The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

648 stood hesitating what to do for the best his sepoys solved his doubts for him by silently fixing bayonets. With a shout of encouragement Andy leaped forward to the ‘attack, waving his sword above his head and with revolver clutched in his other fist. “Come on, Shabbash, sons of devils!’’ Andy roared. And his men followed him across with flashing bayonets. The fourteen badmashes in the road turned quickly to see what this unwel- come noise might mean, and before they could open fire the Sikh sepoys were upon them, stabbing and digging at them with their bayonets. Now, the badmashes were no cow- ards. ‘They had proved that for cen- turies, and they rose to the occasion as one man. The tallest of the gang threw himself bodily in Andy’s path and met his SWESDRE sword cut with - his rifle. Then by a anid upward thrust of his knife he endeavored to slit his foe up the stomach; but a sepoy was pre- pared for this and ran the Waziri through the middle with his bayonet. Andy charged, shouting to the po- litical to attack in the rear of the bad- mashes with his escort. A second later a volley rang out from the political’s end of the road, and the Waziris broke and ran. As they leaped up the hill where the suba- dar and his men lay in waiting, they were met with a crushing volley. Five of them fell in their tracks. and lay still, with the red blood gathering faster and faster upon the black sur- face of the hills. Andy and his mien charged through the running hillsmen, cutting and thrusting as they went. The politi- cal’s escort had attended to the six badmashes who had first attacked them, and now joined in the general fray with shouts of joy. Like rabbits the badmashes who still lived ran to earth and hid behind boulders. ‘“ Take cover, men!” Andy THE ARGOSY. roared at the top of his voice, for he knew they were by no means through ‘with the fight. This was the. time when the hills- men put in their best work, when they were hidden behind rocks and sniping the foe. But he spoke too late. With a groan the political fell, shot through the thigh, and two other Sikhs fell, writhing and twisting on the road, with bullets through their- stomachs. Andy and the remainder of his men sought cover among the boulders and waited. He knew that the subadar would soon be taking a hand at this game, and he felt certain he would not wait in vain. And in the roadway only the dead marked the presence of mankind. Sahib! ” warned a voice at Andy’s side; “ show not one particle of your- self. The soors will soon creep out of their burrows again!” But Andy had not yet learned his lesson and raised his head to take a peep at the countryside to see what was now happening. The drone of a bullet past his ear made him quickly bury his face in the ground again. The sepoy beside him chuckled. “Darn, by Jove, that was a near one!’”? Andy cursed, and waited for more to happen. And in a few sec- onds it came. From eight boulders there suddenly came a puff of white smoke agg a report; and each shot got its answer in full measure. For some time they continued. the harmless amusement of snap-shooting without injury to either side. But by this time the crafty old subadar had worked his men down the fll to within a few yards of the badmashes. As he and his men opened fire upon them the latter turned and bolted. } . Andy and his men joined the suba- dars in a well-directed volley, and three more men fell in their tracks. The remaining five, seeing the game was up, decided to deliver themselves into the hands of the raj and seek COMicdoo S CO@