Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-18

up the four grays who were now
Imply together. biting at the flies, that, be-
fore q Storm sting more sharply than at any
other time The two horses belonging to the
escort were some fifty PAGES to the left. 1t
was as though they appreciated the position
Of affairs, and declined to mix with the ami
mails of the discrcdited Englishman.
The two Beers rose as Muller came and
walked off toward their horses, Muller
slowly following them. As they came the
horses hobbled away another thirty yards or
so. and then lifted up their heads, and, as
consequence, their fore legs, to which the
heads were tied, and stood looking defantly
at their captors, for all the world as though
they were trying to make up their minds
whether or not to shake hands with them.
Frank Muller was alongside the two men
now, and they were alongside the horses.
"Listen!" he said, sternly.
The men looked up.
go on loosening the reins, and listen"
They obeyed, and began to slowly tumble
at the knee halters.
"You understand what our orders are. Re-
peat them-you,'
The man with the tooth, who was addressed,
still handling the rein, began as follows: ITO
take the two prisoners to the Vaal, to force
them into the water where there is no drift,
at night, SO that they drown; if they do not
drown, to shoot them"
"Those are the orders" said the Wider
beeste, grinning.
"You understand them"
1--WE understand, meinheer; but, forgive
us. the matter is big one. You gave the
orders-we wish to see the authority"
"Yah, YAH" said the other. "show us the
authority. These are two harmless people
enough. Show us the authority for killing
them People must not he killed so. even il
they are English folk, without proper au-
thority, especially when one is pretty girl
who would do for a mans wife"
Frank Muller set his teeth. mice fellows
you are to have under one!" he said. IL am
your officer; what other authority do you
wanta But I thought Of this. SEQ here"
and he drew paper from his pocket. Here,
you-read it! Careful now-do not let them
see from the wagon"
The big, habby faced man took the paper
and, still bending down over the horses
knees, read aloud:
1.-THE two prisoners and their servant ian
Englishman, an English girl and a Zulu
Kaffir) to be executed in pursuance Of our de-
cree. as your commanding officer shall order,
as enemies of the republic. For SO doing this
shall be your warrant"
"You see the signature" said Muller, 1and
you do not dispute It'll"
"Yah, we see it, and we do not dispute it."
~Good. Give me back the warrant"
The man with the tooth was about to Go So
when his companion interposed.
NO." he said, 'the warrant must remain
40 <L~ ;ol> -
only the man and the Kafir now-but the
rant, what shall We have to show for the
deed of bloodl The warrant must remain
with U.s."
"Yah, yah; he is right" said the Unicorn;
"the warrant must remain with US Put it in
your pocket, JAM"
Course you, give it to mel" said Muller, be-
tween his teeth.
mo, Frank Muller, no." answered the Vii
derbeeste, patting his pocket, while the two
or three square inches of skin round his nose
wrinkled up in a hairy grin That, owing to
the cut on his head, was even more curious
than usual; "if you wish to have the warrant
you shall have it, but then we shall upsaddle
and go, and you can do your numbering
yourself. There, there, take your choice; we
shall be glad enough to get home, for we do
not like the job. II I 60 out shooting like
to shoot buck or Kafiir, not white people"
Frank Muller reflected q moment, and then
he laughed a little. "You are funny people,
you home bred Beers" he said; "but perhaps
you are right. After all, what does it matter
who has the warrant, provided the thing is
well done? Mind there is no bungling, that
is all"
"Yah, YAH" said the fat faced man, "you
can trust us foT that It won't DO the first
time that we have toppled over. II I have
my warrant nsk nothing better than to 60
OIL shooting Englishmen all night, ono down,
the other como on. I know no prettier sight
than on Englishman toppling over"
stop that talk and saddle up, the cart is
waiting You fools can never understand the
difference between killing when it is neces-
sary to kill and killing for killings sake.
These people must die because they have be-
trayed the land"
~Yah, yah,r said the Vilderbecste, "be-
tTayed the land; we have heard that before.
Thoss who betray the land must manure IT:
that Is . good rule" and he laughed and
Yassed ON.
Frank Muller watched his retreating form
| with . smile Of peculiar malignity on his
handsome face. sAh, my friend, y he said tc
himself in Dutch, syou and that warrant will
| part company before you are many hour
older. Why, it would b enough to hang me,
even in this happy land of patriots. Old -
would not forgive even me for taking that
little liberty with his namc. Dear me, what
lot Of trouble one has to tNke to be rid Of q
single enemyi Well, it must be done, and
Bessie is well worth it; but If it had not been
for this war / could never have managed it,
All! did well to give my voice for war.
am sorry for the girl jess, but it must be-
there must DO no living witness left All! we
are going to have q storm. So much the bet
ter. such deeds are best done in q storm"
Muller was right; the storm was coming
up fast, throwing q vail Of inky cloud across
the star spangled sky. In South Africa there
Is but little twilight and the darkness follows
hard upon the heels Of the day. No sooner
had the great angry ball Of tho sun finally
disappeared than the night swept with all her
stars across the sky. And now after her came
the great storm, covering up her beauty will
his blsckness. IT, air was stifingly hot
Above was starry space; to the east tie
angry bosom of the storm, in which the
lightnings were already playing with an in
deep red glow, reflected from the sunkeI
sun, yet fingered on the horizon.
On toiled the horses through the gathering
gloom. Fortunately the road was fairly
level and free from niudholes, and Frank
Muller rode just ahead to show the way, hi;
strong, manly form standing out clear agains,
the departing western glow.
It was an awful night. Great pillars oil
mud colored sky came creeping across the
surface Of the veldt toward them, seemingly
blown along without wind. And now, too
II CHASTITY looking ringed moon arose and
threw q weird, distorted light upon the black
ness that seemed to skudder in her rays, as
though with precedence Of the advancing
terror. On crept the mud colored columns
and on above them, and resting on them,
came the muttering storm. The cart was
quite close to the river now, and they could
plainly hear its murmur. To their left was O
koppie, covered with white, stabilize stones,
on which the sickly moonheams danced
"Look, John, look!" cried jess, with O
hysterical laugh; lit looks like huge grave.
yard, and the dark shadows between are the
ghosts Of the buried"
"Nonsense," said John, sternly; awhat do
you mean by talking such rubbishr
He felt that she was little of her balance,
and, what is more, be was getting rather of
his own, and therefore was naturally the
angrier with her, and the more determined
to be perfectly matter of fact.
jess mnde no answer, But she was frightened,
she could not tell why. The whole thing 70.
sembled some awful dream, or one OF Dore'a
pictures come to life. No doubt, also, the
near presence Of tho storm exercised an effect
upon her nerves. Even tho wcaried horses
norted and shook themselves uneasily.
They crept over the ridge of q wave of
land, and the wheels rolled softly on the