Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-03

Thereupon the ugly brute, having dis
mounted, twisted July around by the
neck and, kicked so viciously that the
boy went sprawling through the door
way into the barn. The cordial smile
of welcome which had broadened his in
nocent black face had died away as the
white man talked giving way to look
of extreme fear, for even his life had
not been so lonely but that the rough
ness of outcast civilization had
scratched it. Now, with one long howl
of grief and dismay, he picked himself
up, sore in mind and body, and fled'fro
the house, until from the shelter of a
distant ant heap he felt it safe to watch
the fierce newcomer.
Mr.. Roser, having carelessly flung a
few Whitechapel terms of affection aft
er July, appeared to dismiss him from
his mind, led his horse into the stable,
stayed there awhile, probably examin-
ing the stock, and, coming out again,
sat down in July's former seat in the
sun and smoked a pipe with patience
and apparent content.
Suddenly there came a distant call,
the Australian "coo-ee!" from the veldt,
and Roser jumped to his feet andsang
out "coo-eel" in return. Swiftly Looping
over the plain came another horseman
with another rifle, and the two met in
quick and eager consultation. Says
Roser:
Its all right. We'd best be off.
Wheeler can't be here before morn
ing, but We'll set a good start. I've
frightened the young niger away, and
he won't stop running, bet, tonight.
There's only 10 horses, though, fit to
take, an if we get them into Bechuana-
land by tomorrow night We'll be all
right. There's no hurry, but there's no
telling who may pass along the trek;
so as soon as dark, an that's now, we'll
drive 'em off. Are you on?"
"Sure, I'm on" says the other rogue,
San it's easy as mud, ifyou ask me-"
It darkened rapidly, and at last was
fairly night--a moonless night, AS the
twilight died away July crept nearer
the stable, from one ants hill covering
to another He had as yet no doubt
that the newcomer was his fathers le-
ultimate successor, but he crawled near
for chance to recover his worldly pos
sessions without being kicked. His
amazement was vast, therefore, when
from across the trail he beheld the two
men leading out the horses mount their
own and drive the herd quietly off
across the veldt, with a cool leisureli-
ness, too, which was dumfounding, for
the villains knew well that no coach
would pass for two days, and the new
stationmaster would not now arrive
until next day.
July's mouth was wide open with sur
prise as it dawned upon him that the
company's horses were in the posses
sion of a pair of audacious horse thieves,
who would drive them across the Trans
vaal border, to dispose of them to Bech-
uanaland settlers at their leisure.
The boy awoke at once to fair re-
alization of his own part in the matter.
No more faithful servant than his IA
Their had the stage company ever had,
and July had been trained to look upon
a horse thief as the vilest of mankind.
He was oppressed with his own unwari-
ness in being so tricked, and he was
terror-stricken at what the company,
thing of unlimited power for punish
ments and rewards, would do to him for
his lack of faith in not defending the
stock July ran into the stables and
found four horses left, those in poorest
condition, but one of them, though
along in years and gaunt, was not so
contemplate as the hasty thieves had
apparently thought it.
July jumped bareback on the old
horse and proceeded to follow the
thieves with great cunning, never COM
ing within sound or sight of them, but
continually dismounting and by listen
ing close to the ground and by the help
of an instinct which only veldt-born
native could have, tracking them surely.
Mile after mile through the night, over
bowlder-strewn strips and through
parks of scrubby trees, now down ra
vine, now across ridge Of hillocks,
through grass up to the horses bellies
and over rocky streams, all by the faint
light of the stars, went the herd and the
thieves, and, all unsupported, little July.
Suddenly the Hottcntot came to halt
and listened, for Il minute puzzled.
After awhile he proceeded very eau
tiously. leading his horse very, very
slowly and cautiously, so that he took
more than an hour to 60 little way.
Then he came out round low llopje,
having fastened his horse and himself
crawling like q snake on the ground.
BY the ghostly light he looked into
little hollow and saw that the thieves,
quite unsuspicious of being followed,
were stretched on the ground, fast
asleep-after the superciliously conf
dent manner of too clever people-while
q picket rope was stretched between
two iron pins driven in the ground and
to this the horses, six side, were fas-
tened by their halters.
Slowly, slowly the black boy crept
among them, and they knew his ia
miliar smell and touch-had he not
used to sleep in each ones stall in turn?
lie united them, and they fell placidly
to grazing without whinny, and the
two rogues snored and slept through
it all. July hesitated over the two
horses the property of the robbers, if
h robber may be said to have any prop
hrty at all. But he would not take
them. He wanted only his own. While
he hesitated, however, one horse play
fully bit another, and the bitten one
kicked and neighed. Up sprang Roser
and up the second thief, awake at once.
They ran to their horses, but July was
quick. He smote the nearest of the
herd with his hands and yelled and the
herd stampeded. July rushed to his
hidden horse, mounted him in twink
ling, and went after the horses, skill
fully rounding them up, even in the