The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-10-08
A HAZARDOUS MISSION.
BY CHAS. D. LESLIE.

HEN TepWOTIu 1lluS, thC "cL-
wv known South African million
aire, sent for me, and after inquiring
i'll was at liberty for a few weeks, said
that he was about to commission me to
take a small map to his johannesburg
representative, l was rather surprised
that he should go to the expense of
special messenger when the postal serv-
ice was available.
ut seems very simple undertaking"
| said.
But he speedily enlightened me.
"Ah, that's where you are wrong" he
replied, giving me a shrewd glance. "In
:his case the post is not to be trusted,
and an unscrupulous enemy will strain
every nerve to defeat my intention"
My present employer, wel[known
Kimberley man, who had lately turned
his attention to the Witwatersrandt
gold mines, was middle-aged, about so,
but looked more, owing to the hard and
adventurous life he had led. His tanned,
weather-beaten face appeared common
place enough. but behind the small
steady gray eyes lay quick brain and
unerring judgment. Few, indeed, could
boast with any degree of truth of ever
having got the better of Pepworth
Tring. AS judge of diamonds also he
had barely an equal. All this l knew
from common hearsay.
You anticipate there will be an at
tempt to rob me during the journey?"
81 am quite sure of it. The matter on
the face of it is simple enough. This
map" Che held up small piece of parch-
ment a few square inches in size-it
appeared to represent the course of
river, some red crosses were marked on
one portion, and some lines of writing
ran along the bottom)-"has to be
given to Mr.. Howard, of Fox street,
Johannesburg. There your mission
ends But whether you will be able to
accomplish it is another matter. Glib
son. my old partner, is determined to
obtain possession of this map by some
means; he is rich, unscrupulous, and
can command the services of men even
more unscrupulous than himself. This
is the reason | do not trust the post
The corruption prevalent among all
Boer officials extends to the post office;
lly lcltCES HHiC pCOh oPSilCu' 11S Aieto
creatures there in his employ. You
must trust no one, and conceal the
paper in such a manner that it cannot
be found"
But while on board ship it would
surely be better to entrust it to the cap
tain or purser?"
THAT would be risky, and only post
pone their attack on you. If you re-
ceived the map back safely you would
without doubt be robbed of it between
Capetown and johannesburg. No;
when the boat reaches Capetown, they
must be under the impression that you
are not the bearer"
when am | to leave London?
"rhe Roman leaves the docks to-
morrow and Plymouth on Saturday.
Your berth is booked; Gibson is also
passenger. and several of his following.
But perhaps had better explain why
this map is so important.
"Gibson, like myself, is an old KIM
berley man. We both did very well
there, and lately, like me, he has been
dealing in Transvaal mining property.
We have often gone partners in various
undertakings. In the autumn of '94,
being then in Johannesburg-abo six
months ago-and feeling the want of
holiday, determined to go on shoot
ing expedition through the Transvaal
towards the sea. Accompanied by two
Iulus, carried out my intention, and
after some weeks travelling we found
ourselves in the low country bordering
On Switzerland. Here quite by chance
| made remarkable discovery. In the
lried-up channel of what had been a
river | came upon traces of diamonds.
The find to my eyes was most promis-
ng; but before l could pursue my in
estigations further, one of my Zulus,
dispatched to get food from neighbor-
ing kraal, came hot-foot with the news
that the Swazis were up in arms. Irri-
.ated by some act of Boer oppression.
hey seemed inclined to wreak their
engeance on me. and so we fed forth
With for our very lives. Before leaving,
drew up plan of the place. so that it
ould be found again.
AFTER various adventures reached
'urban. and took ship for England.
Meeting Gibson in London, 1 acquainted
i'm in general terms with my dis
overy, stating that in the course of my
1urneying had found diamonds. had
ltended to take him into partnership
this affair, but the knowledge which
gained Immediately afterwards that