The Power Of The Grip.

made hut lew friends , and had but one enemy , an old colorsergeant , the senioi- in the battalion , who was the drill sergeant , and assisted the sergeant-major . Me posed as belonging to the Graft , and wore a ring with a Masonic emblem , but on one occasion I exposed hint , and thus brought down his enmity on my head . Me was fair enough to my face , yet I felt sure

lie would not hesitate to injure me should an opportunity present itself . I felt it was his work when 1 was told off for escort duty . The adjutant warned me that it was a very dangerous duty I was undertaking , for it was to fetch a man from a village some thirty miles off , who had been given up as a deserter by bis own brother . Twice the police had been

attacked when attempting to hand him over to the military authorities , and they now objected to try again . He cautioned me to be careful , to avoid any violence if possible , but , he added , in a low suppressed voice , " You are not to allow your prisoner to be taken from you ALIVK . " TWO men composed the escort , and I wondered whv such a small number should

be sent on so dangerous duty , but I fell it would look like cowardice if I spoke about it . Next morning I " carried arms " in returning the salute of the quarter guard as I marched the escort through the barrack gate , and started off for the village at which I was ordered to stop for the night , some sixteen miies distant . Nothing particular occurred during the day ' s march ,

the greater part of il being across the " bog of Allen , " and we halted at our destination , remained at the little public house in the village , rested awhile , turned into lied and slept souudlv . Marching off next morning we arrived at our destination just after sundown , and al the police barracks which contained our prisoner . I look the advice of the inspector who offered us

accommodation , stayed there for the night . Next morning al daybreak I paraded both prisoner and escort , read them unorders , which was to prevent the prisoner being taken from me by every means in my power , 1 proceeded to load the rifles wilh ball cartridge . The ringing of the ramrods as we rammed home the charges rang on the morning air , and we started off on our return journey . The country for the lirst few miles was flat and boggy , but al length we approached a rising

ground , through which the road was cut . the hanks of red sand rising several feet on each side , and both sides planted with lir trees . I saw we were lo he interrupted , as right across our path at the further end , was a parly of men strolling about . Turning about 1 could see a similar party following us , thus hemming us in . If ihe place was singularly

well chosen lo attack us , il also had its advantages for defence . My mind was made up at once , and halting the escort . I took off the handcuffs from the right wrist of Kelly the prisoner , and clasped it round that of Shaw ' s , one of the escort . Kelly never murmured , but Shaw cried out that be did not like to be killed like a dog . 1 loosened my ammunition and placed

two or three cartridges in the spaces between the buttons in front of my tunic , telling Hutchinson the other man of the escort to do the same . Then I got escort and prisoner with their backs close against the bank . Hutchinson and myself standing in front and covering them , I warned Kell y of what I should do if he was taken , but he made no reply . As both parties now began to crowd around us , we came to the charge .

and presented our bayonets to our attackers . I . bey were evidently disconcerted at the means 1 had taken to retain my prisoner , and awed bv the two loaded rifles pointed al them . They drew off to some distance and remained in consultation . I warned Hutchinson not to lire till 1 told him , and directly he did so to at once take Shaw ' s loaded rifle . To Shaw I

asked him to do his best , and re-load with the one hand , no easv feat with a muzzle loader . The party now moved forward till within a few paces from us and halted , and a tall , military looking young fellow , came forward and demanded Kelly , promising to allow the escort lo proceed unmolested if I did so . I told him of my intentions . Without another word lie

leaped forward , gained the left side of rille and attempted lo seize il . To prevent this I loosed the hold of my rille and seized his fore-arm as il descended : in doing so my hand slipped down to his wrist , which 1 lirmly held : lo my surprise he caught my wrist in a similar manner . Our eyes met . " Is it so "' . ' he asked . ' Yes , " I replied . lie leaned over , and p lacing his mouth to my ear whispered a word . I did the

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