on the firing line-第18节

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for　the　moment　by　a　little　gray　broncho　whose　hoofs　touched　the　ground　only　to　spurn　it　backwards。

The　chase　was　long　and　hot；　but　the　end　was　in　sight。　Directly　across　the　path　of　the　quarry　stretched　a　low　line　of　willows　showing　the　course　of　the　stream　beneath；　and；　a　few　hundred　feet　this　side　of　the　willows；　scattered　clumps　of　green　marked　as　many　scattered　dwellings。　By　the　largest　clump；　the　quarry　halted　and　turned　to　bay；　and　the　pursuers；　unable　to　check　their　speed；　rode　down　upon　it　and　crashed　through　its　ranks；　regardless　of　the　pitiless。　fire；　then；　sweeping　around　on　the　arc　of　a　mammoth　circle；　took　up　their　position　in　the　shelter　of　a　walled　kraal；　only　a　few　hundred　yards　away。　Then　for　a　moment　they　halted；　face　to　face　and　in　absolute　silence。

Even　after　her　mad　race；　the　little　gray　broncho　was　breathing　deeply　and　easily；　but　Weldon　could　feel　his　own　breath　come　short。　Banged　in　open　order　before　him　were　a　full　half…hundred　of　the　enemy；　bearded；　black…coated；　bandoliered；　grim　and　stolid　and　ripe　of　years。　Beside　him　were　the　new　captain　of　the　troop　and　seven　men。　They　were　and　alert；　but　there　were　only　nine　of　them　in　all。　And　the　rest　of　the　troop；　it　seemed　to　him；　were　half　the　veldt…　length　away。　Vaguely　he　wondered　whether　their　distant　khaki　coats　would　look　as　purple　as　did　the　distant　khaki…colored　hills。　Then；　quite　inconsequently；　as　he　raised　his　rifle；　he　noticed　that　one　of　the　Boers　had　a　button　hanging　loosely　on　its　threads　from　the　front　of　his　coat。　He　was　rather　surprised；　the　next　instant；　to　see　the　Boer　pitch　forward　headlong　in　the　dust。　It　was　some　time　afterward　that　he　thought　to　connect　the　falling　with　the　crack　of　his　own　rifle。

Piggie　bounded　sidewise；　as　the　mount　of　the　trooper　next　Weldon　dropped　and　lay　whimpering　like　a　hurt　child。　Then　she　steadied　to　the　touch　of　Weldon's　hand　upon　her　neck。　It　was　not　the　first　time　he　had　guided　her；　unscathed；　through　a　leaden　shower。　She　would　trust　him　yet　once　again。　As　he　raised　his　rifle；　her　wiry　legs　were　as　steady　as　four　iron　rods。　He　saw　another　Boer　fall　and　yet　another　and　a　third；　but　one　khaki…colored　figure　lay　stiffly　beside　him；　and　another　was　dragging　itself　away　to　a　corner　of　the　kraal；　to　give　greater　space　to　its　unwounded　comrades。　And　still　the　bullets　whizzed　about　them；　thick　and　ever　thicker。

Piggie　shied　again。　This　time　a　bullet　had　grazed　her　neck；　and　the　sight　of　the　narrow　sear　filled　Weldon's　mind　with　a　dull；　unreasoning　rage。　Brutal　to　aim　at　the　plucky　mounts　who　bore　their　riders　so　gallantly　into　the　flight　where　all　defensive　power　was　denied　themselves！　He　paused　long　enough　to　pat　the　firm　gray　neck；　to　feel　the　answering　pressure　against　his　hand。　Then　he　raised　his　rifle　again　and　took　careful　aim；　as　he　breathed　a　wordless　prayer　that　chance　might　guide　his　bullet　into　the　man　who　had　scarred　his　faithful　friend。　Another　Boer　dropped；　Weldon　hoped　it　was　by　his　own　bullet。　Then　both　he　and　the　gray　broncho　pricked　up　their　ears　as；　close　on　their　flank；　they　heard　the　beating　of　galloping　hoofs。

In　the　shock　of　the　scrimmage　that　followed；　there　was　scant　time　to　take　thought　of　friend　or　of　foe。　On　the　heels　of　his　new　captain　as；　of　old；　he　had　been　on　the　heels　of　Captain　Frazer；　Weldon　and　the　gray　broncho　were　in　the　thick　of　the　fight。　Then；　as　the　Boers　sullenly　fell　backwards；　Weldon　became　aware　of　a　familiar　voice　in　his　ears。

〃Whisht；　little　feller！　It's　Paddy；〃　the　voice　said　in　a　spooky　undertone；　as　its　owner　ranged　up　alongside　the　gray　broncho。

〃Paddy！〃　Weldon　stared　at　him　in　unfeigned　astonishment。　〃What　in　the　name　of　heaven　are　you　doing　here；　man？〃

With　perfect　composure　Paddy　squared　himself　in　the　saddle。

〃Little　Canuck　dear；　as　I　told　you　before；　heaven　is　a　state　of　eternal　peace；　and　therefore　an　undesirable　abode　in　these　hot　times。　I　prefer　a　whiff　of　brimstone；　myself；　and；　by　the　powers；　I've　been　getting；　it。〃　As　he　spoke；　he　took　off　his　hat　and　showed　a　neat　trio　of　holes　in　the　left　brim。

〃But　how　did　you　come　here；　Paddy？〃　Weldon　asked　again。

〃Took　your　advice　to　heart；　my　jewel；　kicked　over　my　pan　of　fat　and　jumped　into　the　fire。　Which；　being　put　into　straight　English；　I　swiped　a　horse　and　rode　off　with　the　rest　of　the　boys　on　the　tail　of　the　serpent。〃　Weldon　gasped；　as　he　realized　the　enormity　of　the　crime。　Then　he　laughed。　In　his　haste　to　gain　possession　of　a　mount；　Paddy　had　taken　no　thought　for　his　armament。　His　sole　weapon　was　the　huge　iron　spoon；　still　grasped　in　his　left　hand。

〃Whose　horse　did　you　take；　Paddy？〃

〃I　d'know。　I　never　looked　to　see。　I　popped　my　toe　into　the　stirrup　and　came　away；　hot…foot；　but；〃　Paddy　paused　for　a　deliberate　wink；　〃as　I　was　leaving　camp；　I　thought　I　heard　the　voice　of　that　pigeon…　toed　little　cockney　Parrott；　him　that　used　to　stub　his　toes　on　the　wall　at　Piquetberg　Road；　acalling　out　that　some　one　had　mislaid　his　horse　and　he　couldn't　find　it。　I　was　sorry；　but　I　was　in　a　divil　of　a　haste　and　couldn't　stop　to　condole　with　him　then。〃

〃But；　Paddy；　they'll　run　you　out　of　camp　for　this；〃　Weldon　remonstrated　dutifully。

Paddy's　shoulder　mounted　towards　his　left　ear。　〃I'm　thinking　I　have　run　myself　out；　and　that's　just　what　I　was　meaning　to　do。　I've　been　a　captain　with　four　lieutenants　under　me。　Any　one　of　them　can　sling　the　pepper　and　the　salt；　and　they're　welcome；　but　not　one　has　the　fighting　blood　in　his　veins　as　I　have。　Let　them　mind　their　kettles　and　leave　me　to　mind　the　enemy。〃

〃And　if　they　won't　let　you　go　back？〃

〃Then　I'll　ship　myself　straight　down　to　Cape　Town；　and　take　service　with　Captain　Frazer。　He　can　fight　with　the　best　of　them；　and　he　knows　I'm　a　man。　It's　riding　at　his　heels　I'll　be；　henceforth　and　forevermore。〃

Turning；　Weldon　looked　long　into　the　jovial　Irish　face；　and　at　the　hunchy　figure　that　joggled　to　and　fro　in　the　saddle；　with　no　heed　to　the　rhythm　of　his　horse's　pace。

〃Who　taught　you　to　ride；　Paddy？〃　he　asked　at　length。

For　an　instant；　a　lump　in　Paddy's　left　cheek　betrayed　the　whereabouts　of　his　tongue。　Then　quietly　he　made　answer；　〃Sure；　little　feller；　it　must　have　been　the　grace　of　Saint　Patrick。　Nobody　else　has　ever　took　a　hand　in　the　training　of　me。　But　I'll　back　him　against　all　the　riding　masters　in　London　and　Aldershot。〃

And　the　result　showed　that　Paddy's　confidence　was　not　misplaced。




CHAPTER　THIRTEEN


By　midwinter；　the　war　had　become　a　series　of　guerrilla　raids；　of　sweeping　drives　and　of　occasional　skirmishes。　The　epoch　of　the　infantry　had　passed；　and　it　was　the　day　of　the　mounted　man。　The　home…going　of　the　great　Field　Marshal；　six　months　before；　had　been　followed　by　the　return　to　England　of　transports　loaded　with　foot　soldiers。　The　hour；　the　country　and　the　enemy　all　demanded　the　man　on　the　horse。　With　Lord　Kitchener　in　the　field　and　the　colonies　aiding　the　mother　country；　the　outcome　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　but　few　could　as　yet　say　when　the　fulness　of　that　time　should　be　at　hand。

〃But　it　leaves　me　a　good　deal　puzzled　in　my　mind；〃　Weldon　said　thoughtfully。

〃How　do　you　mean？〃　Ethel　Dent　threw　the　question　at　him　a　little　defiantly。

〃About　going　home。〃

〃Surely；　you　aren't　going　now？〃

He　winced　at　the　accent。

〃I　am　not　sure。　I　volunteered　for　six　months。　My　time　is　up；　I　paid　my　official　visit　to　the　Citadel　yesterday。〃

〃Are　you　needed　at　home？〃

〃No。　At　least；　not　in　any　real　sense。〃

〃But　you　are　needed　here。〃

〃There　are　enough　without　me；　and　the　need　will　not　last　long。〃

〃Don't　be　too　sure。　On　the　Dunottar　Castle；　there　were　plenty　of　people　who　laughed　at　you　men　for　coming　out　to　volunteer；　after　the　war　was　over。　You　have　proved　that　they　laughed　at　nothing。　Prove　it　again。〃

Rising；　he　walked　the　length　of　the　room　and　stood　looking　out　from　the　long　front　window。　The　bamboo　screens　and　the　willow　chairs　were　gone　from　their　veranda　corner；　the　flower…boxes　were　empty　now；　and　Table　Bay　gleamed　coldly　back　at　him　in　the　late　afternoon　sun　of　midwinter。　Then　he　turned　around　to　face　the　girl；　seated　where　her　golden　hair　seemed　to　him　to　catch　and　hold　all　the　light　centering　about　the　gay　little　tea…table。

〃Don't；〃　he　said　with　some　impatience。　〃Your　arguments　all　echo　my　own　wish。　I　am　pulled　in　two　ways　at　once。　At　home；　the　mother　is　growing　restless。　Since　Vlaakfontein；　she　has　lost　her　nerve；　and　her　heart　is　set　on　my　meeting　her　in　London　in　October。〃

Deliberately　Ethel　made　a　neat　triangle　out　of　three　unused　spoons。

〃Well？〃　she　said；　without　looking　up。

〃Piggie　and　I　have　had　a　smell　of　powder；〃　he　answered　briefly。　〃We　want　more。〃

〃Well？〃　she　said　again。

〃The　question　is；　are　we　likely　to　get　it。〃

〃Not　in　England；　not　even　in　Cape　Town；〃　she　answered；　smiling　at　the　spoons　before　her。

〃Then　where？〃

〃Wherever　the　Boers　are　thickest。〃

〃Yes；　but；　after　all；　you　are　talking　platitudes；　Miss　Dent；〃　he　said；　with　recurring　impatience。

This　time；　she　lifted　her　dark　blue　eyes　to　his　face　and　allowed　them　to　rest　there　for　a　full　minute。

〃But　you　forbade　me　to　argue；〃　she　said　demurely。

He　dropped　down　into　a　chair　and　faced　her　resolutely。

〃Now　look　here；　Miss　Dent；　I　can't　talk　shop　in　tea…table　English。　In　fact；　shop　has　no　place　at