The Hero W. Somerset Maugham, Fiction, Classics, Historical, Psychological

& 34;We were sent to take an unoccupied hill. Our maxim was that a hill is always unoccupied unless the enemy are actually firing from it. Of course, the place was chock full of Boers; they waited till we had come within easy range for a toy-pistol, and then fired murderously. We did all we could. We tried to storm the place, but we hadn& 39;t a chance. Men tumbled down like nine-pins. I& 39;ve never seen anything like it. The order was given to fire, and there was nothing to fire at but the naked rocks. We had to retire -- we couldn& 39;t do anything else; and presently I found that poor Larcher had been wounded. Well, I thought he couldn& 39;t be left where he was, so I went back for him. I asked him if he could move.& 39;No,& 39; he said,& 39;I think I& 39;m hurt in the leg.& 39; I knelt down and bandaged him up as well as I could. He was simply bleeding like a pig; and meanwhile brother Boer potted at us for all he was worth.& 39;How d& 39;you feel?& 39; I asked.& 39;Bit dicky; but comfortable. I didn& 39;t funk it, did I?& 39;& 39;No, of course not, you juggins!& 39; I said.& 39;Can you walk, d& 39;you think?& 39;& 39;I& 39;ll try.& 39; I lifted him up and put my arm round him, and we got along for a bit; then he became awfully white and groaned,& 39;I do feel so bad, Parsons,& 39; and then he fainted. So I had to carry him; and we went a bit farther, and then--and then I was hit in the arm.& 39;I say, I can& 39;t carry you now,& 39; I said;& 39;for God& 39;s s...