button to main menu  Gents Mag 1902 part 2 p.419
button introduction, lists
button list, 1st qtr 20th century
button previous page button next page
Gentleman's Magazine 1902 part 2 p.419
[com]manding a good piece of the dales road. The school wall here must have been six feet thick, and the old man's fort would be impenetrable to ordinary rifle fire. Ammunition boxes of all descriptions were piled high in the little magazine.
Next the old man asked me to stroll with him to his rifle range, in a gully about a mile distant.
"I practice early in the mornings; the people round here are accustomed to it, and strangers, as you see, are not likely to ramble at so early an hour."
After bidding the old man farewell, I wandered slowly back to my lodging; the elaborate preparedness I had seen, and the determination of the scholmaster to resist to the death within the precincts of his old schoolhouse, made me inclined to ponder awhile. As I sat watching the evening shadows deepen over rugged crags and pastoral coves, I mused upon what might happen if the old man's fears were realised.
... ...
The school was being carried on as usual; one class was droning over a reading-book, the master's voice came distinctly above all others in his dictation to the remainder. The sound of a galloping horse is heard on the road, and Schoolmaster John hurries to the door to see who and what it is.
"The French - The French have landed at Bonton."
I can see in my mind's eye old John, with unusual activity, step across the small room, open the American organ, and play, with the children's voices joining in, his favourite war-song. This over, the children are called out of their classes to make two short rows down the room. The -
"You must hasten away home, children. Good-morning."
John the fighting man is now aroused; parcels of cartridges, and what other weapons there are, are handed to fleeing neighbours as they call to urge him make temporary retreat. But John is to defend Mirdale, not by firing at random from unseen nooks among the rocks, but by holding the schoolhouse against the whole invading army.
... ...
A short half-hour has passed; the enemy's scouts meet with no resistance. Inside the old school John's eye runs along the rifle barrel time after time; yes, his aim is certain, and the first foe in sight will die. A half company of infantry round the corner, and instantly the rifle speaks; down goes the leading man. Shot after shot is delivered with deadly precision; as yet the soldiery cannot
button next page
button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.