Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-10
CHAPTER TX.

farmers sent two or three OF their native
laborers to assist in cutting and bringing to
the spot timber for the framework and sup
plying straw for thatching the roofs. The
operation was not long one. The walls
were made with waffle plastered with mud.
and the work was accomplished in a couple
of days. The men were glad of the shelter,
for, although the heat was very great during
the day, the nights were cold and sharp.
The horses were picketed behind the huts.
The officer took up his quarters at a 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 plundering expeditions, such at
tempts only being made at night. When
evening fell, the saddles were placed on the
horses, and the men lay down IN their
clothes, simply taking off their jackets and
lack boots, so as to be in readiness to turn
out at a moments alarm. Sometimes in the
day they rode out in parties of two, patroll-
ing the whole country, not having any idea
of finding Kafirs, but merely to give conf
dence to settlers, whose Kaffir servants were
sure to give intelligence to their friends in
the bush of the presence of the Mounted
Rifles in the neighborhood.
When they had been there fortnight
King Williamstown and had summoned
the various chiefs to assemble there. They
had all come with the exception of the par
amount Chief Sandilli, had assured the Gov
ernor of their fidelity, sworn allegiance
anew and ratified it by kissing the stick of
peace. The Governor was so satisfied with
their assurances that he issued reply to
the petition of the Colonists, saying that re-
ports throughout British Kaffraria were
fha
tonished at the sudden arrival of the troops,
and he hoped to arrest some of the kaffirs
who had spread the alarming reports.
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 ap-
pointed to investigate the numerous COM
plants of devastation, speedily for
warded to him such alarming accounts of
the critical state of affairs, that he again left
Ior the frontier, taking with him from Cape
Town the Seventy-third Regiment and a de-
tachment of artillery. A proclamation was
at once issued for the establishment OF po-
lice force, the enrolment of new levies and
of a corps of volunteers for self-defense 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 same II
young lady on horseback riding toward
them. She drew rein when she reached
them.
1--WE have had so cattle driven off in the
night" she said, land some OF the neighbors
have followed the trail. / am riding over
TO report the tact to your officers"
"We- 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"
81 am afraid il will be no use, ;" the girl
said; ''they will be in the woods before they
can be overtaken, and then, you know, there
will be nothing to do hut TO report where
their trail ended, and wait for the chance of
getting compensation from the chief'
By this time they were gslioping back
with her. The tale was similar to scores of
others they had heard since their arrival in
the valley, and they 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,
therefore, were as good as lost, for all were
web aware mat ia the present state fittings
There was but little prospect of receiving
compensation from the chief. The party
found, indeed, upon their arrival at the
farmhouse, which was large and comfort
able one, and 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, "and
have some refreshments; the rascals have got
away again. expect that they are some of
my old servants, Tor they knew the trick of
the iastenings l have put to the gate of the
cattle kraal, which would certainly have
puzzled any of the Kaffirs. Now sit down
and make yourselves at home"
The other settlers were already seated at
the table that the Hottentots or, as they were
always called, -'tottie' servants, had laid
with prolusion of food. The young lady,
still in her blde riding habit, did not sit
down to the table, but moved about, seeing
that the ''tottie" 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 ou horseback
She was strikingly pretty, and her ex-
preston of delicacy and refinement was un-
usual among the daughters of the colonial
farmers. This he was not surprised al, when
he glanced at her father, who was fine
looking man, with gray mustaehe.
81 am always glad to see the uniform
again, he said, presently, to Ronald "I
served myself when was a young man, and
was an ensign in the rifles at Waterloo, but
I got tired of soldering in the times of
peace, and came out to the Cape 30 years
ago, so you can we'll understand that l am
fond of a sight of the uniform again, es-
pecially OF your corps, which is nearly the |
color OF my own. Well, / have had pretty |
nearly enough of the Cape, and intend in |
another year or two to go back home 1 |
have moved good manv times, as you NAV |
imagine, since l came out, but don't like |
running away, and, beside, just at present 1 |
should get nothing Tor my farm
II can imagine that farms are rather a /
drug in the market just now," Ronald re-
piled, especially just at the edge of the /
frontier. However. we must hope that this
trouble will blow over, and now that the
Governor is, as l hear, coming round with
the Seyentv-third the Kafiirs may think
better of it,"
II think they have made up their mind
to give us little trouble" the settler said.
Their witch doctor, Umlanjeni, has been
stirring them up with all sorts of predic.
tions, and SandiIli, who no doubt set him TO
work, has, we know, been intriguing with
the other chiefs. The sudden disappear
auce of the kafhr servants from all the
farms OF this part of the country was. of
course, in obedience to orders and is GER
tainlr o1ninous. They say that there are
altogether 3, 900 muskets, &, 00O, 900 rounds of
ball cartridge, und half-a-million assegais in
the hands OF the natives 1t has been a
suicidal business allowing trade In firearms
and ammunition to be carried on by them.
] wish that the talkative fools at Cape
Town who manage our affairs were all To-
Gated down on the frontier; they might