The Van Buren press., 1897-08-28
A HAZARDOUS MISSION.
BY CHAS. ID. LESLIE.
'SseeseeesssseseeseeeeseE

1HHEN Pepworth Tring, the we'll
Wv known South African million
nire, sent for me, and after inquiring
if was at liberty for few weeks, said
that he was about to commission me to
take small map to his johannesburg
representative, | was rather surprised
that he should go to the expense of a
special messenger when the postal sery-
ice was available.
1T seems a very simple undertaking,
] said
But he speedily enlightened me.
"Ah. that's where you are wrong" he
replied. giving me a shrewd glance. "In
this case the post is not to be trusted,
and an INSCRIPTIONS enemy will strain
every nerve to defeat my intention
Ny present employer. ii weil-known
Kimberley man, who had lately turned
his attention to the Witwatersrandt
gold mines, was middle-aged. about so,
but looked more. owing 10 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 a 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
lad barely an equal. Al this l knew
from common hearsay.
"Yon anticipate there will be an at
tempt 10 rob me during the journey?"
Il am quite sure of it. The matter on
the face of it is simple enough. This
map" (he held up small piece of parch-
ment few square inches in size-it
appeared to represent the course of a
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
eads. 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, INSCRIPTIONS, 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;
my letters have been opened. He has
creatures there in his employ. You
must trust no one, and conceal the
paper in such 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?"
''The Roman leaves the docks to-
raorrow 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 about six
months ago-and feeling the want of
holiday, | determined to go on a shoot
ing expedition through the Transvaal
towards the sea. Accompanied by two
Zulus, 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
dried-up channel of what had been a
liyer l came upon traces of diamonds.
The find to my eyes was most promis-
ing; but before l could pursue my in
yestigations further, one of my Zulus.
dispatched to get food from n neighbor-
ing lIraal. came hot-foot with the news
that the Swazis were up in arms. Irri-
tatcd by some act of Boer oppression.
they seemed inclined TO wreak their
vengeance on me. and so we fled forth
with for our very lives. Before leaving.
! drew up plan of the place. so that i
could be found again.
After various adventures | reached
Durham, and took ship for England.
Meeting Gibson in London, acquainted
him in general terms with my dis
covery, stating that in the course Of nv
journeying had found diamonds. had
intended to take him into partnership
in this affair, but the knowledge which
! gained Immediately afterwards that
he had sw.ndled me in the matter of
some gold mines changed my purpose,
and | broke with him for good.
''Now the value of my find is prob
lematieal. Diamonds have not Vet been
found in paying quantity in the Trans
Vasi. This place may be a second kim
berley, and shake the De Beers monopo-