The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-06-29

F~renchman. 1--WE all want SO much to
hear how it Sounds"
Agleam of intelligence passed overthe
mans face.
II have made a VOW not to speak a
word of French for six months, so as to
perfect myself in Dutch" he explained:
But l saw clearly that he did not I'M
derstand what l had said to him. His
host and hostess pressed him in vain to
speak his w language, if only to say
one word, but he persistently refused,
and got quite excited in the maintenance
of his absurd story of the vow'he had
taken. Shortly after he retired to his
bedroom, and was so confused that he
forgot to wish any of us goodnight.
ssThat is a queer fellow" said the
farmer, when we heard him close the
door of his room. 81 wonder what and
who he is-his story is an odd one."
'sHe is not a Frenchman, whatever
else he is" l remarked; 81 know that for
certain and explained the reasons l
had for making the assertion.
81 can tell you another thing" said the
farmer; ''he has not come from where he
says he has. l spotted a great many
mistakes he made. It's not an easy
matter to take in so old a bird as 1 am.
Why, man! know every inch Of every
road in the country for miles and miles,
right down to the old colony, or any
where you like"
.'And look at that box broke in the
Youngest child; "who ever saw such a
box as that for a man to travel with.
He has no other baggage but that little
bit of a box, and just feel how heavy it
is
YOU'RE just aboutright, young 'un,"
assented her father; sit amt got clothes
in it. 1t might be chock full of sover-
eigns by the weight, and he's precious
sharp IN looking after it, too;" and he
glanced at a small but strong wooden
trunk that stood by the piano.
"And did you remark" said mine
hostess, s.that he talked as if he had
learnt Dutch amongst the lowest Kaffres
rather than amongst the Boerspn
"Yes," said her husband; "but he has
a queer foreign or affected way of talk
ing as WE'LL"
II believe he is a Colony Boer, and
has been working at the diamond fields,
and has been in very low company, mix
ing q great deal with the Kaffres there.
You can see he is nasty sort of fellow"
said the wife; .tand that he is shamming.
He did not expect to meet any one here
who could speak French, and so he
thought he could safely say he was a
Frenchman. You may depend on ii
that he has got something he wants to
c~onceal.n
With this we all retired to rest. My
bed was made up on a sofa in the sitting
room.
Early the next morning the ~so-called
Frenchman spanned his horses in, and,
placing his box under his seat, departed.
He had a small Hottentot boy with him
as his only attendant. He was very
careful to ask his way, and very much
obliged for all the kindness he had re-
goodbye shortly after, and resumed my
journey.
Not very long after this occurrence, ]
happened to be paying a flying visit to 9
Boer family. whose farm was at no greai
distance from one of the numerous roads
that lead to and from the diamond-fields
l had arranged to pass the night at this
house, and we were rather a large party,
as all the different members of the family
gathered in the common sitting-room
Pipes and coffee were in full swing, and
SO was the ponderous conversation about
oxen and rates or transport, diversified
with the puzzle-headed politics which
are common in Boer houses.
A diversion, however, was suddenly
caused by one of the youngsters saying
apropos of nothing:
"Father, the spookis stillin the poort'
the .spook'' meaning the ghost.
"What?" 1 exclaimed; upon which
the youngster repeated his remark, ant
I learned that for some time past ghos
had haunted a certain poort through the
neighboring hills. He did not seem t.
be a visible ghost, but several of the
assembled company ayerred that they
had, on various nights, heard ~unearthly
noises in the pass, and that no horse
could be induced to go through it.
My curiosity was aroused, and I de.
clared my determination togo and inter.
view the spook if possible.
A Boer is not generally truly brave al
heart, but no man can enjoy seeing
what he considers bravery exhibited by
another more than a Boer does, hence
great were the encomiums showered or
me by those assembled.
My horse was forthwith saddled, ant
my host himself offered to show me the
way to the haunted poort.
The night was pitch dark; there was
not even a star to be seen through the
heavy canopy of clouds that overhuns
us, and we could not attempt any pace
faster than a walk; but my guide knew
the veldt well, and u nags were sure
footed and alive to the necessity of being
on the lookout for holes, SO we got OF
better than might have been expected
until the hills, which at first seemed
like a black wall in front of us, began
TO take shape, and l heard the gurgline
of the river which made its way through
the poort. There was no road, only
bridle-path but little used, and the horse.
slipped and scrambled as they dipped t.
the sharp descent which was to lead u
to the only ford, at the other side o
which a narrow and stony path wount
along through thick brushwood ant
under overhanging rocks and trees.
AT that moment a most unearthly cry
something between a moan and a yell
rang through the silence of the night.
"You hear itr' gasped my companion
with difficulty mastering his horse, VIII,
had swerved and tried to turn sharl
round. 81 a go no farther!'
At the same instant his horse wheeled
and in doing so struck mine. The ami
NAL, already startled, reared, and whel
1 had mastered him 1 found mysel
alone.
Inow bethought me of what 1 was t.
do. Myhorse WA thoroughly frightened
and I did not like the idea of forcing
him down the steep bank into the ston,
bed of the river, only to have him pos
sibly still further terrified when his foot
ing would be insecure at the opposit
side. There was evidently something
mysterious about the cry, for it was no
the cry of any wild beast, and L though
1 should be likely to find my poor hors'
rather in my way if l wished to fathon
the mystery. 1 therefore determined t
take him a little way back, and if L coul,
not find the Boer who had accompanies
me to leave him to his own devices willis
l engaged in my adventure. l hallooet
aloud, and presently heard a response
NV friend had pOt a lOnu way off I'm