THE SONG O' THE BULLET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8100, 27 August 1904, Page 2

THE SONG O' THE BULLET.

(By ALFRED DAMON RyNYAN, in " Collier's Yveek;y. ') Layin' cut ioi iff lice fields, th' mud ha'-i to vh' kiieos; Hear.n' t'ix" lizards croakin' up in th' bamboo trees, An' alt around th' bushes >are cloaked in th' w!_it- o' t-h* raise — "Wot 15 thai, nioi&e tnat breaks th' spell? Sh-h there! Hist! "Pajig! Zi_g! co-00-oc-zipl Thai's tn' cry o' th' rifle balfc 'ivhaVs tih' song ii sings ter al.— "Pang! 2.£gl co-to-oc-z.pl Hark to vn' song o' th' bullet I A fla-h o' light in th' darkness an' all is auiet -again, 'Cep'un' th' lap o' th' water—" Stop whisperia* vbeze, you men!" Only a stray shct out o' th' night—" Lay (jpiiet there, you all!" Hark! ag*in rh' voico W-lls out in. to. »c_tg o' .h' rifle ball— "Ps-st! Bing! z-z'z-s-z-tzip l" That's th' tune tn* rifle sings, Soe-dia' a note on Death's black wings— "Ps-st! Bing! z-z-z-z-z-tzio!" Bow low to th' song o' th' bullet I Th* my dawn elowly -koves its wav out o* th' eastern, sky— ■ ■ "Load magazines! Git ready, men! Now \ keep them pieces dry! - Hold that line there! Steady, all!" Nerves' , drawn tensely tight — ,'■_,,, ' An' 1 - oufc ahead, th' chorus starts as tn dawn • breaks inter light— "P-ow! "P-ewl c-a-clc-c-a-ck-P-'ow!" 1 That's th' song ih' rifle ball 'j Sings in chorus— singin' all— I °'P-ow! V-ow\ . c-a-ck-e-a-ek-P-ow!" _ Oh, hark to th' bullet chorus! Ohargin' aerost th' rioe fields, 'h' water snlash- < "Stop dodgln' the-re! Don't mind th' _ong . o' them wot has gome by! ' ] Keep clost ter cover, but go ahead! This ain't no fancy drill! ■''„, L ' Aim lew! Pi*e fast,, you «3i_V-_ftila. An t fire at yer own sweet will !" < ■•■-.. )} " Z-z-z-z-z-z\ Pang! Bap! Ps-st!" , That's th' key V th* bullet sonsr .< That's th* tune! "Here! Move a.one!" t "Z-z-z-?-k-z! Pans?! B«P' Ps-st!" 1 Don't »" n d ih' eong o' th' bullet! Someone down there, stretdhe* men : take hi*: to th* rear! . , ■■'-«.. ! "Go o-.i! 'Go on ' K^ 7 * finn ' men * y^ 6 T •ain't no stoppin'beTe— - . ..<3 SwinsJaround with ft' l.ett o'- thai hne. an' ( n^ko fer ibat trench '«*/Wjj- ...' v c There's time enough in . th*. after while ter « . count np them V©k*a dead!' . * . «Ps-«t! B'lig! a-_'Z-i-*-t_iis !" i That's 'h' dirge 6' "A* rifle "baih Thai's th* wry it mpsn* f cx v o-11-rr. 1 "Ps-st! Bing! z-z-z-z-_-tripl" -? Oh 'w«« *S' WII S c*e * th'Lbullef! ' * '\ ' mmummmmm« I ' ' «— /_ I ; *_ . . . — Belgioni's postal service is worked at an i: annual profit of 47 per cent. x [<;