The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-29
CHAPTER VIII.
HE CATCHES THE OLD BIRD.

At 4 O'Clock the next afternoon the
German rode across the plain, return
ing from his search for the lost sheep.
He rode slowly, for he had been in the
saddle since sunrise and was some
what weary, and the heat of the after
noon made his horse sleepy as it picked
its way slowly along the sandy road.
Every now and then great red spider
would start out of the "karroo" on one
side of the path and run across to the
other, but nothing else broke the still
monotony. Presently, behind one of
the highest of the milk bushes that
dotted the roadside, the German caught
sight of Kaftir woman, seated there
evidently for such shadow as the milk
bush might afford from the sloping
rays of the sun. The German turned
the horses head out of the road. 1t
was not his way to pass a living crea-
ture without word of greeting. Com
ing nearer, he found it was no other
herd. She had baby tied on her back
by dirty strip of red blanket An
other strip hardly larger was twisted
round her waist, for the rest of her
black body was naked. She was
sullen, i'll looking woman, with lips
hideously protruding.
The German questioned her as to
how she came there. She muttered in
broken Dutch that she had been turned
away. Had she done evil? She shook
her head sullenly. Had she had food
given her? She grunted a negative
and famed the flies from her baby.
Telling the woman to remain where
She was, he turned his horses head to
the road and rode off at a furious pace.
Hard hearted! Cruel! o my God!
Is this the way? Is this charity? Yes,
yes, yes" calculated the old man as he
rode on, but presently his anger be-
gan to evaporate, his horses pace
slackened, and by the time he had
reached his own door he was noddlng
and smiling.
Dismounting quickly, he went to the
great chest where his provisions We're
kept. Here he got out little meal, a
few mealies, few rooster cakes
These he tied up in three blue handker-
chiefs, and, putting them into sail
cloth bag, he strung them over his
shoulders. Then he looked circum-
| specify out at the door. 1t was very
bad to be discovered in the act of CIV
ing 1t made him red up to the roots
Of his old griZzled hair. No one was
about, however, so he rode off again.
Before the milk bush sat the Kaf1ir
woman still, like Hagar, he thought,
thrust out by her mistress in the will
derness to die. Telling her to loosen
the handkerchief from her head, he
poured into it the contents of his bag.
The woman tied it up in sullen silence.
You must try to get to the next
farm" said the German.
The woman shook her head. She
would sleep in the field
The German reflected. Kaffir women
were accustomed to sleep in the open
air, but then the child was small, and
after SO hot day the night might be
| chilly. That she would creep back to
the hUts at the homestead when the
darkness favored her the Germans
sagacity did not make evident to him.
He took off the old brown salt and
! pepper coat and held it out to her. The
| woman received it in silence and laid it
across her knee. "With that they will
sleep warmly, not so bad. Ha, ha, hal"
said the German. And he rode home,
| nodding his head in a manner that
would have made any other man dizzy.
| Il wish he would not come back to-
night" said EN-, her face wet with
tears.
ut will be just the same if he comes
back tomorrow" said Lyndall.
The two girls sat on the step of the
cabin waiting for the Germans re-
turn. Lyndall shaded her eyes with
her hand from the sunset light.
"There he comes" she said, "whis-
Ting 'Ach Jerusalem du schonev SO
loud can hear him here"
Perhaps he has found the Sheep"
"Found them!" said Lyndall "He
had to die tonight"
"You look at the sunset, eh, chick
ens?" the German said as he came up
at smart canter. "Ah, yes, that is
beautiful he added as he dismount-
ed, pausing for a moment with his
hand on the saddle to look at the even
ing sky, where the sun shot up long
| flaming streaks, between which and
| the eye thin yellow clouds f1oated "Ei,
you weep?" said the German as the
| girls ran up to him.
Before they had time to reply the
voice of Tant' Sannie was heard.
| "You child Of the child of the child
! of Kattir's dog, come herew
! The German looked up. lie thought
the Dutchwoman, come out to cool her