The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
III.

was full Of strange thoughts.
III.
They camped by the side of a river which the
sergeant would not swim before daylight, hay
ways and hungriest at rundown. Roberts pre-
parcd the deer meat for broiling. Wayne gath
bfiiilies and went down to, The river. hft.S yards
away, to fill them with water. The wet
season was nearly over and d the river was ssr@n run;
evening light. Maxwell cautiously seratinized
aware sSSn nt by eSpe RIG s"i how s1' easily the long still
amphibians might be mistaken for a mud.
and an'if returned etf to camp sae"m,ip''w; with his water pals: As
he approached the nn, 9th er two were busy and did did
the fire, now lighted. his back turned to. the
young trooper. His coat was thrown aside and
his shirt had been disarranged by the armfuls of
o. his whist was plainly seen in the light Of the
flames; MaSweiliookg and gasped and dropped
q Si,iyf% %n Of fa ws5' him. The sergeant turned at the
Whats the matter. young un /, By George.
you look white! Is it a crocodilcf
He ran for his gun in almost a panic. for the
pioneers held the lopthsome reptiles in greater
horror even than lions. Maxwell had time to
recover himself, and forced u laugh.
II stumbled" he said. You're awfully
scared Of the hrutes. wayne"
"i am said the he. sergeant With l,nG a sh ~ Mrcw WI
hon that time when he and his horse were both
| pulled down. dream of 1t STILL,
two lit their pipes. Il he had been pale when he
dropped the billy, he was flushed now. ...
orders, I'd like to try q shot at those brutes be-
fore dark, if there are any lying about on the
"Of course, of course. old man. +" said the SER
about with bothering regulations, and, to tell
way. and amt worrying about any prisoners.
I'm sorry for you, Maxwell pom my soul am.
i 'ns o i Yo Way want and t? Re sSe1Rs' t Ssy' III Sa a1 s ,SSk
He spoke with almost anxious enthusiasm, as
rife and horse and ride off. but the youngstcr
only smiled and walked off to the river. 1t was
all probability, but the pioneer did not look to
see. He waited u minute, and then, controlling
his voice With an effort he sang out as carelessly
II say, yog fellows. look here' believe this
leisurely down from the camp. Maxwell glanced
anxiously at them, and his eyes Lit up triumph
s thsiE guns 1H1 'a nna pistols Ts | a and beits BY Tt eSss n rea ''''
his sR iips. %Get's H saea M Maylnett 1 hss PbfPe Gst possi.
as at Kimberley Where is iii"
Maxwell was standing on the very brink Of the
preached him, coming to his side.
Suddenly Maxwell dashed Between them. run.
ming some twenty, yards away from the river.
His rife sprang 70 his shoulder; his eye glanced
kecnly through the sights.
shouted in triumph 1 SMesv SH a foot and III drop
my turn now!"
He stood between them and their arms, and
sure shot haS They both turned eds White, and nsitRe !
spoke. At last, with an oath, Wayne found
lis this a joke J" he cried angrily.
About as much so as when you hit me over
the head with a knobkerrie," said Maxwell,
and Your hunting pass. You talk too much, Ser:
geant Waynoi When you repeated that cali for
I Ir reecogniz stE your SHr voice: when you told me oehha how
you and Roberts had been out hunting Without
leave, you made me think, and now ! know
forced laugh e er" What tf belt i = sergeant win d
was I dTaS Sno a i Shw By S1 tSs d 8S% %a'g YOU SoS ear Fhsf'
Inbuckle it and throw 1t here before l count
The sergeant glared furiously, but made nc
m9yement.
The sergeant sulkily moved his hand.
The surly trooper, Roberts. WHO had hitherto
t f%erpsnf of SAIL aatS,s suddenly broke tho silence oy q
You asst. he cried. turning on Wayne
t uRaan away ! tell the { Seitf to B B1xo y %s w @y shrf: soS
waited a chance to holt with it ALI And nov
backward in the face Of his accomplice. Wayne
taken by surprise, retreated, and his geconC
step carried him over the bank into the stream
He went down with an appalling cry, drawn
from him not 30 much by dread Of the current
as by the swift and horrid recollection of what
fearful beasts had there their home. In such al
instant the minds OF men betray each It's norma
trend, and the two men left on the bank nov
The belt! The belt!" yelled Roberts. He
got the belt!, and he ieaped from the bank t
save the gold. Maxwell uttered no word; b,
had heard that despairing cry, had seen tn,
agonized face as the man fell, and he dropped
his rife and leaped into the stream to save
was sternly determined to shoot him where h
stood. The two leaped so nearly together an,
so closely after the falling body that all thre
were struggling in the water together. The.
were all good swim~mers.pioneers had need I
scrambled out. when from the mudbank, nea
the shore, there slid a dusky form that plunge,