The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
History
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
We had been fighting all day, marching all night and next day
without a bit of food or a drink of water. I did not feel it so
much, as I was so occupied, but I saw several dying by the
roadside from thirst and fatigue. About four in the afternoon of
the 28th, we came to a place called Kokeran, 7-1/2 miles from
Candahar; I saw a village where I could get water for the men
who were with me. I went off and brought the water back and the
men with me. On going to the village I saw Lieutenant Maclaine
mounted; when I came back I saw two horses without a rider. I
then went again for more water. I was about 150 yards from the
gun when I saw ten or twelve of the enemy's cavalry coming on at
a slow pace towards the gun. The gun went off and I lay down and
allowed the gun to pass me, and began firing with a rifle which
I had got from a wounded 66th man, in order to draw their fire
upon myself, and stop them from going forward with the gun. I
was concealed in a little nullah, and I fancy they thought there
was more than one man, for they stopped and fired at me from the
saddle. I shot one horse and two men. After firing about
thirty-five rounds General Nuttall came up with some native
cavalry, and drove them off. When I first saw the enemy they
were about 300 yards off, when they left they had got 150 yards.
General Nuttall asked me my name, saying, "You're a gallant
young man, what is your name?" I said, "Gunner Collis, of E. of
B, R.H.A." He entered it into a pocket-book and rode off. I then
followed up my gun, which I found some 500 yards distant by the
side of a river. The enemy's fire, which had been going on all
the way from Maiwand, now became hotter, the surrounding hills
being full of them. Some of the garrison of Candahar met us
about four miles from the Fort and escorted us in. I arrived
about seven p.m.
[Illustration: "I WAS LET DOWN."]
[Illustration: "I TOOK MY CARBINE AND LET DRIVE."]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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