Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-22
CHAPTER XXI.
JESS FINDS A FRIEND.

suspiciously all over, and then askei how it
came to be stained with water.
jess, not daring to tell the truth, said that
it had bsen dropped into puddle The Boer
was about to return it, when suddenly his eye
fell upon Jess saddle.
show is it that the girl is riding on a mans
saddlef' he asked why, know that sad
de; let me look at the other side. Yes, there
Is a bullet hole through the flap That is
Swart Dirk's saddle. How did you get it7'
II bought it from him." answered Jess,
without moments hesitation. Il could get
nothing to ride o."
Tho Bocr shook his head. "Thcre ere
plenty Of saddles in Pretoria" he said, "and
these ore not the days when man sells his
saddle to an English girl. All! and that other
Is q Boer saddle, too. No Englishman has a
saddle cloth like that This pass is not suf-
dcient," he went on, in a cold tone; lit should
have been countersigned by the local conf
mnndant / must arrest you"
jess began to make further excuses, but he
merely repeated, II must arrest you," and
gave some orders to the men with him.
I'VE are in for it again." she said to John;
"and there is nothing for it but to CO."
II shan't mind so much il only they will
give us some grub" said John, philosophy
cally. Il am half starved"
aAnd am half dead" said jess, with a
little laugh. IL wish they would shoot us and
have done with it,"
~Come, cheer up, jess, he answered; per
haps the luck is going to change"
She shook her head with the air of one who
expects the worst. and then some gay young
spirits among the Beers camc up and made
things pleasant by an exhibition of their pol.
ished wit, which they chiefly exercised at the
expense Of poor jess, whose appearance was,
rs may well be imagined, exceedingly
wretched and forlorn; 80 much so that 1t
would have moved the pity OF most people.
Dut these specimens Of the golden youth of a
simple pastoral folk found in it rich mine
Of opportunities. They asked her if she
would not like to ride straddle legged, and if
she had bought her dress from an old Hotten-
tot who had done with it, and if she had been
rolling about tipsy in the veldt to get all the
mud on it; and generally awaited themselves
OF this unparalleled occasion to be witty at
the expense Of an English lady in sore dis
taeA Indeed, one gay young dog, called ia
cobus, was proceeding from jokes linguistic
to jokes practical. Perceiving that
Jess only kept her seat on the
mans saddle by the exercise Of a Gu
rious faculty Of balance, it occurred to him
that it would be zine thing to upset it and
make her tall upon her face Accordingly,
WITH . sun0en Jwsss OF tue rem ne brought
his horse sharply against her wearied animal,
nearly throwing it down; but she was too
quick for him, and saved herself by catching
at the name. jess aid nothing; indeed, she
made no answer to her tormentors, and fortu-
nately john understood very little of what
they were saying. Presently, however, the
young Boer made another attempt, putting
out his hand to give her a sly push; and, as it
happened, John saw it. and the sight of the
indignity made the blood boil in his veins
Before he could reflect on what he was doing
he was alongside Of tho man, and, catching
him by the throat, had hurled him backward
over his crupper with all the force he could
command. Tho man fell heavily upon his
shoulders, and instantly there was q great
hubbub. John drew his revolver, and the
othr Boen faised their rifles, and Jess
thought that there was an end Of it, and put
her hand before her face, having first thanked
John for avenging the insult with q swift
lash OF her beautiful eyes. And, indeed, In
; :,. sscond i wonld have been all over
900 not tho cider man who had taken the pas
interpreted; the fact being that he had wit
messed tho proceedings that led to his follow
sr's discontinue, and, being decent man at
bottom, had disapproved OF them
sLeave them alone and put down those
guns, he shouted at served Jacobus right;
he was trying to push the girl from the horse.
Almighty! it is not wonderful those English
call us brute beasts when you boys do such
things. Put down your guns, I shy, and one
Of you help Jacobus up. He looks as sick a.
q buck with bullet through it."
Accordingly the row passed over, and the
playful Jacobus-wholn Jess noted with sat-
i4action was exceedingly sick and trembling
IN every Hmb-was with difficulty hoisted ON
to his horse, and proceeded ON his Journey
with not single bit OF fun left in him
A little while after this Jess pointed ont a
long, low hill that lay upon the fat belt, q
dosen miles or 20 away, like q stone on a
stretch Of sand.
sLook, " she sid; athere Is Mooifontein 1t
last!"
.wears mot there Jet" remarked John,
sadly.
Another weary half hour passed, and then
they suddenly, on passing over q crest, saw
Hans Coetsee's homestead lying down by the
water in the hollow. So that was where
they were being taksn to.
Within hundred yards of the house the
Boen halted and consulted. except Jacobus.
who went On, still looking very green. FINALLY
the elder man cana 10 them and adtlres,e.l
Jeu, Ut The same time handing her back the
paa SYou can 70 on home. > he said. aThe
Gngiiahman must stay with Us till we find ont
mare about him"
@He 0ys that can 70. What shall DOR
- - - L. AZ
these men"
Dol why 60, Of coursa can look after
myualf: and e can't. CERTAINLY Won won't be
alb to hslp M Perhaps you win be able to
net 0me help Ct the farm. At any rate. Won
must go,n
snow, Ahglishman," said the Boer.
@Good by, jess, said John. S0od bless you. ("
Good by, john" she answered, looking
him steadily in the eyes for . moment, and
then turning away to hide the tears which
would gather in her own.
And thus they parted
- .new nes way now, even across the
oPe0 voaos' tos sne dared not go by the road
1nete w. however. Birdie path that ran
0v& soe .AA y me neck OF the mouse, and Tor
tnas ne .nsPed ner course. 1t was O'Clock
nov, sno ooto me and her horse were In
co. !" sIeas exnaosuon, which was en-
nAncs1 N neI case oy want OF food and
uooose ~ mlnd. But she was q strong
wonsn eno nao VII OF iron, and she held
On wnes !. noss women would have died jess
I % ~ ~ 70 AooaIonsem somehow. and
~ ~. ....s ~ "oe'd get tnere. she
s..s. ~ ~. -. 49,. ..'e pIace eno eet some nelp
my " ner aoser' sne oid nos greatly care
:. -. -. spPss 1890 =, " ner e.veFwafa- Inc pace
q .oe n1sse ne was riding got slower and
=. o. ~ 'No saon.s can'ef ln1o wnlcn
!. .us a:1ased occasionally 70
.ce ~, Snu "n,cn Is tne pess pace to