Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24

"Good heavensl' the young man said
''this is dreadful; they had a thousand times
better have been shot with their friends.
What's to be done, Sergeant?"
81 don't know" Ronald said, Il can't
think vet. At any rate, instead of waiting
till the men with the wagons come back, I
will push straight on out of the wood, and
will then send the rest of them back at full
gallon TO meet YOU, then you can all come
on together 1 think you said you would
take command of the party going back with
the wagons"
The two trains were at once set in motion.
Ronald's party met with no further inter
ruption until they were clear of the bush.
As soon as he was well away from 1t, he
sent back the Rifles to join the other party,
and return with them through the forest
He went on for half mile further, then
halted the wagons and dismounted.
Mr.. Armstrong had been placed in one of
the wagons going up the country, as they
were nearer to a town that way than to Port
Elizabeth; besides Ronald knew that ii Mr..
Armstrong recovered consciousness. he
would for many reasons prefer being up the
country. Ronald walked up and down,
restless and excited, meditating what step
he had best take, for he was determined in
some way or other he would attempt to
rescue Mary Armstrong from the hands of
the natives Presently the head man of the
Fingoes came up to him, and said, in
mixture of English and his own tongue:
''My white friend is troubled, can Kreta
help him?"
"I am troubled, terribly troubled, Kreta.
One of the white ladies who has been car
ried off by the Kaffirs is a friend of mine.
must get her out of their hands"
Kreta looked grave.
Difficult thing that.sir. If go into bush
get chopped TO pieces.
"I must risk that" Ronald said; 'I am
going to try and save her whether it costs
me my life or not"
"Kreta will go with his white friend"
the chief said; "white man no chance by
himself
"would you, Kreta?" Ronald asked
eagerly; "but no, have no right to take
you into such danger as that. You have a
wife and child; have no one to depend
upon me"
"Kreta would not have child if it had
not been for his white friend" Kreta said;
eff he goes, Kreta goes with him, and will
take some of his men,"
"You are a good fellow, Kreta," Ronald
said, shaking the chief heartily by the
hand; now what's the best way of setting
about it?"
The Fingo thought for some time, and
then asked:
YES" Ronald replied, rather surprised
at the question.
"Then / think she is safe for a little
while. If she is old and ugly they torture
her and kill her quick; if she is pretty and
young most likely they will send her as a
present to their big chiei; perhaps Macomo
or Sandllli, or Kreli, or one of the other
great chiefs, whichever tribe they belong to.
Can't do nothing to-day; might crawl into
the wood but if L find her how can I get
her out? That's not possible. The best
thing will be this: l will send two of my
young men into the bush to try and find out
what they do with her, and where they are
going 10 take her. Then at night we will
try to get them off as they go across the
country. If we no meet them we 60 straight
to Amatolas to find out the kraal to which
they take her and then see how to get her
off,
"How many men will you take, Kreta?"
Five men," the chief said, holding up
one hand, that's enough to creep and crawl.
No use to try force; too many Kafirs. Five
men might do; 500 no good"
81 think you are right, Chief. 1t must
be done by craft if at ALL"
"Then 1 will send of NV two young men
at once" the chiet said. "They go a long
way round, and enter bush on the other
side; then creep through the bush and hear
Kaffir talk. If Kafir sees them they think
they their own people. but mustn't talk; if
they do Kaffirs notice difference of 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 60 on with the con-
voys as far as Bushman's river, where they
halt tonight"
Every we'll" the chief said. "We 90 on
with you there, and then come back here
and meet 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 pen. Then
two young fellows of about 20 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 minute in
structions, went off at q 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 continued. Ronald
Mervyn rode up to the officer of the native
levy.
l. dIn going, blr, 70 make W0at may seem
a 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, Sergeant?" the young officer
asked in some surprise.
81 want when we arrive at the hating
place to hand over the command of my de-
tachment to the Corporal, and for you to
let me 60 away on nv own affairs. / want
you also to allow your head man, ,Kreta, and
five of his men leave of absence"
The young officer was astonished. "Ot
course 1 am in command of the men, and so
have authority over you so long as you are
with me- but as you received orders direct
from your own officers to take your detach-
ment down to the coast, and return with the
grant you leave to 60 away" o..
"No. sir, that's just what thought, but
at the same time if you report that although
you were unable to grant me leave, you ap-
proved of my absence, it will make it much
easier for me. Not that it makes any differ
ence, sir, because 1 admit frankly that I
should go in any case. 1t is probable that
one may be reduced to the ranks, but
don't think that under the circumstances
they will punish me any more severely than
that"
"But what are the circumstances, Ser
geant? can scarcely imagine any circum-
stance that could make me approve of your
intention to leave your command on a march
like this"
"I was just going to tell you them, sir,
T l,.oAT A. IL III