The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-21
THE YOUNG BURCHER.
Il TALE or THE KAFFIR VAR.
by ERNEST GRANVILLE
,csyviss, 1883. By Ernss, GissvulsJ

gra-H rt had stopped the career OF haftr
,....-g PARTIES and retaken large number
Of cattle Now his progress was unex-
ra-,f5.y stopped at the Fish River The
j-f, VAS commanded by precipice which
va. bella by a large force OF Gsikas who
had amalshed him on the previous day
With DISASTROUS effect.
ats TOO deep 20 rlsh," he said for the
twentieth time; they'd empty every sad
ue ar We were crossing"
H. walked forward few steps until he
s..1. aa ,ae eIge OF a clearing The road
stretched straight before him for about
o-r H.a5rei Yards and then disappeared
f.f.rl "a solitary blum, below which was
tla river
A. nr stood a bullet struck near his feet,
a.. "a pun Of smoke appeared on the edge
a., ,aa b.uT, marking the whereabouts OF
Oh. -FaEashO0ter.
The eummanlant slashed with his whip
AZ tae rent IN the earth made by the ball
and tael he shooI, his fist at the concealed
t-e
"Eg George" he cried a moment later,
"II have YOU"
He returned 10 his men.
"Who IS the best snapshot among your
Young steve GFadwell." came from the
troop
step 90 the front. Steve"
a g5ru- man who had been lying fun
laeth "a the ground, gazing up at the
ssg AMI smoking peacefully the while,
rose Gp. shook the dry grass from him.
and .e.sIrely advanced till he faced his
captain. ever whom he lowered by full
tive inches.
can you sight an object and pull trig-
ger before a kafiir. Steye?" asked the
oommsHdaut slowly.
Steve smiled. but made no reply.
Look here" said the officer, after a
pause. were going 20 clear the drift.
Steve you win get under cover by the
elar Qt he clearing; the rest Of the troop
aIl prepare 10 charge the bluff as soon as
Sieve tires"
"Nna, must / fire at commandant?
asked She Young burgher. quietly.
"Ar a hafiir / will step out into the
clearing ana draw the mans fire, but you
Mg-t Ai, him first"
Steve drew the cartridge from his Mar
t.L examined il. replaced it, cooked the
rife. and went cTOuching forward The
o,ner men quietly took their positions.
Are you ready?"
"les. sir. but you are running a great
risk"
Inc commandant hurried away to the
clearing. and as he passed Steve he whis-
Iered: His life or mine, my lad"
Then the brave man walked right out
l"io the open. and stood front to the
hun. his arms crossed, his chin UP, his
thin lips slightly parted.
His self-imposed ordeal was not TO be
Instantly relieved. There was a long and
trying pause. The men standing alert in
The bush felt a weight on their breasts
from their su>ended breathing. A full
minute passed and there was no move
ment among the bushes on the bluff
The cOmmandant had grown pale under
the strain. and his breathing was quicker.
but his thin, wiry figure was drawn 10 its
fun height.
The young burgher kneeling behind a
bush was apparently the most unmoVed I:
his figure was as rigid as though carved
ia stone, but his keen gray eyes were
strained. and beads of perspiration broke
out on his forehead, while his large bony
fingers grasped the stock and barrel Of
his rife as though riyeted thereto. He
was at a disadvantage. The Kaffir on the
hill could look through the bushes and
take aim without showing an inch of his
person. No doubt the quick sense of the
native had detected some plot afoot which
would make him cautious. These thoughts
flashed upon the young mans mind as he
made q sharp. Kissing noise 10 attract the
commandments attention, without, how
ever. Withdrawing his gaze.
The officer heard the sound, paused, and
advanced slowly toward the shelter of the
bush. Suddenly he stopped and his face
grew stern and set. He saw Steves rifle
leyeled. and waited in suspense for the
report, or double report. But Steve did
not fire. He lowered his gun and moved
his head with an anxious look in his eyes.
Then the cOmmandant did a cool thing.
ON, Of his pocket he drew his pipe and
tobacco, filled the bowl, struck match
on the sole of his boot. and followed his
hands TO shelter the flame.
bush shook on the top of the bluff,
and the sun cleaned for a second on
rife barrel.
In a flash the rife leaped to Steve's
Shoulder, and that same instant he press
Cd The trigger.
"F0rwardr'
Out Of the bush rushed the waiting bur
gae-s They few up the hill, reached the
summit, and looked down the riverside
'front.' of the bluff, a sheer precipice.
There on a narrow ledge OF rock, between
the base of the precipe and the river,
were the KafIirs, taken completely by sur
prise They had been eating. and so
quick had been the rush of their foes that
some of them still had strips OF roasted
flesh I'm their hands A withering Volley
MAS poured into Them and those uninJur-
cd fed down the banks completely pro-
trg-ts by the wall of stone.
Seven men were left dead, and among
them was she sharpshOOteT. They found
4 -wls sE4H m
TO ,ar ledge by wide blood spoor. He
had been shot by the young burgner
Jrlueh the shoulder, and into the wound
Ge Ila hastily stunned a tuft OF grass
another bail fired in the volley had pierre
q, ais brain.
The troop crossed the drift and passed
on 90 the foot OF bare ridge, where tRey
CG-saGGlei, and prepared q rough meal.
Then they made arrangements as though
U.y would sleep there-but after nlShtfaU
tae horses were saddled and led quietly
90 JAg summit OF the ridge. Then out
posts were stationed and the men stretch
t- themselves on the dewy grass, each
With his horses bride over his arm, 10 De
.H readiness fer any night alarm.
Young GfadWeu was one Of the guards.
Ills post was q quarter Of mile away,
ca tAe farnermost limit Of the ridge-a
E.st ot danger. where extreme vigilance
was needed He fastened his horse IN
l"e shadow Of lonely tree. and himself
s"' n'"A against a rock below the sky
..'. -'' iate toward the east, where the
'.t." body OF the enemy lay In the depths
gloomy k,oof known as Macomo's
4''.. '-. haunt Of leopards and wild dogs.
--..- Ar sa, ,here. listening 10 the voices
'. ..r -.. night, to the cry Of the jackal
'"- .He Hl.dcat-with a dark sky over
...t1 and the intense blacIlness before
.... suddenly be stood erect with head
'.. forward, There came 10 him faint
.--ii--r, 80 slight that many would have
".rarl its warning, taking IL Tor
confused murmur OF wild animals. but.
s-#. though IT was. he recognized the
'.." OFF KanlT voices.
Ihrrr Was glow In tie east. q strange
.'- A-ie sia4Hi-s one portion Of the dark
heavens
lh''ye fred a farm house" he nut