The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
MAXWELL'S MISSION.
A Tale Of Adventure In LOben-
gula's Country.
M y. Y. BLACK.

his eyes shone with the light Of gratined pride.
81 have chosen you" said the ofncer. "in
spite Of your youth, not only because Of the
speed Of your horse and your own activity and
zeal, but because Of the character you have
gained while In the service Of the company. It
IL not TO every man Of the pioneers I would trust
200 sovereiRns in gold. And, look hero, young
man. Farrel's death by foyer left o vacancy
among the sergeants. Ill say no more, except
that In the company a sergeant always stands a
chance Of becoming q Lieutenant trust you,
Maxwell. You understand your orders
"Cross two rivers going due north; then head
for q big kopje which I will see from the bank Of
the second river; there I shall find Lieut..
Adair's camp, get q receipt, and return
Exactly; you will got there shortly after
nightfall. Remember, you will have no danger
from wandering Mataheles, II Lobengula keeps
his promise of truce. until Adair hands him the
money. As to any ono else, there is not n soul
in Mashonaland save the Matabeles and our
selves. l wouldn't send you alone II 1t wero
a. otherwise. The real fact ia, I can tell you, there
have been desertions and discomfort lately, and
IL don't want to risk losing any money at the
hands Of some man who might be tempted to
ride OF with It,"
The youngest trooper of that audacious band.
who, in insignificant numbers. marched a few
years ago right into the country OF the most
dreaded Katfir King in South Africa. the fcro-
cious Lobengula. rode Off on his mission with a
glad and proud heart. This was his chance. but
he felt he had earned it, and, as his horse
bounded through tho long grass and breasted
the waters OF the rivers, Maxwcll's imagination
was picturing n glorious future OF which that
day should be the beginning. There was scope,
indeed, for dreams. gazing on that rich and
measurelcss veldt, which could fatten countless
herds, which could yield incalculablc stores Of
grain, whose river beds were sandcd with gold.
Another India Another Give! Who shall
read the dreams of YOUTH
SO fieetly sped his horse that the messenger
had crossed the first river and was in sight Of
the second. beyond which he could already see
the "kopje" or hill, which was his destination,
before the sun quite disappeared on the western
rim of the vclit. 1t was. however. dnrkcning.
and the kopie was merging swiftly into the
gray shadows OF evening, when suddenly from
the tall grass to his right came n loud call. 1t
was not the nearness of the voice, though that
was startlingly close. that brought Maxwell to n
sharp halt. II was the fact that 1t was q civil
ized voice-as distinctly discernible from a Kaftir
cry as could be, and a voice, also, that seemed in
distress.
"Wacht cen beetle y wait a litt!e,.
1t was the cry Of a Dutchman, q Boer. and it
amazed tho courier so that he refined in his horse.
w ~ NSt.o 81 wv ~ uoihS IA
in that wild land. hundreds of miles from his
Transvaal settlements7 At any rate, II he
needed help
"Wacht cen beetle y came the call again, but
sharply, commandingly. From the grass, high
as a mans head, came a denser shadow than
of any ieeting cloud, and the beat OF a horses
hoofs. MAXWELL. in the dusk, saw only the
vague outlines of a rider swiftly approaching.
Suddenly something cleaned in q parting ray Of
tho sun and the pioneer realized that a long
rifle was pointing at him. With a cry. not of
fear, but OF anger at having been deceived
by that first call for help, the youth
whipped his revolver from its holster
and fred at the still shadowy horseman. At the
same instant he pressed his knees to his horses
TANKS and the brute plunged forward--too late !
The courier's attention had been so concentrated
partition stealing upon him from the left. As the
horse started forward q strong arm clntched tho
q ae tnos sRs lGees Struck u Ha Msx W"iIG f fn1sf bis h %ista'ns
their horses. and, bending over the body. rifed
1t Of Its money belt, containing the golden bur-
den. Not until that was done did they speak.
and although the first man had called to the
now they spoke in English; .u,
%Ihit too hard, I'm afraid" said one. Hes
mot he,' said the other: 1.-The night air will
bring him round soon enough, Have we got air.
Picket the young un's horse beside him. We
cant leave that running loose!"
Ealoping, horses was again smothered in the
thick rank grass, as they rode off. as swiftly and
mysteriously as they had come.
The moon was up when the heavy dews from
the cloudless sky and the night wind of the veldt
staggered to his feet, and for a long time he stood
looking at his impatient horse. and pressing his
throbbing head in u vain effort to remember
clambered into the saddle. and his hand had
wandered to his waist. round which his money
strength Of his misfortune was understood.
The mission conided to him had failed and
horn. Robbedf A sudden horrible thought
paled his cheeks. Would the commander OF the
ssdi %Rself limited Ssi'f that h The f s!as{, wo %hs h 911se Sea has 3
temptation to some. and-he. had no wound te
sso Witness ssys tbpe albtr e yb lusn sss ON his head; :. no oR Proof e
doubt and misery. he rode back to camp with q
sore heart and hanging head.
in the headquarters tent. He had told his story
and It was received with greater incredulity
man laughed it to scorn.
Don't tell mel" he cried. You're It'll,
@ eSala i Invent q e q Ss SSaFs ssIs than Ma1 tSsti R RSs q h shisf
You say they wero Beers. You ought to know
t taas n into b %as GT naKl G,hS sn Tsasf ha % %as ~ STofe csa
by being one of US. Lobengula's scouts would
snap him up eat him uP. + there were any
mean to tell as that the thief, Il he was a Boer
Iaver at ALL And, having done 50. would h
would do a good deal Of shooting to get such
horse as yours. Mono! Own up. In a momen'
of temptation you've hid this money and had
not the experience to invent a plausible yarn"
The trooper turned white to his lips, but an
swered never a word. The commanding office
looked at him sadly. He had placed the creates
trust in the youngster.
"say no more. Major" he said, abruptly
Much as hate to say It, the Major argues col
rectly. It 10 impossible to credit this wild tai
Of Beers being around here. The, matter must
however. pass out of our hands. Tomorrow
Sergeant Wayne goes to Kimberley on. CON
pany's business. and Private Roberts with him
They will take you as far as Fort Tuli, on tn
FRONTIER, under arrest awaiting trial"
II was with very different sensations to thos
with which he had ridden off on his mission tina
Maxwell commenced his journey to Tuli. YET
though u prisoner, and his heart filled with
dumb despair, no held his head proudly as h
shook hands with a few comrades who bade hir
cheer up. But the efforts Of his friends to Civ
him hope were. for the greater part forced, 70
Maxwell could not but see. with bitterness, tina
even they found 1t hard to credit his story. ]
xVna nrannafarnua m haliaya that anu nfha