The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-29

II we no meet them We go straight 70 ANA
tolas to find out the kraai 90 which they take
her aud then see how TO get her of"
SLOW manv men will You take, Kretar'
"Five m " the chief said, holding up one
hand THAT'S enough to Green and crawl
No use to try force; too many Kafirs. Five
men might do; 500 no good"
II think you are right, chief. 1t must be
done by craft if at all.
Then / will send off my two young men
at once" the chief said. 'Tney go a long
way round, aud enter bush on thu other
side; then creep through the busa and hear
Kaffir talk. If Kaffir sees them they think
they their own people. but mustn't talk; if
they do, Kaffirs notice differences in tongue.
One two words no noticed, but if talk much
find out DIRECTLY
"Then there's nothing for me to do to-
night" Ronald said.
The chief shook his head ''No good till
quite dark
''In that case will go on with the con-
VOWS as far as Bushman's river, where they
halt tonight"
very we'll" the chief said. 'yye go on
with you there, and taen core back here
aud NEST the young men, who will tell us
what they have found out"
The chief went away, and Ronald saw
him speaking to some of his men. Then
two young fellows of about % years old
laid aside their blankets. put them and
their guns into one of the wagons, and then,
after five minutes conversation with their
chief. who was evidently giving them min
ute instructions, went of at a singing trot
across the country.
In less than an hour the party that was
escorting the settlers wagons through the
bush, and the mounted men who had gone
to meet them, returned together, having
seen no sign of the enemy. The wagons
were set in motion, and the march con
tinued. Ronald Mervin rode up to the
officer of the native levy.
II am going, sir to make what may seem
most extraordinary request, and indeed it
Is one that is, | think, out of your power to
grant, but if YOU give your approval it to
some extent will lessen my responsibility.
What is it. sergeantp the young officer
asked in some surprise.
II want when we arrive at the hating
place to hand over the command Of my de-
tachment 10 the corporal, ard for you to
let me go away on my own affairs | want
you also to allow your head mau, Kreta,
and five of his me n leave of absence"
The young officer was assonshed, "Of
course l am in command of t 10 men, and
have authority over you so long as you are
with me, but as you received orders direct
from your own officers to take your de-
tachment down to the coast, and return
with the wagons, am sure that have no
power to grant you leave to go away.n
mo, sir, that's just what thought, but
at the same time if you report that al
though you were unable to grant me leave,
you approved OF my absence, it will make
it much easier for me- Not that it makes
any difference, sir, because l admit
frankly that should go in any case. 1t is
| probable that one may be reduced to the
ranks, but don't think that under thu cir
cums5ances they will punish me any more
severely than that"
But what are the circumstances, GER
geant9 l can scarcely imagine any circum-
stance that could make me approve of your
intention to leave your command on a
march like this"
II wa just going to tell you them sir,
but l may say that do not think it at ali
probable that there will be any further
attack on the convoy. There is no more
large bush to pass between this and Will
JAMESTOWN, and SO far we have heard Of no
attempt being made further on the road to
| stop conveys. That poor fellow who is ly-
ing wounded in the wagon is Mr. Arm
strong. de was al officer in the service
when ne was young man, and fought, he
| told me, at Waterloo. His place is near the
spot where l was quartered for two months
| just before the outbreak, aud he showed me
| great kindness, and treated ma as a friend
| Well, sir, one of the three ladies that WERE
| as You heard, carried of In the wagons
was Mr. Armstrong; daughter. Now, sir,
| you know what her fate will be In the
hands of those savages; dishouor, torture
and death. am going to save her if can.
| don't know whether snail succesd, m ost
likely l shall not. My life is OF no great
consequences Co me, and has so far been a
failure, but l want to try and rescue her
whether it costs me my life or not. Krera
has offered to accompany me with FIVE of
his men. Alone, | should certainly fail,
but with his aid there is q chance of nv
| succeeding"
by Jove, you are a brave fellow, SER
geant," the young officer said, 'and |
honor you for the determination you have
formed" aud waving military etiquette,
he shook Ronald warmly By the ma Id
Assuredly will, so far as is in my power,
give you leave to go. and will take good
care that in case you fail your conduct in
thus risking your life snail bs appreciated.
How do you mean to set about itp'
Ronald gave him sketch of the plan that
had been determined upon by himself and
Kreta
"Well, 1 think you have chance at any
rate" the officer said, when he concluded
'Of course the risk of dissection in the midst
of the Kaffirs would be tremendous but
still there seems possibility of your escape
In any case no one can possibly disapprove
of your endeavor to save this Young lady
from the awful fate that would certainly
10 Unless you Cdu T6SCu6 00r. BOOr
grill Even though l don't know her. it
makes my blood run cold to think of an
English lady in the hands of those savages
However, il were not in command of the
convoy, would gladly go with you and
take my chances"
| As soon as the encampment was reached.
Kreta came up to Ronald.
Must change Clothes he said, "and 90
as Kaffir." Ronald nodded his head, az he
had already decided that this step was
| absolutely necessary.
"Must paint black" the chief went on,
show do thatP'
"The only way l can see is to powder
some burnt wood and mix it with little
| OIL"
Eyes, that do" the chief said
81 will be with you in five minutes. /
must hand over the command to the cor
| poral."
Corp. James, he said, when he went I'D
to him, Inland over the command of this
detachment to you. You are, of course
to keep by the wagons and protect them to
King Williamstown."
"But where are you going sergeant?" the
| corporal asked, in surprise.
ST have arranged with Mr.. Nolan to go
away on detached duty for two or three
days. / am going to try to get the unfortu-
nate women who were carried off this morn
ing out of the hands Of the Kaffirs.p The
corporal looked at him as If be had doubts