Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force

in', sah; bugle hi

. On a metal table, the legs of which stood in metal jars filled with water and paraffin to counteract the ravages of the white ants, lay his field-equipment-a neatly-rolled green canvas valise with his name and regiment stamped in bold block letters; his Sam Browne belt with automatic pistol holster attached; his sword-a mere token of authority but o

ness of Private Tari Barl, stood an assortment of camp equipment: canvas tent d'abri, ground sheets, a

dered at that he is decidedly "off colour." It was only Wilmshurst's indomitable will that had pulled him through a bout of malaria in time to be pa

dubbed him-smiling all over his ebony features as he stood,

. To any one not accustomed to the native build it would seem strange that the apparently puny lower limbs could support such a heavy frame. He was wearing khaki shorts and puttees; even the latter, tightly fitting, did little to disguise the meagreness of his calves. He was barefooted, for the West African soldier has a rooted dislike to boots, although issued as part of his equipment. On ceremonial parades

Barrel?" enquired Wilmshu

hi him lib for tell fatigue party

n the Coast, getting through most of the routine before nine, since the intense heat

active service in the vast stretch of country known as "German East," where the Huns with their well-trained Askaris

hurst ran up against Barkley

laimed the doctor.

" replied th

. He knew perfectly well that no officer war

ng all

y," replied

the voyage-and don't be afraid to let me know if you aren't up t

st shook

ok nearly twelve months before it reached me. It's just possib

lmost as soon as he left Oxford he went abroad and, after long wanderings in the interior of China, Siberia, and Manchuria, where his adventures merely stimulated the craving for wa

ust taken up a Crown appointment on the Coast, mentioning th

embered the lette

mmunition, they are laying in stores sufficient to wage a two-years' war; not merely small arms ammunition, but quick-firer shells as well. Quite by accident I found kegs of cartridges buried close to my camp. For what reason? The natives are quiet enough, so the ammunition is not for use against them. I am sending this letter by a trusty native to be posted at Pambete, as it would be unwise to mak

lack of efficient internal and external communication, the state of war embroiling practically the whole civilized world and the perils to which shipping was subje

ithout leaving the faintest trace of the manner of his presumed death, while in German East there were unscrupulous despots-th

but erroneous impression that Great Britain would have her hands full in connection with affairs at home, that the Boers in South Africa would revolt and that the Empire would fall to pieces at the declaration of w

Germany. While Heligoland was being protected by massive concrete walls and armed by huge guns to form a practically impregnable bulwark to the North Sea coast of Germany, England was by peaceful methods developing her new African acqu

urteen years previously had fought doggedly and determinedly against England volunteered for service, and their offer was accepted for expeditions against German West Africa and then against German Ea

he fourth by the Quartermaster's "stores" and orderly room, he found that the men of his platoon were already drawn up in full marching order. At the sight of their young officer-for it was the first time for several weeks that Wilmshurst h

handling African troops, and without that knack an officer might just as well transfer elsewhere. Firmness, strict impartiality, and consideration for the welfare of the men under his

ates were engaged either in discussing impending plans or else minutely examining their men's equip

red Wilmshurst, addressing a t

sing the simple characteristics of the African native. He was a first-class marksman, although it had required long and patient training to get him to understand the use of sights

work there were few who equalled him. The regiment was father and mother to th

t had gone out of his way to favour the man. He treated the rank and file of his platoon with impartial fairne

ivory vanished, and with thick, pouting lips, firmly closed, and

Second Lieutenant to the rank of Colonel Commandant and ruler of the destinies of nearly a thousand men. "Case hardened" to the attacks of mosquitos, his system overcharged with mal

e art of fighting in miasmic jungles, and now he was about to engage in operations on a larger and slightly different scale-bush-fighting in German East, where ranges

nd belonging to another regiment struck up a lively air and

conquest of the last of Germ