Adventure Magazine Cover — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

28 about a bit. The colonel and lots more was done in.” “Aye,” agreed the other man. ‘We got cut up proper. That sergeant, ’e took command, ’e did.” “Are there any more of ours around?” “Don’t arsk me, I seen a lot scourin’ off northwards, cuttin’ an’ stabbin’, but I don’t know ’oo they was. There’s a squadron 0’ Cherubs prancin’ round ’ereabouts, too.” As the Yank’s vision cleared, the form of one of the men became familiar. That strawberry-shortcake face could belong to but one man. It was Larcom. “I thought you were dead,” exclaimed the Yank. ‘““Why, it’s the Yank!” said the lean man. “T wouldn’t ’ave known you. You’re as black as any pitman in Cornwall!” “Didn’t you sleep in that cart?” “No, not much. They kicked and squirmed somethink ’orrid. An’ they says as I snored like a beagle, so they kicks me out most himpolitely. I was out an’ about when the firin’ begun hanyways.”’ “How did you hang on to your horse?” “T nipped into a shed for a bit of a snooze and took ’im with me. The order was as we wouldn’t march for the ’alf hour.” “TI must have a horse,” cried the Yank. “A horse and a sword. Where can I get one? I lugged my sword around with me all raorning and then lost it in that wagon- park. I suppose I could go back and hunt for it, but it would be a little warm in there.”’ ‘The three men eyed the smoking ruins. Bent and twisted pieces of iron-work, tires, bundles of baggage still blazing, the hay pile now black, now red-hot as the breeze fanned the embers. “My —— hye,” breathed the lean man. The other two followed his gaze. A cloud of horsemen had detached them- selves from the column under the distant trees and was moving rapidly across the plain with the very evident intention of attacking the broken and disorganized troop that still wheeled and circled by the German guns. It looked like a brigade, but was prob- ably a squadron at the most, detached to create a diversion and give the main body time to get away. Be that as it might, that onrushing horde would make red rice out of the troop of British in the space of a few minutes. Adventure “GIVE me a horse!” cried the Yank. “Oh —— for a horse!” He looked frantically around, but there was not a loose horse to be seen. “Take mine,” said one of the men, licking his lips. ‘“ ’E’s a German’s, but you can ’ave ‘im 1f you wish. I never was no ruddy enthusiast about mdin’ any gait.” The Yank had the bridle and was in the saddle before the other man was done talking. He looked toward the troop. They had seen their danger and were swiftly rallying. Some dismounted men were swinging one of the guns toward the oncoming Germans. “A sword,” cried the Yank. I haven’t any sword.” ‘“‘Wot are you going to do?’ asked the two men. “You can’t ’elp them lads, they’re as good as done in now.” “See those Germans?” cried the Yank. “T’m going to wreck a few!” He wheeled his horse suddenly toward the lean man’s, darted forth his hand and drew the sword from his scabbard before its owner had time to prevent. Then, deaf to the lean man’s curse, he slammed the spurs to his horse, and in one bound was on his way across the field. The troop by the guns were cantering out now, the attempt to use the gun had been abandoned, and the two bodies of horse drew rapidly nearer. The Germans made a slight change of direction, intending to swing around and strike the British on the left flank, a vulner- able place for cavalry, for they can not use their swords so well on the lefi. The Germans, at the same time, would envelop the British rear and cut them off from their own lines. This maneuver brought the Germans nearer the Yank, and for one freezing second, he saw that he would strike the on- coming men before the troop arrived. “All right,’”” he muttered through clenched teeth, “‘it’s got to be some time and it might as well be now.” ““A sword! He lowered himself to his horse’s neck, . thrust his feet into the stirrups to the heel, ana spurred his horse. The stirrups were a little short, and the saddle had knee-rolls, _ but all the better. He could feel the horse driving under him like a machine, and he marveled that the enemy could make such marches as they did, and still conserve the strength of their mounts so well. NOOK 1 @)