The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-15
CHAPTER TX.

0Cbe@N1AAASA%S
u,igbt remain for some time at the present
-,,srters. Lieut.. Daniels at once set them TO
~ RI erect a couple of huts, each capable
.4bo,ding ten men. Several of the farmers
~ TWO or three of their native laborers
:, assist in cutting and bringing to the spot
.i,,bar for the frame work and supplying
s+raw for thatching the roofs. The opera
ron was not a long one. The walls were
made with waffle plastered with mud, and
the work was accomplished in a couple of
DAVIS TIE men were glad of the shelter,
for although the heat WIS very great dur
ing the dey, the nights were cold and
sharp. The horses were picketed behind
the buts. The officer took up his quarters at
q farm house hundred yards away. Once
housed. the men had little to do. for, in the
DAYTIME. there was no fear of the Kaffirs
coming down on their pl uudering expedi-
tions such attemps being only made at
NIGHT When evening fell, the saddles were
rlaced on the horses, and the men lay down
in their clothes, simply taking off their
Jacket, and jack boots, SO as to be in readi-
ness to turn out at a moments alarm.
Sometimes III bLlOJ AONO OeAO BehA WIS
of two, patroling tie whole country, not
having any idea Of finding Kaffirs, but
merely to give confidence to settlers, whose
Ksffir servants were sure to give intelli-
pence to their friends in the bush of the
presence of tie Mounted Rifles in the neigh
borhood.
When they had been there fortnight
they heard that the governor had come to
1ior ,,ctN mr. az
the various chiefs to assemble there. They
had all come with the exception of the para
mount Chief Sandili, had assured the gov
erpor of their fidelity, sworn allegiance
anew and ratified it by kissing the stick Of
peace. The governor was 50 salts fed with
their assurances that he issued a reply
to the petition Of the co,onists, saying that
reports throughout British Kaffraria were
most satisfactory and the chiefs were
astonished at the sudden arrival of the
troops, aud he hoped to arrest some of the
KatfirS who had spread the alarming re-
ports. The governor gave assurance to
some of the settlers who had left
their farms that there was no occasion for
alarm.
A commission, however, that he appoin-
led to inves igate the numerous com llaints
Of devastation, speedily forwarded to him
such alarming accounts of the critical state
ul dildlIS, btdO Ito again Itlb lOT bD6 1EOuIIbT,
taxing with him from Cape Town the
Seventy third regiment and detachment of
artillery. A proclamation was at once
issued for the establishment of police
force, the enrolment of new levies and of a
corps of volunteers for self-defence, so as to
leave the whole of the military at liberty for
operations
One day, at the beginning of December,
Ronald and a comrade had ridden some
twelve miles out of the station, when they
saw young lady on horseback riding t.
ward them. She drew rein when she
reached them.
We have had fifty cattle driven off in
the night" she said, land some of the
neighbors have followed the trail. l am
rdlag over to report the fact to your Of
tcers."
I'VE can report it," Ronald said, "and
save you the trouble of riding further; but
if you like we will ride back with you first
and see if we can be of any service"
Il am afraid it will be no use," the girl
said; they will be in the woods before they
can be overtsken, and then, you know,
there will be nothing to do but to report
where their trail ended, and wait for the
chance Of getting compensation from the
chiefn
By this time they were galloping back
with her. The tale was similar to scores of
others they had heard since their arrival in
the valley, and t ey knew that there was
but slight chance of recovering the trail,
the order being stringent that they were on
no account to enter the bush. The cattle,
there ore, were as good as lost, for ali were
we'll aware that i'll the present state of
things there WIS but little prospect of re-
celVng mpepsation from the chief The
party found, indeed, upon their arrival at
e farmhouse, which was large and COM
Portable one, aud furnished in English
style, that the neighbors had returned,
having Traced the spoor of the stolen cattle
up to the end of the bush.
The farmer came out to the door as his
daughter rode up.
Come in, he said to the troopers, land
have some refreshment; the rascals have
got away again. | expect that they are
some of my old servants, for they knew the
trick of the fas enings have put to the
gate of the cattle kraal, which would GER
family have puzzled any of the Kaffirs.
no" SIT down and make yourselves at
home.n
The other settlers were alreaay seated at
tne table that the Hottentots, or, az they
were always called, ''tottie" servants, had
iald with profusion of food. The Young
LADY, still in her blue riding habit. did not
Sit down to the table, but moved about,
seeing that the "tottisn girls attended to
the wants OF the guests. She was, Ronald
thought, about Is years old, and had the
graceful, active figure so common among
girls who spend much of their time on
horseback. She was strikingly pretty, and
her expression of delicacy aid refinement
was Unusual among the daughters of the
colonial farmers. This he was not surprised
at, when he glanced at her father, who
tache
=! am always glad to see the uniform
again" ne said, presently, to Ronald. 81
served myself when | was young man.
ana was an ensign in the rifles at Waterloo
Out got tired of soldering il the
tttnes of peace, and came out to the Cape
tnlrty years ago, SO you can well I'M
uerstand that am fond of sight of the
uniform again. especially of your corps
winch Is nearly the color of my own.
Mell'I have had pretty nearly enough of the
cape, and intend in another year or two to
20 back home. | have moved a good many
tlIaes, as you may imagine, since l came
oIut, but l don't like running away, and,
besides, just at present l should get nothing
LOT my FARM
can imagi7 e that farms are rather a
urug In the market just now" Ronald re-
piled, especially just at the edge of the
!rohtler However, we must hope that this
trouble will blow over and now that the
governor is, as l hear, coming round with
Ine Seventv-third, the Kaffirs may think
better of it."
1 think they have made up their mind to
give us little trou le," tho settler said.
helr witch doctor Umlanjeni has been