The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-30
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THREE MEN IN A TENT.

the Wilderness in South Africa.
In one of those secluded recesses in
the undulating country northwest of
Krugersdorp that are remote, solitary
and picturesque, came upon bell
tent. There was a time when such a
trifie would have excited no curiousity,
for the prospector was abroad in those
days, and gave a sembance of life to
those soltudes that less than eight
years ago swarmed with buck and
balloons But the game has gone, and
the prospector has made up his mind
that this particular spot at least is
worthless. so it knows him no more.
Looking closer there were revealed in
the vicinity of the tent several things
that fitted i'll with the theory that the
tent concealed prospector. A little
bit of soil had APPARENTLY been dug up;
a rough Enclosure shielded two or three
fowls, and other outward and visible
signs suggested something more per-
manent than a prospector's shelter.
Only a few weeks back | had explored
similarly mysterious canvas concealed
among the thorn trees of portion of
the Gratis Rand and had found Zulu
in an advanced stage of smallpox He
had dropped by the way on his lonely
tramp to his kraal and after lying in
misery in the open for three days had
been discovered and cared for by Field
cornet van Wyk and District Surgeon
van der Nerve, who pulled the poor
wretch through and avoided the infect
ION / had evidently struck another
lazaretto, and with the spirit of inquiry
full on me- proceeded to explore. l un-
fastened the canvas and peeped In. AL
though it was near noon, three white
men lay curled up in blankets fast
asleep, two on stretchers and one on the
ground. The sudden intrusion of broad
daylight awakened the latter He sat
up-a towzled, unkempt figure--and in
the free and frequent language of the
common people demanded to know who
the Gehenna l was and what the ditto
l wanted / fell back on a subterfuge,
and said I wanted a match. Before |
llostilities could begin one of the sleep
ers on the stretchers awoke. He glared |
suspiciously and inquiringly for mo- |
ment, then greeted me with the "Hallo!"
that betokens recognition, but he had |
distinctly the advantage of me, When |
he had tumbled out of his blankets, adj
iusted his pajamas, and pushed back
his hair, I dimly recognized through
his unwonted beard an exile from
JOHANNESBURG civilization. When num-
Der 8 had finished blinking and awaking
/ had solved the mystery of the where
abouts Of two acquaintance whose dis
appearance during the period of pro-
lcnged hard-up-ness had suggested sew
eral theories, from suicide to fraudulent
desertion.
was shown the commissarat depart
.41ta l.
mealies, onions and bitong, with few
tins of salmon, lobster, &C, all part of
the original supply purchased in Kru-
gersdorp.
mo" said No /. by way of preface to
the explanation he volunteered; 1--WE are
not prospecting; we're economizing-
waiting till the clouds roll by, and saw
ing our clothes and our washing bills
We've been here six weeks-at least Bill
and | have. Jim joined us last week
We had been hard up for months. with
no prospect of getting job until things
settled down, so Bill and put our cap .
ital together, bought this outfit, and
here we live like Robinson Crusoes on
less than a bob apiece. Our friends
think we are on a shooting trip. You /
are the first visitor we have had except |
n spooney couple from Krugensdorp
last Sunday who had lost their way. 4
It's the quickest holiday I've ever had ,
in my life, and the cheapest, and If Jim /
here would give up talking about his 1
sprees in johannesburg, in his flush d
times, we should be happy as sand boys, Z
but after one of those yarns, he always d
wants to go into Krugersdorp, and that q
means his coming back drunk and maxi 4
ing us jealous" 4
While the others prepared the IL o. d
clock meal. the boss detailed the history 4
If the novel enterprise 1t was the too q
common one of a man in a $50 per d
month situation suddenly discharged. 4
extending his small reserve in waiting q
'or another billet, and then waking one d
lay to the realization that his staying d
power was rapidly decreasing. He and q
Sill, who was similarly placed, had often q
holiday picnic under canvas, d
md now came their opportunity. Their g
United capital was about Els, and the q
irst week in May they proceeded to pu- q
heir project into practice The bell q
ent was picked up on Marshall Square q
or 35s and COS. judiciously expended a
It the secondhand stalls on Market q
square supplied them with a goodly a
took of cooking utensils and other e