Wichita eagle., 1888-05-12

hotel.
By this time the people Of the house began
to stir, and preparations for breakfast were
soon in full swing.
On the appearance Of this meal joined the
motley group in the common room, for there
is no distinction in frontier hotel in South
Africa, master and mistress and guests Of
every degree sitting down together.
observed Dinelli and Osierton in conver-
sation during the morning, and this did not
tend to allay my fears. So delayed proceed
ing onward for the present, and continued my
stay at Howick until had time to think the
matter out.
Toward midday l observed mule cart
bowling along the road from the direction Of
Pietermaritzburg. On reaching the hotel it
pulled up close to where was standing, and
there stepped out an officer in uniform, whom
/ 1 recognized as DR.. Mills, of the army medi-
I cal department
! We had met frequently at headquarters,
and knowing him to be a man OF some judg-
ment and decision of character, determined
to make confidant of him.
Having embarrassed and partaken of re-
freshments, he expressed wish TO see the
Umgani falls, magnificent cascade In the
immediate neighborhood, falling from a
height of more than 500 feet The roar of its
waters could be heard from where we were
I standing.
hailed this opportunity Of making my
communication, and volunteered to accom-
pany him.
When well out Of earshot explained ali
the circumstances of my position and the
doubts entertained of Dinelli He listened
attentively.
"And now what 90 you suggestF" he asked
after had ended.
My idea was this: He being Oh his way to
Helpmakaar with a supply of medical COM
forts for the troops, was to permit me TO ez-
change loads with him, allowing me to trans
fer the contents Of his vehicle to mine while
| placed the specie In his. He was then to
drive on by Currie's post and Colenso to
Ladysmith, where the money could be placed
in charge Of the resident magistrate until my
/ arrival.
"But how about yourself2" he asked eff
as you seem to think, they have suspicion
of what you carry, you will be murdered to
a certainty. / never saw a more cutthroat
looking set Of scoundrels in my life than those
worthless of Osierton's Horse. Besides. how
can the exchange be effected without excit-
ing suspicionr'
Il have thought Of that" I returned.
after breakfast l had private interview
with Mrs. Padley, and upon my pressing
representations obtained her consent to have
the boxes removed to room at the back of
the premises. A door from thence leads into
the new laager, as place of exit, should the
hotel be attacked and become untenable.
From that room think should be able, after
nightfall, to make the necessary transfer, un-
/ observed, you causing your conveyance to
be taken to she back of the house I heard
them say that Mr.. Shore, of the telegraph
department, was expected in with some
workmen, and, as he is jovial sort of fell
low, always spending his money pretty
freely, there will no doubt be a carouse.
''As regards myself" l added, ''they will
feel secure, having announced my intention
| OF not starting till late tomorrow morning,
two of my mules being slightly lame This
luckily happens to be the case. Should this
come off all right will take my departure,
after allowing you a good start, and if
reach Currie's Post unmolested, will remain
there for the night, and on the following
morning endeavor to reach Ladysmith by
Bavian's Poort and the old road"
81 think the plan a risky one for you,
whichever way you look at it," he observed: ::
''but you MAY rely upon my cooperation"
l thanked him heartily, and remarked that
his own share was not free from danger, at
which he laughed
| After viewing the falls we returned to the
hotel.
The advent Of Mr.. Shore led as was antici-
pated, to a jollifcation, and I joined in it
with apparent zest, slipping away every now
and then to remove packet from the doc
.. tors cart, replacing it by one of the boxes,
until the exchange had been fully completed
The next morning was an anxious one to
me. DR.. Mills at an early hour, harnessed
in a leisurely hummer, stood chatting with
me for a few minutes on indifferent subjects
within hearing of the people about, and then
drove away.
! gave sigh of relief as l saw the mules
turn round the corner that shut out the view
of the house and disappear in the scrub lined
road below.
Turning back to the hotel, I encountered
the Italian, in company with Osierton and
Mondrum. "Well, captain" said the latter,
when do you startl Can we help you to
load the ammunition"
Thank you," said coolly; "it is done
already. didn't like to trust to chance, as
accidents often happen"
Yes: it might go off, you know" said
Osierton, jeeringly; and they all three
laughed.
/ was now convinced that Dinelli had by
some means become acquainted with the fact
of the dispatch of the gold, SO l determined
to delay my departure as long as possible. in
order to enable DR.. Mills to reach Currie's
post in sufficient time to halt, rest his mules,
and then resume his journey, by which time
the safety of the consignment would be Sc
cure.
l answered the trio with jest, and my
spirits rose at the thought of having outwit-
ted the scoundrels
noticed that they did not communicate
with any other members Of the band, so con-
cluded that if they had any enterprise in
hand they meant to keep il to themselves.
When the time arrived that had decided
to start ordered the driver to harness. hav-
ing previously hired two fresh mules from q
farmer in the neighborhood When all was
ready drove away.
A number of the men were standing about,
but did not observe Dinelli or his two new
friends
Carefully examining my revolver, which
was loaded in all six chambers, brought it
conveniently to my hand, and prepared for
whatever might happen.
There was only one part Of the road where
could be attacked at disadvantage, and
this was situated about half way between the
falls and Currie's Post, az a bend round .
narrow shoulder Of rock. Before coming in
sight of this place pulled up few mo-
ue0fs and addressing the driver said.