on the firing line-第13节

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Again　the　glance　swept　him　over；　beginning　at　the　boyish　face；　resolute　and　eager　beneath　its　streaks　of　red…brown　dust。　Then；　as　Weldon　saluted；　the　General　turned　and　rode　away；　with　the　Captain　at　his　side。

〃You've　the　making　of　a　man　there；　Captain　Frazer；〃　was　his　sole　comment。

Weldon；　meanwhile；　was　allowing　the　little　gray　broncho　to　pick　her　own　dainty　way　out　of　the　shambles　about　her　feet。　Then；　once　free　from　the　litter　of　men　and　horses；　he　turned　her　head　to　the　spot　where；　he　had　been　told；　his　squadron　were　gathering　together　their　diminished　forces。　As　he　rode　slowly　onward；　he　was　surprised　to　see　how　low　the　sun　had　dropped。　The　fighting　must　have　lasted　longer　than　he　had　thought。　It　had　been　hot　and　heavy；　but　at　least　he　had　not　funked　it。　For　so　much　he　could　be　thankful。　In　so　far　as　he　could　recall　any　of　his　emotions　as　he　had　dashed　into　range　of　the　pitiless　firing；　they　had　been　summed　up　in　a　dull　rage　against　the　enemy；　mingled　with　a　vague　hope　that　no　harm　should　come　to　the　plucky　little　mount。　Just　one　instant's　pause　he　could　remember。　That　was　when　he　had　put　forth　all　his　strength　to　check　her　pace　until　he　could　readjust　a　strap　that　was　plainly　galling　her。　And　afterwards？　Not　even　the　thoroughbred　Nig　could　have　played　her　part　in　the　fight　with　more　steady　gallantry。　Stooping；　he　eased　the　bit　and　patted　the　firm　gray　neck　where　the　mane　swept　upward　for　its　arching　fall。

〃Boss？〃

He　straightened　in　his　saddle。

〃Kruger　Bobs！　By　all　special　providences；　where　did　you　come　from？〃

〃Naauwpoort。　Kruger　Bobs　come　bring　Nig　to　Boss。〃

〃Kruger　Bobs；　you're　a　genius。〃

Kruger　Bobs　vanished　behind　his　smile。

〃Ya；　Boss；〃　he　replied　then。　〃Boss　all　right？〃

〃Yes；　all　right。〃

〃Dutchmans　no　killed　Boss？〃

〃No。〃

Doubtfully　Kruger　Bobs　shook　his　sable　bristles。　He　had　heard　the　firing；　such　firing　as　he　had　never　dreamed　of　until　then；　and　it　seemed　to　him　impossible　that　any　man　could　come　unscathed　out　of　the　heart　of　it。　Of　Weldon's　being　in　the　very　heart　of　it；　no　doubt　had　once　stained　the　loyal　whiteness　of　his　soul。　To　assure　himself　of　Weldon's　safety；　he　ambled　around　the　gray　broncho　in　a　clumsy　circle。　The　gray　broncho　showed　her　appreciation　of　the　attention　by　nipping　viciously　at　the　flank　of　his　horse。　By　Weldon's　left　side；　Kruger　Bobs　halted　and　pointed　an　accusing　forefinger　at　his　knee。

〃Dutchmans　hurt　Boss；〃　he　said　anxiously。

〃Where？〃

〃Dere。〃　In　spite　of　his　effort　for　sternness；　the　voice　of　Kruger　Bobs　quavered　with　anxiety。

Bending　over；　Weldon　glanced　down　at　the　dark　red　stain　on　the　coil　of　khaki　serge。　Then；　all　at　once；　he　remembered　the　sudden　stinging　of　his　leg；　just　before　he　had　started　the　gray　broncho　on　her　last　mad　rush　across　the　lead…swept　plain。　In　the　excitement　that　followed；　the　matter　had　entirely　passed　out　of　his　mind。　Even　now　that　his　attention　was　called　to　it；　he　was　conscious　of　no　physical　discomfort。

〃Kruger　Bobs　go　for　doctor？〃　the　boy　was　urging。

Weldon　laughed　reassuringly。

〃It's　nothing；　Kruger　Bobs。　I've　no　time　to　fool　with　doctors　now。〃

〃What　Boss　do？〃

〃Feed　Piggie；　eat　something；　look　up　Mr。　Carew　and　then　get　to　the　General's　tent；　inside　an　hour。〃

〃What　for　de　big　boss　soldier？〃

〃He　wants　me。〃

〃Ya？〃　Kruger　Bobs　demanded　uneasily。

〃To　ride　a　despatch。〃

〃Despatch！〃　Kruger　Bobs　exploded　in　hot　wrath。　〃Kruger　Bobs　go　despatch；　Boss　go　bed。〃　〃Can't　do　it；　Kruger　Bobs。　This　is　war；　and　I've　given　my　word　to　the　General。　It　was　an　order；　and　I　had　to　do　it。〃　Backing　his　horse　off　for　a　step　or　two；　Kruger　Bobs　sat　looking　at　his　master　and　shaking　his　head　mournfully。　Then　he　straightened　in　the　saddle。

〃Boss　go；　Kruger　Bobs　go；　too；〃　he　said；　with　steady　decision。

Less　than　an　hour　later；　outside　the　General's　tent　Kruger　Bobs　sat　astride　The　Nig；　with　the　rein　of　the　gray　broncho　in　his　hand。　The　clouds；　since　noon　banked　low　in　the　eastern　horizon；　had　swept　up　across　the　sky；　and　already　the　rain　was　pattering　drearily　over　the　hunched…up　shoulders　of　Kruger　Bobs。　Inside　the　tent；　the　colloquy　was　brief。　Twice　Weldon　repeated　over　the　substance　of　his　despatches　and　his　instructions　regarding　their　destination。　The　despatches　were　slipped　between　the　layers　of　his　shoe…sole；　the　cut　stitches　were　replaced；　and　Weldon　rose　to　his　feet。

〃My　nigger　has　come　from　Naauwpoort；　bringing　me　a　fresh　mount；〃　he　said　then。　〃May　I　take　him　with　me？〃

〃What　is　he？〃

〃A　Kaffir。〃

〃From　where？〃

〃Piquetberg　Road。〃

〃Can　you　trust　him？〃

Weldon's　eyes　met　the　eyes　of　the　General　steadily。　〃As　I　would　trust　myself；〃　he　answered。

Five　minutes　later；　Weldon　passed　out　of　the　tent　door。　At　his　quarters；　he　dismounted　and　went　in　search　of　a　blanket。　Muffled　in　the　thick　folds；　the　horses'　feet　would　make　no　sound　on　the　hard…　baked　earth。　Kruger　Bobs；　meanwhile；　went　out　to　reconnoitre　in　order　to　discover　a　possible　gap　in　the　line　of　Boer　pickets。

The　pickets　once　passed；　Weldon　mounted　once　more　and；　with　Kruger　Bobs　following　close　behind；　rode　carefully　away　into　the　inky；　drizzling　night。　For　the　first　hour；　he　rode　steadily　and　with　comparative　comfort。　The　excitement　of　the　battle　was　still　in　his　blood；　its　noises　ringing　in　his　head；　its　sights　dancing　like　will…　o'…the…wisps　before　his　eyes。　Later；　the　inevitable　reaction　would　follow；　and　the　inevitable　weariness。　Now；　refreshed　by　their　supper；　both　he　and　the　broncho　had　come　to　their　second　wind；　and　they　faced　the　storm　pluckily　and　with　unbowed　heads。　Beside　him；　The　Nig；　fresh　and　fit　as　a　horse　could　be；　galloped　onward　steadily　under　the　weight　of　Kruger　Bobs。　It　had　been　at　Weldon's　own　command　that　Kruger　Bobs　had　abandoned　his　raw…boned　steed　and　placed　himself　astride　the　sacred　body　of　the　thoroughbred　Nig。　On　such　a　night　and　after　such　a　battle；　a　horse　abandoned　was　a　horse　forever　lost。　Neither　The　Nig　nor　Piggie　could　be　left　to　any　chance　ownership；　but　neither　could　Piggie；　fresh　from　a　two…day　fight；　be　left　to　the　mercies　of　an　inexperienced　rider。　Three　inches　shorter　than　his　master；　Kruger　Bobs　weighed　fifty　pounds　the　more；　and　he　rode　with　the　resilient　lightness　of　a　feather　bed。

Weldon's　hour　of　rest　had　been　divided　in　strict　ratio　between　himself；　his　friend　and　his　horse。　For　fully　half　that　period；　he　and　Kruger　Bobs　had　rubbed　the　sturdy　gray　legs　and　anointed　the　scratched　neck　with　supplies　taken　from　the　portable　veterinary　hospital　always　to　be　found　in　the　recesses　of　the　Kaffirs　scanty　garments。　Then；　snatching　a　hasty　meal；　with　the　last　of　it　still　in　his　hands；　Weldon　strode　away　to　look　for　Carew。　He　found　him；　bandaged　but　jovial；　a　shattered　bone　in　his　foot　and　his　pipe　in　his　shut　teeth。　Fortunately　the　pain　bore　no　relation　to　the　seriousness　of　the　case；　and　Weldon　left　him　to　his　pipe；　cheered　by　the　doctor's　assurance　that　two　or　three　weeks　would　bring　him　back　into　fighting　trim。　Carew's　own　disrespectful　comments　on　the　injured　foot　were　still　in　his　ears；　as　he　entered　the　tent　of　the　General。

By　degrees；　the　night　grew　dark　and　darker。　Riding　eastward　with　their　backs　to　the　southerly　storm；　nevertheless　now　and　again　the　wind　swirled　about　fiercely；　to　send　the　lashing　rain　against　their　faces。　Under　their　feet；　the　dusty　veldt　turned　to　mire；　from　mire　to　a　pasty　glue；　and　from　glue　to　the　consistency　of　cream。　Bottom　there　was　none；　the　bottomlessness　of　it　only　became　more　apparent　when　one　or　other　of　the　horses　stumbled　into　the　hole　of　an　ant…　bear。　Twice　the　gray　broncho　was　on　her　knees；　once　The　Nig　came　down　so　sharply　that　Kruger　Bobs　rolled　forward　out　of　his　saddle；　to　land　on　his　back；　nose　to　nose　with　his　astonished　mount。　Worst　of　all；　the　fever　of　the　fight　was　dying　out　from　Weldon's　veins。　His　pulses　were　slowing　down；　and　the　ceaseless　jar　of　the　gray　broncho's　gallop　waked　his　wounded　leg　to　a　pain　which　fast　became　intolerable。

Kruger　Bobs　edged　closer　to　his　side。

〃Boss　sick？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　altogether　content；　Kruger　Bobs。〃

〃Leg？〃　the　boy　questioned　anxiously。

〃Yes；　thatand　some　other　things。〃

〃Me　help　Boss？〃

〃No；　thank　you。　I'd　better　let　the　mess　alone。〃

〃Boss　ride　Nig？〃　Kruger　Bobs　suggested；　in　the　hushed　tone　in　which　all　their　talk　had　been　carried　on。

〃It　is　better　not　to　change。〃

The　silence　broadened；　broken　only　by　the　splashing　of　eight　hoofs　in　the　ever…deepening　mire；　and　by　the　sighing　squeak　of　wet　strap　rubbing　on　wet　strap。　Then　Kruger　Bobs　spoke　again。

〃Paddy　send；〃　he　said；　as　he　poked　a　soft　parcel　into　Weldon's　dangling　hand。　〃He　say　'Give　it　to　little　Canuck。'〃

Weldon　felt　and　tasted　his　way　into　the　parcel。　It　was　large；　and　filled　with　savory　bits　which　Paddy　must　have　gleaned　here　and　there　from　the　general　mess；　robbing　freely　from　many　a　greater　man；　all　for　the　sake　of　the　〃little　Canuck。〃

It　was　no　time　for　the　discipline　which　bids　a　servant　eat　of　the　crumbs　from　his　master's　table。　For　the　hour；　Kruger　Bobs　and　he　were　friends；　bound　upon　one　and　the　same　errand。　With　impartial　hand；　Weldon　tore　the　paper　across　and　divided　its　contents。　He　only　regretted　that　convention　had　forbidden　him　the　trick　of　smacking　his　lips　in　sign　of　relish。　It　would　have