Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-04-06

shape OF bag OF mealies.
We'll, are we to let tho old crow Eo" said
tho first man.
az We don't Let him go we shall have to
take him up to headquarters, and l want to
50 to sleep" And he yawned.
"Well, let him CO." answered the other. Il
think you arc right Tho pass said two carts.
Be of, you id preaching Englishman!'
John did not wait for any more, but laii
the whip across tho horses backs with Q will
On the following morning, when Com
mAndant Frank Muller-having heard that
this enemy, John Mel, was on his way up
with tho Cspe cart and four gray horses-as-
certained that . vehicle answering to that
description had been allowed to pass through
Heidelberg in the dead Of night, his state Of
mind may better be imagined than de-
acribed.
As for the two sentries, he had them tried
by court martial and set them TO make forti-
cations for the rest OF tho rebellion. They
can neither OF them now hear tho nano Of q
clergyman mentioned without breaking cut
into perfect food of blnsphemy
Luckily for John, although lie had been
delayed for five minutes or more, he man
aged to overtake the cart in which he pro-
Sumed tie bishop was esconced. His lordship
had been providcntaliy delayed by the break
ing Of trace; otherwise, it is clear that his
self nominated chaplain would never have
got through the steep streets Of Heidelberg
that night. The whole town was choked up
with Boer wagons, full now Of sleeping
Beers. Over one batch of wagons and tents
John made out tho Trarsveal Gag lrttering
In the night breeze and enblazoncd with tho
MI NJ nv nd N
armed Boer, marking, no doubt, the head
quarters Of the triuravirSte Once tbs cart
ahead Of him was stopped by sentry and
some conversation ensued. Then it went on
again: and 80 did John. unmolested. 1t was
weary work, that journey through Heidel-
berg, and full Of terrors for John, who cvery
moment expected to DO stopped and dragged
on ignominiously to Jail Tho horses, too,
were dead beat, and made frantic attempts
to turn and stop at every house. But, some
how, they got through tho little place and
then were stopped once more. Again the
first cart got on ahead, but this time John
was not SO lucky.
"The pass said one cart" said voice
yah, yah, ono cart" answered another.
John again put on his clerical cir and told
his artlcss tale; but neither Of tho men could
understand English, so they went to a wagon
that was standing about fifty yards away to
fetch somebody who could.
snow, inkoos." whispered the Zulu Mouti,
"drive on! drive on!"
John took the hint and dashed the horses
with bis long whip; while Mouti, bending
forward over tho splashboard, thrashed the
wheelers with a sjambock. or went the
team in spasnodic gallop and had covered
a hundred yards OF ground before the two
sentries had realized what had happened
Then they began to run after the cart shout
ing, but were soon lost in the darkness.
John and Mouti did not spare the whip,
but pressed on up the stony hills on the Pre-
toria side of Heidelberg without halt.
BY ii o'clock they reached hotel, or way
side house, known as Ferslsons, and situated
about twenty miles from Pretoria 1t was
empty, except for couple of cats and stray
dog. Tho inhabitants had evidently fed
from tho Bocrs. Here John stabbed ard fed
his horses, giving them all that remained OF
the forage; and then, once more, started on
for the last stage. The road was dreadful;
and he knew that the country must be full of
hostile Eoers, but fortr>ately lie met none
1t took him four hours to get over the twenty
miles OF ground: but it was not until he got
70 tho "Poort," or neck running down into
Pretoria, that he saw vestigo Of Boe.
Then lie ma6e out two mounted men riding
along the top Of precipitous stone strewn
ridge, some COO yards or so from him. At
first nc thought that they werc going to de-
scend it. but presently they changed their
minds and got OH their horses
While lie was still wondering what this
might portcnd, lie saw puff of white smoke
ho2t up from where tho men were, and then
another. Then came tho sharp. unmistakable
ping" OF bullet passing, as far as he could
Judge. within three feet of his head, followed
by second Aping," and cloud Of dust be-
meath the belly Of the first Horse The two
Beers were firing at him.
Hc did not wait for any more target prac-
tice, but, throshing the horses to o canter,
got the cart ronnd projecting bank before
they could load and fire again. After that
he saw no moro OF them.
At last no reached the mouth OF the Poort
and saw the prettiest OF the South African
towns, with its red and white houses, its tall
clumps OF trees and pink lines Of blooming
rose hedges lying on the plain before him, oil
set in the green veldt, and made beautiful by
the golden light Of the afternoon, and he
thanked God for the sight. Hc knew that he
was safe now, ana let ills tired horses walk
slowly down tho hillside and across the bit Of
plain beyond To his left were the Jail and
barrack sheds. and gathered about them were
hundreds Of wagons and tents, toward which
no drove. Evidently the town was deserted
and its inhabitants in danger. When ho got
within half mile or 50 picket of mounted
men came riding toward him, followed by a
miscellaneous crowd on horseback and on
foot.
@Who goes therer shouteda voice in honest
English.
"A friend who Is uncommonly glad to see
you" he answered, with that feeble jocosity
we arc all apt to indulge in when . great
weight b At length lifted from our nerves.