Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-04-16
THE BOER'S REVENGE


Dan and myself. We were on shooting
expedition, and old Dan Solomons, the
fourth of our party, had undertaken to act
as our guide, philosopher and friend and to
show us where the best game could be
bagged. After an excessively hot day we
had outspanned for the night on the banks
of the Umtali river in Newfoundland
We loved to hear old Dan yarn, and
what is more we knew he always spoae
the truth
"There's only one black Sam that ever
l had any feeling of respect for, 70 remarked
Dan, land he died 20 years ago. But
there, he said deprecatingly, 81 can't ex
pect you gentlemen TO feel the slightest
possible interest in niger.
We soon disabused his mind on that
score.
II was trying to recollect," he resumed
"where it was 1 first met poor Topknot
as we used to call him on account of the
thingamy he wore on his head-Matabele
land somewhere The Matabele had raided
the kraal where the poor devil had lived
and cleared off every man, woman and
child they came across. Topknot only
escaped to tell the story. My partner, Jan
Stoffel, and l had outspanned on the read
with a wagon load of goods was a trad
DONS,
when suddenly a naked Kaf1ir came rush.
ing into the camp half dead with fright
and fell down at my feet. 1 managed to
make out from what he said that he was
flying for his life before the dreaded Mata
belle. He begged for my protection and
promised to be my slave forever Moreover,
ne said he could show me certain stream
where gold pellets, such as the white men
loved, were found in great abundance My
partner, tyI zeal Boer, picked up his ears
at this, and urged me-mOre for what we
were likely to gain by it than anything
else, l fancy-to do what l could for the
niger, who was really in a terrible state
Then | remembered half empty packing
case which we had. In less time than it
takes to tell the goods were emptied out
and the niger told to jump in
And did her" queried Charlie with
lazy curiosity.
Didn't hel" exclaimed Dan, with EN-
phasis. How he managed to stow him.
self away so comfortably fairly puzzled
me, but he did. We piled goods of all
kinds over him, and had scarcely finished
doing so when one of my boys came run.
ming up to say that the Matabele were
coming. l seized my gun and pretended
to be busily engaged in cleaning it. Jan
Stotfel did the same. There were half a
dozen young Matabee altogether. AS
could see by the light of the moon they
were in full war rig and looked mischie.
vOus, and it would go hard with poor Top.
knot, l thought, if he fell into their
clutches. They said they were in search
of II runaway dog of Mashona and had
traced his spoor TO our camp. Had l seen
him? one brave asked with a swagger. l
81, 4 |. Il
passed down the road and had crossed the
river. AT last our bloodthirsty visitor
took themselves off-and we weren't sorry
to see the last of the pack.
"What became of what's his name?"
asked Jack.
Meaning Topknot?'' asked Dan. "Well
for two whole days he lay hid in that pack.
ing case, and we had some difficulty in
getting him to come out.
"After that, proceeded Dan, leisurely
putting at his pipe, "TopknOt settled down,
and the farther we got away from Malta.
beleland the livelier he became. His devo.
ton to myself was really extraordinary
in fact, Jan Stotfel grew quite jealous OF
it"
Dan paused moment, and l inquired
whether 1opknOt had shown him the river
where the gold came from.
"Wcll, answered Dan, with smile,
che pointed out the river sure enough,
but we never got so much as II grain Of
gold from its bed. A year or two after
this there was something like IA famine in
the land, and trade with the niggers was
almost at Il standstill. Jan Stoifel, never
at the best of times sweet tempered man,
became british and unbearable in conse.
quence. There was decided GOODNESS be.
tween us. One day l returned from shoot
ing TO find that Stotfel had tied IopknOt
to the wagon and was thrashing him un
mercfully with sjambok. TopknOt
looked at me appealingly. What's he
done, JanY l asked quietly Nothing,
snarled Jan. Then why thrash himY' l
asked. Because it ploases me to do so,
he returned. Well, Jan, think the poor
devils had enough considering he's done
nothing to deserve such punishment Sup
pose you drop that sjambok. IN see you
hanged first, said he and if you interfere
with me III thrash you'll AS he said this
he raised the whip, red with nigger's blood,
and made as if he would strike me. l
seized the fellow by the waist and lifting
him bodily up sent him crashing anon.
the pots and pans inside the wagon When
be pulled himself together he was simply
livid with rage, and he swore Gas only a
Boer can swear) that he would be even
with me some day or other. l said moth
ing but cut the thongs that bound Top
knot TO the wheel.
For three months after that my Boer
partner never spoke to me unless through
sheer necessity. For my part instinc-
lively avoided him.
"Well, matters came to head at last
AT the end of that year our partnership
was to be dissolved under the terms of our
agreement, and we would then go our sew
eral ways The end was but week OIL,
and one day remember it was Christ
mas eve-I found myself quite alone in
camp. Stoffel and the boys were out seek
ing our Christmas dinner. looked at
the sky and saw the black clouds gather
ing for a storm. Then lighted my pipe
and planted my back against wagon
wheel to hay a good think. 1 suppose !