The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-08
THE WAY OF The TRESPASSER.
a BoerFa
suFere he O
Copyright, 1sos.by p. y. Black.


Uealthiest friend would have more hgat-
ened my spirit and more quickly have
dressed my face in smiles than did the
presence on the roadside Of that Wander
ing ex-trooper of the Beohuanaland Dor
der police. He reclined, with an assured
ease. and a possession OF confidence Whch,
en- that lonely veldt fifty miles from an
inn in a stranger peop}ed country, reJolced
me as with the uearness Of a home A
dwarfed tree afforded him shade a nearly
dried up pan was not far on his blanket
was thrown beside him, and billy OF
convenient size reposed between the OK
tended military breeches.
Doubtless an extra sincerity was afford
ed to my cordial greeting by the dainty
vapors which rose from that billy, as
drew near \ hot mouthful prevented him
from doing more in the way of invitation
than waving me to seat on the bowlder
pepperod turf 1t was enough, my knife
was handy. and | forkod from the pot by
its aid a tenderly stewed birds wing. our
eyes therefore suhiced for space to graf
ify any natural curiosity. our mouths 1t
would have been rudeness TO interrupt
The meat dispatched, the trooper pushed
the billy my way, and, in the absence of
spoons. I drank from it fair share Of the
soup, which he promptly finished. It was
then my good fortune TO contribute to the
repast the last cupful of coffee in my pos
session. AT the pan l cleaned the billy
and flied II with fresh water, while the
trooper placed some more fuel upon the
smouldering fire.
Il fear" said /, that 7 have no SUI
gar"
This is a beast of country.' said the
trooper Il haven't had any sugar in my
coffee for three days. Come to think l
haven't had much coffee either. Wen,
there is always tobacco somehow. / am
economiz!ng on native
Il have yet pipe or two of birds eye"
/ was glad to say, and with that we fra
ternized.
1t was early in the day when we slung
our blankets about our shoulders and
stepped out along the lonely trek cheer
fully, for 10 each some companionship
was that morning the most needful thing.
IOI lltuAiS q WIEN MY Why itAA bt'A Ali-
tirely one of solitude, so that my own
voice had sounded startHngly in my ears
if l had called out to raise a chance bird
in my path. So. il appeared had been
the fortune of the stranger and it was
now a mutual delight to keep step and
chatter.
He pleased me. His gray eyes twinklod
humorously, his laugh rang heartsomely.
He strobe athletically forward with the
frank front of one who would meet all
adventures with the confident indifference
OF alert strength, and the consciousness of
viii and a liver equally good. Also.
though he was CARRIED ia the uniform of
a private, il was no surprise 90 me to dud
him Of education and breeding. He was
readily catalogued-a prodiga. and an
exile. one of the South African army who
had left his past, perhaps his name, in
England. despairngly seeking a new re-
pute.
1T is unnecessary" he remarked. when
we had exchanged names, TO ask if you
are for the Rand"
1T is the loadstone," I said. Every
body is drawing there, and for my pur-
poses, which are pretty vague Johannes
burg is perhaps the most promising place
in South Africa"
That stretch of road on the Bechuaua
side of the Transvaal--f we may fiatter
1t by calling it roads terribly monot-
onous, through unwooded veldt, sinking to
dried-up brooks, rising to dusty SUBMITS.
YEARLY interminable. We met l remem-
Der, in over twenty miles. not living
creature-nor Boer nor KafIir.
We were fortunate in having cold cof-
fee and plenty of tobacco, and II was not
until we began to feel hungry that, in the
proper fashion of the road we cast about
for a method of providing supper We
had not between US 1t is to be thought,
sixpence. OF lodging we were well assur-
ed Our wide bed spread all about. our
blankets were ready TO unfold at sundown.
But the taste Of the mornings stew was
dead upon the palate and our neither gar
ments hung sldckIy from the waist We
chirruped not so gladly, and began 10 re-
connoitre the surrounding veldt with
yearning for the sight of a farmstead
Il neared shutdown. when We found what
we sought, mile and more from the trail
a house OF comforting proportions wrap
ped In an outer cloak Of woods An OBJ
lique path led down to it, and this we
took. 10 levy walla ber's tribute upon the
farmer. The sun sank rapidly as we APP
preached, seeing nobody about, and il was
dusk when we halted to consult 10y a large
pond a little distance from the house.
BY this the trooper sat him down and
grinned q me
My dress" he said, sis obnoxious to
the Boer, who has shot at such a uniform
before. and may again. You 80 alone and
do your best. 1t does not matter if he
ooesn't speak English He's pretty sure
to understand YOU"
I left him scraping crumbs from his
pockets 10 feed the ducks in the pond
and went on to the house. Rising ground
soon hid him from my sight Following
the path, I was met by a small barefooted
boy, on whom 1 lavished my smiles. The
suspicious little rascal did not pause 10
return them, but turned and ran swiftly
10 the house door.
Now, undoubtedly there was little in
my appearance Of the attractive A weeks
wallaby. with a half-grown beard. had
possibly added TO the picturesque ASPECT
OF my personality. but a Boer. least of all
men. has the artists eye. / was conscious
that a new hat and a shave would have
increased any farmers liking for me. SIN
/ trusted 20 what suavity Of speech and
manner l could muster.
My disgust was then marked, when ten
yards from the threshold, 1 was confronted
by an enormously big Boer with a beard
cut shovelwlse, who bore a rifle with a
very long barrel and in formed M 81, q,