A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 109, 1 November 1879, Page 2

A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

Tho enemy proceeded to tho artillery lines, and when Liuetenant James Hills, win. was iu charge of tho .two-horso artillery guns of tho picket, saw their advance, ho set to work with a will to bring his guns iuto action. But thero was not time, and iu a moment he was surrounded. It was of tho utmost importance that his guns should be in readiness, and tho only way to gain time was to oroate a divorsion. Hills was a young man, and by no means of a powerful build, but he had dauntless oourago and a determined will. Setting spurs "to his horse, he dashed iuto tho midst of tho euetny, slashing out with superhuman energy and surprising effect. Presently ho came violoutly to the ground by the force of tho collision. But ho sprang to his feet, caught up his sword, nud was in time to defend himself from tho murderous attack of two mounted troopers and one Sower on foot. Broothless us ! he wus from his recent labours and vio- : leiitfhock, he struck out with such elt'ect that hu overcame tho mounted men—kil-

ling one aad severely wounding the other' But the man on foot was a match for him; strong, lithe and fresh for his work, it seemed that he was master. Tho day was wet, and when Hills dashed off on his perilous attack he had not removed his heavy ridiug cloak winch now dragged at his throat, almost choking him, and othorwise impeding his action Ho tried twice to fire at his assailant, but the pistol snapped ; ho made a desperate lunge with his sword, but his arm being caught by tho cloak, the blow missed, aud taking advantage of the position, the rebel with great dexterity snatched the sword from him. Disarmed, and almost exhausted, the position of Hills was critical in the extreme : happily, however he knew how to use the weapons which are natural to Englishmen, and with his fists he smote out ruthlessly, but in the struggle his foot slipped aud he fell to the ground. Just at that moment, when death seemed inevitable, Major Tombs, " a man of noble presence, tall, strong, of robust .frame and handsome countenance, dark-haired, dark-bearded, and of swarth complexion" —Major Tombs, the captaiu of his troop, ascended the mound aud boked abroad. Strange scenes met his eye, for he had been called suddenly from the genial shelter of the mess-tent, but the sight that instantly arestcd him was that of his friend Hills, prostrate entangled in his cloak, and the arm of his assailant in the air ready to deliver his death blow. Thirty paces separated him from the young subaltern, who would be dead before he could reach him. Placing, therefore, revolver on his left arm to steady it, he took aim at the enemy, whose face was towards him, and ere the threatened blow could fall, the rebel had fallen dead, the life-blood oozing through his white tunic. Tombs only ta'.ied until he had seen the effect of his shot, then ran forward to the holp of Hills, who was entangled in his cloak. When the two stood together on the mound, Hills was mortified to see. a Sower making prl' with his revolver, which he had dropped in tho struggle. But ho was not the man to witness such an act and take no steps to regain his own. At once he made toward the Sowar,"a powerful trooper, and Tombs followed him. The trooper, brought to bay, fought with desperation. Hills parried his first blow, Tombs parried the second, then, goaded to madness, ho spraaglike a tiger upon Hills, broke down his guard, and " clove his skull to tho brain," though not mortally wounding him. Tombs was ready for tho next attack; the deadly blow was aimed at him, but, cool and collected, ho ran his assailant clean through the body.—Heroes of Britain in Peace and War.