The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08

other was possibly half a mile off.
! Whereabouts, then, in that maze of
| rutS and blackness, should I see the
trooper, and, OF more consequence to
me, in my starving condition, the duck.
While I hesitated, the sound of voices
struck my ears once more, not far from
me. I could net mistake VINO it was;
/ the words, ''Nerdamter Uitlander, -
again came too distinctly across the
! trek. I skunk back up stream, not
willing to stand another shot Crawl
! ing into a little kioof in the bank lay
still like hare. perhaps, considering
raid on pond and barn-a fox would be
the better word-and at last I heard the
voices and scrambling steps Of the
hunters returning. 1t alarmed me
afresh. however, not to distinguish,
amidst the sounds, the rolling curses
OF the farmer.
I waited awhile, and heard nothing,
and then the thought of that trooper,
smuggling in a coy hidden nook some
where, overpowered me, and 1 rose and
set out to find him, bearing my hard
won pumpkin still along.
The moon passed behind clouds, and
it became pitch dark. For a long time
l pottered about, afraid to call out, for
knew something OF a. Beers shrewd-
ness and tenacity. and I felt more than
uncertain that the farmer was lodging
about. waiting chance at me; and the
fact that mis- voice had been absent
from these OF the party returning, made
me suspicious and nervous.
l had accidents. I fell into a pool
and I bruised my knee badly It grew
bitterly cold for that land, and the dew
fell heavily; and, above all, 1 began to
grow weak and sick from hunger. after
that twerty-mile tramp. began to
shake and shiver, but 1 held on to the
pumpkin.
Then came the elimination of all nv
woes. 1t began to grow darker, with
very heaviness Of black, an almost tan
gible darkness. Ny feet had hitherto
engaged all my attention, but [ now
looked up. The moon was high in the
sky, but there was but little of it visi-
bic. a black shadow was stealing
across twas almost completely over
1t. 1t was in process of eclipse. Then
L gave up hope of finding the trooper.
of finding the trek, even, in the well of
blackness which was near at hand (for
! was now seeking the trooper off the
road; and l sought, it being now near
midnight, q place to rest in and unroll
my blanket.
L stumbled along towards a solitary
tree, which l thought might keep off
some of the dew, and by the last flicker
OF moonlight I saw a man seated be-
meath it. He had his back to me and
was sitting on stone, and | would
nave sworn / saw the side of a shovel
shaped board sticking out above his
shoulders. Something rested between /
ms knees My conjectures jumped to I
certainty it was the farmers gun.
l was almost upon him. 1 was too |
hungry and tired and weak to run. 1 |
up to him stealthily with almost /
hysterical despair, and raised the great /
pumpkin at arms length, and dashed /
it on his head with all the strength nv
and my desperation could mus /
ter between them. He seemed to groan
and fall forward, and I turned and
staggered away, wondering dizzily If
the blow of a pumpkin could be fatal.
Utter. horrible blackness set in, and
the eclipse was complete, when I drop
ped at last. unable to move a step fur
ther. All that night l shivered from
cold and dozed from WEAKNESS, but be-
fore break of day the cold grew so
great that I had to move on or SILVER
to death. Somehow I staggered to the
trek, though l did not know which d.
rection 1 was going, and stumbled
along it, afraid to remain still for a
I felt pretty sure, however,
was on a road, and I followed it, in
1umb consciousness it would lead me
il only back whence I
started in Bechuapaland.
At last 1 came through the blackness
20 a bank and assumed a stream. Die
pr not to die, l could not ford it then. !
md utterly collapsed on the brink.
soon fell in stupor from which |
'oused at the first cold dawn. The
water lay at my feet, still and current
ess- 1t seemed bread as I lifted NV ;
.yes-it seemed familiar; 1 partly
:hoked YELL for it was the farmers ]
luck pond, At the cry a figure on tba
,ther bank-a shivering miserable
'rone wretch-sat up and groaned. II 1
vas the trooper, and in his right hand
lie held the duck by the neck. But. at
he sight of me, he dropped the duck /
IND came running, and threw his arms
Ibout me-
BY Jove, old man." he spluttered, az
IN awfully glad 70 see you. saw you
unning, and heard that blessed beast I
hooting. 1t is rare for these fellows to /
Mss and I made SIRE you were dead. s