The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-06

NASR L.
But we mus be there in the evening""
Ronald said; I'VE must be there, chief, do
you hearf'
YES. incos, but it seems to me that it do
no good TO throw our lives away. If
you say go, Kreta will go too, but if we
killed, the girl will be killed too, and no
good that, that kreta can ses; il we 60 in
daytime we killed, sure enough. Not pos
sible TO get into Amatolas without being
seen, all grass and smooth land at foot of
hill. Ga hill some places trees, there we
manage very well; some open spaces, there
they see u.s."
81 don't wish to throw our lives away,
chief; if wanted to throw my own away,
L have no right to sacrifice yours and your
mems; but scouts on the look tout would
surely take us at distance for party of
their own men returning from some plum
dering expedition. probably as part Of the
party ahead who mad hung back for some
purpose on the road"
Great many kraals, great many people
in Amatolas," the chief said; ''sure to
meet some one. They begin to ask questions,
they see very soon we not katfirs, they see
with half an eye you not Kaf1r; might
pass at night very well, but no one pass in
day. But perhaps we have time, incos
Chiefs wander about, hold council and meet
each other: perhaps Macomo not at home,
very like he away when they get there"
pray God it may be So" Ronald said,
despairingly. sit seems the only hope we
have. Well, Kreta, / put myself in your
hands. You know much more about it
than do. As you say, we shall do no good
to Miss Armstrong by throwing away our
lives, therefore | put aside my own plans
and trust to YOU"
II no say we can save her, incos, but if
we can we will. You make sure of that"
The next night took them to the foot of
the hills, and when the Kaffirs halted, the
chief ordered two of his men to make
circuit round the hills and conceal them
selves in the wood before morning broke, so
that when the Kaffirs moved on
they could at once follow them with
out having to cross in the daylight the
grassy slopes of the foot hills. Minute in
structions were given to both as to follow
ing the Kafflr party, the orders being that
If either of them could pounce upon soli-
uary Kaffir he was to stun him with his
knob-kerry, and force him when he recov-
cred to give information as to the distance,
direction aud road to Macomo's kraal, and
that he was then to be assegaied at once.
Feeling that Ronald might not altogether
approve of this last item, for he was aware
that the white men had what he 'nsdered
silly objection to unnecessary bloodshed,
Kreta, whilst telling Ronald the rest of the
instructions he had given to the spies, did
not think Unnecessary to detail this portion
Of them.
"Where shall we stay during the day"
Ronald inquired of him; "the country
seems perfectly flat and unbrokel :, their
lookout will see us long way off. "
Eyes, incos, not do to stop here. We
send horse back to first bush and tell man
to bring him every night to bottom
of the hill, or if he sees us from distance
coming down tine hill with Kafirs after us,
to come to meet u.s. We lie down here till
morning, lookout on hill may sea us. but
Kattir at foot of hill no see us. Then when
they go on, we go on too, as you said, aud
follow as far as first wood; lookout think
we belong to big party; then we hide there
till one of my men come back. | told them
we should be at edge of wood, and he is to
make signals as he walks along We will
push on as far as we can, so that we don't
come upon kraals."
''That will do very well indeed,n Ronald
said. ''for every inch that we can get nearer
to Macomo's kraal is so much gained"
He removed the pistols from his holsters,
and fastened them TO his belt, putting them
50 far back that h y were completely hid
den by the blanket he wore over his shoul-
ders, and then went with the party some
little distance back, and lay down till
morning. Almost as soon as it was day
break, the Fingo who was on the watch
announced that the Kaffirs were moving,
and the little party at once followed. The
Kafirs had disappeared among the woods,
high up on the hillside when they began
to ascend the grassy slope. They had no
doubt that they were observed by the KAT
frs watchmen, but they proceeded boldly,
feeling sure that it would be supposed that
they belonged to the party ahead of them.
The path through the forest was a mar
row one, and they moved along In single
file. One of the party went fifty yards
ahead walking cautiously, and evidently
listening intently, the others proceeding
noiselessly, prepared to bound into the for
est directly the man ahead gave the signal
that any one was approaching. For up
wards of a mile they kept their way, the
ground rising continually; then they
reached a spot where deep valley fell
away at their feet. 1t divided into several
branches, and wreathes of smoke could be
seen curling up through the trees at num-
Der of points. Similar indications of kraals
could be seen everywhere upon the hillside,
and Kreta shook his head and said:
'No can go no further. Heaps of Kaffir
all about. Must wait now"
Even Ronald, anxious as he was to go on,
felt that it would be risking too much to
proceed. The kraals were 50 numerous that
as soon as they got into the valley they
would be sure to run into one; and moreover,
the path would fork into many branches,
and it would be impossible for them to say
which of these the party ahead had taken.
They went into the wood some little dis
lance and lay down, one being left on the
watch in the bush close to
the road. The hours passed
slowly while they waited the return
of Que of the men who had been posted
before daylight in the wood, and who were
to follow close upon the footsteps of the
Kaffirs. 1t was o'clock before the lookout
by the path returned with one of these
Fingoes.
He said few words to the chief, and
although Ronald could not understand him
he saw 10y the expression of Kreta's face
that the news was satisfactory.
"Girl got to Macomo's kraal," the chief
said "Macomo not there. Gone to San
dill. May come back Tonight Most
likely get drunk and not come back till to-
morrow. Macomo driak very much"
''All the BETTER" Ronald said. THANK
God we have few hours before u.s."
The man gave narration of bis proceed
ings to Kreta, who translated them to
Ronald.
Directly the Kaffirs had passed the point
where he and his comrade we're hidden,
they came out of the bush and followed
closely behind then, sometimes drop
ping behind little SO as to be quite out of
sight If any of them should look round,
and then, going on faster until they could
get glimpse of them, so as to be sure that