Here are the quotations for the coming week (Jan 31st to Feb 6th):
1. 'I went forward, but I cannot say whither I went, and
there was no more food for myself or the sister. And upon a hot night, she
weeping and calling for food, we came to a well, and I bade her sit upon the
kerb, and thrust her in, for, in truth, she could not see; and it is better to
die than to starve.'
2. 'Be quick', said Athira; and Suket Singh
was quick; but Athira was quick no longer. Then he lit the pile at the four
corners and climbed upon it, reloading the gun.
The little flames began to
peer up between the big logs atop of the brushwood. 'The Government should teach
us to pull the triggers with our toes,' said Suket Singh grimly to the moon.
That was the last public observation of Sepoy Suket Singh.
3. …an
instant later, by the tone of Spurstow's voice calling upon them to enter, the
men knew what had happened. There was no need to wake him.
The punkah was
still being pulled over the bed, but Hummil had departed this life at least
three hours.
The body lay on its back, hands clinched by the side…In the
staring eyes was written terror beyond the expression of any pen…'
The sources of last week;s extracts (Jan 24th to 30th) are:
1. (..."Hutt, ye beggars! Hutt, ye devils! Get along! Go forward,
there!" ) This is from "On the City Wall" in Soldiers Three'
2. (..."Carbine-stealing again!" said the adjutant, calmly sinking
back in his chair... I hope the sentries have killed him." ) This is from
"The Man who Was" in Life’s Handicap.
3, (...Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to
the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of
the firers...) This is from "The Drums of the Fore and Aft" in Wee
Willie Winkie.
We have recently published notes by Roger Ayers on "Screwguns" and "Route
Marchin'" and notes by John McGivering on "Surgical and Medical" an
'uncollected' story about visits to military hospitals during the South African
War.
We have also launched new pages on the web-site for men and women on active
service, see the attached press release.
Good wishes to all, John
R