The Washington times., 1895-04-21

the following hoof beats of Jim's pony;
but, as l knew afterward, Jim in his
excitement has taken an abandoned wagon
road leading in a different direction,
listen in vain.
On aud still on, till the moon slowly
sinks from sight behind the purpling crest
OF the Moliraji range. The faint clatter of
the feet OF unshod ponies, ridden by the two
men | am pursuiHg, has suddenly ceased.
The shadows OF the gum trees and over
hang ing ecSlyptus loom ghostly in the wan
ing light, and / am half tempted to give
up the chase till day dawn.
Suddenly my steed gives startled snort,
and atops SO abruptly as nearly TO pitch me
over its head. Is il at the sight of blasted
old tree which stretches ono leaflcss limb as
though pointing wArningiy TO the ruined
kraal am passing? or is it.
Two jets Of fire suddenly leaping forth
from the walls Of the dilapidated kraal
effcctually end my soliloquy.
simultaneously my faded cap is knocked
from my head by pistol ball, and my tough
little pony, with half human cry OF pain,
Staggcrs aud fails, giving me barely time to
clear myself from the saddle. Almo5t be-
side myself with anger | uuslung my rifle
aud return this fire-of course at random.
Yet, following 1t, hear = smotbered eX-
cismation aud a heavy fall. And as hastily
reload, the form of a mounted hoTseman
holding the bride ofanother steed, which
dagbes along at his side. scurncd through
the Underbrush, and is swallowed up In
the shade VS.. ut
Scaling the hlapidated wall / stumble
over the lifeless bedy of Rrophy His
pockets have been hastily rif1ed by bis ras-
cally companion pFsyfsrs to hfa Tight and,
o { course, the diamond Is missing. 1 take
possession OF his rifle AND side - Tina, and
with a heartfelt wish that he might have
met his nierited fate at other hands than
mine retrace nay steps.
Three hours later | reach Clymer's, and
tell my story to Jim, who himself has
returned but a little before. Two. days
aftervard Jim, the Kaffir Balaam, and my
self enter tho little Dutch settlement of
Wakestrom, leading our remaining pony on
which are packed our miniug tools and
other traps. III answer to our inquiries we
learn that MuseraVe, or a person answer
ing his description, sold two horses TO a
Boer trader s couple OF days previous, and
took the stage coach for CaPo Town. There
Ia 10 telegraph or steam communication
and OF course pursuit is utterly fru;t!ess.
Before we leave Wakestrom for Dutoits
where we have decided TO make one more
effort at retrieving our fortunes, q copy OF
tae Cape Town Advocate" falls into my
hands. And it is with somewhat excited
voice that l read the following d aragraph
aloud to jim:
Yesterday we were favored with view
OF the lsFscRt diamond which has ever
been shown in Cape Town since the Light
of Africa, once in tho possession OF Kotz
& Brasam, the well-kHown lapidaries. The
stene to which we have reference, weighed
in if uncut state, 3s7 ckrats, so carsts less
than tho Light OF Africa. We are assured
by experts that 10 not only naWless, but
of unusal brllliaRey aR9 whiteEess, having
beeR thoroughly tested in every light AS
nearly as we can learn it was first dis
covered by g Eiffir employed by an sdven-
turous miner named Ausgrave, who has
been working the deserted claims in Ciy-
mer's Pan. The Kaff1r concealed the stone
after the manner of his kind, but his en-
ployer was too sharp for him and forced him
| literally 10 disgorso tho prize. The miner
while intoxicated, and az he asserts,
drugged, was induced TO sell the stone to a
| shrewd Cape Town dealer for the paltry
| sum of 91 GOO. The dealer himself re-
ceived in the neishborhood OF 92 $50 from
| the syndicate now owning it, who value
| theirpossession at upwards of eco 900, pro-
| vidfng the cutting, which is to be done in
| London, proves a success
Pleasant little item for us-eh, Jim?"
I remark. calling up what philosophy 1 ca
| summon for the occasion.
For obviousreaSons IforbeaT giving Jim's
reply. There are some occasions in life
when graceful grammatical language seems
| inadequate in expressing one'sfeelings.