Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09


killed all notionfsof seeking the English.
What were English people 10 her now? Her
lover dead, all ErglanB was dream. And
that dream gone, the kissing reality was
before her eyes again. She was the spy,
the traitor, the outcast.
The thought of turning the pistol on her
SELF came again more than once. but she
was girl never given to morbidness at
any time, and now, in spite of the stunning
blows which that day had COMPOUNDED her,
the reaction, more physical than mental,
began and instinctively she commenced,
though almost unconsciously, to question
what might be done Nenable was dead
and she needed Comfort. To whom could
she go for that save to her mother, and
by what means Gould she reach again old
Tante's breast2 How could she turn aside
her fathers wrath? S
She had left the reins to the horse and
the beast was following a path which did
not lead to the frontier. Suddenly dis
tant cracking of musketry made the ami
NAL prick his ears and start. The noise
which thus broke the gloomy silence of the
Veldt. awoke Martha to a clearer sense of
where she was. She sat more straightly in
the saddle and listened. They came again,
not in volleys, but in the scattered reports
OF sk1rm1sh firing-the sounds of many
guns. There was her father, there by now
might be Peter. holding back the invader.
There, If she had had the luck, she thought.
to nave been born boy. should she be.
She halted and her eyes shone in the dark
ness Why should she not be? Why not
proved to her people that she was, If a trail
tress not one with intended malice? She
could shoot almost well as Peter; she
was more active than men OF older age.
For full five minutes she remained at
halt, and then, swinging her horse off the
trail, she galloped to the right straight
across country, following no path nor trek,
save the sure guide of her native knowl-
edge of the land
By dawn the veitit was alive with strange
noises and unwonted visitors. Trumpets
were calling across it's glasses. The clat-
surrup irons rang out in the quiet air.
Drums We're beating. The loud and sharp
commands came swiftly from the mouths
OF alert SergeantS. The English camp was
struck, and the first rays of the sun glanc-
ed from the buttons and bayonets of the
invading army, as it formed column and
marched into tho heart Of the coveted land.
Swinging along with the practiced, never
falter1ng step of long-drilled soldiers, the
army PASSED, with every here and there
b1onzed horseman darling from front to
rear and rear to front with orders, and fly
ing above it the proud banner that has
been so infrequently lowered.
So they passed, the gay group of general
and staff in front, chatting and laughing,
until of moment their talk and laughter
ceased, and swiftly the chief sent his aids
gallopins back along the column with
sharp orders to close up. Down the trek,
with grim faces, came slowly in retreat the
advance guard the scouts, bearing with
them wounded men and dead.
The enemy are In force" they said, but
they won't stand. They are here. there and
everywhere; over the veldt, behind anthills
and trees, behind rocks on the kopjes, al
ways keeping at a distance and picking off
our men every shot at long range"
A stronger guard was sent to the front;
scouts We're sent out on either flank, and
the column again moved forward. Now the
laughing and talking ceased, and vexation
and wrath We're on the face Of the chief
ana We're reflected on the faces of his
aids. for the number of soldiers being sent
to the surgeons in the rear was increasing
and nothing could be seen Of the Beers but
distant hors men. or rapidly moving squads
1a1 on or occasional sharpshooters yards
away, or perpetual puffs of smoke above
powders and behind the scrubby trees
Little drilled in battle line and hollow
square, the farmer soldiers We're defending
their country in their own way. So the
column passed on 50 the Beers retreated,
harassing front and flank. and the English
general growled and grumbletl:
The beggars are in force; why don't
they stand up and fght?'
And little boy, riding alongside his
father to see the fun, sure We're the
English that IL would be little more than a
sham battle, looked up at the officer and
asked with surprise:
Pa, isn't it time yet to begin to lick
Them
Meanwhile the patriots had moving
among them their pastors, and before the
fight commenced their day had begun with
prayer to the Lord of Hosts Theirs was
not the trim and soldierly appearance Of
clothes in which they followed the plow;
boys were there in the gacb in which they
herded the cattle or guided the long OK
trains. Their visage was grimly solemn
man and boy AS they retreated along the
tricks tanks, holding together in squads.
undiscipined save by the force engendered
by each mans love of land. each mans
determination to follow to the end a com
mon purpose officers galloped among them
cheerily and earnestly encouraging them
Among these officers was old Dom Jan, and
for all his years his eye was as bright and
his form as erect in the saddle as those Of
his people thirty years younger than he.
He scanned, as he rode. the faces of those
sharpshooters whom he passed. delivering
Il deadly fire upon the enemy and many
he knew and many he spoke to. But on.
he knew. and yet knew not. for the face
puzzled him. until. finding Peter. his SON.
eager-eyed and busy; he pointed the
stranger out and asked if Peter knew who
he was and from what district he came.
Then. looking at his boys face, he smiled
and said:
He's not unlike you, my son."
so Peter finding an opportunity as they
moved position, drew close to the stranger
ard at once knew who it was. although the
yellow hair was closely cut and the trim,
cape-nade dress had given place to the
rude dress of a Boer farmers lad.
''Martha!' he cried.
She looked at him with a smile
rs there any other way or better way
in which 1 prove 1 did not mean trea-
SOM she asked.
T. e was bewildered.
Where did you get those clothes?"
Cousin Hofmeyr is sick and l went to
his farm and took them"
He said nothing more for awhile, then
asked
DO you know that Lieut.. Venable is with
them?''
He is dead" she said.
Martha" he said, after a long pause,
father and | were furious last night but
but-this makes things
From in front came a prolonged call-the
Boer bugle call-and there was no time to |
seek Dom Jan. high hill was at hand, |
and the Beers plan of battle was nearing
its complete development. 1t was Majuba
hill. The Beers retired. and their relent-
less sharpshooting slackened. The unfor-
tunate English general seized the chance
to occupy the hill 1t was a vain move. !
The soldiers were almost unprotected. The
Beers swarmed about in force, and their
firing became more destructive than ever.
In desperate fashion the English charged
down the steep, rocky side. They dropped
before they reached the foe But they held
on with racial grimness and determination |
The Beers gave vent at last to shouts of
triumph. They had the enemy in trap, |
such tran as Martha had warned her lover