Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-11
eli APTER XXX.
TIE GREAT EAS.

CHAPTER XXX.
TIE GREAT MAN.
Completely overcome by this last remark,
Hans collapsed like q jelly fish out Of water,
and reflected in his worthless old heart that
Frank Muller was indeed n devil Of man."
BY this time they had reached the door of the
little house and were dismounting. and in an
other minute Hans found himself in the pres
ence of one OF the leaders of the rebellion.
He was short, ugly man of about 50, with
a big nose, small eyes, straight hair and q
stoop. The forehead, however, was good,
and the whole face betrayed keenness and
ability far beyond the average. The great
man was seated at plain deal table, writing
something with evident difficulty upon a
dirty sheet of paper, and smoking a very
large pipe.
aSit, heeren, sit" he said when they en-
tered, waving the stem of his pipe toward a
deal bench. Accordingly they sat down with
out even removing their hats, and, pulling
out their pipes, proceeded to light them.
"How, in the name Of God, do you spell
'excellencyr" asked the general, presently.
u have spelled it in four different ways, and
each one looks worse than the last"
Frank Muller gave the required informa-
ton. Hans in his heart thought he spelled it
wrong, but he did not dare to say So Then
come another pause, only interrupted by the
slow scratching Of a quill across the dirty
paper, during which Hans nearly went to
sleep; for the weather was very hot, and he
Yves tired with his ride.
"There!" said the writer, presently, gazing
at his handwriting with an almost childish air
of satisfaction, that is done. A curse on the
man who invented writing! Our fathers did
very well without it; why should not we!
Though, to be sure, it is useful for treaties
with the Kaffirs l don't believe you have
told me right now about that 'e1ceEency,'
nephew. Well, it will have to serve. When
q man writes such letter as that to the rep
resentative Of the English queen he needn't
mind his spelling; it will be swallowed with
the rest, " and he leaned back in his chair and,
laughed softly.
aWell, Meinheer Coetzee, what is it, All,
know; the prisoners. Well, what did you
dor
Hans told his story, and was rambling on
when the general cut him short.
$50 cousin, sol You talk like an OK wagon
rumble and creak and jolt, a devil of a
noise and turning of wheels, but very little
progress. They will give up the twelve men
for our four, will theyi Well, that is about
fair proportion. No, it is not, though; four
Beers are better than twelve Englishmen any
day-ay, better than forty!" and he laughed
again. "Well, the men shall DO sent in as
you arranged; they will help to eat up their
last biscuits. Good day, cousin. Stop,
though; one word before you CO. l have
beard about you ct times, cousin. l have
heard it said that you cannot be trusted.
Now, l don't know il that is so. don't
believe it myself. Only, listen; il it should
be SO, and ! should find you out, by Godi
! will have you cut into rimpis with
afterox sjambocks, and then shoot you and
send in your carcass as o present to the Eng
lish, = and as he said it be leaned forward and
brought down his fist upon the deal table
with bang that produced most unpleasant
effect upon poor Hans nerves, and a cold
CLEAN Of sudden ferocity flickered in the
small eyes, very discomforting for timid
man to behold, however innocent he knew
himself 10 be.
II swsnr"- be began to babble
s6wear not At all, cousin; you are an elder
-of the church. There Is no need to, besides. l
told you I did not believe it of you; only I
have had one or two cases Of this sort Of thing
lately. No, never mind who they were. You
win not meet them about again. Good day,
cousin, good day. Forget not to thank the
Almighty God for our glorious victories. He
will expect it from an elder of the church,
Poor Hans departed crestfsllen. feeling
that the days Of him who tries, however skill
fs,ylv 80
at once are not happy days, and sometimes
threaten to be shcrt ones. And surprising
that the Englf1Gnen should win after alias
In his hart b. cped they might-how Should
- TIN provo that he had hoped It'll The
&snerM wptchsd him waddle through the
dor nom under his pent brows, half
humorous, half menacing expression on his
face.
"A windbag; coward; man without .
heart for good or for evil. Bah! nephew, that
Is Hans Coetzee have known him for years.
Well, let him go. He would sell us if he
could, but have frightened him now, and,
what u more, II see reason, he shall find
never bark unless ! mean 20 bite. Well,
enough OF him Let mo see, have l thanked
you yet for your share in Majubal Ahi that
was o glorious victory! How many were
there Of you when you started up the noun
tainT
1s.sy men.
nua 10y many :. 'ae emu
more"
@And how many Of you were hita"
SThree-one killed, two wounded, and o
Ae~ w vua.cneI
noerIni' "onoef1ui! IL was brave
oeeo, ana because II was 80 brave u was sue
ceuui' ne must nave been MAD, That Eng
ssn general who shot himr
ss1D Sohey neia up q wnils
nanokecmef IN ms hand, and breytenbacl
nfeo, ana DOWN went the general oil OF
neaP. 80 snen tney all ran heller skeiter down
" M !e " was . wonderful thing
1ney could have beat us back with their lef
hand That y what comes OF having right
eo@ canse. uncle."
Tue general smiled grimly. THAT Is wha
comes q having men who can shoot, and WHIT
underseand Tho country and are NOT afraid
Well Il y Cone and weu done. Tho stars u
theix courses have fought for rs, Frank Null
II. ed - tar No have conquered. But how
h Il to endi You are no fool: tell me, how
viii It endP
Feank Muller rose and walked twice up and
down the room before no answered. AShall
tall yuusn be asked, and then, without wait
isR fer an answer, wen1 ON: at will end il
our getting tlae country hack. That b what
this srmistics meana There arc thousapd.
OF rooibaaties there at the Mex: they cannot
therefore be waiting for soldiers. They are
wsisng Tor an Opportunity 70 yield' uncie
nc1u akrw tHAD md