Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-11-14
THE MYSTERY OF sAsAssA VALLEY
A south African story

SOuth African story,
DO | know why Tom DonahHe is
called Lucky TomP" Yes, do; and
that is more than one in ten of those
who call him so can say. l have
knocked about deal in my time, and
seen some strange sights, but none
stranger than the way in which Tom
gained that sobriquet and his fortune
with 1t; for was with him at the time.
Tell itP o, certainly; but Il is a long
Ish story, and a very strange one so fill
up your glass again, and light another
cigar, while try to reel it off. Yes, a
very strange one-beats some fairy
stories | have heard; but it's true, sir,
every word of it. There are men alive
at Cape Colony now who'll remember
it and confirm what l say. Many a
time has the tale been told round the
fire in Beers cabins from Orange State
to Griqualand; yes, and out in the Bush
and at the Diamond Fields, too.
I'm roughish now, sir; but was en-
tered at the Middle Temple once, and
studied for the bar. Tom-worse luck |
was one of my fellow students, and A
wildish time we had of it, until at last
our finances ran short, and we were
compelled to give up our so-called
studies, and look about for some part
of the world where two young fellows
with strong arms and sound constitu-
tions might make their mark. In those
days the tide of emigration had scarce
ly begun to set in toward Africa, and
so we thought our best chance would be
down at Cape Colony.
Well-to make a long story short
we set sail, and were deposited in Cane
Town with less than Is in cur pockets:
and then we parted. We each tried our
hands at many things, and had ups
and downs; but when, at the end of
three years, chance led each of us up-
country, and we met again, we were,
regret to say, in almost as bad plight as
when we started,
Well, this was not much of q begin
ming; and very disheartened we were
so disheartened that Tom spoke of 60
ing back to England and getting a
clerkship, For you see we didn't know
that VIC had played out all our small
cards, and that the trumps were going
TO turn up. No; we thought our
hands were bad all through. 1t was
very lonely part of the country that
we were in, inhabited by few scat
tered farmers, whose houses were
stockaded and fenced in TO defend them
against the Caffres.
Tom DGnahue and had a little hut
right out in the Bush; but we were
known to possess nothing, and to be
handy with our revolvers, so we had
little to fear. There we waited, doing
odd jobs, and hoping that something
would turn up. Well, after we had
been there about a month, something
did turn up upon certain night
something which was the making of
both of us; and it's about that night,
sir, I'm going to tell you. / remember
it well. The wind was bowling past
our cabin, and the rain threatened to
burst in our rude window. We had a
great wood fire cracking and sputter-
ing on the hearth, by which | was sit
ting mending whip, while Tom was
lying in his bunk, groaning disconso-
lately at the chance which had led him
to such place.
"Cheer up, Tom, cheer up" said l.
"No man ever knows what NAV be
awaiting him."
Ill luck, i'll luck, Jack" he an
swered, 81 always was an unlucky dog.
Here have l been three years in this
abominable country; and | see lads
fresh from England jingling the money
in their pockets, while | am as poor as
when landed. All, Jack, if you want
TO keep your head above water, old
trlend' you must try your fortune away
from me.n
Nonsense, Tom; you're down on
your luck tonight. But hark! Here's
some one coming outside. Dick Whar-
ton by the tread. He'll arouse you, if
any man can"
Even as | spoke, the door was flung
open 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 greeting us, sat down
by the fire to warm himself.
WhereRway, Dick, on such night
as thisV said l. You'll find the rheu-
matism worse foe than the Caffres,
unless you keep more regular hours"
Dick was looking unusually serious.
almost frightened, one would saw, if one
did not know the man.
" Had to CO." he replied" had to
go. One of Madison's cattle was seen
straying down Sasassa Valley, and of
course none of our blacks would 90
down that valley at night; and if we
had waited till morning, the brute
would have been in Caffreria."
Why wouldn't they go dowr Sasas-
sa Valley at nightP" asked Tom.
" Catfres, suppose" said |.
Ghosts" said Dick.
We both laughed.
" suppose they didn't give such a
matter-of-fact fellow as YOU a sight of
their charmsP' said Tom, from the
bunk.
Yes" said Dick, seriously" yes;
l saw what the niggers talk about; and
/ promise you, lads, don't want to see
it again"
Tom sat up in his bed. Nonsense,
Dick, you're joking, man. Come, tell
us all about it. The legend first, and
your own experience afterward."
" Well, as TO the legend" began
Dlck, 4" 1t seems that the niggers have
had II handed down TO them that Sa-
sassa valley is haunted by frightful
mend. Hunters and wanderers passing
down the detile have seen its glowing
eyes under the shadows of the cliff; and
the story goes that whoever has CHANGED
TO encounter that baleful glare has had
his after-life blighted by the malignant
power OF this creature. Whether that
be true or not" continued Dick, rue
fully, " ! may have an opportunity of
Judging for myself"
"Go on, Dick; go on" cried Tom.
Let's hear about what you saw"
Well, l was cropping down the val
ley, looking for that COW of Madison 8
and l had, l suppose, got half way
down, where q black craggy cliff iuts