Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-28

what provisions We think necessary, and
then leave camp without delay
"Yah, baas. But suppose picksts see
back behind mountain as IL coming join
squadron, then break away
They carried out their plan without
difficulty. The guard surrendered the
best of the spare chargers to the off Ger
together with rifle aud emmunieo on
They rode hurriedly into camp, proYded
themselves With coffee, sugar, few
| pounds of flour, and then left as II with
the intention of rejoining the squadron
Once, however, behind the mountain ,
they bore away to the right, then turned
| north. and rode hard for Kopje Alleen d.
1t was night when they crossed the
ridge. and then Blaine felt how helpless
he would have been without the Basuto.
Dick took the Iced, studied the stars a
few minutes, then went forward. leading
his pony down the hill into the valley be-
| meath.
They halted here and listened, for the
darkness was thick beyond any penetra-
| ton to the extent of foot, and they
trusted to the ear to guide them. Blaine
breathed gently as he strain ed his ears,
but beyond the movement of the horses +,
as they hibbied at the heritage, there was
no distinct sound In the vast vacuum of
| darkness.
Dlok, with head bent, listened long,
| but without success.
"Dere is noting, bass, but the river
| running.
"The house ia beyond the river, we
must cross 1t.
eff baas says so.
Thpv and r0He laQv-
| ing their horses to pick their own
way among the anthiIls, stones and wolf
| holes. At last they reached the river,
visible in its deep bed by sort of
ghostly CLEAN. The horses snorted in
alarm when hidden to advance, and
took to the water slowly with much paw
ing with their forefeet.
The opposite bank was safely reached,
just in time, for dull splash and snort
behind told of the arrival on the scene of
q crocodile.
Dick hated again for some time in a
vain endeavor to catch sound which
would guide him.
"No ducs baas, we must leaf it to de
horses
They did this, but their patience was
tried again, for the horses began feed
ing, walking as they fed, first slowly,
then with quick PAGES. as the heritage
grew less to their taste. At last Dick g
pony, who had been to Kopje Alleen
twice before, pricked his ears forward,
then struck away at rapid amble to the
right.
They kept on for half an hour in in
tense silence, broken ut last by eager
whinnies from both horses.
1.-The house is near, sieur; if they are
there they will hear and show light. -
If they were there! The words came
with the effect OF blow. Blaine had
not formed any idea of the cause of the
summons which Rowe had made, and
had, in fact, felt some doubt as to
whether there could have been any
cause, since he had left Mary in such
safety.
Why should not they be thers2 It was
nonsense on Dicks part, but it was
strange that if the house was near, there
was no light.
'Cali out. Dick. -
Dick gave long, deep chested, me-
lodious call, in Bssuto, that rolled away
and came back again in an echo marvel
lously clear.
'Dot is Kopje Alleen, sir-the hill
that is bewitched. The spirits threw
DICK my Woros. My Qoant ike 1t. -
"Hush, Dick. Listen.''
They listened intently, but the silence
remained unbroken. Blaine's horse
tossed its head impatiently and nelghed
ehrilly.
They rode on until the horses came to
stop, and, stretching out his hand,
Blaine felt the door of the house.
He was off his horse IN q minute and
knocking.
"Mr. Rath, +" he called; "Miss Mary,
are you in?''
There was no response. The silence of |
death rested over the place. He pressed |
against the door and it yielded. He en- |
tered the dark room, and with q cry he |
could not resist, stumbled over some soft |
body.
''Diok.'' he Dried, in a voice thrilling |
with apprehension, ga light"
Dick struck his flint and blew upon |
the smouldering finder, until il the re-
Election within his followed hand his
beady black eyes CLEANED. Then he |
lowered his hand to the floor.
There, rigid in death, was the big |
wolf hound Carlo, blood about his iron
ia VS. and broken assegai sticking from
his body.
Blaine with his face deathly white, but
with dangerous CLEAN in his eyes, mo-
toned Dick to the inner room.
They entered almost on tip-toe, one Of
them with tightening sensation at his
heart and a feeling about his throat as
though he would choke.
The feeble light shone over q room
much disturbed and flecked with blood,
but without that dark, PROSTATE object
hey had DIRE AIDED to see.
"The next room, - muttered Blaine,
loarsely.
Dick. with his eyes rolling swiftly,
,oting everything. paused at the inner
loor.
$50 on. 2" said Blaine.
"No. sisur, no. Dere is somefn
here, can feeI.''
SURPRISING shudder, Blaine took the
Under and stepped into the room; as he
uttered there fell upon him an uneasy
ceiling which made him stand in the
enter of the room with his glance fixed
Ipon the far corner, where some dark
bject lay huddled up against the bed.
BLOOD, said Dick, suddenly, and
Blaine turning with start and an ex-
lamation. saw the Basuto pointing to
he floor.
Lowering the finder he saw a dark
tain along the floor. leading up TO
vida ponl of afiII frusb blood