Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-11

right they heard a voice as of one in dis
tress.
Who are you?" Phillips called. There
was no reply, but a figure arose from the
darkened plain and stood lettering before
them They swung themselves out Of the
saddle. and match fared in Burton's
hand- Appears to be kind of man"
ne drawled. after cynical inspection.
Gem n came from the figure. ''scuga
me If am not quite m'self." His words.
like his high silk hat appeared to hay-
Dssn crumpled up by the catastrophe
Medchins all smashed. horse gone off;
He lurched upon Burton's neck '.Scupe
drunk" 80
You are. indeed" assented the other,
ana thats your horse about twenty feet
from here. 1t was so. indeed although
the patent medicines had all been smashed
the faithful steed remained. He seemed to
glance at them with look of resignation.
ana submitted without comment while
they hoisted the rider up again
Might as well take him along" said
burton in disgust. appears TO be picked
well. but ought not, you know. to remain
OUT mere The rescued man tumbled off
now ana then Ike the White knight in
Alice. but by riding one on each side of
| MIN they generally caught him in mid
AR. Proceeding thus. they reached the
camp OF the border police and were
greeted with ironical applause. Burton
knew most of the men: a letter which he
brought made them still more welcome.
They ate, and afterward among their hosts
lay back at ease around the camp fire In
visible horses Champed and shuffled upon
| the plain around them the troopers
smoked and looked up at the watching
[ stars. and presently. for lack Of something
| better. they began to have fun with the.
patent medicine man
He stood up in the freight, which flick
cred upon his silly face, well pleased 10
! have such an audience. "Gc'm'n." said he,
! n p4t.lE fol,
of mine. who brought me out of danger
who knows where they themselves may be
tomorrow? Who knows what peril lies be
Tore them? Then. | shay, don't mock a
victim Of circumstances. It's wrong
ge m n.
That's right" somebody said. .Wish
! that the victim had left us some Of his cir
I cumstauccs, though I'm thirsty
But the orator. now in the moralizing
| line. scared to still lofter heights. and
touched affairs of state. ''Thish war" he
cried, oh. my. what an iniqutty! You
| Young men pant after fame and fortune.
! but lisht to my ripper wisdom For again
| ] shay its wrong. ge'm'n"
Wrong is it," said the captain of the
! police He thoughtfully blew some tobacco
smoke at the stars. and then he spoke de-
| llberately. as one who does not often air
I his views. There was little uneasy stir
among the men around him, for it was to
| these ne spoke: The niger who has had
a Boer over him has sat in hell but he ism I
! IN much worse case than the f-itIanders
| down yonder Englishmen treated Iila
! dogs and on land which ought to he Eng
! land 5. Wrong. is it? Have the Beers kent
| their word with us? Wrong! Well. my
| good friend | would merely point out to
| You that war which would change that
government. such a war would give liberty
and security to every man. white and
| black. in South Africa, would give another
| solid country TO the race that can point 10
IT'S record and say. i leave things better
| imam / found them. | would Just merely
| point out to you these trifiing facts and
ask YOU Why is war like that wrongo' -
| me patent medicine man had stood an
paHed. with his mouth wide OPEN during
thls speech He staggered backward now
ripped over a saddle and went down with
| an on board Rolling helpless upon the
| proud mother In the joke, his final word ot
| triumph: "'iu Vi
| Because 1t is, So there
| In the morning the two adyenturars b.6
| q last word with the captain and tbar
| mounted their horses. The medicine mo :,
| who was now sober. If not sensible wished
| To go with them. but this offer was reiart
! ed They rode to a little erninenee a nj
! stoppedt they Were on the border line rms
| danger line which needed only to be crossaf
| by hghting parties to mean a war A soil.
tarE falcon lowered high in the untarnished
| blue. and before them stretched the Trans.
! Eaal. its veldt as yellow as a sea of gold
| Old Iwager's farm lay like a dot in this
| ana over everything a Sabbath quiet brood.
Cd, but here the spark could be strucL
which should set South Africa afire They
| felt the delight of power a sense of DANCE,
| and daring ieaped in their blood and they
! rode straight forward resolutety
zwager's place was built up IN a way