The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-14

enc NdSOn now Win -cuC SfOSW, uuu
the girl would not be so tired.
Ah! Baas Piet was good man. bet
ter than Baas Jakob. He would help.
and later on he might even be rich
enough to buy few head OF cattle and
some ponies, and they would oil go
back to the old place on the Krei, and
BE started to his feet as the pipe Of
honeybird came family out Of the dis
tance. Beta was there at last.
("
The wagon was creaking along under
the burning MONDAY sun. The oxen
stumbled lazily with lolling tongues.
crawling at snails pace without fear
of the flick Of the lash, for every one was
asleep except the little voerloper trudg-
ing In front OF the two leaders, Groom.
Ing IN endless native song to himself.
The wind, more burning than the sun.
came In ceaseless gusts across the arid
veldt, destitute Of grass or tree, and,
catching up great clouds Of red dust,
whirled them in eddying, choking
masses about the wagon and then
swept them away until they vanished
In the shimmering heat haze. Now
and then tortoise dragged his black
and yellow shell out Of the way OF tho
span and numbered heavily of the
track to q safe distance, there to re-
tire within himself until the unwonted
apparition had disappeared beyond his
limited horizon, or snake would shoot
out a shining head from the shelter of
some deserted ant heap as the rumble
Of wheels reused him from his nap,
and far up In the clear, blue air fioated
q great vulture, without q tremor of
his wide pinions, just as he had hoated
for many days past, watching and
waiting.
Suddenly there was q stir under the
tilt. The curtain was flung aside and
Baas Piet stepped out on to the fore
part Of the wagon, yawning sleepily.
"Boy," he shouted, "onsaddle the
mare. shall ride on to the water hole
beyond the drift. 1t cannot be far off
now"
Klaus appeared from underneath the
wagon, where his blanket was slung
hammock fashion in the daytime.
"No, Baas Piet; the spruit should not
be more than one hours ride now, and
the hole is only two, three mile far
ther"
Presently he brought the mare
around from the back Of the wagon,
where she had been tied up, tightened
the girths and rolled up the riem Of
the neck halter. Baas Plet swung him
self Off the edge Of the wagon into the
sadie.
''Tell the baas when he wakes up"
he said, and with a shake Of the reins
cantered of through the dust.
:It cannot be far OFF now," repeated
Klaus to himself, as he watched him
until he became invisible In the midst
of the vast brown expanse Of sun
scorched hillside.
1t was now five days since they had
left the last vlei, and he had given
nearly all his share o. the hot muddy
water that the vrouw served out to
the girl for the last few days, but that
was very, very little. and Shit wis sick
too.
For moment he stopped md looked
backward. There, just topping the
last rise, miles and miles away, his
keen sight could pick out against tho
sky line the little black speck that had
been behind them for so many weeks
now. falter!ns Oil with parched lips
through the heat and loneliness Of the
plains, always dropping farther and
farther behind as evening drew in.
He heard the snores Of the transport
rider and his .vrouw as they slept COM
fortably under. the tilt. If they could
only 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 days trek Before the desert end
ed And, comforted By the thought,
Klaus walked on after the wagon and
returned 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, engag-
ed In coiling the soft end Of the 18 foot
lash round and round its chubby arms.
The vrouw rather liked it, black as 1t
was. for she had no children, Of her
own.
All at once came a warning shout
from the voerloper. They were right
on the edge ce The drift, and the lead
ers began to pick their way slowly
down the steep bank over the loose
rocks and sand. Klaus was busy put
ting the heavy iron shoe drag under
one Of the hind wheels, while Baas ia
kob. In bad temper at having his
sleep disturbed, sat upon the front Of
the wagon, swearing ut him and the
other boys for being lazy.
Now sliding sideways ever smooth
shelving rock, now plunging down over
ledge with a jar that wPenched every
holt and wheel smoke thn hpavv vvoU-
on crashed down the bank, only to
come to dead stop at the bottom, I'M
bedded In sand up to the axles. The
span were knotted In a tangled mob Of
'clashing horns and twisted yoke reins,
snuhing and paving up the sand with
impatient hoofs. Instinct told thell
that water was there, but 1t was far,
far below, for the last rains had fallen
many months back.
'syerdomte ruineksp' ragged the an