The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-07
TEE MYSTERY OF SASASSA VALLEY
IA SOUTH AFRICAN STORY.

IA SoIJi IL Az lSlta IN - u 1'1N
Do | know why Tom nnnahue Ia called
s'TMrky Tom7M Yes ] do, aud that Ia moro
than one I'm ten OF those who call him 80 can
any. have knocked about n deal In my time.
and seen come strange sights, but none
stranger than the way In which Tom gained
that so,lbrl1let aud his fortune with II. For /
was with him at tho time. Tell III Oh. Ger
talnly; but II ID longish story and y strange
one. 10 fill up your glass again and light
another cigar while try Ia reel H. Off. Yes,
n gerry strange one. beats some fairy stories
I have heard. but it's true sir. every word Of
II. There are men III Cape Colony now who'll
remember II and confirm what | say. Many
a time has the tale been told round tho fro
IN Bpers' cabins from Orange State to Grl1ua-
land: yes, and out Ia tho bush and at tho
diamond fields too
I'm roughish now. slr: but was entered Mt
the Middle Temple once. aud studied for the
bar. Tom worse luck was one Of my fel-
low students; and u wiidsh Time we had OF
II. until at Inst our finances ran short, aud we
we're compelled TO give up our ao.called
studies and look about for some part Of tho
world where two young fellows With strong
arms and sound constitutions might make
their mark. In those days the tide Of emil
grafton had scarcely begun 10 sct In toward
Africa, and go we thought our best chance
would be down nj Cape Colony, Walt-to
make long story sh0rt-we SCI sail and
were deposited In Cape Town with less than
five pounds III our pockets aud there Wn
parteh. We each tried or hands ut many
things. and had upa and downs. but when. at
the end of three years, chance led each nf us NJ
country, and We met again, VIC were, regret
TO say, In almost AZ bad plight as when we
started.
Wen, this was not much of u commence
meni and ynry dlaheartennd wc were 40
nisheartened that Tom spoke OF going back
To England and getting carkship For
won sea We didn't know that We had played
out all Of our small cards, and that tho
trumps were going " turn up Ne. We
thourht our hands were had all through
It was a very lonely part of tho country that
we were In. Inhabited hy few scattered
farmers, whose houses We're st"rEadnn ana
fenced Id 80 defend thom against the katiira
Tom nonahue aud had a little right, ont "
that bush. but we were known 10 poascsa
nothing. and to he handy With onr rcvoIvnra.
40 we Had little to fear. There We waited, Do
Ing odd Jobs, and hoping that something
would turn up. Well after W. Had boon
there d month aaemothin9 did turn pupon
certain night, something which was the max
ing of both of us; and It's about that night,
SIT, that I'm going to tell YOU. ! rem"mbot
1t we'll. The wind was bowling past our cur
tain, and the rain threatened 10 burst in our
rude window. We had good wood-tirc
cracking and sputterna on tho hearth. hy
which | was sitting mendIng whip, while
Tom was lying IN hia bunk groaning dacon-
soIately at the chance which had led him to
such place.
"Cheer mp. Tom cheer III. said !. No
man ever knows what may be awaiting
him"
I'll luck Ill luck. Jack. no answered.
u always was All unucky dog. Here have
been three years in this ahominabe cnun-
try: and SEQ lads fresh from England jtng-
ling the money Ia their pockets, while an,
az poor az when | landed. All. Jack. IT you
want to keep your head above water.
old friend. you must try your fortune away
from me-
Nonsense, Tom. you're down on your luck
Tonight. But bark! Here's some ono coming
). outside. Dick Wharton by the tread. he'll
rouse you, ii any man can,
and honest Dick Wharton, with the water
pouring from him. stepped IN. his hearty red
face looming through the haze like harvest
moon He shook himself, and. after greet
Ing ~. sat down ey the tire to warm i himself
this?. said L. You'll find the rheumatism =
worse foe than the kailirs. unless you keep
more regular hours,
Dick was looking unusually serious, almosl
frightened, one would say, II one did not
know the man. Had e. ~. he replied.
"had TO ae. One of Madtsons cattle was
seen straying down Sasassa valley, and oi
course none of our blacks would 70 down
that valley at night. and II we had waited till
morning the brute would have been II kailtr-
land"
"Why wouldn't they ~ down Sasassa Val
ley Mt night
'skaffirs. suppose said l.
Ghosts. said Dick.
We both laughed.
II suppose they didn't give such matter-of-
fact fellow as YOU n sight OF their charms z"
said Tom, from the bunk.
YES said Dick, seriously "yes, u saw
what the niggers talk about, aud ! promise
you lads. don't want ever 70 see II again.
Tom sat up In bed. Nonsense Dick
you're Joking, man. Come. tell US all about
it. The legend first, and your own experience
afterward. Pass him over the pottle Jack
well. as to the legend" began DICK. lt
seems that the niggers have had ~ handel
down to them that the Sasassa valley Is
haunted by frishtfu tiend. Hunters ana
wanderers passing down the detiie have seen
its glowing eyes under the shadows oil the
cliff: and the story goes that whoever has
Glanced to encounter that baleful glare has
had his after life blighted by the malignant
power Of this creature: Whether that was
true or not, continued Dick ruefully, II may
have an opportunity OF Judging for myselt; !.
- go on, Dlck-go on, cried Tom. Let
uipar about what you saw"
Well, was cropping down the valley look