The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-01-30

especially seeing that I'm an Ameri-
can. No, l guess not"
The big man raised himself up from
his chair, the lamplight fell upon him
rediy az he stood, tall as a giant,
above the table where lay the map of
South Africa. can American. " he
said, that is all the betterl Ameri-
cans are men OF our own blood aud
this movement is for every man who
knowns what progress means. It IL
war which must come, aud in this
world We must look ugly facts in the
face. People who are afraid to DO
this say TO me: But it will be too
dangerous; they say to me, 1T Is
wrong but say to them, We must
look facts in the face; the Beers are
now arming with Mauser rifles. [
cay to them, Ny dear good people, I
admire your scruples, but remember
the ugly fact OF those Mauser rifles.
Remember that, and then if you agree
that war must come at last, tell me
whether delay will not mean ten times
as many lives aud 100 times the treas
ure.' \ united Africa, that is my idea
--au Africa free for the Anglo-Saxon
y
The dreamy gray eyes had lighted
mp; the words came faster and faster
III the glow of the great idea. And as
he spoke there breathed ont OF this
man something mysterious and won
derful, as out Of unfathomed depths,
spirit which could stiffen the hearts
OF other men and drive them forward.
/ reckless of barriers. Young Phillips
| gazed at him, aud the cold suspicion
melted out Of his face
q guess, maybe, said he slowly,
that after oil an wild young
| thing"
The big man glanced ut the other
men, and q little laugh all around
showed their appreciation Of how
/ Phillips had risen TO his chance. cal
ways did like the way you Americans
could grasp point, the leader said
aud shook hands.
The day after, Burton aud Phillips
rode ont Of Klerksburg. and turned
their horses eastward They left the
railroad limo upon their left. and. as
they struck into the open veldt and
saw around them the wide circle Of
earth and sky, their spirits gaylY rose
TO this adventure. Darkness found
them still six miles from the camp of
the border police, but Burton knew
the ground, and they pushed forward.
When they reached the camp Of the
border police they were greeted with
applause. Burton knew most of the
men; q letter which he brought made
them still more welcome. They ate,
and afterward among their hosts Law
back at ease around the campfire. In
visible horses champed aud scufied
upon the plain around them: the
troopers smoked and looked up at the
watching stars until it was time to
turu in.
In the morning the two adveuturers
had last word with the captain and
then mounted their horses. They rode
to little eminence and stopped; they
were on the border line, tue danger
line which needed only to be crossed
by fighting parties to mean n war. A
solitary falcon lowered high in the
untarnished blue, and before them
stretched the Irausvaal, its veldt as
yellow as a sea Of gold. Old Zwager's
farm lay like a dot in this and over
everything a Sabbath quiet brooded.
but here the spark could be struck
which should set South Africa afire.
The felt the delight Of power. n sense
I OF danger and daring leaped in their
blood and they rode straight forward
resolutely.
Iwager's place was built MP in n
way usual 10 that region. A stone
wall encircled the Gquetty Dutch