The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11

| nesS VI tue plains, always cropping fur-
| ther and further behind as evening drew in.
He heard the SHORES Of the transport
rider and his vrouw as they slept comfort
ably under the tilt IL they could only
I feel what Beta felt-yet it was easier for
her now that she had not the baby to
\ carry. and the water was close In front
and after that only two or three day.
| trek before the desert ended. And, CON-
forted by the thought, Klaus walked on
| after the wagon and return to his blanket
The baby was certainly the most con-
/ tented Of all. lying in an empty sugar box
under the shade OF the tilt. engaged in
| coiling the soft end of the eighteen foot
| lash round and round Its chubby arms. 1t
grew fatter and merricr every day. The
Vrouw rather liked It, black as il was, for
she had no children of her own.
All ct once came warning shout from
the voerloper They were right on the
edge OF the drift, and the leaders began to
pick their way slowly down the steep bank
over the loose rocks and sand. Klaus was
busy putting the heavy iron shoedrag un-
der one Of the hind wheels, while Baas
Jakob in a bad temper at having his sleep
disturbed. sat upon the front of the wagon
swearing at him and the other boys for
being lazy 10 -,.
Now sliding sideways over smooth
shelving rock. now plungiug down over a
ledge with jar that wrenched every bolt
and wheelspoke. the heavy wagon crashed
down the bank. only to come to dead
stop at the bottom, Undecided in sand UP
to the axles. The span we're knotted in
tangled mob of clashing horns and twisted
yoke reins snuffing and paving up the
sand with impatient hoofs: instinct told
them that water was there-but IL was
far. far below. for the last rains had
fallen many months back.
'Nerdomte rooinecks,' ragged the angry
Baas. beside himself. Twist their tails.
get that iron spike here. Hendriek-that
will make the devils move"
But 1t was of no use: the span only be-
came more hopelessly entangled. In vain
Klaus dashed in among them, sjambok in
hand. kicking here and siashing there.
while Hendrick and the voerloper called
upon the beasts by name and urged them
forward. Water they knew was there, and
water they would have.
Tho whip, why don't you take the
whip. you schelms? Where is it," roarei
the Infatuated Boer. rising and glaring
about the wagon.
As he went forward he stumbled over
the baby and its box, upsetting it and send
ing the child rolling across the floor OF
the wagon. where it lay in ball on
heap OF skins. Growing with delight. Peo-
pie so seldom played games with 1t.
The Boer thrust the empty box back
against the side with his foot. and
snatched UP the bamboo whip handle
Polishing it carefully above his head in
both hands. he gave little preliminary
flourish. but the end was caught in SOME
thing-the brat again, curse it,
II opened wide eyes OF pleasure at him,
holding up its dimpled wrists, wound
round with the end of the lash.
With a savage cath he kicked 1t off the
end of the wagon into the midst of the
struggling cattle and brought the great
whip down upon them with all his force.
Again and again 1t uncoiled and whizzed
down with a crack like a rifle shot, cutting
into the steaming TANKS OF the plunging
mob until they beloved again. Scared
and bleeding, deafened by the report of
the whip and the hoarse yells Of the men.
the maddened beasts Strengthened out, and
with Klaus and the voerloper tugging at
the leaders heads, strained painting up the
further bank of the drift the wagon
creaking through the rocky river bed be-
hind them. and then trailed YEARLY for
ward into the dusk
And when all was still the lizards came
out OF the creyices. only to scuttle back
with a whisk Of their tails. There was
water in the drift now-red water. drip
ping softly down between the stones and
sailed vulture in ever narrowing circles
And then the night fell.
II was late that evening before Klaus
crawled stealthily away from the wagon,
taking full beaker OF fresh water from
the pool and his supper; the Baas was very
angry with him because the wagon had
stuck in the drift-though how could he
help 1t II the oxen would not be driven?-
and had forbidden him to leave the wagon T,
him from doing that. no matter how many
hidings he got for IL.
He walked back as far as the edge of the
drift. and sat there waiting. He could not
see far tonight. for there was no moon. |
only the half light of the stars. and the |
bottom of the drift yawned black at his
feet. prowIing jackal snarled close by. |
and at his approach great vulture. gorged |
with the remains of some WORKOUT trek OK
that had fallen there TO die. though he did |
not remember noticing IL, had tapped |
heavily off into the night.
Klaus waited for many hours. but the |
girl did not come. OF course, having the
baby to carry again would make her take |
longer: for Baas Jakob had told him how |
he had seen it roll OF the wagon that |
morning trying to reach big tortoise on |
the road, and crawl after 1t unhurt and |
how he had watched 1t there until Beta |
had picked it up when she came along. |
STILL she would catch them up next even
ing. and he left the water beaker and the |
food tied up in piece Of rag under a heap |
of stones in the middle of the road. so that |
the aasvogels could not get at them, and !
Beta might find them there in the morn
ing.
But Beta did not catch the wagon up
next evening, or the next.
Four days afterward they had passed the |
edge of the desert and outspanned among |
the shady tamarisks and the willows b. the |
banks OF the Great River.
Never mind. Klaus" said Baas Piet |
kindly, patting him on the shoulder;
hunger is a bad death. but it is Gods
will. Besides he added. with n smile.
there are yet many good girls in Basuto-
land. But you will stay with Baas Jakob
and me yet bit?"
II stay with you-and Baas Jakob'' an
swered Klaus simply. HE treats me as
we'll as any other Baas.'
JOKES OF THE DAY.