The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-17
GID MERCY
....OF THE BOER.
sOtTiI AFRICAN PAsTORAE.

q sOUTM AFRIcAN PAsT0RAE.

I drift across the KFei three years ago.
She had been with him ever since and
now. when the trek began, Baas Jakob
would mot let her ride in the wagon OF
even come near It.
klaus grhsped tho kerfie dangling
from his belt at the recollection Of the
cut across the mouth that the drunken
transport rider had given him with his
Sjamhok when he had asked his permits
sion. Besides. there was the baby, and
ne could not have left both Of them be-
hind, 80 far from the kFaal and her own
people. But Baas Jakbb was a hard
man; he did not understand such
things.
Ever since they had left Burghers-
dorp-nany weeks ago-she had walk
ed after them, the baby slung at her
back: and there We're yet three weeks
more and the desert strip to cross be-
fore they reached the Great Belt and
the river. But the baby was to ride in
the wagon now with the Vrouw. and
the girl would not be so tired
An! Baas Plet was a,good nian-bet-
Ter than Baas JalIob., He would help;
and later on he might even be rich
enough TO buy few head OF cattle and
some ponies. and they would al. go
back to the old PLACE. on. the Krel, and
He started to his feet as
the pipe Of honeyblrd came family
out OF the distance. Beta was there at
last
The wagon was creaking along under
the burning MONDAY sun; the oxen
stumbled Iazlly with lOlling tongues,
crawling at snairs pace without fear Of
the filck Of the lash, for every one was
asleep except the little tyoerloper
trudging in front OF the two leaders,
Grooming an endless native song to
himself. The wind. more burning than
the sun, came In ceaselesa gusts across
the arid veldt. destitute Of grass or
tree, and, catching up great clouds Of
red dust, whlrlsd them in edddnG
choking masses about the wagon, and
then swept them away until they van
tshea in the shlmmering heat haze. Now
and then a tortoise dragged his black
and yellow shell cut Of the way Of the
span, and numbered heavily of the
track to a safe distance, there to retire
within himself until the unwonted ap-
partition had disappeared beyond his
limited horizon: or a snake would shoot
out shining head from the shelter Of
some deserted ant heap As the rumble !
OF wheels reused him from his nap;
ana far up in the clear blue air fioated
q great vulture. without. q tremor Of his
wide pinlons. just as he had fioated for
many days past, watching and waiting.
Suddenly there was stir under the
TIT The curtain was flung aside, and
Baas plet stepped out on to the fore
part OF the wagon, yawniuG sleeptly,
0Boy!" he shouted. "onSaddle the
mare. shall ride on to the waterhcle
beyond the drift. It cannot be far of
now"
Klaus appeared from underneath the
wagon, where his blanket was sIung
hammock fashion in the daytime.
mo. Baas Plet: the spfuit should not
be more than one hours ride now, and
the hole Is only two. three mile fur
ther"
Presently he brought the mare around
from the back Of the wagon, where she
had been tied up, tlghtened the
glrths. and rolled up the rIem of the
neck halter. Baas Plet swung himself
OF the edge Of the wagon into the sad
die.
TELL the Baas when he wakes up" he
said; and with a shake Of the reIns
cantered or through the dust
at cannot be far of now" repeated
Klaus 10 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 Well and he had given
nearly all his snare Of the hot, muddy
water that the yROuR served out to the
girl for the last Jew days but that was
very. very Attie? and she was sick, too.
For n moment he stopped:and looked
backward: There, just topping the last
rise. miles and miles away, his keen
sight could pick out agalnstAthe sky
lire the little black speck that had been
behind them for so many weeks now,
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