Re: Pat Ritter. Books
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:48 pm
'The Year That Never Was' - Page 35:
Within an hour horses and troops boarded the train on route to Pretoria. Joe had no idea how long their journey would take. By the time they reached Pretoria his knowledge of what’s happening will be much clearer, he thought.
‘Bloody harsh country Billy.’ Joe told his friend seated next to him amongst his fellow soldiers.
‘Nothing like our bushland. Dry, hot. Heat waves in the distance.’ Billy replied.
Neither Joe nor Billy understood why they were going to Pretoria. Joe decided to sleep, relax, not worry about anything in particular, think of Hannah back home. They’d travelled through the night stopping for the train to refuel with water.
Breaking daylight Joe seen clouds of dust in the distance. ‘Have-a-look at the dust storm on the horizon, Billy.’ Both men starred at the horizon.
‘Joe. Never a dust storm like this one at home. Must be something else.’ Billy replied.
The dust storm moved closer to their train. ‘Wait a bloody minute.’ Joe exploded. ‘Men on horseback. They’re heading this way. Must be about fifty of them.’ Joe’s heart beat faster signalling danger. ‘Let’s stop this puffin billy, unload the horses; begin our first fight with the Boers.’ Joe shouted.
Joe signalled the driver to stop the train. The train came to a halt. ‘Quick men unload your horses. You other men use the train as a shield. Don’t fire until I give the signal.’ Joe commanded to all. Joe’s men released their horses from the carriage, saddled, mounted formed a straight line to fight the enemy.
Soon the riders approaching the train came into sight. ‘Ready men.’ Joe screamed. ‘When I drop my hand, start firing.’ Joe sat astride Spartan waiting for the Boers to be within shooting distance. A 303 rifle dropped an animal at one hundred yards. Joe held his right arm in the air. When he calculated, the enemy were closing in around one hundred yards he dropped his arm. Instant discharge of five hundred rifles blasted toward the enemy. Many fell. More kept coming. By the time each soldier re-loaded, aimed their rifle toward the enemy, less mounted Boers appeared.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK ONTO THIS LINK: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/758644.
Within an hour horses and troops boarded the train on route to Pretoria. Joe had no idea how long their journey would take. By the time they reached Pretoria his knowledge of what’s happening will be much clearer, he thought.
‘Bloody harsh country Billy.’ Joe told his friend seated next to him amongst his fellow soldiers.
‘Nothing like our bushland. Dry, hot. Heat waves in the distance.’ Billy replied.
Neither Joe nor Billy understood why they were going to Pretoria. Joe decided to sleep, relax, not worry about anything in particular, think of Hannah back home. They’d travelled through the night stopping for the train to refuel with water.
Breaking daylight Joe seen clouds of dust in the distance. ‘Have-a-look at the dust storm on the horizon, Billy.’ Both men starred at the horizon.
‘Joe. Never a dust storm like this one at home. Must be something else.’ Billy replied.
The dust storm moved closer to their train. ‘Wait a bloody minute.’ Joe exploded. ‘Men on horseback. They’re heading this way. Must be about fifty of them.’ Joe’s heart beat faster signalling danger. ‘Let’s stop this puffin billy, unload the horses; begin our first fight with the Boers.’ Joe shouted.
Joe signalled the driver to stop the train. The train came to a halt. ‘Quick men unload your horses. You other men use the train as a shield. Don’t fire until I give the signal.’ Joe commanded to all. Joe’s men released their horses from the carriage, saddled, mounted formed a straight line to fight the enemy.
Soon the riders approaching the train came into sight. ‘Ready men.’ Joe screamed. ‘When I drop my hand, start firing.’ Joe sat astride Spartan waiting for the Boers to be within shooting distance. A 303 rifle dropped an animal at one hundred yards. Joe held his right arm in the air. When he calculated, the enemy were closing in around one hundred yards he dropped his arm. Instant discharge of five hundred rifles blasted toward the enemy. Many fell. More kept coming. By the time each soldier re-loaded, aimed their rifle toward the enemy, less mounted Boers appeared.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK ONTO THIS LINK: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/758644.