The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-29

rode Slowly and mOurnfully homeward.
Here his troubled mother met him.
"Piet," she said. "the Katlirs have
left u.s."
II know" said he, and looked into
her brave face, ard told her what had
happened and what Malula had said of
the nearncss Of the Zulus.
IF my father had known it." said
her son, "he would not have left u.s.
"I1c was cOmmandcered," said the
Boer wife. 1T was his duty. Country
first-always, my SON"
But said piet. in much pcrturba-
tion, my father did not think the
blacks would fly. He thought that they,
Basntos. would fight their old enemy,
the Iulus. II these cone. what are we
to do? Shall we leave the farm and
trek to Van Boevcn's:"
The Boer mother pressed her lips
with frown Of pride.
THAT was not well said, my son."
she answered. "Oom Putter said Stay
AS he oDeycd his general and went, so
we shall obey him and stay and fight
till he comes"
IL wa n Roman speech. Even as the
words came from her mouth she
looked round and saw Piet, we'll
grown boy of 10 years; Greta. child
OF IL; little Pretorius. and the bnby-a
goodly garrison to defend the hearth!
But she saw that hearth, she saw the
dea. walls ier husband had built to
bring her home as n bride, she saw the
fields he had titled and the barns lie
had raised, and seeing them she would
have fought to the last scratch Of her
nails, like wildcat, rather than give
them up.
Besides" said she hopefully, what
could the wretch Malula know that we
don't? The Zulus cannot be near, and
II they 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 strick-
en-"
Nothing more was sail7 about desert
ing the homestead. Vrouw Putter went
her work quietly, but Piet began to
prepare. Now, the farmhouse was
rOomy and the garrison n most pretty
one, and, puzzle over the matter as he
might, the boy could not see how it's
rough stone walls could be protected ut
once on all sides If the attacking force
was to be a large one. His mother
was about as good Il shot as he, and
even Greta could discharge a gun at a
pinch but two or three guns could not
protect SO rambling n building. Piet
came to that conclusion with feeling
akin for Il moment to despair, until, ut
last, as he stood IN the broad yard look
Ing ut the house, the chickens came
clucking about him in their search for
food, and he had an idea.
All day he worked busily, leaving
his mother to the children, and by
nightfall he had prepared fort to
withstand siege. Two or three times
during the afternoon lie had slipped
off to the top of the kopje, where he
could look afar, but each time he came
back, having seen nothing but the roll
ing veldt. They had supper. and again
Piet slipped away and came back, but
now with grim face.
Mother" he whispered. "from the
west heard the war song of the Zulus.
1t came family with the wind. In the
direction also Of Van Boeven's farm
the skies are red and If go ut dark I
fear shall see the flames rising from
his barns'
The mother gathered her baby tight
In her arms for a moment, and then
quietly asked her eldest:
care the guns cleaned and 1oaded?"
"Yes." said Piet: ''nnd, mother, e y3i;
approve, we must leave the house. It
is too big and rambling for us two to
protect"
'Lcnyc the house?"
"Not very far" said Piet and explain
ed
In that land Of few dwellcrs space Is
mot of much consideration. The farm
buildings were quite widely scattered,
and Farmer Putter had built his cow
Dyres and pigpens 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 gtoutly bar
red.
"Where are we going to sleep?" the
children nsked, accustomed to rise and
lie down with the sun, and Piet an
swered cheerfully. 'Tn the chicken
COOP"
The children, at first astonished 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 plentiful and more conven-
lent than wood, Therefore, Piet had aid
ed hts father in building a solid affair
to shelter the many fowls. It was
stone and high and roomy. Piet, dur
ing the afternoon, had made on each
side. by careful removal Of stones,
lOopholes and carried to the henhouse
the more precious articles in the house,
with all the ammunition and guns.
Now the chickens, squawking, were
ruthlessly turned out, and the little
family went in, the youngsters gig
Cling. The door, which Piet had