The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-14
IN A HOTTENTOTS TRAP.
HORSE THIEVES Fooled By A
BLACK BoY'S CUNNING.

BLACK BoY'S CUNNING.
They were white aud He WINS Only q Small
South African Native, but He LEFT Their
Homes to Bleach I'm tho Sun Whilo He Took
Back Their Plumber to tho Owners.
July sat in the sun. unspcakably lonely, and
felt depressed beyond measure, for, although a
Hottentot delights like a lizard in the warmth Of
an African day, revealing in 1t. yet he also de-
sires company. So wns it with July, for his
case was unusually grievous. On the hill be-
hind tho stage stables, newly buried, lay his
| father and mother, dead Of cholera, and 1t was
a wonder that he himself, who had been at
tackled, was alive. So he was alone In n huge
world. At intervals, three times u week, came
the great %galloping stage. with inordinate tn
multi, blowing Of horns. cracking of whiplashes,
snorting of horses, and shouting of drivers and
prospectors, full Of excitement, who were going
up country to the newly found gold fields on
the Witwatersrand. For five or ten minutes
thrice weekly July thought that the universe
was crowded with hustle and business. and
thereafter he sank into silence and solitude.
July looked after the relays Of horses tenn
porarily. His father had dono SO. helped by
the boy. out since his death. d week ngo. tho
superintendent Of the company, 800 miles
away. had sent word to July that O. new man
would be sent to relieve him. And then July
Afolo DO bGlI "hSio LIZ MA hob NhN'
and nobody cared. Hottcntot boys, even If
they arc as faithful to feed and water their
charges as this, arc not articles OF value in tho
land, and July's prospects of employment were
not bright. So he sat in tho sun. with n mourn
full envy Of tAe horses, which were moro thought
OF than he.
1t was In tho hot afternoon. and the only
thing stirring was n cloud OF dust In the dis
lance, and from that cloud. louder and shriller
- A.. ..~. l.o,r aor m mr. hi aaf oftar hlnat
OF the guards horn. Rattle and clatter and
dash, q shout from the driver, a prolonged
series of artistic but purely flour
fishes from the great whip. and the coach
stopped, its horses oil foam and futter.
Instantly the driver and the whip were down
and embarrassing the glad team.
"Ho, July! Now, you little black rascal
All by yourself. still, heyl Well, it's tho last
time. There's a man coming up the road to
relieve you-a white man, too, lcastways, half
and half. 80 you'd best be packing up, July,
though for me, niger II you be, I'd soon
err SEQ your ugly little landmark of q phiz than
some surly blackguard full OF Cape Smoke all
the time. Horses all right-as usual, fresh
and frisky-as usual. Good boy. July. Blowed
il I amt sorry to see the last Of you. There's a
cigar for luck. Look out for your ~relief-he's
a.rlding his own horse"
Observation-Disclosures tool-tooraray! Tho horn
blew, a passenger began cgain The Song that
Reached My Heart" on n concertina. the horses
reared and kicked and were an undisciplined
mob for an instant md on the next were
stretched in n taut, fleet line at a spanking can.
ter. Ratio and crash and clatter and a fresh
cloud OF dust, and July was once more alone in
the sun, richer by q cigar, which no smoked al
once, having his races love for the weed.
About shutdown he came, riding his OWE
horse, rs July expected. but he did not seem q
half-brccd. lie WAS very red-faced and had
red hair and red eyes certainly nothing even half
African about his looks. His horse was a fairly
good one, and not much put out by what July
knew should nave been n long journey. Across
the pommel of the saddle he carried n rifle, ant
that was all the baggage he brought. Ever
July marvelled somewhat at a man coming Il
live on the bare ve!dt without a blanket or
.billy' TO boil his coffee in. But a native ha
the same awe, though perhaps in a less degree
, of q white man that Il monkey must have
Therefore he made obcisance In a very concili
ating and smiling way.
"Maru, baas! jolly hot. 'Ope may die!'
cried July graciously, for no pridcd himself oil
/. his polite English, picked up from drivers ant
, gold prospectors. You new oaasf
. "Yos. YOU burned little ugly imp, I'm you
new buas. and tho first thing you've got. to d.
8 is to take your bloomin' hookcy out OF this
!, dye n nm 'su prS IS says TO me- SoI he s ass
, SAWS he, You kick that lazy niger out OF thai
Z first thing, Mr.. ROser,' no says, cause he's m
a ~, od. SAYS he. | says, 'Supc, says i, no 'ot
tcntot or Kafir amt no good says, any
\ ron depend on nc TO do the necessary kickil
: in a mctlodical an artistic manner not TO b.
hent SAYS l., cause i believe most teenash
/. nsbly that the only way TO make tho natives O
tbis blasted land know their place Is TO kic
q 'en hard an frequent. In pursuance OF whicI
take that!
4 twisted July round by tho neck and kicked 3
yiciously that the boy went sprHwling throug
OF welcome which had broadened his innoccn
n black face had died away as the white ma
talked. giving place to q look or extreme feal
for even his life had not been so lonely but tina
: tho roughncss OF outcast ,civiization. ha
. scratched Il. Now, with ono long howl OF griC
and dismay, he picked himself up soro Ia min
n md body, and fled from tho house until, frOI
tho sheltcr OF "a distant anthcGp, he felt IL Saf
n 10 watch the fierce newcomer,
h Mir Roser, having carelcsSly Hung n feN
Whitechapel terms OF affection after July, al
q ncnred To dismiss him from his mind, led hl
d horse into the stable. stayed there n whil'
s nrohably examining the stock, ana coming ou
N again, Sat down in July's former seat in the su
and smoked II pipe with patience ana aPpareI
+: Suddenly there came a distant call, the Aui
F: trsIian 'coo.eo!'' from the veldt, and Rose
: iuInpcd To his feet and sang out "~cOo'ce!' In n
turn. swiftly Looping over the plain came al
other horseman with another rifle, and tho tw
10 met in quick and eager consultation. Say
Is Roser: WA Lo.. !. oN yU...,.