(From "Sport and Gossip.")
AsI ride, as T ride To our Chief and Truth, we are often and assured, is a naked lady living at the bottom' of a well—therel fore, dificult access. This may account for the fiot that hitherto there has not been Published true—or even a full—account of the gallon night-ride of Jim Watts from Tientsin to Taku, bearing a demand for help and reinforcements, Jim. Watts is more properly Mr. James Watts, and his figure is well-known in rueing' colours on the Tientsi race-course. He is one of the best gentlemen-jockeys in the North, and a hard and Mtraight rider across-country—as he had need to be, It was not without difficulty that he could be persuaded to tell his modest story of during and plucky feat, but what he said resolved itself into this, Tientsin, with its women, its children, and its handful of defenders, was compassed about with enemies. The strain of attack tightened day by day, and Jaunches were sent away to Taku with the news of how hard-pressed the settlement was, though none of these passed the enemy. Finally, on the 20th of June, things were getting desperate, and Jim Watts volunteered to ride through and bring back relief. The offer was accepted, and at 8.30 that evening he, mounted on s hardy Cossack pony and armed with revolver and sword, left the Settlements. With him, for weal or woe, went three Cossacks, all of whom carried carbines, and one of whom led a second pons for their leader's use. Darkness had fallen, and in silence they trotted past the defenders' lines, and left the Tientsin University on the left. Then they struck towards the Race Course, but If way there altered their course ed for the Taku Road. This road bang of the river which tientsin, sometimes breaking inland for some distance, but -always close to the river, The lines were half an hour's ride behind them when they came upon the first obstacle—a village. The plan of operations to be pursued when this village was reached had previously been arranged, so that now they disposed themselves accordingly. The intention was to charge at full speed through the place, in this order:—one Cossack, then Watts, and last a rearguard of the remaining two Cossacks. Thus' was it done. As they entered they were fired upon, but without result, and they tore through the place only to be fired upon once again—at the other end of the village, when the shots whistled close. They had won through, however, and were speeding inthe open country, with behind them the crowd of Boxers who had been drawn out, and their shrill cries of "Sa! Sal" which signifies Kill."
Also Watts could bear his name called in Chinese, with excited demands that he should be shot. Evidently the enemy included ex-mafoos who knew him.
By this tine they had struck the road again, however, where half-emile ahead of them was another village. Either the hoarse cries of those behind, or previous knowledge of this attempt, had prepared the inmates of this second' village Their yells, borne on the still night. sir,. met the little party from ahead. They were, so to speak, between the Devil and the Deep Sea, From the second village advanced a body of them, whereupon Watts and his followers swung off at right angles road, and took to the open country again. In doing 80 Watts aimed, us well might be in the darkness, for a village known to him, but missed it and came instend upon one larger than any they bad yet encountered, There was nothing for it puta bold dash. They passed swiftly along a pathway, and burst into a narrow passage on the fringe of the village. Once again the order to charge was given, and they sped swiftly through the murky litle ways—only tocome upon a mud wall, There were meu there, armed men, and the riders came round with the suddenness bred of imminent danger, while the Cossacks unslung their rifles. Covering ench aman as they rode they went buck on their tracks some two fired and fifty yards before the Chivese Suddenly Watts' pony stumbled-—only a strong lind held him up. He had been shot in the leg, and it was but the work of moment to dismount, change the saddle to the led pony, and hey! again, for the open country.
Conceive the position, Four men riding for life in a black night, with the country about them alive, for aught they knew, with hostile villagers alarmed by their passage, Over fields und bare country they passed swiftly, taking a wide sweep in their course. Then they halted, to find themselves again on the spot at which their perils began—about two miles between the Race Course and Tientsin. For some time Watis considered the apparent hopelessness of his attempt, and the advisability of " return to Tientsin. But the Cossacks settled this. He made known to them roughly but clearly his half-decision. They shook their heads and grinned, as they" passed significant hands across their throats, The meaning was plain, Did they dare to return, their errand uuaccomplisued, their heads would Pay the penalty, through with it. Once again they sot out, Watts no longer hesitated—they must go leaving the Taku Road five or seven miles on their left, Thus they came upon the big creek which runs near Peitangkow. They forded swiftly, and set their course on the other side for the village itself. A stone bridge met them, over which they clattered noisily, The unwatchful sentries, roused by the ring of hoofs upon the stone, rose and fired. "Again the riders struck off at 9 ight angle from their course, and raced on till the trees which fringe the Taku: Road were dimly seen, With these trees as. mark Watts knew his position again, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.