The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-29

have fought TO the last scratch of her
nails, like wildcat, rather than give
| them up.
Besides, she said, hopefully, what
could the wretch Malula know that we
Cont? The Zulus cannot be near. and
if tltey are. the farmers have out their
scouts, and they say the English from
Natal are also ready. Before they
reach our farm the Beers must meet
them. and surely the savage shall be
stricken
Nothing more was said about de-
Serting the homestead. 81 Vrouw Putter
went about her work quietly, but Pet
began to prepare. Now, the farm house
was roomy, and the garrison most
petty OF and, puzzle over the matter
as he might, the boy could not see
how its rough stone walls could be
protected at once on all sides. = il the
attacking force was to be a large one.
His mother was about as good a shot
as he, end even Greta could discharge
a gun at pinch, but tWotor three guns
could lot protect so rambling a build
ing. Pet came 10 that conclusion, with
a feeling akin for q moment to de-
spair, until at last, as he stood III the
broad yard, looking ait the house, the
chickens came clucking about him in
their search for food. and he, had an
idea.
II.
All day he worked busily, leaving his
mother to the children, and by nightfaIl
he had prepared a fort to withstand a
siege. Two or three times during the
afternoon he had slipped off to the top
of the kopje, where he could look affair,
but each time he came back, having
seen nothing but the rolling veidt They
had supper, and again Piet slipped
away and came back, but now with a
grim face.
Mother" he whispered, from the
west / BEARD the war song of the
In the direction. also, of Van Boeven's
farm the skies are red. and if I go at
dark, 1 fear l shall see the flames rising
from their barns"
The mother gathered her baby tight
in her arms for a moment, and then
quietly asked her eldest:
Are the guns cleaned and loaded?"
Yes, said Piet, land, mother, if you
approve, we must leave the house. 1t
is too big and rambling for us two to
protect"
Leave the house?'s'
Not very far" said Pet, and ex-
planned.
In that land of few dwellers, space is
not of much consideration. The farm
buildings were quite widely scattered,
and Farmer Putter had built his cow
byres and pig pens and so on proper
distance away. from his house walls.
All the afternoon Piet had been march,
ing, laden with packages and bundles
between the house and the outbuild-
ings. Now, when it was dark, he put
out all the lights of the house and the
windows and doors were stoutfy barred.
Where are we going to sleep?" the
children asked. accustomed to rise and
lie down with the sun, and Iist an
swered cheerfully: In the chick IN
coop"
The children, at first astonishad and
incredulous, were delighted when they
discovered that their brother meant
what he said, for the sight of the
chickens feeding had given the boy the
necessary idea. If the house were too
big, the coop could not be accused of
that fault About the rocky kopje
stones were plenty and more convenient
than wood. Therefore, Piet had aided
his father in building solid affair to
shelter the many fowls. / vas stone,
and high and roomy. Pet, during the
afternoon, had made on each side, by
careful removal of 3stones, loopaoles,
and carried to the hen house the more
precious articles in the house, With all
the ammunition and guns. Now the-i
chickens, squawking, were ruthlessly
turned out, and the little family Went
in. the youngsters giggling. The door,
which Piet he'd strengthened, was
closed, and the garrison prepared.
Vrouw Putter was not without expert |
ence in wars alarms. She looked
round with brave smile.
"Well DONE Piet,2 she said, and |
calmly began to examine the guns,