Part 1 — THE HERO OF OMDURMAN.

MAJOR-GENERAL H.A. MACDONALD, C.B., D.S.O. [Told in the Ranks.]

BY F. HARALD WILLIAMS.

There were lots of lies and tattle In dispatches and on wire, But 'twas Mac who saved the battle When the word came to retire. "I'll no do it"—he cried, ready For what peril lay in store, With his ranks like steel and steady— "And I'll see them hanged before! O, we maun jist fight!" And bolder Slewed his front the Dervish way, Smart with shoulder knit to shoulder, White and black that bloody day.

Then a hell of fire, and sputtered Iron blast and leaden hail, While the Maxims stormed and stuttered And our rifles did not fail. For the destiny of nations With an agony intense, And our Empire's own foundations Hung a minute in suspense. But old Mac was cool as ever, And his words like leaping flame Flashed in confident endeavour To avert that evil shame.

Swung his lines on hinges, rolling Right and left like very doom, Till our fate nigh past controlling Brake in glory out of gloom. While upon those awful stages Throbbed a world's great piston beat, And the moments seemed as ages Rung from death and red defeat. Ah, we lived, indeed, and no man Recked of wound or any ill, As we grimly faced the foeman— If we died, to conquer still.

And it felt as though the burden Of all England gave us might, Laid on each, who asked no guerdon But against those odds to fight. Let the lucky get high stations And the honour which he won, Mac desires no decorations But the gallant service done. For the rankers bear the losses And the brunt of every toil, While they earn for others "crosses" And the splendour and the spoil.