The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-12

! company's dominions. The range is called
the kOmmetje, from the resemblance OF
its highest portion to the earthen Vessel
which the Beers use for a coffee cup: AS
Yet no trace had been found OF Engineer
Harden and burden; nor had any human
being, black or white, been encountered
The oxen labored onward. up the grad
( ually increasing slope of the KommetJe;
while those in the wagon kept their eyes
fixed firmly upon the ground Tor any
marks denoting recent travel throug Ss.lis
! wild region. At last about the noon hour.
! John Beautybright uttered a gutteral eX-
/ clamation. and leaped ont Of the creakIng
| vehicle. The others followed suit.
! In the clay was the undoubted spoor
| or track OF oxen, and the mark of wagon
| wheels. The spoor approached their own
path from a more northerly direction.
1T is dads wagonH' cried Dick jubi-
lantly.
! gloomily. There are other wagons in
South Africa besides Mr.. Harley
'-Spoor tree day old cried John
! Beautybright who had been examining
the tracks "Baas Harley, he got start
| Somewhat damDened in spirits, DICK
climbed into the wagon again. and the
| journey was resumed Before sundoWn
they reached the charred embers of re
cent fire and during the following morn
ing battered coffee pot showed that the
owners of the preceding wagon had not
been very careful of their effects.
But it was al noon on this second day
after finding the spoor, that, quite uneX-
Dectedly on turning into a small kloof
in the mountain slope they came upon
the wagon of which they were in pursuit.
Ii was deserted, The oxen, stoutly teth-
cred, graZed nearby; but OF those VINO
had guided them hither there was no sign.
At this point the central peak OF the
hommeJje range rose sheer overhead, ana
very dismal and uninViting II appeared
But Dick was wild to scale IL for all that
So leaving John Beautybright in charge
of their wagon. and taking their rifles.
two pannikinS of water and supply OF
biltong or dried beef, the boy set off with
Long Jim Greene.
The climb was trying one. especially
in the SWeltering heat but DICKS heart
was stout. and Long Jim had been trained
in his native Maine to regard fatigue as
one of the necessary trials OF the hunter
Night descended upon the kommetJe
just as they reached marrow plateau
which seemed to girdle the central peak.
and stretch like level road along the top
OF the range. They were obliged TO camp
here; but Dick Harley could not sleep he
tossed uneasily on the hard turf. counting
the stars. in the hope of driving away
anxiety regarding his fathers fate.
1t was because he CHANGED TO be watch
ing the stars that he noticed, very low in
heavenly body should be-a twinkling
point OF light. Moreover the light moved
about curiously, and even seemed to be
coming in their direction.
Dick hastily woke UP Long Jim, and
they both took a good look at this ad-
vancing pet of flame;
It's q lantern, Dlcky,- exclaimed Long
Jim at last. Also it is coming this way.
Grab your rifle. and hide behind that
boulder I'll guard the other side of the
Slowly-very slowly the light ap-
preached along the pleateau; until at last
the naked eyes Of the watchers. saw
plainly that it was caused by swinging
lantern. and that he who carried it was
a white man. But Long Jim Greene saw
even more than that.
Stepping boldly from his concealment.
with his rifle at the aim, he cried:
Throw up your hands. burden! Throw
uD YOUR hands. or I'll shoot you by the
light of your own lantern"
The bearer of the light staggered as
though stricken with surprise and fear;
but he obeyed Long Jims ringing COM
mand. and held up both hands; The light
fell full upon his face. and Dick, who
had also come from shelter. recognized
in him a tramp whom he had often seen
along the tracks of the B. & NJ.
Now Burden, continued Long Jim,
lust face about and bring us to where
you left Chief Engineer Harley, who is