The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-04
80. we can't eh?" remarked PHIL.

~, we can . Ell! Ienlarkeu IAii-,
lips. "Maybe that isn't for you to
say" The correction appeared to be
lost upon old Zwager; he sat still and
gazed across the plain toward the blue
northward as though he expected
something favorable to come from
that direction. For years and years
the older Beers had been wont to
think of that free upcountry, the un-
tracked wilderness which could always
be their refuge when the annoying
uproar of rapid civilization came too
near. But nothing could coma out of
it now except danger, and they were
cut off from it forever as surely as
from the blue sea across which their
forefathers had wandered two GEN.
turies before for a place in which to
stagnate comfortably. Old Zwager
may have known this much of history
from the homespun traditions passed
down from sire to son, stories of old
treks and battles for ones own idea of
things, dared by men of stubborn
fanatic breed, like the Roundheads Of
Old England or the Puritans of the
New. But England and America
had gone forward somewhat. and two
of their representatives, we'll up to
date, stood now before this old man
OF the people who had stopped for two
centuries, and they hardly knew how
to take him.
eve want some forage" Burton
roared, with ferocious emphasis.
Ola Zwager considered this de-
mend once more, as though it had
been a rew one. "You can't have
it., be then replied, with undiplomatic
clearness, "because you are English
schelms" (rascals).
Phillips clenched his fist and
walked up to him. Eyes, now's your
chance" encouraged Burton. The
Katiir, safe upon the wall, was appar-
emily the only witness, and he, being
native and untaught, seemed to
wonder that men of those races should
fall to fighting. Phillips put his fist
close up to the stolid face, then took
it away again.
always did understand that you
Americans were en- uncertain set, "
complained the Englishman. He
strobe up to the Boer himself. and
delivered an ultimatum. "You old,
dense, beastly, uncirilized mule" he
thundered, ''tell the boy there to get
that forage, d'you hear?"
The ancient man never noticed
them. They both perceived with ease
that he thought they were afraid of
him. 80, before I'd stand that"
Phillips taunted his companion. Pres
emily Zwager arose to his feet. "You
must now go away from here" he
proclaimed calmly, "your language is
not like the Scriptures. He went
and picked mp heavy stick and stiff
~ advanced upon them.
They stood and watched him come,
the two strapping Saxons, and ex-
changed furtive glance. Then of
sudden they broke in full retreat;
moved by the same impulse they SUNK
back to their horses and mounted
without word. Without a word
they left behind them Zwager's place.
and for half mile across the weld
they rode long way apart and would
not look at each other. Finally they
pulled up, and something had to be
said.
"Er-ah-most disgusting failure"
the Englishman remarked.
"I couldn't do it," the American re-
piled, "because-" He stole glance
at his companion, and read in his eyes
an answering horror-it was the awful
horror and hatred of their race for
"goody-goody talk" Because" he
cried triurnphantly, IT thought there
might be some more Beers hidden in
the barn"
"Just so," assented the Briton in
relief, and came a little nearer, "My
own idea exactly" They rode along
together in detection, knowing more
about themselves than previously they
had known. Around them the very
veldt seemed to be laughing over
something; and as they approached
the camp again suddenly they both
laughed too.
Couldn't be done" Burton ex-
planned briefly to the captain. cap
pears, you know, that there was con-
cealed force in the neighborhood."
Hours afterward they left the camp,
and took the road toward Klerksburg.
They stopped once in the plain and
looked behind them at the border line
and all was quiet along it. Then the
Englishman, doubtless with his
thoughts upon old Zwager, said: