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THE CURSE OF CARNE’S hold.
A TALE OP ADVENTURE,
By 0. -A.- HENTT.
Author of “Under Drake’s Flag,” “With Clive In India,” Etc., Etc.
[ALL EIGHTS EESEE VED. 1
CHAPTER XL
attack on a wagon train.
“Sergt. Blurt, you will take a detach
ment of fourteen meu, ride down to Port
£ igtbeth, and escort some wagons back
here. There will be a party of native levies
to come back with you, so that they, with
your party, will make a pretty stroDg force.
The dangerous point it, of course, the
Addoo bush. It is, I hear, full of these
Kaffir villains. Going down you will pass
through it by daylight; and traveling fas ,
there is no fear of their interfering with a
par ;y line your* Coming back, the Fin
eoes will let you know of any danger, and
I should hardly think that the natives will
venture to attack sj strong a party; still,
as the wagons will bo laden with am muni
tion and these fellows always seem in some
way’ or other to know exactly what is going
on, you cannot be too careful.”
“Very well, sir. i will do my best in the
An hour later Ronald started with the
detachment. They traveled rapidly, and
reached Port Elizabeth on the third day
after starting without any adventure what
ever. The wagons were not ready to start,
for a heavy sea was setting in, and the
costs could not continue the work of un
loading the ship that had arrived with the
ammunition two days before. Ronald,
after seeing that the horses were all well
cared for, the rations served out, and the
cooking commenced, strolled down to the
beach to watch the heavy surf breaking on
the shore.
The encampment of the native levies was
on the shore, and a white officer was in
specting their arms when he arrived. Ron
ald stood for some time watching the group
with amusement, as some of the
men wore in blankets, other in karosses of
cow skin, many with feathers stuck in their
hair, all grinning and highly amusod at the
efforts of their officer to get them to staud
in regular line, and to hold their muskets at
an even slope on their shoulders. Some of
their wives were looking on and laughing;
others were squatting about by the shelters
they had erected, cooking mealies for din
ner. The officer, who was quite a young
man, seeing Ronald looking on, said, rue
fully;
"I don’t think there is any making sol
diers out of those fellows, s^-geant.”
“I don’t think they wouid be any the better
for it if you could, "sir,” Ronald said. “Tiie
fellows will light after their own fashion,
and Ido not think any amount of drill
would improvethom in the slightest ;in fact,
it would only puzzle and confuse them to
try to teach them our discipline. They
must fight the Kaffirs in Kaffir fashion.
When it comes to regular fighting it must
be done bv the troops. All that you can
expect of the native levies is that they shall
act as our scouts, find out where the enemy
are hiding, prevent sur, rises, and pursue
them when we have defeated them.”
“Do they not try to drill them up at the
front?”
“Not at all, sir. It would be quite useless
to attempt it. So that they attend on
parade in the right number—and their own
head man looks after that—nothing more is
expected of them. They march in a rougn
body anyhow, and when it comes to fight
ing they fight in there own way, and a very
useful wav it is.”
“Well, I am very glad to hear you say so.
sergeant. I have been doing the bes' I cau
to give them some idea of drill, but I have,
as you see, failed altogether. I have no
orders except to take command of these fel
lows, but I supposed I was exp >cted to
drill them to some extent; still, if you say
they have given it up as hopeless in the
front, I need not bother myself about it.”
“I don’t think you need, sir. I can assure
you that no attempt is made to drill them
in that way in the front."
The young officer, with an air of relief,
at once dismissed the natives from parade.
“I am in charge of the party that is going
up with you to-morrow, sir. or at least as
soon as the waguns are ready for you.”
“Oh, is it you, sergeant? I heard that a
detachment of your corps were to accom
pany us. I suppose you have just arrived
from King Wiliiamstown?”
“I came in about an hour ago, sir, and
have just been seeing that the men were
comfortable.”
“Did you meet with any Kaffirs on the
w av down?”
“We saw no signs of them. We came
through the Addoo bush, which is the most
dangerous point, at a gallop. Not that
there was much chance of their attacking
us. The natives seldom attack unless there
is something to be got by it; but we shall
have to be careful as wo go back. We
shall be a fairly strong party, but others as
strong have been attacked; and the fact of
our having ammunition—the thing of ail
others they want—is, of course, against
us. ”
“But how will they know that we are
carrying ammunition?’’
“From the Hottentots, who keep them
informed of everyt dug,” Ronald said. “At
least, we have no doubt whatever that it is
the H ttentots. Of course, the general
doesn’t think so. If he did, I suppose he
would keep them out of camp; but there is
onh' one opinion in the ranks about it.”
The conversation was interrupted by veils
and screams from the natives, and ageneral
rush down to the beach.
“There Is something the matter,” the
young officer said; and he and Ronald went
do wn to the edge of the water.
They soon saw what was the occasion of
the olarm among the natives. Soma of the
women and boys had beon dawn at the
edge of the surf, collecting bits of wood,
thrown ashore, for their fires. A boy of
some 14 years of age had seen a larger
piece than usual approaching the shore, and
just as the waves had thrown it up he ma le
a dash into the water, eager to be the first
to capture the prize. Ig orant, however,
of the force of the water, he had been in
stantly swept off his feet by ttie bock rush
of the waves. The next roller had carried
him some little distance up, a Ji'o.li .rne
him out again, and he was in the ,1 tof
the surf. He could swim a littl ■, but was
kelp’ess in tho midst of such a sea a* this.
The natives on t le beach were in a state of
the wildest excitement; the women filed the
air with their shrill screams, the men
shouted and gesticulated.
“Nothing can save him,” the officer said,
shaking his head.
Ronald looked round; there was no rope
lying anywhere on the shore.
“There’s just a chance, I think,” he said,
throwing off his belt, tunic and boots.
Make these fellows join hand ii na and, sir;
* will swim nut to him—he’s nearly gone
how—and bring him in. YVe shall te rolled
over and over, but if the line of men can
grab us and p event the under current fro u
carry inn us out again, it will be all right.”
Toe officer was about to remonstrate, but
Ronald, seizing the moment wh9n the water
bad just s wept back, rushed in, sprang head
foremost into the great wall of app oach
mg wa er, and in half a minute later ap
piared some distance out. A few vigorous
strokes took him to the side of the drowu
u i' 7 ’ w kom he seized by his w> oily mop
or hair; then he looked toward the shore,
the young officer, unable to obtain a hear
•bg from the excited Fingoes, w as using his
cane vigorously on their shoulders, and
presently succeeded in getting them to form
a line, holding each other by the hands. He
t k his place at their head and then waved
his baud to Ronald as a sign that he was
ready.
Good swimmer as he was, the latter could
not have kept much longer afloat in such a
sea; he was obliged tv continue to swim
from shore to prevent himself from being
cast up by each wave whica swept under
him like a race hor-e. The moment he saw
that the line was firmed he pulled the boy
to him and grasped him tightly; then he
laid himself broadside to the sen, and the
next roller swept him along with resistless
force on to the beach. He was rolled over
and over like a straw, and just as he felt
that the impetus had abated, aud he was
again beginning to move seaward, he felt
himself soized.
For a few seconds the strain was tremen
dous, and thought that he would have been
torn from the friendly grasp; then the pres
sure of tiie water diminished, and he felt
himself dragged along, and a few seconds
later he was beyond the reach of tho water.
He was up on his feet, feeling bruised,
shaken, and giddy; the natives, who had
yelled with j >y as they dragged him from
the water, now burst into wailings as they
saw that the boy was, as they thought,
dead.
“Carry him straight up to the fires,” Ron
ald said, as soon as ne recovered his shaken
faculties.
The order was at onc3 obeyed. As soon
as he was laid down, Ronald seized the
blanket from one of the men’s shoulders,
and set the natives to ru > the boy’s limbi
and body vigorously; t ea ho rolled him in
two or three other blankets, aud telling tho
men to keep on rubbing the fee 1 :, bega ito
carrv out the established method for restor
ing respiration, by drawing the boy’s arms
above his head, and then bringing them
down and pressing them against his ribs.
In a few min ites there wa. a faint sigh, a
little later on an attempt to cough, and thou
the boy got rid of a quantity of sea
water.
“He will do now,” Ronald said. “Keep
on rubbing him and he will be all right in a
quarter of an hour,”
As Ronald rose to his feet a woman threw
herself down on her knees besida him, and
seizing his hand p essed it to her forehead,
pouring out a torrent of words wholly be
yond his comprehension, for although he
uad by this tune acquired some slight ac
quaintance with the language, he as un
able tofollosv it when spoken s > volubly. Ho
had no doubt whatever that the woman was
the boy’s mother, and that she was thank
ing him for having preserved his life. Not
less excited was a native who stood beside
him.
“This is their head man,” the officer inter
preted; “he is the boy’s father and says that
bis is now yours and that he ii ready to give
it at any time. This is a very gallant busi
ness, sergeant, and I wish I cad the pluck
to have done it myself. I shall, of course,
send in a report about your conduct. Now,
come to my tent. I can lo; you have a shirt
and pair of trousers while yours are being
dried.”
“Thank you, sir; they will dry off them
selves in a very few minutes. I feoi cooler
and more comfortable than I have done for
a long time; ten minutes under this blazing
sun will dry them thoroughly.”
It was another two days bef ore the sea
subsided sufficiently for the surf boats to
bring the ammunition to shore, and during
that time the chief’s wifec nne several times
up to the barracks, each tune bringing a
fowl as a present to Ronald.
“What does that woman mean, sergeant?”
one of the men asked on tho occasion of her
second visit. “Has she failen in love with
you? She takes a practical way of shewing
her affection. I shouldn’t mind if two or
three of them were to fall in love with
me on the same terms.”
Ronald laughed.
“No, her son got into the water yesterday
and I picked him out, and this is her way of
showing her gratitude.”
“I wonder where she got the fowl from?”
the trooper said. “I haven’t seen one for
sale in the town anywhere.”
“She stole them, of course, another
trooper said, “or at least if she didn’t steal
them herself she got some of the others to
do it for her. The natives are all thieves,
man, woman and child; they are regularly
trained to it. Sometimes fathers will lay
wagers with each other as to the cleverness
of their childre i; each one backs his boy to
steal something out of*the other’s hut first,
and in spite of the sharp watch you may be
sure they keep up, it is very seld mi the
youngsters fail in carrying off something
unobserved. It’s a disgrace in a native’s
eyes to be caught thieving; but there’s no
disgrace whatever, rather the contrary, in
the act itself. There’s only one thing that
they are as clever at as thieving, and that
is lying. The calmness with which a native
will tell a good circumsbstn ntial lie is enough
to take one’s breath away.”
Ronald knew enough of the natives to
feel that it was probable enough that the
fowls were stolen, but his sense of morality
was not sufficiently keen for him to hurt
the woman's feelings by rejecting her of
ferings.
“The Kaffirs have proved themselves such
an ungrateful set of scoundrels,” he argued
to himself, “that it is refreshing to see an
exception for once.”
As soon as the ammunition was on shore
it was loaded into three wagons, and on the
following morning tho party started. It
was slow work, after the rapid pace at
which Ronald and his men had corns down
the country, and the halting places were the
same as those at which the troop had en
camped on its march up the country five
months before.
The greatest caution was observed in their
passage through the great Addoo bush, for al
though this was so far from the mam stro ig
hold of the natives, it was known that there
were numbers of Kaffirs hiding there, and
several mail carriers had been murdered
and wagons attacked. The party, however,
were too strong to be molested, and
passed through without adventure. The
same vigilance was observed when passing
over the sandy flats, and when they passed
through Assegai bush. O ice through this,
the road was clear to Grataamstovvn. Here
they halted fur the day and started on the
road leading through Peddie to King Will
iamstown. After a march of fifteen miles
they halted at the edge of a wide spreading
bush. They hal heard at Grahamstown
that a large body of Kaffirs were re jorted
to be occupying this bush, and accordingly
when they started iti the morning, Ronald
had advised tho youug officer in command
of the Fingoes to pass through it bv day
light
“There is no making a rush,” he said;
“we must move slowly on account of the
wagons, and there will bo no evading the
Kaffirs. Ido not think that there is much
chance of fcieir attacking sach a st ong
party as we are; but if wa are attacked, we
can brat them off a great deal better in the
daylight than at night; in the darkness we
lose all the advantageof our better weapons.
Be-ides, these folio is can see a great deal
better than we can in the dark.”
They started as soon as it was light. The
Fingoes, who wore a hundred strong, were
to skirmish along the road ahead and in the
wood on each flank of the wagons, round
which the detachment of rifles were to keep
in n close body, tho Fingo women and c.iil
dren keeping just ahead of the bullocks.
Scarcely a word was spoken after th-v en
tered the forest. The wagons creaked and
groaned, and the sound of the sharp cracks
of the drivers’ whips alone broke tae sde ice.
Tbs Rifles rode with tueir arms in readme is
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 21*, 1889.
for instant urn, while the Fingoes flitted in ,
and out among the trees like dark suadows.
Tue r b.ankets and karosses na.i been j
handed to tae women to carry, and they j
had oiled their bodies until they saone agai ,
a step always take i by the native's wh n
enraged in expeditions in the bush, ad
which seems d:*s gr.ed partly to give more
suppleness to the limbs, an'i partly to ei -
no o them to g'ide through the thorny
thickets without being severely scratched.
They had got about half way through
the bu-h without anything bring heard of
toe lurking enemy, when a sudden outbu'st
of firi g, tiling ei with yells a id shouts, was
heard about a quarter of a mile ahead.
“ The scoundrels are attacking a convoy
coming down,” Ronald exclaimed.
“Shall we rush on to their aid, sergeant?”
tho young officer who was riding next to
Ronald asked.
“I cannot leave the wagons,” Ronald
said; “but if you would take your men on,
sir. we will be up as soon as we can.”
The officer shouted to his Fingoes, and at
a run the natives dashed forward to the
scene of the c inflict, while Ro >ald urged
tjo drivers, and his me i pricked the bul
locks with their swords until they broke
into a lumbering trot.
In a few minutes they arrived at the
scene of action. A number of wagons were
standing in the road, and rouud them a
fight was going on between the Fingoes and
greatly superior numbers of Kaffirs.
Ronald gavotbe word, aud his men charge 1
down into the middleof the fight. The Kaffirs
did not await their onslaught, but glided
aw iy among the trees, the Fingoes following
in hot pursuit until recalled by their officer,
who feared tiiat their foes might turn upon
them when beyond the reach of the rifles of
the troopers.
Ronald saw at once as he rode up that
although the Fingoes had arrived in time
to save the wagons, they had come too late
to be of se vice to the majority of tho de
fenders. Some half dozni men, gathered
in a body, were still on their feet, but a
sc ire of others lay dead or desperately
wounded by the side of the wagons. As
soon as the Fiagoes returned and reported
the Kaffirs in full flight, Ronald and the
troops dismounted to see what aid they
could render. He went up to the group of
white men, most of whom were wounded.
“This is a bad j >b,”oneof thirn said; “but
we thought that as there were aoout thirty
of us, the Kaffirs wouldn’t venture to at
tack us. We were all on the alert, but they
sprang so suddenly out of the bushes that
half of us were speared before we had time
to draw a trigger.
“What bad wa better do, sir—go on or
go back?” This question was addressed to
the you ig officer.
“I Bcould tuink that now you have got so
far you had better go on,” he said. The Kaf
firs are not iikaly to return for some litttle
time. I will give you half iny Fingoes to
escort you on through the wood. Don’t you
think that will be the best plan, sergeant?”
'•1 tniuk s), sir. I will let you have half
my meu to go back with them. Tne rest of
us had better stay hare until they return.
But, first of all, wa will see to these poor
fallows. They may not be all dead.”
Most of them, however, were found to be
so, the Kaffirs having sprung upon them
and cut their throats as soon as they had
fallen. Two of them who had fallen near
the group which had maintained the resis
tance were, however, found to be still living,
and these were lifted into the wagons. Just
as the party were going to move on toward
the coast, a groan was heard among the
bushes by the sda of the road. Ronald and
two of the troopers at once proceeded to the
spot.
“Gond heavens!” ths formar exclaimed,
as ho le tiled over the man who was lying
th Te, “it Is Mr. Armstrong. ”
Ha was lifted up aud carried into the
road. An assegai had passed through both
logs, aud another ha 1 trausfixei his body
near the right shoulder. Tue point pro
jects 1 some inches through the bank,’the
shaft having broken off as ue fell R mal and
seized the stump of the spear, and with the
greatest difficulty drew it out from the
wound.
“Cut his things off,” he said to the
troopers, “and tear up something and
lightly band .ge the wound. lam afraid it
is a fatal one.” Then he hurried off to the
men.
“Were there not some women in the
wagons?” he asked.
“Yes, there were three of them,” the
man said; “a girl and two women. The
women were the wives of two of the men
who have been killed. The girl was the
daughter of another. I supp ise the natives
must have carried them off, for I see no
signs of them."
Ronald uttered an exclamation of horror;
he knew the terrible fate of women who
fell into tae hands of the Kaffirs. He
returned to the officer.
“What is it se gaunt?” he asked, “any
fresh misfortune?”
“A young lady I know, daughter of that
poor fallow we have just picked up, and
two other women, have beon carried off by
the natives.”
“Good heavans!” the young man said,
this is dreadful; they had a bh msand times
better have been shot with their friends.
What’s to be done, sergeant?”
“I don’t know," Ronald said, “I can’t
think yet. At any rate, in
stead of waiting till the men
with the wagons come back, I will push
straight on out of the wood, aud will then
send the rest of the men back at full gallop
to meet you, then you can all come on to
gether. I think you said you would take
command of the party going back with the
wage s.”
The two were at once set in motion. Ro
nald’s party met with no further interrup
tion until they were clear of the bush. As
soon as be was well awav from it, he sent
back the Rifles to join the other party, and
return with thorn through the forest. He
went on for half a mile further, then halted
the wagons and dismounted.
Mr. Armstrong had been placed in one
of the wagons going upsthe country, as they
were nearer to a town that way than to Port
Elizabeth; beside, Ronald knew that if Mr.
Armstrong recovered consciousness, ho
would for many rea-o is prefer being up the
country. Ronald walked up and down,
restless and excited, meditating what step
he had best take, for he was determined in
some way or other he would attempt to res
cue Mary Armstrong from the hands of the
natives. Presently the head man of the
Fingoes came up to him aod said, in a mix
ture of English and his own tongue;
“My white friend is troubled; can Kreta
help him?”
“I am troubled, terribly troubled, Kreta.
Oie of the white ladios woo has been car
ried off by the Kaffirs is a friend of mine.
I must get her out of their hands.”
Kreta looked grave.
“Difficult thing that, sir. If go into
bush get chopped to pieces.”
“I must risk tnat,” Ronald said; “I am
going to try and save her whether it cost
me my life or not.”
“Kreta will go with his white friend,”
the chief said; “whiteman no chance by
himself.”
“Would you, Kreta?” Ronald asked
eagerly; “but no, I have no right to take
yju into sucu danger as that. You have
a wife and child; I have no one to depend
upon me.”
“Kreta would not have a child if it had
not been for his white friend,” Kreta said;
“if he goes, Kreta will go with him, and
will take some of his men.”
“You are a good fellow, Kreta,” Ronald
said, shaking tne chief heartily by the hand;
“now, what’s the best way of setting about
it?”
The Fingo thought for some little time,
and then asked:
“i< the white woman young and pretty?”
"Ye .” Ronald replied, rather surprised
at the question.
“Then I think she is safe for a little while.
If she is old aud ugly they torture her and
kill hor quick; if she's pretty and young
most likel / they will semi her as a present
to their big chief; perhaps Maoomo or Ban
dilli, or Kreli, or one of the other great
chiefs, whichever tribe they beloig to.
Can’t do no,liiug to-day; might crawl into
tho wood; but if I find hor how can I get
her on'? That’s net possible. The best
thing will bo this: I will send two of my
young m :u into the bush to try and find out
what the v do with her, and where they are
going to take her. Tuen at nigh; we try to
cut them off as they go acr ss me country.
If we no meet tn-m we go straight to Aina
tolas to find out the kraal to whica they take
her a id then see now to get her off."
“How maov men will you take, Kreta?’’
“Fiva m n ” the chief said, holding up one
hand; "that’s enough to erren and crawl.
No use to trv force; too many Kaffirs. Five
men might do; SGJ no good."
“I think you are right, chief. It must be
done by craft if at all.”
“Tuen I wiil send off my two young men
at once,” the chief said. “T.ie’y go a long
way round, aud enter bush on th> other
side; then creep through the bus.o aid hear
Kaffir talk. If Kaffir sees them they think
they their own people, but mustn’t talk; if
they do, Kaffirs notice differeuca in tongue.
One two words no noticed, but if talk much
find out directly.”
“Then there’s nothing for me to do to
night,” Ronald said.
The chief saook his head. “No good till
quite dark.”
“In that case I will go on with tho con
vovs as far as Bushman’s river, where they
halt to-night.”
‘ Very well," the chief said. “We go on
with you there, and then co re back here
aud meet the young men, who will tell us
what they have found out.”
The chief went away, and Ronald saw
him speaking to some of his men. Then
two young fellows of about 2D years old
laid aside their blankets, put them aud
their guns into one of the wagons, and then,
after five minutes conversation with their
chief, who was evidently giving them min
ute instructions, went off at a slinging trot
across the country.
In less than an hour the party that was
escorting the settlers’ wagons through the
bush, aud the mounted men who had goue
to meet tnem, returned toget or, having
seen no sign of the enemy. The wagons
were set in motion, and the march con
tinued. Ronald Mervin rode up to the
officer of the native levy.
“1 am going, sir to make what may seem
a most extraordinary request, and indeed it
is one that is, I think, out of your power to
grant, but if vou give your approval it to
some extent will lessen my responsibility.”
“Wnatisit, sorgoantT’ the young officer
asked in some surprise.
“I want when we arrive at the halting
place to hand over the command of my de
tachment to the corporal, a id for you to
let me go away on my own affairs. I want
you also to allow your heal man, Kreta,
and five of his me i leave of absence."
The young officer was astonished, “Of
course I am in command of tie men, anil
have authority over you so lon ;as you are
with me, but as you received orders direct
from your own officers to t ike your de
tachment down to the coast, and return
with the wagons, I atn sure that I have no
power to grant you leave to go awav.”
“No, sir, that’s just what I thought, but
at the same time if you report LUat al
though you were unable to grant me leave,
you approved of my absence, it will make
It much easier for me. Not that it makes
any difference, sir, because 1 adipi;
frankly that I should go ii any case. It is
probable that one may be reduced to the
ranks, but and don’t think that under the cir
cums canoes they will punish me any more
severely than that.”
"But what are the circumstances, ser
geant? I can scarcely imagine aiy circum
stance that could make me approve of your
intention to leave your command on a
inarch like this.”
“I ava' just going to tell you them sir,
but I may say that Xdo not think it at all
probable that there will be aiy further
attack on the convoy. There is no more
large bush to pass between this and VViil
iatustown, and so far we have hoard cf no
attempt being made further on the road to
stop convoys. That poor fellow who is ly
ing wounded in the wagou is a Mr. Arm
strong. Ho was an officer in tho service
when ne was a youug man, and fought, he
told me, at Waterloo. His place is near the
spot where I was quartered for two months
just before the outnreak, aud he showed me
great kindness, and treated ms as a friend.
Well, sir, one of the fibres ladies that were,
as you hoard, carried off In the wagons,
was Mr. Armstrong’s daughter. Now, sir,
you know what her fata will be in tho
hands of those savages; dishonor, torture
and death. lam going to save her if I can.
I don’t know whether Is lall succeed, mist
likely I shall not. My life is of no great
consequence to me, and has so far been a
failure, but I want to try and rescue hor
whether it costs me my life or not. Kreta
has offered to accompany me with five of
his men. Alone, I should certainly fail,
but with his aid there is a chance of my
succeeding."
“By Jove, you are a bravo fellow, ser
geant,” tho young officer said, “and I
honor you for the determination you have
formed,” aud waiving military etiquette,
he shook Ronald warmly by the na id.
Assuredly I will, so far as is in my power,
give you leave to go, and will take good
care that in case you fall your conduct in
thus risking your life s ia.ll ba appreciated.
How do you mean to set about it?”
Ronald gave him a sketch of the plan that
had been determined upon by himself and
Kreta.
"Well, I think you have a chance at anv
rate,” the officer said, when be concluded.
“Of conrsi the risk of detec'ionin the midst
of the Kaffirs would be tremendous, but
still there seems a possibility of your escape.
In any case no one can possibly disapprove
of your endeavor to save this young lady
from the awful fate that would certainly
be hers unless you can rescue her. Poor
girl! Even though I don’t know her, it
makes my blood run cold to think of an
English lady in the hands of those savagus.
However, if I wore notin command of the
convoy, I would gladly go with you and
take my chance'.”
As soon as the encampment was reached,
Krota came up to Ronald.
“Must change clothes,” he said, “and go
as Kaffir.” Ronal 1 nodded his head, ai ho
had already decided that this step was
absolutely necessary.
“Must paint black,” the chief went on.
"how do that?”
“The only way I can see is to powder
some burnt wood and mix it with a little
oil.”
“Ye*, that do,” the chief said.
“I will be with you in five minutes. I
must hand over the command to the cor
poral.”
“Corp. James,” he said, when he went up
to him, “I band over the command of this
detachment to you. You are, of course,
to keep by the wagons and protect them to
King Wiliiamstown.”
“But where are you going sergeant?” the
corporal asked, in surprise.
“I have arranged with Mr, Nolan to go
away on detached duty for two or three
days. lam going to try to get tho unfortu
nate women who were carried off this morn
ing out of the hands of the Kaffirs.” The
corporal to iked at him as if he had doubts
as to bis sanity.
“I may not succeed,” Ronald went on,
“but I am going to try. At any rate, I
hand over the command to you. I quite
understand that Mr. Nolan cannot give me
leave, and that I run the risk of punish
ment for leaving the convoy, but 1 have
made up my mind to risk that.”
“Well, of course you know best, sergeant;
but it seems to me that punUhmsnt or no
punishment, there is not much chance of
your rejoining the corps; it is just throwing
away your life going among them eava-cs.”
“I don’t think it is as bad as that,” Rm
nald said, “although of course there is a
risk of it. At any rate, corporal, yo icm
take the oinvoy safely into King Wjlliams
town. That’s your part of tbe business.”
Ronald then returned to the encampment
of t:e nativo levies. A number of sticks
were charred and then scraped. There was
no oil to be found, but as a substitute tbe
charcoal was mixed with a littta cart grease.
Ronald then stripped, and was smear*l all
over with the ointment which was then
rubbed into him. Some more powdered
charcoal w -s then sprinkled over him, a'd
this also rubbed until he was a shin v black,
the operation affording great amus-rnout to
the Fingoee. Then a sort of petticoat con
sisting of stripes of hide reaching half way
1 down to the knee and sown to a leather
belt was put around his waist, amj his toilet
w us c iiup et i. ex • p; as to his hair.
The chiei looked puzzle l, but af or a few
minutes’ eonversarioni called to o e of the
women and dslib'ratoly cut off her w.iollv
mop close to the the scalp, and put it on to
Ronald's head. It fitted closely, for ho,
like all the mm, wore his hair cut quite
short to prevent its forming u receptacle
for Gust. The Fingoes appl mded by clap
ping their hands and performing a wild
dance round Ronald, while tho uonei
who now crowded up shrieked with laugh
ter.
Tho chief walked gravely round him two
or three time and then pronounc'd that lie
would pass muster. A bandolier for earr
ridgos, of nativo make, was slung over his
shoulder, and with a i ifle iu one hand and a
spear in t e other, and two or three neck
laces of brass beads round his neck. H maid
wmld anywhere, unless closely Inspected,
have passed as a Kaffir warrio . in order
to test his appearance he stroilol across to
where Mr. Nolan was inspecting tha serv
ing ut of rations.
“What do you wmt?” tho officer asked;
“the allowance for all the mm has been
served out already; if vou haven't got you - s
you must speak to Kreta about ir. I can';
go into the question with each of you.”
“Then you think I will do very well, Mr.
Nolan?"
I’he officer started.
‘ Good heavens, sargeant, is it you? I
had uot the slightest conception of it. You
are certainly admirably disguised, and you
might walk through Capo Town without
any one suspecting you, nut what are you
going to do about your feet? Y u will
never bo able to get through tie woods
barofootedl”
“I have been thinking of that myself,”
Ronald said, “and the only thing I can s>e
is to get them to make me a sort of sandal.
Of course it wouldu’c do in the day time,
but at night it would not bo observe 1,
unless I were to go close to the fire or light
of some sort."
“Yes, that would be the host plan," tho
officer agreed. “I dare say the Women can
manufacture you something iu that way.
There is tho hide of tiiat bulhick "o killed
yesterday, in tho front wagon; it was a
black one. ”
Ronald cut off a portion of the hide and
went across to the nativos nn 1 explained to
tnem what he wanted. Putting Ins foot on
the hide, a piece was cut off large enough to
form tho sole of the foot and come up about
an inch all round; hole* were made in this
and it was laced on to tho foot with thin
strips of hi le. Tho hair was, of course,
outside, and Ronald found it by no moans
u comfortable.
“You ride horse,” the chief said, “back
to bush. I take one fellow with me to
bring him back.”
R maid was pleased at the suggestion,
for he was by no means sure bow he should
feel after a walk of ten miles in his new foot
gear.
Tto be continued. 1
COUNTRY BOYS IN A CITY.
A Reporter’s Experience During One
Summer.
(Copyright 1881.)
New York, Sept. 28.—The gospel of
Gotham dominates this country to an ex
tent little realized by those who have given
the subject only a stray thought. Fame anil
fortune in Now York have been the ambi
tion of rural-bred youth from time imme
morial, and probably wilt continue to be
long in tho future; but the scheme, however
attractive at first blush, has its fatal weak
nesses, the principal one of which is nn en
tirely inadeq latoo 'caption of the strength
of those already in thellild, c.iu >lod with a
orro<pouding over-estimate, by the y mth
ful aspirant, of hisowupiwen. To leiv*
a comfortable ho ne and a position in t >.o
country, with the purpose of bitteriu;
one’s condition iu life, however co nuie lia
ble in tbe abstract, is extremely da gorous
to practice, as I sh ill endeavor to show from
personal experience during the past sum
mer. Having served a long appro ltlceshm
ns reporter on various New England and
New York state papers, I arrived in New
York one morning in May, with abundant
courage—and a light purso—in sea ch of
work.
One of the first discoveries made was that
the great man of a great daily journal is ap
parently about as busy a man as tho Presi
dent of the United .States is supposed to to,
and not nearly so accessible to a stranger.
With tho idea of furnishing a special clasi
of matter to the World , my first visit was
to that office. A preliminary skirmish
with the elevator potentate showed conclu
sively that the managing o liter was not
approachable from tnat direction by a
stranger, at least not without some diplo
macy. The next attempt, after being
smuggled in by a frieudly reporter, was
scarcely more successful, for while making
a bold dash for tha editorial rooms I wis
collared by tbe übiquitous oflica boy and
directed, in a way tnat ad uitrol ol no ar-
gument, to state my bit'inoss briefly and
explicitly on p tper. T.iis was sufficiently
chilling to the ardor of one accustomed to
tae free-and-easy atino'phere of country
offices, but to leant afterward that Vo
dunk credentials were about as
available in New York as Bob Ingersoli’s
famous “soup tick its without soup” was a
fatal shock to an already waning could
dance. Of course the mug late of the
World offica was too busy to consider my
proposition, and with an idea of letting me
down “easy,” no doubt, sentttr. word that
he was “not in.” To sty that this was the
uniform reception I me; with in all of the
principal offices would not bj the abs dnti
truth, but I can say that it was generally
tbe ca-se. Iu most of the offices I was abl
to obtain an interview of from five to fif
teen seconds duration, as I no * recollect in
those of tha 2Vmss, Hom'd aid />**
sufficient, at least, to inform me that tha
“desks wore all full” and “a I special work
provided for.” In tho Tribune office a gen
tleman kindly listeiel to my preposition,
aud promised to lay the matter before his
superior, in the Journal and Mail and
Express offices 1 salted down manu'cnp.s,
which were never used, or if so I was igno
rant of tho fact.
To cut the matter short,a week’s time with
the help of a newspaper friend enabled ino
to make the rounds of the principal offices
and demonstrated to my ontire satisfaction
that New York journalism was in a fair way
to worry along, indefinitely, witnout the
infusion of any fresn country b o >d into its
arteries. This week also depleted my
finances to an alarming extent, and a$ l a
week room with a correipo.idingly reduced
bill of fare was adopted without debate.
Then came a ghastly period <f
advertising and a> sw-ring adve-tis--
ments, tbe remit of which ws a trial of
addressing envelopes tor u ihifd avenue
firm at 20 cents a tnouiand, a bosiuesi that,
as every unfert mate knows who hai been
reduce Ito such an extremity, requires a
"lightning quill,” and one driven by a sus
tained current, as the electric ans tay. but
mine gave out after a three days’ trial.
Watch, clothing and a few other trifles
were then sacrificed to ob ain shelter in
Bowery lodging houses, with the scantiest
of fare, and dually, wit i only the clot ies t
wore and a packet of •coupons from Uncle
William,” as t e envelope was ironicallv
labelled, I joinel the invincible army of
tramps, moving north ward along the Hud
son river, ostensibly in search of w rk.
In my case the object was i o preten c,
anl I lost no time in securing work u . a„
Ulster county farm. The fruit season,
tuen just opening, enabled me to earn
rather more than ordi -ary farm wages at
picking strawberries, and after that came
haying, so in six weeks I had earned some
thing like S2O with which to return to t.o
city to release soma clotne* from “limbo”
aud renew the campaign for work. This
time, with tho aid of an old journalist.
wujj timely adv.ee and more sjoua itiai
help, which I shall rememiier with grati
tude as long as I live, I was successful in
getting a little transient work; euougb to
ko*n mi from the last extremity of despair,
Th sii the simple, unvarnished ssiry of
a man, willing and anxious to obtain any
honest employment that yields a decent
living, but shorn, in fuel, of m nr of it*
more distressing detail, It is substantially
ti> s“o‘v of hundreds and thousands of
young aon ovlii. yearly fliet <o tin greit
| c ties in tho vail :im -f b tiering ti -ir e >n
dition. But where o:io ucitedi a tho ls-unii
fal', a few return borne sadder an i wiser
for the experience, and many rtcriit tho
ranks of the eriuii. al classes.
While a nightly inmate of tbe cheap
lo igi.ug houses, too lamentable fact was
impro sol upon mo tha:. thru) plac s are
frequented loan alarming extent by young
m m from the country, ▼ etnas o' m sfoM
uno or their own ignore ce and p eiuinp
t:on, and reduce 1 to all stages of deg edi
tion. From a dozen i san su tiiat > ave
come under my re servation, I will rec uut
on© that impressed me t th ■ time as being
■articularlv unfortunate. A wiill-dro.se i
and intelligent-looking young fellow sat
reading a letter oil' rainy day in a 15-aiut
lodging house ou Park Row, wbero I was
also trying to read inysclf int i forgetful
ness of the surroundiug. His manifest
signs of grief attracted my attention, and,
after repea ed advnnoes froru me.
he was at last induced to tdl
his story. lie hail arriv'd in New York
six weeks before, fro n a small town uear
Poughkeepsie, whore he hal h°ld the p v-i -
tion of clerk in a store, and about hdf of
the time bad been spout iu prAon for the
larceny of a pie. At iutellige ice oil! o
aid a book canvassing experience bad used
his s endjrcapital, and after a fw.mti-tour
hours’ fast he a tempted to steal f.iod frem
an uptown grocery store, with tiie remit as
staled, toge,her with an indelHe stigma
attached to his name. Since his releaid he
has obtained a precarious living selling soap
powder from tho wagon <f a large firm,
traveling through the suburbs, and ou the
day mentioned lie had teciivcd a letter from
home, te'ling of the sickness u .and deithof a
sister. Ho was destitute <f moms to reach
home, even ha 1 be tie courage to g >, wnere
tho story of hii disgrace had precede 1 him
through the newspapers. That young man’s
future is s lorn of the r sy tints that colored
it, in bis eyes at least, 0.-i the July morning
when he step >ed, full of ambition and hops,
fro n the deck of the Poughkeepsie b .at into
the streets of Now Yorit, but Ills is a very
common experience, scarcely noticeable iu
tho crowd.
After persistent an 1 sustained effort
during tha entire summer to obtain work
in New York, this article, dear reader, is
the first I have sold, a id, fit tingly enough,
it is tho story of my ups and downs trying
te sell o her article*. I want to offer u
word of advice to tho “bovs”—l moan mv
fellow reporters on country papers and all
others who have tho city flea in their bon
nets: Before you t irow up comfortable
p sittous at home, where you are known
and your work is appreciated, with the ex
pectation of achieving success in a great
city, consider the matter well, for the
chances are about a thousand to one that
you are laboring under tho most stupendous
delusion that ever afflicted ordinary level
heals. A. M. Ao\rt.
MEDICAL.
|gr
HEALTH AND BEAUTY.
Swift"s Specific Sis cured my little niece of
while mvi l ing of the worst type. Moro than
twenty pieces of ben > enmo out of her leg. Bhe
was not side lo wo k for eight montho, and was
on crutches a yea. - . The doctors advised ampu
tation, but I refused, anti pnt her on 8. S. 8.
She is now as well and playful as any child.
Idas. Asms Gxzsunu, Columbus, Ga.
Treatise on Blood ami Skin Diseases mailed
free.
Sw-T—r ywrrioro.. Drawers. Atlanta, (is.
They have been trlod fer over fifty years, and
aro to-day tha most ponnb.r la nse.
Yonr fathers and motiisrs used them. They are
the Safest, Purest, tad Boet Bomedy for Liver
aid Stomach Diseases sr.r composnded.
For B*lo by all Dnigglot*. Price 25 et. pr box;
ll*m for AS cts.; oreerit t y mall, aomene frm>, on
receipt f prica. Dr. J. Il.Sohsnck * Bsn.PhilaiV.
LOTTERY*
lottery
OF TOE PUBLIC CHARITY.
ESTABLISHED IN 1877, lA* HIE
MEXICAN
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
Operated Under a Twenty Years’ Contract
by the Mexican International Im
provement Company,
Grand Monthly Drawings held in the Moresque
I'avlllon In the Alam-da Park. City of Mexico,
and publicly conducted by Government Offi
cial* appointo I for th* purpovi by the Secre
tary of the Interior an l the Treasury.
Grand Monthly Drawing, OcL 12, 1889.
CAPITAL PRIZE,
#60,000.
S'J.93O Ticket* at gl, #320,00!).
Whole, gt; Halve*, g'i ; quarters, gl;
Club Rate*: 65 Ticket* for 850
U. S. Currency.
LIST ok i>aizs*.
1 CAPITAL PRIZE OF soo,oool* $01.00)
1 CAPITAL PRIZE OF 20.000 is 201X1)
1 CAPITAL PRIZE OF 10,000 i* io.o*>
1 GRAND PRIZE OF 2,000 la ~ 2 000
8 PRIZES OF 1,000 are 3 000
6 PRIZES OF 600 are.... 3 000
SO PRIZES OF 200 are 400)
100 PRIZES OF 100 are ... 10,000
340 PRIZES OF 00are.... 17.000
554 PRIZES OF 20are.. . 11.080
A PFROXTMATIOV PRIZ'.f,.
150 Prize* of *OO, aup. to $ M.'HX) prize... B 9,000
150 Prizes of *s'), app to 20,000 Prlzv... 7,500
150 Prize* of $lO, app. to 10,000 Prize ... 8,000
793 Ter/nlna!* of 20,
decided by $OO,OOO Prlza., 15,980
2276 Prizes Amounting to $178,560
All Prizes sol i in the United State* full paid
in U. S. Currency.
SPECIAL FEATURES
By terms of contract the Company must de
posit the sum of all prise* included in the
scheme before selling a single ticket, and re
ceive the following official permit:
OKRTIPIGaTK.—I hereby certify that the
London Hank of Mexico and South America
has on special rlepo it the necessary fundi to
guarantee the payment of all prizes drawn by
the Loteria de la Peneflcencia Public j.
K. ROI>RIOVi:Z HIVRRA , Interventor.
Further, the Company is required to distrib
ute 58 percent, of the value of ad tbe tickets in
prizes- a larger proportion than is given by any
other Lottery.
Finally, tbe number of tickets Is limited to
80,000—20,000 less than are sold by other lot
teries using the same scheme.
For full particular* addre** li. llassetil,
Apartalo 733. City of Mexico, Mexico.
TRUNKS.
A, R. AWMATtB & CO.
MffifflK
Fffl II iffl.
U.'HBOBBMHHBBBi
GUI HI
3KDAY
AN'D
TUESDAY,
OCTOBER 7th and Bth.
Millinery,
Mantels,
•Dress Goods,
Silks,
Dress Robes,
AND ALSO OUR RECENTLY ADDED
DEPARTMENT,
Ladies’ Ready-Made Dresses, to.
MILLINERY—
It is with extreme gratifi
cation that we announce the
opening of our new fall and
winter stock. The buyer’s
task is no easy one, and it is
a relief when the goods
are opened and reviewed, his
calmer and more critical judg
ment approves his purchases
and warrants his original faith
in their value and cheapness.
Such is our feeling as we
make this announcement. Wo
entered the market deter
mined to signalize the coming
season by a stock which, in its
magnitude and completeness,
should mark an event iu tho
history of fall openings.
We have succeeded beyond
our most sanguine expecta
tions. Our stock is as com
plete as it is possible to make
it, and we are serenely con
fident that our customers will
approve tiie careful selections
which our buyers have made.
Iu Millinery* Goods, Hats,
Ilonnets, Flowers, Feathers,
etc., we will show an array
of novelties the like of which
has never before been seen in
any southern city. Of this
stock we feel particularly
proud. The stylos and pat
terns are simply supirb, and
warrant us in feeling that
our display is without a
blemish.
Mins S. M. DOURNEk our head mlllinenr
trimmer, who so successfully managed thfa
department la t spring, is bac c agtin after a
vacation of several weeks, spent ia the north,
i‘U lying the very latest ideas in millinery
handiwork. We can, therefore, i romiae our
patrons something startling and novel In tba
way of millinery trimming this coning
fall and winter. As to prices, they will say
more for us than we can aay for them to those
who investigate the values we offer. Our priors
mark the acme of cheapness amt the minimum
of profit, and are in every case the lowest that
can be made.
Wraps, Cloaks, Etc.—
Fashion is not always synonymous with
hcauty. but this season it seems to be agreed
that beauty should go beautifully atti ed. Ojr
MANTLE and CLOAK < tv art mom. is notable
for four first-class features: Vari-ty, Styles,
Quality and Cheapness. Tbe variety of our
stocs in this line is really remarkable, and
places at the disposal of buyers the widest
range of choice in a.l the latest novelties, and
places us at once hopelessly beyond the reach
of rivalry or competition.
Dress Goods—
Nothing surely can surpass our line of Dress
floods, which may truly bo called comp let*. it
iucl ides all toe novelties in fancy Die s Robes,
all tiie popular weaves in Sergos, Henriettas,
Lidles* Cloth, Tricots, Briilian vies. Flannels,
Sc., tho latest and most >tylish patterns, tbe
sli ties and co.< r ott sui-a Ijt> th • season j
nn I o Tem.s th-.- wilts, p0..,i e choice to tbe
mo it diverse taste t Is u t be borne in
m ,and that these v, * -Is are selected with a view
t. the sal ivfaciion of patrons and with regard
t > our reputation, 'they are not ouiy goods
tut will sell well, out goods that will wear well.
Ml that skill in manufacture ,u,i careful buy
.eg can do lias teen done this i-eason to mane
,:.s OiMi tinent thoroughly complete in every
detail Nothing will pleaso buyers more than
our prices, wiiich are unprecedentedly low.
rising it ail in all. we can f ran sly say that in
Press Goods, takiug pric ■, quantity and quality
into consideration, we have no competitors.
ALTIAYER'S
5
