1901-01-05 — Page 5

A CASE OF HEREDITY,

BY JULIEN DALZIEL

(Specially Written for the "Hongkong Telegraph.")

T

(Continued from last Saturday,

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"B' ' me! can't ye hear it, Boss? It seems to me to come from the bleeding stoke-hold," said the Second, anxiously.

Ay, I can hear it, but it doesn't come from the stake-hold," said the Chief, sharply; and crossing over to a recess in the bulkshead, he Jaid his hand on the closed and padlocked end of a large iron pipe that stood some two feet above the flooring.

"That's where it comes from, my man," he whispered, oracularly.

"From the ash-shoot ? queried the Second, ia astonishment,

Aye, from the ash-shoot,' no less. The ash-shoot is an inn pipe built into the structure of the ship, the inner end being in the engine-rom, and the other opening on the outer world about the water level on the ship's side. As its name implies, it is used for discharging ashes.

The Second laid his ear for a moment to the casing, then springing upright he exclaimed,

"You're right, Chief, you're right. I can hear it quite distinctly inside the 'shool.' What the deuce can it be?!

"Get the 'bullseye' and we'll soon see!" replied Donaldson, the practical, producing à bunch of keys, and begining hurriedly to try them in the padlock. The two men, who felt they stood on the brink of a discovery, were quivering with excitentent; the Chief's bands shook, the keys seemed to have a rooted aver- sion, to the keyhole, and the beam of light from the lantern willing to illuminato every place hot the spot required.

Hand the light steady, ma mannie, for God's sake, entreated the Chief, falling back on the dialect of his early days at this supreme moment. The deil flee away with the key- which is it any way? Great Scot if that putrid key-hole bas na shrunk during the nicht." "Owly Smoke! Let us hold the key-linle, Gurner said the Second, cetiously,

"Haud yer long Colonial jaw; or haud the can'el-it's a' ye're fit for," was the gruff re joinder.

With that the key was found, and silently the two men raised the heavy izon lid. The Second threw the bean from the lantern down the pipe, and the two exclaimed, in perfect unison,

Well-Pm-dinned

The secret of the smugglers lay exposed. About two feet below the mouth a licle had been cut in the pipe, where it would be invi- sible to any one standing in the engine-room. Through this a steel wire rope was at present travelling, passing away along the pipe and into the river in obedience to some power con- trolling its further end. At about every four feet a small oblong box was attached with wire to the rope. The astonished watchers knew at once that the tin boxes could contain nothing but that most valuable of contrabands, upium. The grinding noise was made by the rope passing along the pipe, and the periodical chink was the result of the tins juniping the edge of the opening into the 'shoot.'

My God of all the ingenious-the thing's automatic "exclaimed the Chief

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY JANUARY 5, 1901.

Dry up, for goodness sake!" cried the Harbour-Master; if you've got an idea in your ald head, out withit like a man ft

This was the opening the old man wanted, Slowly he took his pipe from his mouth, and with painful exactness fitted it to the rack on the balkhead at his side; most deliberately he ran his fingers through the grey stübble that served him for hair; his features took on an expression of austere gravity; he coughed solemntly twice; and then, after these impress ive preliminaries, he leant forward and unfold- ed his plan to the wholly amused and partly disgusted Harbour-Master.

As he proceeded, the look of self-satisfied good nature, that his auditor's features usually wore, was gradually replaced by a grave as tonishment; then his eye twinkled, and he interrupted it with an assumption of horror, "Why man, it would be murder."

"Na, na. Not even manslaughter. It would be an accitient. Anyhow, since when did the lives of a few rascally smugglers become of such account to the Imperial Maritime Cus toms. Of course, ye need know nothing about it affecially if yere scared for your skin. I'll fix the business on board the ship, and all you've got to do is to have your men handy when Vesuvius gees off. It's a sure thing, I tell ye, a sure thing," he concluded persuasively.

*I suppose I'll have to chance it, you mad Highlandman. This is an uncommon case and uncommon cases require uncommon treatment. That'll be my justification if there's trouble afterwards."

"Spoken, like a man," exclaimed the Chief" I would be on hand myself if was you. The officer on duty might be a salart man or he might not; he might keep his mouth shut or then again he might talk

close thing!" he ejaculated. He settled down "Ah, Stennis, something of importance, I again, but suddenly sprang to his feet crying. sappose. Wait till I light a, smoke '1" and "God bless my soul I clean forgot about sailed down on a cano lounge, his plentiful siguling the Customs We'll have to be mov-white hair and broadly striped pyjamas making ing. Make trucks out of this!" A minute of him a majestic figure in the din light. later they were in his room, and had made the Beyond an ejaculation of! Good God!" when arranged signal.

Stonnis told of the finding of Kessiter on board the smuggler, he heard the tale in silence to the end; but the quick putting of his cigar told the narrator, who as a dutiful subordinate had made himself perfectly acquainted with his chief's moods, that he was more than usually moved. Stennis concluded by saying,

"I say, Chief, I've been thinking- "Don't do that, ma malidic. Ye're no very strong. I'll do all the thinking required in the machinery department of this packet."

No, but really-supposing the smugglers knock off just now for smoke, and she goes off inside the ship."

"Great Jerusalem! D'ye want to scare me into my grave or is it promotion ye're after, el- no, no the old ship's safe enough. Our ye get on deck and see the fun!".

Here are some of Kessiter's papers I took from his pocket. I'll leave them with you Sir." The Commissioner received the packet in silence, and sat balancing it on his knee. For a minute he remained in deep thought, then he said quietly, "You've been a long time in the Service, Stennis?"

Stennis, man-je a queer world-a queerft by the medical oficer, world."

quoting gravely,There are more things in "That's se, coinmented Stennis. 'Then Heaven and earth-",

"A habged sight more!" said Donaldson.

PUNCTUATION ERRORS.

petition, that is to say invited its readere The Referee has had a Punctuation Com to send in examples of incorrect punctuation materially altering the sense. The following were selected as the best.

The following advertisement appeared in one of the papers:

"Wanted a coachman to look after a pair of horses of a religious tum of mind."

Just as he commenced to eat his wife, his son and a friend entered the room."

The following advertisement appeared in a daily paper.

S"

and Adonis in the Edgware Road at ten o'clock Lost-a Cameo Brooch, representing Venus on Saturday night."

"A boy wanted who can open oysters with a reference."

A bookseller requested to order "Stories of Old-Boys of the Bible," wrote to the pub- lishers for

The full-moon was shining from a cloudless sky; and the river iny beneath them, a rip pling lake. of molten silver; the few san- "Yes, Sir. Over twenty years." pans under weigh flitting silently, grotesque You've a good record, I know; but I'm black. shadows on the effulgent surface, afraid this will go hard with you. You see gloomy spirits in the realm of night. Then your proceedings have been irregular, quite down the middle of the stream came a chow-irregular; an affair like this is bound to make a boat, her cheap kerosene lamps flaring yellow lot of talk, and you know how the 1.G. hates against the moon's pale beams, the single that sort of thing. If you'd been success- figure aft swaying rhythmically at the sculls, ful, success in the Service, as in many other and startling the night at regular intervals with lines in life, covers a multitude of sins a long-drawn distressful howl,of "Mai-fa-a-n- it would have been different; but you've done what is sure to cause a lot of ill-feeling "If that beast fouls the rope, may the Lord amongst the natives, and with no result, help him," Donaldson hissed out viciously, as

you know no more than you did before. I'm the unconscious hawker stopped his boat above sorry for you. Stennis. You're an energetic the place where they reckoned the rope to be. officer-too much so sometimes, I'm afraid. Having listened a minute as if to locate a Goodnight. I'll represent your case as favour-

1 will suffer silently in Four Keys." customer, be raised his vacant face to the ably as is consistent with my duty, but "-and

In the song entitled "None but the weary moon, sent his war-cry again quivering over shaking his head, the old man bowed the en-heart," the words, "Ah! he who has my love, the house-tops, gave a vigorous stroke of his tirely despondent Harbour Master from the no more is nigh me," were once rendered- oars, and the danger to our friend's plans was moon!.

"Ah! he who has my love no more, is nigh past, and speeding down the river.

me."

"The following was on the card of a beggar some few years ago:

"Of course I'll keep this athair in my own hands. It's quite unusual, 1 know, but it will be safer every way. I bave one man I can trustpered the Second, excitedly. to le according to orders; he comes with me as a witness. Just signal with the lamp when you've got the inachite fixed, and we'll stand by for the illuminations. I call round after wards, and let you know how we get on."

The setting sun tinged with amber the silver baze of the tropic afternoon, and the grey charcoal smoke that heralds the evening meal hung low over the brown and ochre 1ools of the city. The sun set; but for a few precious moments a soft pink glow lingered, glorifying the half-dozen of stunted Coast steamers at anchor in the Back Reach; and making of a great golden-sailed junk racing up on the flood- tide a fairy picture, to cheer the listless Europeans promenading the Shameen front through the weary routine of another scorching day. In just such a craft did that noble and illustrious citizen of the City of Venice, Messer Marco, the son of Messer Nicolo Polo," sen untold wonders, while travelling on the ambassage of the Great Khan, six hundred years ago.

Time's about up now, Boss, isn't it "wise

"Haud your wherscht, for God's sake the old man snarled, irritably,

So they fell to the waiting and listening again: aud to Donaldson, who knew that the time must be up, the ripple of the current flow. ing through the ship's paddles sounded like the roar of the breakers, while his heart beat heavy and fast against the teak wood rail over which they hung. Just as the younger man had concluded he must say something or burst, the old man groaned.

ther shore.

"Ma god, she's missed fire." flashed out for an instant on a large sampan Searce hnd he spoken, than a blue flame anchored about a hundred yards below the ship; and a sharp explosion, that rattled the saloon windows behind them, startled the sleeping river world. Again for an instant silence reigned then an agonised shriek that stayed the heart's blood of the listeners, rang over the waters.

Then hell broke lose.

Men shouted--dogs barked-women scream- ed-cocks crew-children wailed-lights flashed on the houses on either bank, and on the thou sand sampans on the river, all of which seemed to be frantically trying to got under weigh at the same time. Gongs beat and whistles blew; indeed, every one of the two million citizens of Canton seemed bent on making more noise than his neighbour; while on the steamer's deck the Second Engineer danced solemnly in an exalted but silent ecstacy,

|

Stennis has often owned to his friends that the day succeeding that on which happed the events just recorded was about the most miser. able in his existence. Nor would that follow- ing have been any belter, if it had not been relieved by the half-hour in which he had the pleasure of indicating to Donaldson the extent of his misdeeds. The two men parted after a of which, as the language used by both parties scene of much mutual recrimination, an account was rather more forcible and picturesque than elegantor edifying, would be entirely out of place in this right-minded story.

The Kang-Shun made another trip; and shortly after her arrival at Canton, Donaldson, going ashore, received a hearty slap on the leaning over the rail watching the passengers back, and turning round, to his great astonish- meat saw Stennis, his hand outstretched, and a smile on his features as large and all-embracing as if they had parted the best of friends and had not met for years.

"Shake, you old villain, shake he cried. "Don't scowl at me. Lake it all back, every word of it. Shake, we're on top again I tell Commissioner. The strangest thing you ever you. Great news. I've just come from the

heard of,"

said the old man, relaxing suddenly, and giving Is that a fact? Man, I'm glad to hear it," Stenais a handclasp that made his fingers tingle, "Come inside, and tell me all about it!"

heard of. I can scarcely believe it. If it had "It's turned out the queerest case I ever

been anyone else but the Commissioner, should have said he was off his rocker. How- convinced in his own mind that he is must be thoroughly right, for be sent to tinue in the discharge of my duties, and gave

to con me orders to intimate to you that the Customs would allow the matter to drop, and that you only would receive information money as arranged:

The light died our in the sky; night's soft mantle wrapt the city; and the dark bosom of the river became an avenus bordered by the unnumbered twinkling stars of the anchored homes of the despised Tanka' or Boat- People. Only at one point did the lighus en creach on this dark lane, where the 'Flower Boats, the pleasure resort of the Jeunesse dorte of the Two Kwang, thrust their serried tiers of lantern-decked balconies out over the shadowy, waters. The ineffable taint-cm. Now then the Customs," shouted Donaldson, broidered on rich background of garlic-"Sink your souls in-ah, here they came-ever the old man peculiar to the crowded cities of Cathay, filled that's the ticket," he cried, as a six-oared gig That's pretty swift, if you like," echoed the the steaming atmosphere; and the twanging of swung out from the Custom House and shot younger man. Then moved by a most naturala pipa, accompanying a chorus of shrill gir across the river, in a few swinging strokes of her impulse, "Stop them!" he cried, and made to lish voices, floated indistinctly from the fur- well-trained crew. The crowd of sampans- catch the rape,

"Na, na Keep your hands off! I know a

gathered round that one on which the explosion thing worth two of that. We know how the

authority, and two figures in white stepped from had taken place, scatered on the approach of stud leaves the ship. Now we want to know where it gets to. The one conundrum solved,

the stern-sheets of the gig to the deck of the the other should be enay Lord but these

law-breaker, smugglers are cute 1 Just fancy the originality of them. And the whole thing so simple 100. The ash-shoot' passes through the spare bunker, full of coal for ballast, ve, know and they've hollowed out a space there; then all they've got to do is to coil their rope down into it with the tins fixed, make the end of a-ball of twine fast to the rope, and the last fireman to leave the engine-too, at night rolls the ball down the shoot. Then when things are quiet, their friends-passing in a slipper boat" pro bably-catch the end of it, yo-lo to a safe dis- tance, and pull on the rope, and away come the tins right into their hands. Ech, man? Won't this give us the laugh of these Custom's billies. Shut the ash-shoot, and then I think this deserves a smile."

The two men pledged each other solemnly in the dim light, and then the second broke into an utterly ludicrous but silent travesty of the Lancashire hornpipe on the matted floor, while the old man in full sympathy stood by and ejaculated, "Honch!" in an enthusiastic whisper at the proper intervals. The dance having reached the double-shutte stage that, fare shadows the tour-de-force which winds up this class of entertainment, prudence again resumed its away over the Chief's mind; and with a "Wheeselit, ye daft larrikin', wheescht. knock it off he stopped the performance. Now then lets get out of this," he continued, "and next night we'll spring a little surprise party on this gang. Eh, man! Won't I have a laugh at Stennis over this;" and chuckling mightily the old man led the way from the engine-room.

On the afternoon of the same day he posted an account of his discovery to the Harbour Master; and next evening, shortly after the steamer moored at Canton, the bulky figure of that official was seen making its way through the jabbering coolies that crowded the wharf. He congratulated the engineer heartily on his discovery, and then proceeded to air his views on the situation.

"It's one thing to secure the opium, but I'm afraid it'll prove a much harder affair to get at the bottom of this business, for that there is underhand

hard work, and the Chieur

"said the Chief" Still I think If once you lay bands on the gang at the other end of the rope, you'll have a clue to the whole business."

"I'm sure I hope so," said Stennis, anxiously. "Well, I'll have a couple of the Custom's sampans lying in the river abou: midnight;

About this time, Donaldson, who had been taking his after dinner stroll on the roomy pp: per deck of the old side-wheeler, concluded that it was time for him to make the first move in what he devoutly hoped would be a good night's work. He knocked the tobacco out of his pipe against the ship's rail, and went down to his cabin. 1aving carefully closed the door, he took from a drawer a tin box of the usual dimensions of an opium tin; then, accompanied by the Second, and taking the same precautions against being seen as on pro. vious occasions, he descended to the engine

roam,

"Easy with that box, ye careless devil" the old man exclaimed as the Second stumbled in the darkness. D'ye went to blow us baith higher 'n akite? Set it down on the desk here, and shine the bullseye' on it, while I see that she's all O.K. inside."

He gingerly opened the box, disclosing two pieces of dynamite'stick' of the kind used for fishing cartridges a detonator, and about two feet of fuse coiled neatly, the end projecting slightly through a hole in the side of the box.

Gee Whizz Ain't that a big dose, Boss ? asked the younger man iga hoarse whisper.

"Eight inches. I told Stennis five, but I've given her three more for luck."

!

"How long will the fuse last of the separate experiments. That, taking into "Fifteen minutes, according to the average account the rate of travel of the rope, should fetch our friend to the far side of the river and you'll see the sparks ily." a little further, before she starts talking. Then

pieces of 'seizing wire and a pair of pincers He closed the box carefully, then talking two from his pocket he wound a pieco round each end of the box, twisting then up tightly with the pincers, but leaving the ends about three inches long. The ash-shoot being opened, a close inspection disclosed a thin line lying on the bottom of the pipe. The Second reached down, and pulling on the part that led through the hole in the pipe brought up the end of the wire rope. and after some careful mancouvering, about "Pull away whispered the Chief; twenty feet of the rope was colled down on the angine-room floor. Selecting a part of the rope where the opium tins were. wider spaced than usual, the Chief stooped down, and with halfa dozen doft twists of the pipeers, fixed his boxto the rope by the wire ends he had left for the purpose when only a most minute examination would have disclosed wherein his box differed from its fellows. Having seen the rope all clear' to pass into the ash-shoot again, he took the line in his hand, and sat down to wait till the smugglers should make the next move.

About ten o'clock it came. Emboldened by

you'l keep your lamp burning dimly in your a series of successful runs,, they had yielded window here, and if we see it flash three to their impatience and so it happened that times, we'll know that the opium is leaving at this early boar the Chief was electrified by the ship. Then we'll drop down the river with a gentle tug on the line, and in an instant the

to the outer end. I expect we'll fetch up in gaping mouth of the ath-shoot Fightay, Bome of these old shanties on the Honam side.". um on that light" cried the old man, Umph 1 misdoubt ye, was the dry re-springing to his feet. The Second flung the

said Donaldson.

"That's our share of the show for to-night," "We may as well turn in ;” and the two retired to their well earned slumbers,

When the Harbour-Master and his.assistant boarded the smugglers sampan at one side, two men sprang into a "dug-out 'at the other, and were lost in the crowd of boats around. The sampan was already half-full of water; the dynamite had evidently blown a hole in her bottoms, so there was no time to be lost. They looked round the 'gunnel till they found where the rope ran they were looking for, and following it up opium tins piled methodically on

the the forward deck. By their side, stretched on his back, bis-dried up mahogany features grinning probably by the concussion, for there was no at the moon, lay an old Chinaman. Killed sigr. of wound or hurt about him, he had fallen back where he was sitting, and so passed quietly beyond the reach of even the allmighty Hai Kwan.

came оп

"Poor old devil," said the Harbour-Master; well, well-they will do it. Get these tins into the boat! Look sharp, too-she won't regain the boat, but as he passed below the Boat much longer" So saying he made to hood-like craft, he stumbled over something that instinct that distinguishes these at once told him was a human being, the deep shadow in which it lay having caused it to pass unnoticed by the searchors.

se

cover

Bullo. Here's another one," he cried. Send a couple of the men here and let's have a look at him!"

and reappeared bearing in their arms no dark

Two of the boatmen dived below the hood, robed Chinaman, but a figure in grey flannels of European cut.

tell me

Boy, boy" shouted Donaldson, "Two Bombay sodas-chap chop!"

"The thing must go no further. I told him he could rely on us. I think I was right?"

"Right-I should smile, Lord, I'd have pro- mised anything to get out of such a scmpe. Just fancy ma blowing up a rale live Assis tant C, and not getting the 'nick' for it. I can tell ye I haven't felt my job so shaky since I burned the Donkey boiler. The port paddle wheel was a ficc-bite to it."

The Harbour-Master smiled, and continued, every word the old man said to-day till I join "Stennis, says be-I think I will remember The Majority-Stennis, I've sent for you to tell you that I was wrong-you're a benefactor of the Service, sir, you have exposed a villain -yes, sir, a villain-as I have the pleasure of telling him as soon as the Doctor says he's siter, I stammered. Ay, Kessiter-that I strong enough to stand na interview. Kes should live to own such a thing-Kessiter's at the bottom of all our trouble; he's been hand in, glove with the smugglers for the fast ten months and you, you poor simple fool, getting his assistance. as you thought, the old man can be pretty rough when be likes, I never felt such an ass in my life but I've no room to talk, Stennis; I was as blind as you, and would be yet if it had not been for the chance that put me in I was going to put them in the safe, when I possession of his papers. Yesterday morning noticed some of them were in characters Translations or exercises, I thought. Un consciously I deciphered a few, and awoke suddenly to the fact that I was perusing a letter.

Honourable Younger Brother, whole miserable truth flashed on me. The commenced, and I had not gone far when the writer required information about various Ser vice arrangements, and expressed himself in exclaimed the Harbour Master, as the moon that he had received such assistance from the Good Heavens- What's this we've done!" such assured terms as made it but too evident

Kessiter. "Poor young.chap-poor young chap me my duty clearly, and went carefully light disclosed the pale drawn features of young person addressed often before. This showed he's been right on the track of the rascals through the whole packet. There was evidence when the damned thing went off a nice enough to convict the unfortunate boy twenty reward that for all his trouble. Dear dear! times over, but the queerest part was yet to What a fool I've been to have anything to do with that leather-jawed Scotch blacksmith and his infernal machine. Quick, meni Get him all you're worth! into the boat! Gently, gently-now, pull for

the

...

come.

'Stories of Old Boys of the Bible." Tosti's popular song, "I will suffer silently," was once advertised as-

BLIND accident."

The father of four children the result of an

door these words:

A charitable gentleman placed up over his

rich as well as poor."

"Be open thou my door, to none be shut, to

by moving the commas the inscription read After his death a miser took possession, and

thus:

"Be open thou my door to none, be shut to rich as well as poor.*

Some verses were published lately in a local paper to which the following note was prefixed: These lines were written, nearly fifty years the grave for his own amusement." ago, by one who has for several years lain in

This note was received by a Board school teacher:

"Dear Teacher,--Please excuse Freddy for staying at home; he had the messels to oblige his Father."

property of a gentleman with a moveable head- "To be disposed of-A Mail Phaeton, the piece as good as new."—S. and Gossip.

A BOY BAYARD.

Duke of York's School, wherefore, agreeably He came to the "Blue Lancers" from the to custom, we nicknamed him "Dukey."

On the day of the arrival at York to join the the orderly room, where, preparatory to his regiment, the small recruit was "paraded" at

approval, he was interviewed by the regim introduction to the Commanding-officer for final ental sergeant-major. Reasuringly patting the youngster's head (for the "Dukey" stood in manifest awe of the gold-laced veteran before him), stalwart John Yarbare inquired-

"What's your name, hoy?" "Philip Reid, sir."

The sergeant major looked hard at the little red-coated figure, and at the miniature cor- poral's chevrons and good-conduct badges with which "Dukey was decorated, as though the

name was not unfamiliar to him.

Did

K

cers 26 your faiber serve in the 'Blue Lan Yes, sir; he was a sergeant in the Mutiny, and when the regiment came home be volan teared to the-th Hussars."

"That's true, boy; and where is he now

le is dead, sir. He was killed ten years ago in the Bhotan War"

To further questions he replied that he was bom in India, and that he was Just fourteen that his mother was also dead; that he had left a little brother at the school who wanted to played the cornet, and that he was willing to join as soon as he was old enough; that he try and be as good a soldier as his father had been."

"And so you shall, my boy. Your father and I were 'chums' for many years, and it was by my side that he fought and was severely wounded-at Gwalior in 58. "Twas there, too, he.nobly saved my life, and in doing so nearly lost bis own.

Poor Phi Pand

here the eyes of the old warrior mois- tened perceptibly" I never heard of his death till now. He was every inch a soldier. Remember, lad, that your father's example is a glorious one for you to follow. Together with the refinement of a gentleman he possessed the courage of a lion, and he never forgot the maxims that Obedience is the first duty of a soldier, and that 'To desert a comrade in dis tress is a soldier's worst disgrace. Your father was a Bayard, fearless and without reproach. Be as good and true a man as he was, Philip, and one of these days you may win her Majesty's commission."

So that, contrary to the usual order of things, made reputation. little Phif Reid joined us with quite a ready

"Suety" sailed with the rest.

Dukey" and

wonderful improvement in them, for at the out- Four years' soldiering in the Punjab made a break of the Afghan War they were strapping" lads of nineteen, and eighteen respectively. Both bore good characters, were excellent horsemen as well as promising musicians, and were considered to be the two beat trumpeters that the Blues" could boast of.. Labul, a strong squadron of "Ours" with four In the bitter cold of a December morning at

Cavalry, rode through the Owshur Kotal into guns of the Horse Artillery and same. Native- the Chardeh Valley.

cavalry and artillery, being intersected by The ground here was the very worst for

with patches of impassable bog at every few water-courses and deep "nullahs," or ditches,

nearly to the fortress-shaped village of Killa hundred yards. We had crossed the valley. Kazi when the enemy were seen advancing in dense crowds over the low hills to the south-

anticipated by General Roberts, for the main. attack from this point had apparently been west, from the direction of Ghuzee. No

body of our little army was miles away engag- ing the Kohistanis from the north-west. a told-and it very soon became evident We were only a handful-about four hundred to us that dur unexpected visitors numbered some tens of thousands. To resist their ad- odds, while to retreat would be equally fatal, vance seemed impossible in view of such long

for it would leave the road open for the Ghuznee Sherpore Cantonment. rabble to stream into the city Cabul and the

The latter place was an immelse fort to the formed the headquarters of the Bish troops. east of Cabul, which had for some time past

Sherpore, Roberts, with his army of six thou Had the enemy once obtained possession of sand, would most certainly have stood very little chance against the overwhelming bordas of Afghanistan.

Clearly nothing remained for us but to do our best to check the advancing swarm of fanatics, and trust to fuck for the arrival of reinforcements.

So shell after shell was dropped into their midst, and when they came within half a mile. we poured volleys into them from our Martini- Henry's, but all without appreciable effect, so innumerable the enemy appeared.. Presently they came near enough for our guns to give them a grape-shot greeting, but though many a inne was ploughed through their disorganised masses, their advance abated not one jor

Not till they were very close did our brigadier give the order to "retire." This movement was then executed by alternate wings-one half of our small force retiring a few hundred yards and again facing the cenemy, while the other half kept up the fire and retired in their tum." All this time the Afghans were steadily coming on, yelling the Pathan war-cry:

"Ya, illah Ya, illah!" and taking pot shots at us, which nearly all, fortunately, sped far over our heads.

At length they seemed to hesitate in their advance. Our mode of retreat evidently dis- concerted them, for it was plain that if we.com.

action and receiving little or no damage in tinued our tactics-each wing mowing them down by scores as it came alternately into return-considerable loss must be theirs as long as our ammunition lasted.

artillery of the left wing, In retiring, one of At this juncture an accident happened to the

other stuck fast and floundered in a bog See- our guns was overtumed in a ditch, while the ing this dilemma the enemy made towards the tion. The brigadier was quick to observe the hampered guns, uttering loud yells of exuilta.

new danger, and at once gave the order for the cavalry to charge the Afghans, hoping to check: them whilst the guns were extricated.

Thrice we charged the seething swarm. rode the "Blues" and their gallant comrades, Thrice into their midst with lance at the engage the Bengal Lancers, many a brave fellow returning nevermore. With the blade of his sword in his bridle band, young Philip Reid bad thrice sounded the cavalry Charge" and then, dropping his field bugle, had hewed a path through the closely packed enemy, side by side with his heroic chief.

But, alas I the sacrifice was all in vain." The enemy wavered but for a moment, seeming to gain fresh vigour with each repulse. Presently the artillery drivers spiked their guns, and, cutting the traces, left them to their fate. Thus, in spite of our devoted efforts and the loss of many a priceless life, they fell into the hands of, the Afghans.

the head, Dukey turned to ride with the re

Half-dazed from the effects of a sword-cut on mainder from that disastrous field, the Afghan pursuing hotly. Hardly had he galloped twenty yards when a familiar voice called out to him by name.

"Phil-help! Oh, Phil-save me

And there upon the ground in front of him his arms beseechingly outstretched-day "Sucty." with his right leg tightly fixed under his horse. The poor boast had been shot dead, and in falling had broken his rider's leg.. Strive as he might poor "Suety could not stir an inch to save himself.

Denver-Jack-pull up P cried "Dukey". to a flying comrade," "come here, for Heaven's sake. My brother-see, he's down, Hold my horse for a moment while I get him up."

"Denver Eglied and held the trumpeter's rein while Dukey" staggered out of saddle and muttering softly to himself, "Fearless and without reproach, set himself to the work of his brother's rescue. It was no easy matter to free, the broken limb from the weight of the horse, and "Suety offered terribly in the process, while his gallant brother came near fainting at his task.

a grapnel, sh up the rope, and follow along it end of the wire rope was disappearing into the packet of papers, some in English and some in Gude God 'llmichty" exclaimed Donaldson, ontitle him to consideration. The son of a one of the gayest and most highspirited of joinder. "Ye'll fatch up at the end of the rope, lantern's dim ray on the floor, and immediately he was strong enough to stand shifting to his only stammer,' What d'ys mean, Six Could Lancers," who had died; for his country, sword not followed him to the commissioned ranks, "

The practical Jokes upon newcomers with which the small fry of the barracks were "Quick! lift him up here, Duke-so, in wont to amuse themselves were out of the

front of my saddle," said Denver, when the Often in these documents, I came

question in Dukey's "case. For to stari release was at last effected. That's all right lady grand-mother and such like. At first across the terms family-mother, honoured with he was a well-grown lad for bis age-I'll carry him. Now-up you get yourself, and though at all times a pattern of civility or you'll have the Wochlas' on to you in no attached no particular importance to them, and good temper, his demeanour conveyed time." thinking them only some of the set phrases in the impression, somehow, that he was one who They carried him, tilf unconscious, into the

And away sped Denver with his burden. Custom House, and sent for the Doctor. The Chinese correspondence. Then this morning, surpass many older lads at gymnastic exercises; pain of his wound and loss of blood, in addi the meaningless digressions so common in would stand no nonsense. Moreover, he could medical man proceeded at once to cut off his moved by some strange impulse, I hunted up

But "Dukey" never mounted again. The for which proficiency, as well as for his un-tion to the excitement of the struggle to save disclosing, a terrible wound on the jacket to the Harbour Master, die pocket it to be the usual string of platitudes, and the Duke of York's school. shoulder. He handed the remains of the

a letter of introduction Kessiter brought to me

doubted musical talent and general adaptability his brother, had exhausted him, and in a few from an old friend England, that I had to soldiering, he was indebted to the admirable minutes he fell an unresisting victim to the "There's some documents in

scarcely taken the trouble to read, supposing

system of education that one obtaina at the Afghan knives, you'd better take care of!

- Jack Denver was promoted and received the clouds rolled away. Stennis, 'says hej' Stennis:

But above all things in the estimation of his medal for meritorious conduct in the field That's all right," said Stennis, transferring a

and that boy has relations amongst the mu father's medals, with their slides and ribands, officer of the Indian Staff Corps. He is still Chinese, from Kessiter's pocket to his own.

juvenile comrades did the possession of his Captain Geoffrey Reid is now a distinguished

covered consciousness, and the Doctor decided

After half-an-hour's work the patient re- and sat petrified with his mouth open.

non-commissioned officer of the old "Blue sabraurs, though his sobriquet of Sucty has "I was completely flabbergasted, and quarters. He drew the Harbour-Master to ens

in hand, was a boy to be honoured.

One day only in the whole year is set apart side, and said.....

And when twelve months later his brother by him as a solemn anniversary, never to be WIt runs this way' says ho.... In the 'thirtles' | GA and the mupn nearly at the full. No, yo'll have possible to tell which was their especial tin. the shock than anything elsa, He'll do all the old East India Company in the factory All ranks agreed that, the two lads, in their is the 13th of December. - The Weekly Suppie•

"Don't look so glum, Stennis, It's more to find a better plan ihan that before ye-catch For a moment the two men stared at the writh- right; only it'll be à ́slow job. How the deuce here in Canton. He had a son, Edward by deshing blue and acarici uniforms, with their.eu

there was a certain John Kessiter, an officer of Geoffrey also joined the band of the regiment, desecrated by jinks and Junkerings. That

ing coils in dismay still the Chief cried in a did it happen?

name, whom he sent home to be educated, and lingling pure and Jaunty forage-caps, looked frantic whisper, "On, ma God-this'll never

who was never again seen in the land of his Brother Geoff being chubby of face and

48 start 01,

pain the Harbour Master, dubiously, but I don't das-stop her and sprang at the rapidly that. I'll never forgive myself if that young leading merchants of cottosepolis, and was plump of limb one of the troopers, with play

Foolishness, pure foolishness, mine at that birth. He, I believe, rose to be one of the vanishing rope. He was just in time, for the fellow pegs out I can't tell you more about it We-and who might, 'we' be?" enquired | very tin they wanted was stayed in the act of just now. If there'trouble there's more than quite an estimabla. person, with no awkward Sucty." Probably on account of theirpeculiar. TELEGRAPH " dave This Day been

sense of humour, had christened him climbing Into the pipe another second, and all me in it, thank God," he groaned out, wickedly Kessitor was this boy's father.

idiosyncrasies, although half-caste, Edward their ingenuity had gone for nothing. Lay as he thought of the surprise in store for the Silence wrapt the two men like a garment; the Reids became better known than by their aptness, nicknames in the army stick very tight hold of her 1" he gasped. Hia assistant did so, complacent Donaldson, con

to their owners, and as "Dukey" and Suety while he struck a match and applied it to the fuse "Let her go" he cried, and away went

He superintended the carrying of Kessiter to till Donaldson said solemnly,

proper appellation= the box, the burning end of the fuse disappear could think of done for his comfort, went roundbreak out in the second generation on the

bis quarters, and having seen everything he 1 can believe it. They say these things Soon after the younger boy's enlistment, the ("Blue Lancers" embarked, for, India. Both ing up the pipe, like the red lamp on the brake and knocked up the Commissioner. This ex- children unto the third and four genera the Reids were under the minimum age, at van of a train into a railway tunnel.

perienced official, whose forty years in the tion, the good book- says," which I take to be which soldiers, are usually sem on foreign ser Orient had cured him equally of curiosity and an oversight, or else they weren't as well up vice, but the rule is frequently relaxed in the

nerves,' said placidly.

in psychology in those daya xá „wa: ate. Xy, | case of band boys, and as they were reported"

and that'll be in the middle of the river. What uttered what, in the silence, seemed almost a d'ye think the smugglers'll be doing, all the shout of horror. The coil of rope had turned time ye're trawling up and down the streani, Lover and was now so entangled that it was im-

these gentry."

"It's not a very bright idea, I confess," said

see how we can better it,"

the old man, with immense scorn, "No, no, if ye think to include me in such foolishness, ye're whustling up the wrang close. l always knew the Customs were a puzzle-headed gang, but if that's the best ye can do, count me at of it If I'm to have anything to Eo with it, give me a plan I say, that'll lay them by the feels for certain, don't want to have all tafe to do over again. It's bad enough to have to associate with the Customs at all."-

The old man sank on the settee with a pant of satisfaction, By thunder, but that was a

NOTICE...

THE OFFICES of the "HONGKONG

CENTRAL, Second Floor, (the premises removed to No. 50, QUEEN'S ROAD

formerly occupied by Messrs. POWELL & CO) to which address all communications should be addressed.

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Hongkong, rst May, 18917

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