The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-06

They are coming and gave an order to
one OF his men, who at once set off at the
top of his speed TO overtake the others and
bring them back.
II was nearly ten minutes before Ronald
could hear the slightest sound, then he be-
came conscious of a low murmur Of voices
In the air, and a minute or two later there
was splashing of water at the ford, fifty
yards from the spot where they had lain
down under q BUSH One of the natives
had, at Kreta's orders, taken the horse
away, the chief telling him to go half
mile of, as were it to paw the ground sud
denly, or make any noise, the attention of
the kaftirs, If within hearing, would be in
stantly drawn to it.
Dark as the night was, the figures of
those crossing the water could be dimly
made out, and Ronald judged that there
must be fully 800 of them After the first
lew hid passed they came along in
such cl SO body thai he was una le to
make out whether there was a female
among them. The numbers of the Kaffirs
sutficed to show him that there was no
chancs whatever of effecting rescue of
Mary Armstrong while surrounded by so
large body
As soon as ali had crossed, two of the
Fingoes followed close upon their traces
five minutes afterward another started,
and scarcely had he gone whea the three
men VINO had been sent to the other ford
returned with the messenger who had re-
called them. They left at short intervals
after each other, and then Ronald mounted
his horse, which had now been fetched up,
and followe with Kreta.
There is no fear of us missing them,
chiefY"
'No fear that, incos; that star over there
shines over the Amatolas, they go strai ght
for it; besides, the 70 men behind them can
ear them talking. II they turn off one
come back TO tell u.s."
But they did not turn off, but kept on for
hours in straight, undertaking line, travel
ing at fast walk. Ronald Mervyn kept
wondering how Mary Armstrong was bear
Ing up. She was a strong, active girl, ac-
customed to plenty of exercise, and at ordi-
nary times could DOUBTLESS have
walked long distance; but the
events of the day, the sudden at
tuck upon the wagons, her capture by the
kaftlrs, her uncertainty as t. the fate of her
father. the narrowing tortures of her COM
panlons, which SIZE had prob bly, been COM
PEELED to witness, and the hopelessness of
her own fate, might well have broken her
down. He was sure that the Kafirs would
compel her to walk as long as she could drag
her limbsalong, but as she was destined as a
present to cir chief, they might when she
could go no further, carry her.
He groaned at his helples mess to aid her,
and had he not had perfect faith in the
cunning OF his companions, and in their
ability to follow her up wherever she was
taken, he would have been inclined to take
the mad step of charging right in am ng
the kaffirs, upon the one chance of snatch
ing her up and carrying her off from among
en-.
Ronald Mervyn, of the Cape Rifles. was
very different man from Capt. Mervyn.
of the borderers. The terrible event that
had caused him to throw up his commission
and leave the country had i other RESPECTS
been of great advantage. He had for years
been haunted by the fear of madness, and
whenever he felt low and out of spirits this
fear of insanity had almost overpo wered
ain. The trial had cured him of this; he
had convinced himself that had he her
tied the slightest faint of the curse of the
Carnes, he would have gone mad while he
was awaiting his trial; that he had kept his
head perfect under such circumstances
seemed to him an absolute proof t. at he
vas as sane as other men, and henceforth
he banished the fear that so long haunted
him.
1t was in truth that fear which had held
him back so long from entering into a
formal engagement with his cousin Mar
garet. He looked upon it as an absolutely
settled thing that they would be married
some day, but had almost unconsciously
shrunk from making that day definite
one; and although for the m ment ne had
burst into dit of wild anger at being as
e considered thrown aside. he had since
acknowledged to himself that Margaret's
decision had been a wise one, and that it
was better that they should not have we'd.
He had always been blessed with good
spirits, except at the times when the fit of
depression seized him. but since he had been
at the Cape, and been on active duty, these
fits of depression had entirely passed away.
and his unvarying good temper under ali
circumstances had often been the subject of
remark among his comrades. As he rode
along that night he acknowledged, what he
had never before admitted to himself. that
he loved Mary Armstrong. The admission
was bitter rather than pleasant one
II shall never marry now" he had said to
his mother, at his last interview with her
mo wife or child of mine shall ever hear it
whispered that her husband or father was a
murde or. u Mess this cloud is some dav
lifted-and how 1t can be, heaven ouly
knows-I must go through the world alone,n
and so he thought still. 1t might be that as
Harry Blunt he might settle down in the
c,l ny and never. be rec)gniz4d; but he
would always have the fear that at any
moment some officsr he had known, some
man Of mis- regimeht,s some emigrant from
his own country, might recognize him. and
Harry Blunt was the Capt. Mervyn who
escaped. only from want of legal proof.
from being hanged as the murderer of nis
iusin.
81 didn't think / was such fool" he
ruttored to himself, "as to be caught by a
pretty face. However, it will make no dig
ference. She will never know it. If her
father RECEIVERS, which is doubtful, she will
go back with him to the old country. If
not, she will go back alone; for without
friends or relatives she cannot stay here,
and she will never dream that the sergeant
of the Cape Rifles, who had the luck twice
to save her life-that is, if | do save it
was fool enough to fall in love with her."
An hour before morning one of the Fin
goes came back from the front with the
news That the Kaffirs had turned off
into kloof, and were going to malt there.
The party soon collected, and retired to
clump Of trees mile back. One of them
was ordered to act as sentry near the kloof,
and bring back word at once should any
movement take place. The rest of the
party, upon reaching the shelter of the
trees, threw themselves upon the grou and
were soon fast asleep, even Ronald, anxious
as he was, remaining awake but a few
minu es after the others.
The sun was high before they awoke. As
they were eating their breakfast the sentry
returned, and another was dispatched to
take his place. The man reported that he
had seen or heard nothing of the Kaffirs,