The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-13

found the snakes" Mary Armstrong said. |
FOR we have not got here the stuff we al
ways use in the colony es an antIdote, and
their bite is almost always fatal unless that
can be used in time.n Ronald was aware
OF this and had indeed during the nights
march had snakes constantly in his mind,
for he knew that they aboundsd in the hills.
One OF the Fingoes had taken his station at
the entrance, havingimoved the upper stone
the chief had placed there, 50 that he could
sit with his head out Of the opening. Half
an hour after they had entered the cave he
turned round and spoke to the chief.
The kaffirs are hunting" Kreta said.
Listening a. the opening they could hear
distant shouts. These were answered from
many points, some of them comparatively
close.
''rhe news is being passed from kraal to
kraal," Ronald said; they will be up like
swarm of bees now, but search as they will
they are not likely to find US here. Do you
think they will trace us at all, chief!"
They will find where we stopped close
to kraal," Kreta said; 1.-THE dead leaves
were stirred by our feet; after that not find,
too many people gone along path; ground
very hard: may find, sometime, mark of
white womans shoe; but we leave path
many times, and after carry no find at
all. Mountains very big, much bush:
never fnd here"
the stone and join the others and that all
should be silent. Sitting with his ear at
one of the openings he listened to the sounds
in the woods; once or twice he whispered
that the Kaffirs were passing close.
searching among the bushes; and
one party came so near
that their words could be plainly heard in
the cave: They were discussing the man
ner in which the fugitive had escaped, and
were unanimous in the belief that she had
been aided by the followers of some other
chief, for that an enemy should have pene-
trated into the heart of the Amatolas did
not strike them as possible.
The argument was rather which of the
other chiefs would have ventured to have
robbed Macomo, aud the opinion inclined
to the fact that it must have been San dill
himself, who would doubtless have heard,
from the messenger sent over on the pre-
vious afternoon to inform Macomo, of the
return of the band with a pretty young
white woman as a captive. Macomo had
doubtless been drunk, and Sandilli might
have determined to have the prizs carried
off for himself
Mary Armstrong shuddered as she listened
to the talk, but when they had gone on
Kreta said:
Good thing the Kaffirs have that thought,
not search so much here. Search in San
dillis country. Perhaps make great quar-
rel between Macomo and Sandilli. Good
thing that"
As the day went on the spirits of the
Fingoes rose, and in low tones they ex-
pressed their delight at having outwitted
the Kaffirs
No footsteps had been heard in their
neighborhood for some time, and they felt
sure that the search had been abandoned
In that quarter Toward sunset all ate a
hearty meal, and as soon as it become dark
the stones at the entrance were removed
and the party crept out. Mary Armstrong
had slept the greater part of the day, and
Ronald and the FIngoes had also passed a
portion of their time in sleep. They started,
therefore, refreshed and strong.
1t took them many hours of patient work
before they arrived at the edge of the forest
on the last swell of the Amatolas. They
had been obliged Co make many detours to
avoid kraals, and to surmouut the preci-
picss that often barred their way. They
had started about o'clock in the evening,
and it was, as they knew from the stars,
fully 3 O'Clock in the morning when they
emerged from the forest.
Mary Armstrong had kept on we'll with
the rest; her feet were extremely painful,
but she was now strong and hopeful, and no
word of complaint escaped her. Ronald and
the chief kept by her side, helping her up
or down difficult places, and assisting her
to pass through the thorny bushes, which
caught her dress and would have rendered
it almost impossible for her to get through
unasssted. Once out of the bush, the party
hurried down the grassy slope, and then
kept on q mile further. The chief now gave
loud call. 1t was answered family from
the distance; in five minutes the sound of
horses hoofs were heard, and in a short
time the Fingo who had been left in charge
of it galloped up with Ronald's
horse. Mary Armstrong was sitting on the
ground, for , she was now so utterly
exhausted she could no longer keep her
feet and had, since they left the bush, been
supported and half carried by Ronald and
Kreta. She made an effort to rise as the
horse came up.
''Please wait moment, I will not be
above two minutes Ronald said; 'but
really cannot ride into Williamstown like
this"
He unstrapped his valice, took the jack
boots that were hanging from the saddle,
and novel away in the darkness. In
two or three minutes he returned in his
uniform.
Il feel a civilized being again." he said,
laughing; "a handful Of sand at the first
most of this black off NV NV
face. have left the wig as legacy to
any Kaffir who may light upon it. Now
will shift the saddle a few inches further
back. l think you had better ride before
me, for you are completely worn out, and
l can hold you there better than you could
hold yourself if you were to sit behind me-"
He strapped on his valise, shifted his saddle,
lifted Mary up, and sprang up behind her.
''Are you comfortableP' he asked
"Quite comfortable" she said, a little
shyly, and then they started. The light
was just beginning to break in the east as
they rode out from the clump of trees.
They were not out of danger yet, for
parties of Kaffirs might be met with at any
time until they arrived within musket shot
of King Williamstown. The Fingoes ran
at pace that kept the horse at a sharp
trot 1t was very pleasant to Ronald
Mervyn to feel Mary Armstrong 10 his
arms and to know, as he did, how safe and
confident she felt there; but he did not
press her more closely than was necessary
to enable her to retain her seat, or permit
himself to speak in softer or tenderer tone
than usual.
"If we should come across any Of these
scoundrels, Mary" he said presently, "do
you take the reins. Do you think you can sit
steady without my holding you frmlyl"
Eyes" the girl said, ''if put one foot on
yours l could certainly hold on. / could
twist one of my hands in the horses mane.n
"Can you use pistolP'
"Of course | CAM she replied. 81 was
as good a shot as my father.n
THAT Is all right, then. l will give you
-, hold