The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
THREE MEN IN A TENT.
An Interval OF Enforced Economy in the
MilderneAs In Aonth AfricR.


came upon bell tent. There was time when
such trife would have excited no curiosity.
Tor the prospettor was abroad In those days,
and gave semblance Of life to these solitudes
that less than eight years ago swarmed with
buck and balloons. But tho game has gone
and the prospector has made up his mind that
this particular spot at least Is wort HESS. so it
knows him no more.
Looking closer there were revealed In the
vicinity OF the tent several things that fitted i'll
with the theory that the tent concealed q
prospector. little bit OF soil had apparently
been dug up; rough enclosure shielded two
or three fowls. and other outward and visible
signs suggested something more permanent
than prospector's shelter. Only few weeks
back had explored a similarly mysterious
canvas concealed among the thorn trees OF q
portion OF the Gratis Rand and had found
Zulu In an advanced stage OF smallpox He
had dropped by the way on his lonely tramp to
his kraal and after lying in misery in the
open for three days had been discovered
and cared for by FieIdcornet van Wyk
and District-Surgeon van der Nerve. who
pulled the poor wretch through and
avoided spreading the infection. l had
evidently struck another lazarotto and with
the spirit OF inquiry full on me- proceeded to
explore; ! .pnfastened the canvas and
n9Selped In Although i was near noon. three
aR Rs s"a1S Sc I, Gsd %%ysS
unkempt fgure-and in the free and frequent
language Of the common people demanded to
ditto wanted. i fell back on a subteringn,
and and nd, said l wanted match. before
sGu w Sss" 2 4S sals ar sfs
n ms wt ths R5 tnSt ",ok 'ns r
me- When he had tumbled out Of his blankets.
Sha a}}l MS ralamns. and pushed back his
beard an exile from Johannesburg civilization
when Number 3 had finished linking. and
aTS pts had solved the ystsry OF the where
a anss dnrlnG reriod Of pr2longed hard-ur-
eide to fraudulent desertion.
- was shown the com missnrint department
II consisted of Potatoes beans. meaIics, onions
%c al part OF the original supply purchased in
n,. NJ saId No; /, BY way Of preface to the en-
pecting; we're economizing waiting till the
clouds roll ~, and saving our clothes and our
leas; Bin and have. Jim joined us last week,
We had been hard up formonths with no pros
80 Bill and put our capital together bought
this outfit. and here We live like, Robinson
Crusoes on less than bob day apiece Our
friends think we are on shooting trip. You
are the first visitor we have had except a
sGS"oppey GourlGG from Krugersdorp last Sunday.
day I've ever had in my life and the cheapest.
and II Jim here would give, up talking about
we should be happy as sand boys. but after one
2 q ur those yarns, he always wants to go into
drunk and making us jealous"
m %h ,bs TIE s otheTS nTearSa the T. oc"ck
enterprise. 1t was the TOO ' common one eo OF a
man in a $50 per month situation suddenly dis
charged. expendipg his small reserve in wait
to the realization that his staying power was
rapidly, decreasing, He and BILL. who was
picnic under canvas. and now came the oppor-
tunity Their united capital was about Gl5.
their project into practca The bill tent IT was pas
picked up on Marshall Square for 35s. and Cos
ON @ The shsm IsH
goody stock OF cooking utensils aud other
necessary articles. The bedding consisted Of
the portmpnteau was packed with ali their
oldest clothes. one decent suit for town visit.
without. oyercrowding the space. As it was
they had been compelled 70 erect rough
served as storeroom for superauous para
or course" added the boss. our great DIM
Guilty has been to make our provender fit in
with our means. Neither Of lis have any in
come. beyond a stray sovereign or raised at
at noon and supper about O'Clock, This is
forced on us by cold and economy The nights
possible. and get our sleep after sun up. You
called in Just at break fast tme-a cup OF coffee.
& avs hour heongh 4@ nprh
we should have been frozen. 1t is expensive
though we burn only one candle. and use 'Bosr
dozen of making beans palatable. and though
we are making flesh on it, > said the boss,
Mhft about fresh supplies such as milk and
We'll. we don't get as much as we should
like. but the farmers about are very good ma
tured and we sometimes get such luxurics for
Our greatest want is whisky and reading mat
ter We are teetotalers on compulslon. and
have read w all we brought in the way OF light
Then. how do you kill timer"
Bill and are learning land surveying from |
his handbook. but, as We have no instruments. !
t more theory than practice. Bill is also
What does Jim do?" ] inquired.
which will be worth fifty uuid when it's COM |
plete., Catching EN- is better than loa1ng |
round Commissioner street" answered Jim |
How is the collection erowng?"
irst r rate t Sny want four more to COM
Jim Is the humorist Of the party,
How long do youreckon TO stay herep"
It's all a question Of funds. Our capital is |
melting. Of course. though we look at every |
ckey and buy nothing that we can do without |
lay, and have not had to do without a single
necessary, and our expenses work out at lSa
I'd. per week for three. We are in splendid |
health. and even IL at the end OF another month |
Kings have not improved we shall be in a |
much better position than II we had tried to |
'ide out the storm in Johannesburg. At any
ate we have preserved our self respect. our
zeal tn and our clothes. to say nothing Of hav-
ng Kept out OF politics and saved Jim from
lrunkard's grave"
And then we had dejeuner-the very finest
neal have ever eaten in the weld. cooked in
'eld style, and consisting OF a good thick bean
cup followed by an Irsh stew and stewed
reaches and coffee. The conversation over the
neal and for some time after consisted OF an
lite m ut to figure out the exact cost OF the meal
,er head. We should have got at IL all right
nut for jim who having once been store
eeper on mine, insisted that the proper way
o arrive at net cost was to allow for original
apttRl outlay on entire stock.
We worked on these lines till the blank leaves
md edges OF ali the reading matter in the tent
lad become an eruption OF figures. and when
We had agreed 1t at Ard per caput. Jim refused
o assent. on the ground that a deduction must
~ made for depreciation OF plant.
When the party had escorted me into the
engineering shadows and over the hills to
lr0gersdrop. they returned TO finish calcu-
ntions. and prepare to face the watches Of the
light over coffee and cards.
ives Up a Tree; swims Ashore For His
Meals.