on the firing line-第30部分

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e　end　was　not　yet。　From　beyond　the　ridge；　Weldon　could　hear　the　guns　still　pounding　ceaselessly。　He　knew　that；　half　a　mile　in　the　rear；　his　colonel　was　watching　for　him　to　come　to　the　crest　of　the　hill；　that；　in　a　sense；　the　whole　game　was　waiting　upon　his　moves。　Whirling　himself　about；　he　gave　a　short；　sharp　order。　Scarcely　a　moment　later；　he　was　astonished　to　see　the　Boers　in　the　pass　giving　way　before　the　mad　rush　of　his　paltry　fifteen　men。　The　narrow　pass　was　his　own。

Beyond　the　pass　were　more　ridges；　some　parallel　with　his　course；　some　crossing　it。　Far　to　the　eastward；　he　could　see　a　moving　spot；　black　even　in　the　increasing　darkness　of　the　night。　Leaving　Piggie　to　pick　her　own　way　along　the　rocky　ridge；　he　rose　in　his　stirrups；　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hands　and　peered　anxiously　towards　the　spot。　At　last　his　straining　eyes　could　make　out　eight　Boer　horsemen；　riding　furiously　towards　the　peak　which　he　was　in　honor　bound　to　hold。　And　their　course　was　the　chord　of　the　arc　of　his　own　circle。　He　dropped　back　to　the　saddle　where　he　bent　low；　yielding　his　whole　body　to　the　flying　body　of　his　horse。

The　crest　was　sharp。　To　the　east；　its　approach　was　more　easy；　but　on　the　west　it　offered　a　wall　of　blank；　black　rock。　The　fat　Boer　ponies　were　still　at　some　distance　from　the　eastern　slope；　when　Weldon　flung　himself　from　his　panting　broncho。　Carew　protested；　as　they　told　off　by　fours　and　he　was　left；　the　third　man；　with　Paddy's　mount；　the　gray　broncho　and　a　huge　brown　Argentine　horse　on　his　hands。

〃Sorry；　old　man！〃　Weldon　said　briefly。　〃It's　luck；　and　dead　against　you。　Still；　it　may　save　Miss　Mellen　a　bad　half…hour。　Look　out　for　Piggie。　She　deserves　it。〃　And；　turning；　he　led　the　way　up　the　wall　of　rock；　with　thirteen　men；　breathless；　grim　and　eager；　scrambling　at　his　heels。

For　moments；　it　seemed　to　him　that　Fate　was　idly　tossing　the　dice　to　and　fro；　before　allowing　herself　to　make　the　final；　decisive　cast。　From　the　farther　side　of　the　hill；　he　heard　a　sudden　terrified　snort　from　one　of　the　Boer　ponies；　then　the　thud　of　feet；　as　they　charged　up　the　approaches　of　the　long　slope。　From　behind　him；　there　arose　a　groan；　as　one　of　the　men；　missing　his　foothold　in　the　deepening　dusk；　crashed　back　against　the　loose　rocks　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill。　Then　a　shot　and　a　whinnying　moan　told　him　that　Carew　and　his　three　comrades　had　edged　around　the　base　of　the　hill　into　range　of　the　enemy　above　them。　The　man　might　be　wounded；　too；　as　well　as　the　mount。　Seven　Boers；　and　they　were　thirteen　in　all。　The　cast　was　all　for

A　dash　of　light！　A　rattle　of　firing！　Three　of　his　men　dropped　backwards。　The　other　ten　looked　up　to　face　a　second　flash　from　the　summit。　Only　eight　heard　the　answering　echoes　which　came　rolling　back　to　them　from　the　encircling　hills。　Then　Paddy's　voice　came　in　his　ears；　low；　but　as　unconcerned　as　ever。

〃Remember　the　fellow　who　was　rejected　on　account　of　his　teeth；　little　Canuck？　'Faith；'　he　said；　'it's　shooting　the　damned　Boers　I　want　to　be；　not　eating　them。'　But；　by　the　holy　Virgin　Mary；　in　another　ten　minutes　we'll　be　shaking　'em　between　our　teeth。〃

The　next　flash　but　one　showed　only　five　men　on　the　steep　rocky　wall；　but　those　five　men　were　close　to　the　summit。　Once　on　the　top；　their　rifles　could　come　into　play。　It　was　maddening　to　be　picked　off；　like　stuffed　crows　resting　on　a　tree　branch；　maddening　to　listen　to　the　low　sounds　from　beneath　which　told　them　that　some　one　of　their　comrades　was　facing　the　end　of　his　fight。　Then；　just　as　they　reached　the　summit；　one　of　their　five　dropped；　with　a　bullet　shattering　the　bone　of　his　ankle。

〃Go　on；　boys！　You'll　get　there；〃　he　said；　as　the　next　in　line　dashed　past　him。　〃The　hill　is　Weldon's。　Mind　you　hold　it　for　him。　The　devil　is　in　him；　and　he's　bound　to　win。〃

On　top　of　the　hill；　six　Boers　were　huddled　in　the　scant　shelter　of　a　few　low；　scattered　rocks　tufted　with　a　bunch　of　brush　whose　bleached　stalks　marked　the　darkness　with　a　pale　line　of　range　for　their　fire。　The　next　volley　went　astray。　It　was　answered　by　the　crack　of　Paddy's　rifle。　Paddy's　chuckle　followed　close　on　the　crack。　〃I　rolled　him　over　like　a　sausage　in　the　hot　fat；〃　he　commented；　as　he　took　a　second　aim。　〃Here　goes　for　another；　and　may　his　bed　in　heaven　have　a　valance　to　hide　his　sins！〃　A　second　Boer　vanished　behind　the　rocks。

Four　Boers　in　shelter；　four　Britons　in　the　open；　and；　on　the　plain　beneath；　twenty…seven　hundred　men　were　waiting　to　see　the　outcome　of　the　game。

The　tension　of　the　eight　men　increased。　It　rendered　their　aim　unsteady。　Under　its　influence；　seven　men　fell　to　wasting　their　ammunition。　The　eighth　was　Paddy。　Firing　rarely；　his　rare　bullets　told。　Now　a　finger　was　shattered；　now　an　ear　was　grazed。

〃I'm　not　doing　much　killing；　but；　faith；　I'm　warming　'em　up　a　bit；〃　he　said；　as　he　halted　to　cool　his　rifle。　〃It's　keeping　the　ball　a…　rolling；　and　them　busy。　Else；　belike　they'd　find　Satan　filling　the　idle　hands　of　them　with　bad　deeds。　Little　Canuck　dear；　this　is　hot　work　for　a　boy。〃

Weldon　nodded。　His　hat　had　been　lost　in　the　scramble　up　the　hill；　his　putties　were　dragged　into　heaps　of　khaki　about　his　knees；　the　shoulder　of　his　coat　was　torn　by　a　passing　bullet　and　a　scarlet　trickle　lined　his　cheek；　but　his　face　was　alert　and　eager；　his　lips　parted　in　a　half…smile　which　brought　back　to　Paddy's　mind　a　dim　picture　of　the　boyish　trooper　he　had　known　and　loved　at　Piquetberg　Road。　Then　another　man　in　khaki　dropped　at　their　feet。　The　lines　of　Weldon's　mouth　straightened。

〃No　go；〃　he　said　briefly。　〃We　must　charge。　It's　our　only　chance。〃

Paddy　took　one　last；　hasty　shot。　Then；　gripping　his　rifle；　he　turned　to　Weldon。

〃True；　little　Canuck；〃　he　answered　loyally。　〃Go　on；　and　be　sure　Paddy　will　follow　you　to　the　other　edge　of　the　grave！〃

He　spoke　truthfully。　The　reinforcements　came　rushing　up　the　eastern　slope　of　the　hill；　to　find　their　pathway　encumbered　with　bearded　men　in　frock…coats　and　bandoliers。　On　top　of　the　crest；　surrounded　by　the　wounded　and　the　dying；　sat　a　single　man　in　khaki；　the　light　of　victory　in　his　gleaming　eyes；　and　Paddy's　lifeless　body　clasped　in　his　weary　arms。




CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE


〃Yes；〃　Carew　said　meditatively；　〃I　wish　there　had　been　glory　enough　to　go　around。　As　long　as　there　wasn't；　though；　I　am　glad　it　was　fated　to　fall　to　your　share。〃

Weldon　hurled　a　little　black　stone　at　a　great　black　rock。

〃Not　so　much　glory；　after　all。〃

Carew　raised　his　eyes　and　apostrophized　the　dark　gray　clouds　rushing　across　the　paler　gray　arch　of　the　sky。

〃Just　listen　to　the　man！　What　can　he　be　wanting？　'Not　so　much　glory！'　And　he　recommended　for　a　V。　C。！〃

Weldon　shook　his　head。

〃What　does　it　profit　a　man；〃　he　paraphrased；　〃if　he　gain　the　V。　C。　and　lose　one　of　his　best　friends？　Besides；　I　didn't　gain　it；　it　was　fated。　Paddy　was　as　brave　as　I；　and　so　were　half　a　dozen　more　of　them。　It　was　only　chance　that　brought　me　through　the　bullets。〃

〃Poor　Paddy！〃　Carew's　tone　was　full　of　thoughtful　regret。

〃Not　poor　at　all。　He　had　the　end　we　all　are　wishing　for。　He　died　with　his　boots　on；　and　fighting　pluckily　for　a　forlorn　hope。　We　can't　mourn　a　man　that　we　envy。〃

Half　way　to　the　distant　sky…line；　the　horses　of　the　squadron　were　grazing　peacefully　over　the　stubbly　grass。　The　corporal　and　the　third　of　the　troopers　appointed　to　guard　them　were　far　away　towards　the　crest　of　a　ridge　to　the　westward；　and　Carew　and　Weldon　were　alone。　Carew　sat　silent　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　on　the　scattered　groups　of　horses。　Then　he　turned　and　looked　directly　at　his　friend。

〃Perhaps；〃　he　assented。　〃I　was　sorry　to　be　out　of　the　scrimmage。　It　took　all　my　grit　to　obey　you；　old　man；　but　it　was　an　order。　Now　it　is　over〃

〃Well？〃　Weldon　prompted　him。

〃Now　it　is　over；　I　am　less　sorry　than　I　was。　The　fact　is；　the　future　holds　a　good　deal　for　us。〃

〃For　you；　perhaps。〃

〃For　you；　too。　The　whole　future　of　a　man　doesn't　go　to　wreck　in　an　hour。　There　are　other　crises　later　on；　and　some　of　them　are　bound　to　come　out　well。　Save　yourself　for　those；　Weldon。　There　is　no　especial　use　in　throwing　yourself　away。〃

〃I'm　not。　But；　when　the　order　comes；　I　must　obey　it；〃　Weldon　said　gloomily。

〃It　depends　something　on　the　order；　but　it　depends　a　good　sight　more　on　the　way　you　obey　it。　When　a　man　comes　into　collision　with　a　bulldog；　it's　generally　wise　to　grapple　with　him　back　of　his　teeth；　else；　you　may　lose　a　thumb　or　two。　It's　the　same　way　with　your　orders　here。　Because　you　don't　funk；　there　is　no　reason　you　should　flirt　with　an　early　death。〃

〃But　I　don't。〃

〃What　about　now？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃That　you　ought　to　be　in　hospital。〃

Weldon　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed；　but　mirthlessly。

〃Why；　then？〃

Without　speaking；　Carew　took　out　his　pipe；　filled　it　and　began　fumbling　in　his　pocket。

〃Have　you　a　match？〃　he　asked。

Weldon　nodded；　produced　the　match；　lighted　it　and　held　it　to　the　extended　pipe。　Carew's　eyes；　drooped　to　the　bowl；　watched　the　bit　of　flame。

〃Do　you　call　that　a　steady　hand？〃　he　asked　then。　〃Man；　you're　ill；　I　tell　you。　Your　face　is　hot　and　your　hands　are　cold；　and　your　nerves　are　worn　to　shoestrings；　frayed　shoestrings　at　that。　If　you　keep　on；　you'll　be　down　flatter　than　you　like。　You　ought　to　have　stopped　four　weeks　ago。〃

Weldon　crossed　his　arms　at　the　nape　of　his　neck　and　lay　back　at　his　ease　on　the　ground。

〃Then　what　would　have　become　of　my　V。　C。？〃　he　queried；　with　languid　indifference。

〃But　I　thought　you　claimed　not　to　care　for　your　V。　C。〃

〃I　don't。　My　friends　may；　however。〃　〃As　a　legacy？　I　think　your　friends　may　possibly　choose　you　to　the　V。　C。〃

〃Foolish　of　them；〃　Weldon　commented。　〃Still；　'If　we　could　choose　the　time；　and　choose　aright；　'T　were　best　to　die；　our　honor　at　the　height。'　I　learned　that　when　I　was　a　small　boy；　but　I've　only　just　found　out　what　it　means。〃

With　scoffing　lips；　but　eyes　full　of　unspoken　love；　Carew　turned　on　his　friend。

〃Don't　dodder；　Weldon；〃　he　counselled　him。　〃That's　canting　drivvle；　made　to　console　the　unsuccessful。　No　man　knows　when　he　has　reached　his　high…water　mark。　Yours　may　have　come　on　the　day　you　licked　Stevie　Ballard　for　gilding　the　tailless　cat；　it　may　not　come　till　you　are　ninety。〃

〃No。〃　The　syllable　was　quiet；　deliberate。　Then　Weldon　roused　himself　and　sat　up　to　speak　with　sudden　energy。