The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
lisenoe and purpose in the faithful brown

away to the right he saw lights gleamin
and the ghostly shining of vast array
tents. Then his pony commenced to sh!
and. looking down. he turned pale. Hi
way was strewn with dead horses, an
here and there white CHASTITY face stare
up from the grass.
But the dog never halted, and Jackie
setting his teeth. followed, looking reso
lutely away from the ground, for the mos
part, indeed, keeping his eyes tight shut.
Suddenly his horse, with a frightene,
whinny. halted dead pitching him forwart
on his neck. Losing his balance, he slid OIL
to the ground, tho find the dog at his feet
his nose pushed over the edge of steel
kraanz.
With an intelligent glance at his master
Tinker crawled over the brink. following &
small goat track down the face of the cliff
Jackie's nerves were accus toned to dizzy
depths. and with his hanG gripping hard OF
the dogs collar. his footsteps picked sure
way. About twelve feet down the path
taking sharp turn, opened out on TO a
fairly wide ledge, and then Tinker, with q
| plaintive howl. ran forward and reached
the object of his errand. There lying hall
unconscious, his khaki coat smeared and
stained with blood. lay Maj01 Brand
Jackie. with a thrill of fear and horror
| knelt by his head. while the dog gazed
from the one to the other curious CLEAN,
as Of complacent questioning, shining in
| his eyes.
The major. opening his Ie5es, gazed at
| the two of them as in dram, for mo-
ment believing his mind was wandering.
| Jackie dispelled the Illusion. He flung his
arms suddenly round the majors neck,
-eryiHs out, Father. father; you ere not
| dead then, after all!''
! Though the stiff pain of the bullet wound
in his shoulder was not improved by the
| generous pressure of Jaekie's encircling
| arms, the major managed to smile
Devil bit, my son." he said. almost
| cheerfully.
He had made up his mind to die in this
nook where he had fallen. and tile relief
Of this friendly pressure was great ',Gdt
how on earth did you come here?"
1T was dear old Thinks" replied Jackie
| with fond pride; to which Tinker blirked
his appreciation. extravagantly humping
his ridiculous yellow tail against the hard
rock. He ran away this morning and
came back and brought me. And mother
was asleep, and got out OF bed and dressed
myself and saddled Brownie, and Tinker
showed tile way. and Brownies up above,
and now you must please get up and come
home"
1t was with dizzy effort the Major,
in answer to this breathless narration,
staggered to his feet. His arm was brok-
en-. He was exhausted with loss of blood.
He leant heavily against the rock, feeling
the earth swimming in rainbow circles
around him.
TITS no go. Jackie" he gasped. 81
should topple over the edge if l tried 10
crawl up there. Trot away to camp, little
man, and bring a couple of men with a
rope"
Jackie. after one critical. comprehend
ing glance. turned on his heel and fled.
sure-footed as buck. UP the path.
".
1t seemed to the Major, sitting painfully
propped up on the le$ge, that Jackie was
a very long time in returning. True. he
did not know exactly where his comrades
were now encamped. But as victory had
been certainty at the moment when he
had been struck, he felt sure they were
not far off,
The delay. indeed, was not due to any
dilatoriness on the part of the boy. When
he had gained the veldt, with Tinker hard
at his heels, he had sped off with all the
haste of his excitement in direction of the
twinkling lights of the camp. The starlit
distances were treacherous. however, and
the camp was a good seven miles away.
The boys speed slowly slackened, an lit
tie by little he began TO stumble r,lther
than run. Suddenly a low fierce .iarl
1t was too late. From out of the no ,ows
of the night four burly forms rose, and a
rough hand seized the boys shoulder.
What do you here?" someone asked.
Down, Tinkeri'' called Jackie. lmperi- |
ously. as the dog, with a low growl, lane |
ed out at the OBTAINING hand. Then turn
ing to the man. in all Inconsistencies |
that he was Boer and an enemy. he |
speedily explained his errand and his IA |
ig.r Fax rod
words passed between the men, and then |
Jackie felt a thong passed over his wrists. |
and his captor grufiy said:
Your father shall be looked to. For /
you, you must come to the Commandant.
You may be all right. but you my be a
spy Of these cursed rooineks.'
1t was an hour later when Jackie, with
the dog curiously sullenly, quiet at his
heels, stood in little tent on the hillside
whose coarse, bearded face and small.
narrow eyes offered little inspiration or
confidence.
AS the boys eyes searched the mans
ace they filled with vague troubled fear.
The dog, too, seemed suddenly irritated.
The short, yellow hair on his neck bristlej
Ingrily. and a red. fierce glow grew into
lis eyes, while his lips were drawn bacl, in
n ugly, mute, vicious snarl, more express
bvious he did not like the CopmanSant
He. Paul Jansen by name, eyed the
wo furtiyely, curiously, looking ever and
Igain from the boy to the dog. Then
TASTY smile as of recognition quivered for
moment on his lips.
"Ah, my little friend" he said, you
ave come back to Dom Paul again, Ell ? .
Playing spy for the rooineks. are you?
n, well, We shall see how Little sjambok
grees with you
1T is lie" cried the child. II am not
spy. came to seek Ey father when
our men caught me-"
"Of course" said the man, with
neer And who might your father be?"
Major Brand" replied Jackie, with
sarless pride
For a moment look almost OF fear
rept into the mans face. covered in an
lstant by a black scowl.
Before he could answer the tent door :
'as pushed aside, and two men entered
supporting, not untender.
:, between them the lettering form OF the !!
Iajor himself
Jackie sprang toward him with a glad
y The Major hardly noticed him. His
res were fixed on the face of the Com !
andant, whose eyes were rowing uneasily
'ound. :,
paul Jansen! All. at last" calculated !,
lie Major.
Yes. Paul Jansen" retorted the other,
it'll a sudden change to defiance. You
e prisoner of war, and will be forward
at once to the rear. For that brat there,
is a spy, and will meet a spys death. .
dawn he shall be shot" /,
A low cultural murmur OF disapproval u
n through the group Of Beers in the
Mt. Jansen turnde on them furiously. y
One such evidence Of mutiny again" he II