on the firing line-第24部分

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Weldon　rose　and　saluted；　then　stood　looking　after　his　companion　as　he　walked　away；　head　and　shoulders　erect　and　his　lips　smiling　slightly；　as　if　in　anticipation　of　the　task　before　him。　And；　meanwhile；　from　the　fire　near　by　came　the　lusty　chorus；

　　　　　〃A　little　brown　cot；　a　shady　green　spot；　　　　　　No　happier　home　I　find。　　　　　　My　heart's　fairly　gone；　for　I　love　only　one；　　　　　　She's　the　gi…irl　I　le…eft　behind。〃

The　voices；　rollicking　even　in　their　sentimentality；　dropped　away　into　silence；　the　fire　flared　up　and　then　suddenly　died　away　into　darkness。　But；　even　in　the　darkness；　Weldon　could　see　the　dim　outline　of　the　Captain's　figure；　moving　steadily　forward　along　his　self…appointed　way。




CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN


Lord　Kitchener；　one　night　in　early　February；　was　sitting　on　the　apex　of　a　vast　triangle　in　the　northern　end　of　the　Orange　River　Colony。　Two　sides　of　the　triangle　were　made　up　of　long　lines　of　blockhouses；　strung　on　a　chain　of　barbed…wire　fencing。　The　blockhouses　were　of　loop…holed　stone　or　iron　with　iron　roofs；　and　they　were　separated　from　each　other　by　only　a　few　hundred　yards。　The　barbed…wire　chain　which　strung　together　these　zigzag　lines　was　five　strands　wide；　and　it　was　edged　with　a　five…foot　trench　and　now　and　then　with　an　additional　length　of　stone　wall。　Beyond　the　fences　were　the　railroad　lines；　and　up　and　down　over　the　tracks　armored　trains　carrying　search…lights　were　running　to　and　fro；　to　shed　all　possible　light　upon　the　fences　and　upon　the　enclosure　beyond。　The　third　side　of　the　triangle　consisted　of　an　infinite　number　of　men　in　khaki；　and　its　density　varied　entirely　according　to　its　position。　At　first；　it　opened　out　to　a　thin　line　of　troopers　scattered　over　the　arc　of　an　immense　circle；　then　it　drew　in　until　an　army　stood　in　fighting　array　straight　across　the　veldt　from　Heilbron　to　Kroonstad。　And　Wolvehoek　was　the　apex　of　the　triangle。

Experience　had　taught　the　master　brain　of　the　British　army　that　it　was　useless　longer　to　chase　De　Wet　up　and　down　over　the　face　of　the　earth。　The　Boer　general　was　familiar　with　every　crack　and　cranny　of　that　earth。　He　knew　where　to　hide；　where　to　dodge；　where　to　scurry　away　as　fast　as　his　convoy　train　could　bear　him　company。　Behind　him；　plucky；　but　totally　in　ignorance　of　the　natural　advantages　of　the　country；　toiled　and　perspired　and　skirmished　the　British　army。　Horses　were　exhausted；　men　were　killed　and　supply　wagons　were　captured；　all　to　little　or　no　purpose。　If　the　quarry　could　not　be　taken　by　direct　pursuit；　it　was　needful　to　have　recourse　to　the　methods　of　the　ranch。　Pursuit　failing；　it　was　time　for　a　round…up。

To　this　end；　the　Orange　River　Colony　had　been　marked　off　into　sections　by　the　rows　of　blockhouses　strung　upon　barbed　wire。　Drive　after　drive　had　been　made　into　these　enclosures；　and　every　drive　had　brought　its　bag　of　game。　But　still　the　general　himself　had　eluded　them。　Early　in　February；　however；　a　giant　drive　had　been　planned；　directed　away　from　the　enclosure　in　order　that；　once　De　Wet　took　refuge　in　his　usual　trick　of　doubling　back　upon　his　pursuers；　he　should　find　himself　caught　in　the　open　trap。　And；　secure　in　the　ultimate　success　of　his　plan；　Lord　Kitchener　waited　at　Wolvehoek　in　expectation　of　its　end。

The　drive　had　been　made；　De　Wet　had　doubled；　and　now　the　base　of　the　triangle　was　flowing　in　upon　him；　fully　confident　of　success　at　last。　And　the　base　was　in　part　made　up　of　the　South　African　Light　Horse；　and　Carew　and　Weldon　were　of　that　Horse；　and　they　rejoiced　accordingly。

Nightfall　of　the　sixth　found　the　quarry　well　inside　the　triangle；　and　the　South　African　Light　Horse　drawn　up　in　a　straight　line　running　westward　from　Lindley。　The　officers　slept　in　their　boots；　that　night；　and　every　trooper　held　himself　tense　in　his　blankets；　ready　to　cease　snoring　at　an　instant's　notice。　And　far　away　to　the　northward；　the　moving　search…lights　carved　the　frosty　darkness　with　their　blinding　cones　of　light。

Weldon　was　ordered　out　on　picket　duty；　that　night。　All　day　long；　he　had　ridden　hard；　until　even　the　zeal　of　Piggie　had　begun　to　flag。　Nevertheless；　as　the　broad　stripe　of　yellow　reluctantly　died　out　of　the　western　sky；　his　excited　brain　denied　to　his　tired　muscles　the　sleep　which　they　demanded。　Accordingly；　it　was　a　relief　when　his　orders　came；　and　he　found　himself　advancing　cautiously　out　into　the　shadowy　veldt。

Contrary　to　his　usual　mood　when　on　picket；　Weldon　had　no　sense　of　loneliness；　that　night。　Reaching　away　from　him　on　either　hand　was　the　huge　enclosing　wall　of　humanity；　pacing　to　and　fro　on　picket　duty；　guarding　the　blockhouses；　patrolling　the　wire　fences　between。　Every　man　was　alert　to　his　duty；　every　nerve　was　taut　with　the　consciousness　that　somewhere　within　the　cordon　was　the　leader　who　heretofore　had　escaped　them；　that　each　man　was　a　link　forged　in　the　endless　chain　which　was　stretched　around　the　invisible　enemy。　And；　meanwhile；　the　starless　sky　and　the　waiting　chain　were　equally　silent　and　equally　freighted　with　mystery。　And　the　future　seemed　full　of　portent　and　very　near。

Then；　as　the　midnight　hour　swung　past　him；　Weldon　heard　the　rustle　of　a　quiet　footfall。　It　was　Captain　Frazer's　voice　that　answered　his　challenge。

〃I　was　looking　for　you；　Weldon；〃　he　added。

〃For　anything　especial？〃

〃No。　I　felt　restless　and　couldn't　sleep；　so　I　thought　I　would　go　the　round　of　the　pickets。　They　said　you　were　out　here。　Where　is　Carew？〃

〃In　my　sleeping…bag。　I　don't　encourage　him　for　a　neighbor　just　now。　He　draws　too　much　fire。〃

The　Captain　laughed　softly。

〃He　is　an　unlucky　beggar。　Eight；　nine；　how　many　times　is　it　that　he　has　been　hit？　He　ought　to　engage　a　private　nurse。〃

〃He　has。〃　And　Weldon　explained　the　little　scene　at　the　door　of　the　hospital　tent。

〃Happy　fellow！　He　deserves　her；　though。　But　it　is　an　ideal　combination；　that　of　nurse　and　soldier；〃　the　Captain　answered　lightly。　Then　he　asked；　〃What　sort　of　a　day　have　you　had？〃

〃Rousing。　Now　the　question　is：　what　sort　of　a　night　are　we　going　to　have？〃

〃The　night　of　our　lives；　I　suspect；〃　the　Captain　replied；　still　in　the　low　tone　in　which　all　their　talk　had　been　made。　〃The　orders　are　to　close　in　at　daylight；　and　work　the　game　up　towards　Wolvehoek；　but；　if　I　know　anything　at　all　of　De　Wet；　he　won't　wait　till　daylight。〃

〃You　think　he　will　fight？〃

〃If　he　does；　it　will　be　a　fight　to　the　finish；〃　the　Captain　said　gravely。

Weldon's　grip　tightened　on　his　rifle。

〃When　will　it　come？〃

〃Heaven　only　knows。　Probably　just　before　light。　He　will　take　this　end　of　things；　on　account　of　avoiding　the　railroads　and〃

Weldon's　hand　shut　on　his　arm。

〃Hush！　What's　that？〃

Swiftly　the　Captain's　gravity　vanished；　and　he　laughed。

〃By　George；　here　they　are！〃　he　exclaimed。

From　the　veldt　to　the　northward；　there　came　a　confused　din　of　rushing；　trampling　feet；　a　cloud　of　dust；　lifted　on　the　night　breeze；　swept　down　upon　them；　and　then　a　herd　of　stampeding　cattle　dashed　madly　past；　noses　to　earth　and　tails　lashing　in　furious　fear。　An　instant　later；　the　darkness　to　the　left　was　shattered　by　dots　of　light；　and　the　air　snapped　with　the　double　crack　of　Mauser　rifles。　Far　to　the　northward；　though　muffled　by　distance；　there　was　more　firing；　and　yet　more；　and　ever　the　moving　searchlights　carved　their　way　to　and　fro　through　the　inky　night。

Like　a　dog　on　the　scent　and　ready　for　the　plunge；　Captain　Frazer　had　straightened　to　the　full　of　his　height　and　stood　tense；　waiting　an　instant　to　measure　the　scope　of　the　coming　fight。

〃It's　a　row；　sure　enough；　and　thank　God；　I'm　in　it！〃　he　said　quietly　then。　〃Come　back　to　the　line；　Weldon。　There'll　be　work　for　us　all；　in　a　few　minutes。〃

Even　as　he　spoke；　and　while　they　were　hurrying　back　to　the　squadron；　a　random　shot　pierced　the　darkness　just　before　them；　and　a　bullet　whirred　close　above　their　heads。　Another　shot　tossed　up　a　spray　of　dust　at　their　feet；　and　a　third　fell　full　in　the　tent　where　Carew　was　swiftly　tightening　his　belts　and　assuring　himself　that　his　bandoliers　were　full。

They　found　the　camp　already　humming　like　a　hive　of　angry　bees。　A　small　matter　of　forty　miles　a　day　counted　for　nothing　to　men　wakened　from　heavy　sleep　to　face　the　firing　of　an　invisible　foe。　There　was　no　need　of　the　murmured　report　that　De　Wet　had　bidden　his　followers　break　through　the　British　chain　wherever　its　links　were　weakest。　Instinctively　each　man　threw　himself　into　fighting　array；　convinced　that　the　present　minute　marked　the　climax　of　the　past　days。

And；　meanwhile；　the　limitless　darkness　shut　down　over　the　determined　cordon　of　British　men　facing　steadily　inward　towards　the　foe　which　they　could　not　see；　over　the　scattered　knots　of　Boer　horsemen；　secure　in　their　full　knowledge　of　every　yard　of　the　ground；　riding　forward　to　fight　their　way　through　the　chain　into　the　veldt　beyond。　And；　far　to　the　northward；　De　Wet　was　lurking　in　shadow　long　enough　to　cut　the　wires　and　then　ride　away　with　his　trio　of　faithful　followers。

To　Weldon；　fresh　from　the　darkness　and　silence　of　the　open　veldt；　it　seemed　as　if；　of　a　sudden；　the　frosty　night　were　tattered　into　shreds。　As　the　fight　waxed　hot　about　him；　he　lost　all　memory　of　the　intermediate　stages。　At　one　instant；　all　had　been　still　and　dim；　at　another；　the　air　before　him　was　thick　with　vivid　rifle　flashes；　his　ears　were　full　of　the　strident　din　of　flying　bullets；　of　shouting　men；　of　squealing；　moaning　horses。　For　a　time；　he　could　see　nothing　of　the　enemy　but　the　flashing　dots　of　fire。　Then　the　dots　drew　nearer；　closed　up；　and　the　din　was　increased　by　the　rattle　of　fixing　bayonets；　by　the　dull；　sucking　sound　of　steel　prodded　into　soft　masses；　and　by　the　thud　of　falling　bodies。　And　always　from　the　outer　circle　the　pitiless　rain　of　bullets　came　splashing　down　upon　them；　striking　impartially　on　friend　and　on　foe。

Side　by　side　in　the　foremost　rank；　Weldon　and　Carew　were　fighting　like　tigers。　Carew's　cheek　was　gashed　by　a　passing　bullet；　and　Weldon's　coat　showed　dark　and　wet　over　his　left　shoulder；　but　neither　man　was　conscious　of　pain；　or　of　fear；　or　of　anything　else　than　a　surly　determination　to　check　the　maddening　rush　before　them。　Carew　was　slashing　about　him　with　all　the　strength　of　arm　and　bayonet；　but　Weldon；　disdaining　his　bayonet；　was　firing　with　a　steady　aim　which　sent　one　man　and　then　another　to　join　the　he