Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-09-24
ON THE KARROO.

Across the red, sandy karroo came
"trekking" huge, numbering Cape
wagon, drawn by a span of sixteen
oxen, which was continually urged
on by the 'vorlooperS, two Katfir
lads. At the front of the wagon. be-
side the kailir driver, sat James
Rockhurst, a big, black bearded fcl-
low of thiIty-hve or forty. whose
once handsome face was sadly dis
figured with the marks of many a
scrimmage, for he had lived and
fought in almost every rough corner
of the /, obo. He had been cowboy
in Texas, a gold seeker on the Pacific
slope, stock rider in the Australian
Bush, and goodness knows what be-
side; but, like the rolling stone that
he was, he had gathered no moss.
He had been drifteG by the tide OF
circumstances to South Africa, and
was now crossing the Great karroo
iii the hope OF getting job on the
ostrich tarm of distant relative.
BY this side of the wagon rode an.
other Englishman, on horseback.
The rider, who was roughly dressed,
was young-not much over thirty
and was an average specimen of the
Cape colonist, with skin bron2ed to
deep hue. He was singularly re-
ticent about his personal affairs; and
although the two men had now trav-
eled in company for couple of days,
Rockhurst knew practically nothing
about his companion save that his
name was Lavid Grant, and that he
was last from the Transvaal.
But although silent on one subject,
Grant was by no means bad com
panion. Occasionally he would gaze
thoughtfully over the great rolling
"veldt," and wistful look of yearn
ing anticipation would come into his
eyes; but on the whole he was a
pleasant fellow, and as mile after
mie of the rough track was covered,
his laugh grew cheerier, his spirits
rose higher, and, unconsciously his
fingers sought oftener than before
the leathern belt strapped round his
waist under his vest. The nervous
action betrayed him, for Rockhurst's
lynx-like eye took in every move
ment
"Diamonds." quoth Rockhurst to
himself, and his eyes glistened at the
thought All that TO enoon as they
trekked beneath the blazing sun; at
noon, too, when they "outspanned
for couple of hours by the dams of
a farmstead, the word was uppermost
in his mind Mr.. James Rockhurst's Is
and his notions OF right and wrong
were peculiarly convenient.
That evening, the travellers halted
for the night by the side OF ''sluit, "
down which trickled tiny stream,
Tne Katfirs made fire, and over it
the rude supper was cooked. Then
the two white men, having
smoked Their last pipes, stretched
themselves uron the "kartel," OF
hanging bedstead, inside the wagon;
while the blacks got hopelessly drunk
on a bottle of "Cape smoke" they
had procured at the farm where they
had outspanned at midday.
About midnight, Rockhurst raised
himself cautiously to a sitting post.
ure and listened intently. His com
panions regular breathing told him
he was sleeping that sound sleel
which follows a day IN the saddle,
and the loud discordant snores that
came up through the floor of the
wagon assured him that there was
nothing to fear from the Kat1irs who
lay beneath, stupetied by the vile
stuff they had deDauched themselves
with. With as little movement as
possible he drew the curtain of the
wagon aside. Outside. the great full
moon had turned the veldt into q
plain of frosted silver.
The glorious Southern Cross too
looked down upon the Tranquil
scene, that was strangely out of har
mony with the wicked thoughts thai
thronged the watchers mind. Th,
oxen lay contentedly near, an(
Grants horse stood motionless, sill
houtted against the fairy background
tethered to the stump of prickly
pear. A moonbeam strayed in through
the parted curtains and played softl,
on the sleeper's smiling features, a
Rockhurst bent over him. his hand
lingering the belt that encircled th,
prostrate figure. To one side of tn,
girdle was fastened a small pouch
This the marauder detached anC
Slipped into his own norxet As h.