The age-herald., 1900-08-19
In Secret Service. ADVENTURE OF WOMAN SPY. BY LENA HARDCASTLE.
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 board learned that a contingent of Boer prisoners was being sent to St. Helena by the same boat: and, although I did not relish the idea of their near vicinity, l knew that it would be an excellent oppor- tunity for studying their habits and char actefs.
 The chief prisoner, a man of whom had often heard but never yet seen, came .on board as I stood leaning over the ships rails; and although 1 was already ac- quainted with some of the dirtiest specl- mems of the class, the man sent shudder through my whole frame. He was chew ing the end of a cigar, and spittlng 10 right and left as unconsciously l drew my skirts closer round me as he passed, with out lifting his eyes or glancing once in my direction. He was followed by d crowd of Boers, all more or less dirty.
 You look disgusted. Miss Delamere," said voice q had thought it wiser to re- sume my real name) and looking up l saw a young Englishman standing beside me
 "Id rather deal with herd of cattle" answered.
 He laughed. "As bad as that?"
 Cattle would be cleaner" said l.
 You're right. After all, the instinct of cleanliness IS inherent III HloSL dhihiai'' even of the lower species, but the majority of Boers appear to regard cleanliness as nothing short of crime. l rather fancy wonder scoundrel will give us more trouble yet" he added, nodding in the direction of the Boer general who had filled me with such repulsion. Unless l am very much mistaken, he is too cunning a man to re- main long in captivity.
 He will have no chance to escape from St. Helena" said l, ' the island is too we'll guarded"
 "A man like that is up to anything. Did you notice the sullen, scowling expression on his face he came on board?'
 II did. think it his evil expression even more than his appearance which struck me. The idea of Imprisonment must be awful to such a man. but he Will be treated with far greater respect than he deserves. I hear that the place to which he is going Is quite a charming country residence. l wonder if they nave provided him with bath-room?'
 My companion laughed, but the laughter died suddenly and was succeeded by an expression of intense hatred.
 Tt was the white flag business that so embittered me against them," he said, glancing sayagely in their direction. "A brother of mine was killed by their vil- lainous treachery."
 His voice shook, and I saw that he was struggling to keep down the hatred raging within his breast. My heart went out to him in deepest sympathy; but 1 did not speak, only somehow our hands met, and each knew that the other had found friend.
 We had glorious voyage, and day by day my disgust for the Boer prisoners and my liking for the young Englishman in- creased. The latter told me that he had previously spent eighteen months in St. Helena, and promised to show all the of hn iSlo nd Iii irin iSit the day after my arrival he took me over the garrison, which is situated on top of a high hill, called Ladder Hill, on account Of an almost precipitious ladder-like wooden stair by which its height of 500 feet can be scaled. From the garrison walls we had a view of the picturesque, thickly-wooded little island. The vegeta- tfon is so profuse that, had I not known, l might easily have imagined myself to be gazing down upon a botanical karden In the valleys date palms spread their huge leaves, shedding a cool, delicious shade, and to my astonishment, discovered that the English oak grew alongside the bam- boo and banana. Near the coast the land appeared to be barren and Soilless; but, further inland, it presented a less rocky appearance, with shallow valleys, and grassy slopes covered w.... gorse, bram- bles poplars, and tall Scotch frs. Water- cut gorges stretched in all directions, wid- ening into valleys as they approached the sea.
 Turning to my companion, I expressed my enthusiasm in my eyes.
 You think it very beautiful?" said he.
 Grand! I'm simply longing to explore.
 And explore we did for the next two weeks, for nothing of any moment cured, and l was enoying a well-earned rest.
 But my mind is ever too active to allow me to rest for any length of time, and my litFntx lrrfy, tiAf, terrible plots, and even if I met a Boer in the open daylight my heart seemed to shrivel up within me as 1 noticed the fur tive look of hatred he cast in my drec- tion.
 I grew restless and irritable, until at last I could neither eat nor sleep. One night, after having lain awake in bed for couple of hours, an intense longing for activity suddenly took possession of me. Spring ing out of bed I dressed hurriedly and left the house, determined to walk off the feel ing of restlessness which permeated me. For an hour I walked rapidly, traversing val leys, clambering up hilsides, and vending my way through narrow dykes in the semi darkness preceding dawn. In some places the hllsides were literally covered with leaves, whose wide-open, gaping mouths gave me erie sensation as I passed. Old legends of my childhood's days came back to me until I began to wish myself safely back to Jamestown tucked up be- tween the sheets. The sensation of over whelming unknown dread grew on me to scuh an extent that at last the sound of my own footsteps caused my heart to beat with startling rapidity.
 Turning abruply, I was about to retrace my steps when l was startled by the sound ot mufled voices. Afraid of I knew not what, l glanced hurriedly round The dawn was just breaking over the hills; fresh breeze had sprung up, carrying the mist which had clothed the country with a mantle during the night, before it. All the surrounding objects were distinctly visible For minute l stood one spell bound, afraid to move; then voices became audible in the stiffness, and to my horror I recognized one as belonging to the Boer prisoner who had filled me with such re- pulsion.
 In a flash I realized the situation, and with it my own danger. The voices came from the interior of cave on my right. Ii I could slip unobserved into one of the adjoining caves I might be able to over hear the conversation. It was quite evil