The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-23

II was. on that broiling, roasting day 1
gfar away in South Africa. The sun
poured down in long yellow streams Oh
flashing gold. 1t blazed upon the broad
creenish-brown pillows of the veldt that |
seemed TO stretch away TO the eastern |
horizon in endless low ridges of hot
earth covered thinly with sun-dried
hcrbage; il flashed and sparkled on the
heaped up masses of rugged rocks piled
one upon another, that lowered above
ms on the right till one could fancy
they smoked again under the hercc
heat: it Law hot and still on the ropgh
tsngle of scattered trees and brush
wood that fringed the bowlder-strewn
slope which led up to the gray piles Oh
rock that seemed to nod in the swim
ming atmosphere. Yes, it was hot
December day; hot even for south
African midsummer, far away ON the
borders of Matabeleland.
had stopped for minute to rest and,
look around me, and had taken the OPP
portunity to pass my hand across my
brow to brush away some of the super
fiuous moisture that was trickling down
NV face in a continuous stream, while
nv rifle leant against bowlder at my
side. NV other hand was occupied IN
lceeping in its place the carcass OF al
antelope, the fruit OF my mornings
sport, which hung over my shoulder.
it's long horns trailing on the ground
behind.
II say. Hall, old man; nice seasonable
weather this for Christmas"
II was the jovial voice of my CON-
panion Travers that had reached me
from behind and little higher up The
slope. Good gracious, he was right
too. In two days more it would actual
lv he Christmas, and here was i. as hot
as a baked chicken at a darky weo-
ding, with perhaps five miles more 70
tramp before could get rid OF my load.
"Christmas!" shouted, you don
mean 20 say anybody keeps Christmas
in this weather, do you?"
"Keep it? / believe you, my ooy'
WHY. we'll kill the best steer we can
get for love or money, or lead, ior tn"'
n,atter-though where the dickens
we're going to get it. don't know
and make believe we're enjoying the
roast beef of old England on Chris'-
mas day."
made an exclamation of disgust; the
,rospcct was at the moment far from an
en.icing one.
"Oh, you may grunt. old fellow, ne
continued" but you must do at home
os the Romans do. and can tell you we
omit none of the ceremonies OF tue
season here, except. worse luck' the
rirls and the mistletoe."
.sIIere!" exclaimed; why man, you
can't keep Christmas in this wea,ner
The things an outrage. Why don'tyou
keep it in July"
AT this point Travers descended the
slope at bound TO join me. he was
tali. active young fellow in rough ano
ready costume which was not unpecom
;n1 and which included broad felt nat
n dark gray jacket that formed com
uromise between loose shirt and
shooting coat, loose trousers OF TN
same. aud leggines of untanned ieatne'
that reached ndarly to the knee. h
carried over his shoulders, sling In
fashion of his own, the fellow anteiop
~ the one | was carrying. and he wa
lnuohing heartily at my face anu ton
of disgust and incredulity.
.Oh. come now." he exclaimed; 'yo
wouldn't have us give up our Christina
iust because il was warm? why, In
very Beers would look on you as
heathen.' =,
Christmas!' Well, you can call
what you please. of course" grumolec
..but for my part don't believe in a nc
Christmas. and don't think you'll COZ
VERT me to the faith in a hurry.
Trayers laughed. well, I've see
several, and they're not such bad III
after all. It's new sensation, 1 &c
NIT. but then you're always comm
across new sensations here; anytnin
from diamond mine TO a nigger-risinl
on the shortest noticc--we have a
sorts here, and most things are hot.
Travers had passed me and taken tf
lead while ne was speaking. and witt
out making any reply picked up IN
rifle and prepared to follow him. W
had gone but short distance when II
track we were following swept rour
n spur OF the range of rocky hills ar
brought a new pdrt VI i's i"BtN" w
into sight. Travcrs halted abrupt
end. shading his eyes with his han
stared upward at the shoulder of u
great mass of precipitous rock that TO
above us My eyes followed the dire
tion of his. but could only succeed
making out something dark whit
showed above the fringe of rough veg
tation that came between. After sor
seconds spent in carefully watchii
the object. whatver IL was. that had
tracted his attention, my compnni
turned away and resumed his marc
Glancing over his shoulder at me as
did so. he remarked: There, no
Hall. that's an illustration. Did y
zee that fellow up there?"
II saw something black. IL tho
what you mean. but I'm hanged q
cosId tell what p was"
"Ah--just so: neither could ], for u
matter. IL YVES Niger on the loolS'