The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-13

In the morning the two adventures
had a last word with the captain and
then mounted their horses. The medi-
cine man, who was now sober if not
sensible, wished to go with them, but
this offer was rejected. They rode to a
little eminence and stopped: they were
on the border line. the danger line,
which needed only to be crossed by
fighting parties to mean war. A soli-
tary falcon lowered high in the unfair
nished blue. and before them stretched
the Transvaal, its veldt as yellow as a
sea of gold. Old Zwager's farm lay like
dot in this, and over everything a
Sabbath quiet brooded. but here the
spark could be struck which should set
South Africa afire. They felt the de-
light of power, a sense of danger and
daring leaDed in their blood and they
rode straight forward resolutely.
Zwager'S place was built up in a way
circled the squatty Dutch buildings,
and served to keep the calves in the
front dooryard. A fence might have
been easier. but Zvager's great-grand-
fathers had managed it this way, and
what had been good enough for them
was good enough for Zwager. They
We're admitted through the gate by a
lazy Kaffir boy. and, riding up TO the
house. beheld the owner.
Before the door, in the sunshine, sat
an old and grizzled Boer-a Boer of the
Great Thick. He stared at them for a
moment silently, and then again turned
his dull blue eyes upon the distant view.
But after some reflection he removed
his pipe and asked them briefly, What
do you want?"
I'VE want some forage for our horses,
first thing Burton replied, and the two
dismounted. Zwager reflected some
more, and then announced: You can't
have it,
"Oh, we can't, eh?" remarked Phil
lips. Maybe that isr't for you TO say.
The correction appeared to be lost upon
old Zwager; he sat still and gazed
across the plain toward the blue north
ward, as though he expected some
thing favorable to come from that di-
rection. For years and years the older
Beers had been wont to think of that
free up-country, the untracked wilder
ness which could always be their ref
uge when the annoying uproar OF rap
id civilization came too near. But moth
ing could come out of it now except
danger, and they were cut off from it
forever as surely as from the blue sea
across which their forefathers had wan
dered two centuries before for a place
on which to stagnate comfortably. Old
Zwager may have known this much of
history from the homespun traditions
passed down from sire to son, stories of
old tricks and battles for ones own idea
of things, dared by men of stubborn
fanatic breed, like the Roundheads Of
old England or the Puritans of New
England. But England and America
had gone forward somewhat, and two
of their representatives. we'll up to
date, stood now before this old man of
the people who had stopped for two
centuries, and they hardly knew how to
take him.
I'VE want some forage" Burton roar
ed, with ferocious emphasis.
Old Zwager considered this demand
once more. as though it had been a new
one. You can't have it," he then re-
piled with undiplomatic clearness, be
cause you are English schelms'' (ras-
cals.)
Phillips clenched his fist and walked
up to him. Yes, now's your chance"
encouraged Burton. The Kaffir, safe
upon the wall, was apparently the only
witness and, he being only niger and
untaught, seemed to wonder that men
of those races should fall to fighting.
Phillips put his fist close up to the sto-
lid face, then took it away again.
Always did understand that you
Americans were an uncertain set,
complained the Englishman- He strobe
up to the Boer himself and delivered an
ultimatum. You old dense, beastly.
uncivil mule" he Numbered, tell the
boy there to get that forage, do you
hear2"
The ancient man never noticed them
They both perceived with ease that he
thought they were afraid of him. 'Oh,
before I'd stand that" Phillips taunr-
ed his companion. Presently Zwager
arose to his feet. You must now go
away from here" he proclaimed calmly,
your language is not like the scrip
lures" He went and picked up a
heavy stick and stiffly advanced upon
them.
They stood and watched him come,
the two strapping Saxons and ex-
changed a furtiye glance Then of a
sudden they broke in full retreat; NOV
ed by the same impulse they skunk
back to Their horses and mounted with
out a word. Without word they left
behind them Zwager's place, and for
half a mile across the veldt they rode
a long way apart and would not look
at each other. Finally they pulled up.
and something had to be said.
"Er-ah-most disgusting failure"
the Englishman remarked.
Il couldn't do it," the American re-
piled. because He stole a glance
at his companion, and read in his eyes
an answering horror; it was the awful
horror and hatred of their race for
''goody- goody talk" Because" he
cried triumphantly, 81 thought there
might be some more Beers hidden in
the barn."
Just So assented the Briton, in re-
lief, and came a little nearer. My own
idea exactly" They rode along in de-
lection, knowing more about them
selves than previously they had known.
Around them the very veldt seemed to
be laughing over something; and as
they approached the camp again sud
denly they both laughed, too.
Couldn't be done" Burton explained,
briefly, to the captain. Appears. you
know, that there was concealed force in
the neighborhood." The ex-vendor of
medicines was listening to this. and
now expressed his triumph: YAH"
cried he. Il told you So. Men from
England and America can't go to Jo-
hannesburg that way"
Hours afterward they left the camp
and took the road toward Klerksburg.
They stopped once in the plain and
looked behind them at the border line,
and all was quiet along it. Then the
Englishman, doubtless with his
thoughts upon old Zwager, said: THAT
war will come, though, as sure as the
sun is up there"
'.Or as sure as there is gold in johann
won't be us that will start it We two
weren't made, 1 guess, to do dirty
work"
ming cheerfully the unsuccessful ones
rode westward in the sunshine
pi1oc Ara Hr,iuorco1