruff -of the neck, when—•crack! Down goes Bill with a bullet between bis shoulder blades, an'it was «nougb to rile anybody to see the way the Boer laughed. I felt like giving 'im one in the ear, only its contrary to .regulations to hit a captured foe," Qosliog laughed. " So old Gundle 'as 'im afore him,

and.' what does the old Boer do but tell handle to do his wusr, and Qnndle

gete .his rag oat, and it's a shooting paity ior thirteen to-morrow, Kelly, my lad, a grave ready dag and the occupant marched np for the ceremony." Night atois quickly over the British camp- The ouipoßts were thrown oat, the watch fires were lit, and the encampment settled itself to slumber, heavily guarded. Ohio on breast and arms folded, Jan and sniper as he sat. '.His long, baehy beard, showing here

-.and there the straggling greyness of •oa-coming age, swept serosa his knees. IHia unkempt hair clustered around his inactive head. For him, apparently, x Ska morning had no terrors, though hia ftste was no mystery to him. Infect, wt wried with many days and nights of wa tihiaj and waiting for every opportunity to send the bullet of the sniper into the heart of one of his country's enemies, Jan, now that he bad come to the end of bis tether, gave up bia life, without t.Honght of wfrit lay in the land of the u'nfcuown.

The ran languidly ovt\» the broken country C> the Eait, and as it? first liight felt into* the valley, there came from the fastness of the kopjes on the sides of the hills the faint crack and the echo of a Mauser iine, and one of Jibe outposts reeled into camp with * shattered shoulder.

General Gnndle was astir enrly. He had heard himself the report of the rifle, and he had seen the wounded man brought into camp. His face flashed scarlet, his hands twitched in anger.

He mounted his horse and passed through the encampment to the spot •chosen for the execution of Jan the wiper. Under the withering branches of! a' veldt tree the grave had been dug, and by its side stood the firing party, a motley assemblage of men waiting for the prisoner. Ha came at length, with bowed shoulders and shambling feet. He saw thi" General, and brought himself erect, looking tquare into his as he passed. "Jan Meyer," said the General, "standi" The other faced about, and looked at 'the officer. "Of what commando were youl" saskrd the General. "I refuse to answer," rfp'ied the Boer. "By whose orders were you sniplug P aßked the Genera'. " By my own." "•You know the penalty?" l *l am prepared to pay it." "Who is joar companion ?'

1 hc> other smiled wsnly. "That you niurt' find out,' he said. And the Bmile broadened into a grin as be heard the plunk of a bullet as it bib the GeneralV horse, and that snimai staggered and fell to it's knees.

Gmtinuoft on fwrth joo^i,