The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-05-01
THE ALTERNATIVE
A Story OF the South African
War.

Ing eyes wide open, mOtionlesS save
for an occasional twitching of the mus
cles, his life blood trickling through
the hastily applied bandage which con-
cealed the bullet wound In the head.
The man was silent, except when his
parched lips moved In the inarticulate
mutter of delirium.
Charles Shaefer, Reuters special
correspondent in the Transvaal, did not
allow his eyes to linger long upon the
| piteous black figure. His gaze revert
ed to that" a small package of pa
pers, evidently Of great Importance,
carefully wrapped In a waterproof COW
ering which he had drawn from his
breast pocket.
"Now that we are reduced to two
horses only" he went on, his eyes
shifting for a moment to the carcass of
third horse which lay dead some 20
yards off, land seeing that we are in
the enemy's country, probably "a hours
ride from the nearest well Of water,
and that this niger is dead weight
on our hands
you surely don't dream of abandon
ing the poor devilY' Tom Barker broke
in.
Shaefer glanced uneasily at his COM
panion. Barker was puzzle to him,
poor man of distinguished literary
ability, young, but already a success as
a Journalist, yet occasionally betraying
a vein Of sentimentality altogether out
of place in connection with his friend
of Teutonic origin. Shaefer had had
inconvenient experience Of this too
English" popularity more than once
during the three months enforced i'm
prisonment In Ladysmith, from which
they had just escaped with the invalu-
able help Of the negro runner.
you wouldn't leave him here to
die?' the Englishman persisted.
Shaefer rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Hes sure to die soon in any case"
81 don't think so. If we can get him
on my horse and carry him bit out of
this''-
Its out Of the question, Barker.
He cannot walk, and these two horses
are already tired out, and we cannot
possibly do 1t.
Besides, the horses are my proper
ty," continued the German. II had to
pay big price for them In Ladysmith,
and we've already lost one in our re-
cent encounter with the Boer outposts.
must get my dispatches in at the
nearest telegraph station. It's 40 miles
off yet, and l suppose you want to get
yours in, too, for the London T. l
reckon on selling these beasts when we
get safely over the Tugela river, and
don't propose leaving one behind" And
the Germans eyes cleaned angrily, his
voice thick with passion.
Whats the life of niger runner
worth?' he growled.
Hes man, anyway" Tom Barker
retorted. Suppose l refuse to leave
the fellowW
"Then"-and now Shaefer became
ominously cool-'1 shall again be fore
ed to remind you that your horse is my
property. / CO. and the horse you ride
goes with me. You can come or not, as
you please"
Barker turned pale. "That is the
choice you offer me? Then 1 say you
are BLACKBOARD"
"And 1 say" indifferently, "that you
are fool. Come, will you mount?"
-'No."' furiously.
The Reuter- correspondent shrugged
his shoulders.
"Have it your own way" he said.
you'll be food for the Beers before
morning." And, gathering up the reins
Of the second horse, he prepared to
Jump into his own saddle. But here
Barker sprang upon him suddenly.
mo, you don't" he cried. "You shall
leave me one horse, you brute, though
it were hundred times your prop
erty."
"Stand OFF, the German cried.
Tom Barker's answer was to close
with him silently, and there ensued a
trial of strength the issue Of which
seemed for several minutes doubtful.
The men were not badly matched.
Shaefer was a little heavier, but he
was older by 10 years, and Barkers
1.-THE body had known an English pub
lie school training. The result Of the
fight seemed uncertain, when the Ger
man suddenly loosed his hold and fell
back, leaving the reins of the second
horse almost in the others clutches.
But Barker, raising his head and about
to seize the reins, found himself COW
cred by his antagonists revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the German CORE
spondent observed, '.you will listen to
reason. / know you haven't got a gun
on you, my friend know something
of your strange English character.
There is nothing like being ready for
any emergency that may arise"
Tom Barker, under the covering re-
volver, stood erect and mute. To ar
que further with a man prepared to
commit murder on behalf Of horse
and few news dispatches of no great
Importance would be simple waste of
breath.
Keeping the muzzle Of the revolver
pointed full at Barker's breast, Shaefer
Jumped into bis saddle, and; selling the
reins of the other horse, he started OF
at sharp trot. AS long as Barker re-
manned in running distance the Ger
man occasionally looked back to be
sure he was not followed. In five min
utes he was but speck in the distance
on the South African veldt. tits your
own fault, remember, If you lose your
life and fail to get your news in Mon
days London T" was his final
greeting as he disappeared over the
crest Of the nearest kopje, turning to
his right.
When he had disappeared, Barker
looked around him, reviewing the stu
alton. 1t was not a very cheering
prospect that met his eye. Two hills,
or kopjes, Of some thousand feet rose
to the right and left, and he could see
the setting sun on the horizon between
them far beyond on the veldt. The
day had been intensely hot
II don't know what the deuce to do
now" thought Barker AS If in answer
to the question the wounded guide roll
ed over on his side, making an effort to
rise.
where's Mass ShaeferT he said,
looking around him In surprise.
Barker gave the negro drink Of
brandy mixed with water from his can
teen, and the man presently seemed to
revive sufficiently to sit up.
Barker laughed grimly. Hes gone
down the path leading to the Tugela
river, leaving us both here in nice
mess" he said. The darby rubbed his
hand over his eyes YEARLY and then
gazed steadily along the road ahead
'Yo' say he go long the right trailT'
muttered the man.
YES" replied Barker.
"Then he's sure gone wrong. That
right trail leads down to the Boz camp,