Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-03
IN A HOlTENTOT'S TRAP.
Horse Thieves Fooled by a Black
Boys Cunning.

FULLY sat in the sun, unspeakably
I lonely, and felt depressed beyond
measure, for, although a Hottentot de-
lights like lizard in the warmth of an
African day, revealing in it, yet he also
desires company. So was it with July,
for his case was unusually grievous. On
the hill behind the stage stables, new
ly buried, lay his father and mother,
dead of cholera, and it was a wonder
that he himself, who had been attacked,
was alive. So he was alone in a huge
world. Atintervals, three times week,
came the galloping stage, with inordi-
nate tumult, blowing of horns, crack
ing 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
temporarily. His father had done so,
helped by the boy, but since his death,
week ago, the superintendent of the
company, 300 miles away, had sent word
10 July that new man would be sent to
relieve him. And then July would be
sent adrift, where he did not know and
nobody cared. Hottentot boys, even if
they are as faithful to feed and water
their charges as this, are not articles
ofvalue in the land, and July's prospects
of employment were not bright. So he
sat in the sun, with a mournful envy Of
the horses, which were more thought Of
than he.
1t was in the hot afternoon, and the
only thing stirring was cloud of dust
in the distance, and from that cloud
louder and shriller as the stage drew
near, came blast after blast of the
guards horn. Rattle and clatter and
dash, a shout from the driver, pro-
longed series of artistic but purely Or
namental fourishes from the great
whip, and the coach stopped, its horses
all foam and futter.
Instantly the driver and the whip
were down and embarrassing the glad
team.
"Ho, July! Now, youlittle black ras-
cal! All by yourself, still, hey? Well,
its the last time. There's man coming
up the road to relieve you-a white man,
too, leastways, half and half. So you'd
best be packing up, July, though for
me, niger if you be, I'd sooner see your
ugly little landmark of 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 if I amt sorry to see the.
last of you. There's cigar for luck.
Look out for your relief-he's a-riding
his own horse"
Taroot-tatatool-rata tool-tooraray!
The horn blew, passenger began
again THE Song that Reached My
Heart" on q concertina, the horses
reared and kicked and were an undis-
ciplined mob for an instant and on the
next were stretched in taut, fleet line
at a spanking canter. Rattle and crash
and clatter and fresh cloud of dust,
and July was once more alone in the
sun, richer by cigar, which he smoked
ut once, having his races love for the
weed.
.1bou. shutdown he came, riding his
nwp horse, as July expected, but he did
not seem a half-breed. He was very red
raced and had red hair and red eyes
certainly nothing even half African
ibout his looks. His horse was fairly
rood one, and not much put out by what
July knew should have been long
Journey. Across the pommel Of the
saddle he carried o rife, and that was
all the baggage he brought. Even July
marveled somewhat at man coming
to live on the bare veldt without a
blanket or q chilly" to boil his coffee in.
But native has the same awe, though
perhaps in a less degree, of a white man
than a monkey must have. Therefore
he made obeisance in very conciliating
and smiling way.
"Maru, baas! Jolly hot. 'ope may
die!" cried July, graciously, for he
prided himself on his polite English
picked up from drivers and gold pros
pectors. "You new baas?"
eyes, you burned little ugly imp, I'm
your new baas, and the first thing
you've got to do is to take your bloomin'
hockey cut of this, dye mind? I've
heerd all about you. Last thing the SUI
perintendent says to me, he says says
he: you kick that lazy niger out OF
that, first thing, Mr.. Roser,' he says
"cause he's no good says he. says:
'supe,' says I, mo 'Ottentot or Kaff1r
amt no good says, 'an' ye can depend
on me to do the necessary hckin' IN a
Inethodical an artistic manner not to
be beat says I, cause I believe most
teenashushly that the only way to make
the natives of this blasted land know
'+bair n1aoe is TO kick 'em hard an fire.