The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-23


| but I felt it was time to leave it. I took
| the iron handle at the back of the truck
pulled strongly with my left hand, and
sp-ang. My feet struck the ground in
two gigantic strides, and the next in
slant was sprawling in the ditch, shak-
en- but unhurt. The train hurried on its
journey.
1t was still dark. / was in wide val
ley, surrounded by low hills. and carpet
ed with high grass drenched in dew !
searched for water and soon found clear
FOOL. I was very thorsty. but long after
had quenched my thirst I continued 10
drink, that I might have sufficient for
the whole day.
Presently the dawn began to break, and
the sky TO the east grew yellow and red.
slashed across with heavy clouds. l
saw with relief that the railway ran
steadily toward the sunrise. I had TAX
en- the right line.
I set out for the hills, among which 1
hoped to find a hiding place. and as It
became broad daylight I entered small
group of trees on the side of a ravine
Here I resolved to wait till dusk I had
knew where L was-I did not know my
self. 1t was now four o'clock. Fourteen
hours lay between me and the night. My
Impotence to proceed doubled the T
length.
AZ first it was terribly cold, but by de-
g-ees the sun gained rcwer, and by 10
clcci- the heat was oppressive. My sole
cen rsEion was a giga' tic vulture, who
manifested an eyas3e. tied interest II nv
condition, and made oyIinous gurglings
from time to time. From my lofty posi-
ton I commanded a view of the valley.
A little tin-roofed village lay three miles
to the westward. Scattering farmsteads,
each with clump of trees, relieved the
monotony. At the foot of the hill stood
Kaffir kraal, and the figures of it's in
habitants dotted the patches of cultiva-
ton or surrounded the goats and cows
which fed on the pasture. The railway
ran through the middle of the valley, and
L could watch the passage of the trains.
1 counted four passing each way, and
drew the conclusion that the same num-
Der would run by night. During the day
/ ate one slab of chocolate, which, with
the heat, produced a violent thirst The
pool was hardly half a mile away, but I
dared not leave the, little wood, for I
could see white men riding or walking
across the valley, and once a Boer fired
two shots at birds close to my hiding
place.
burned away, and a chilling recreation
followed. 1 was hungry. for L had had
no dinner before starting, and chocolate.
though it sustains, does not SATISFY. I
had scarcely slept, but my heart beat so
iercely and 1 was 50 perplexed about the
future that 1 could not rest.
I thought of all the chances that lay
against me, 1 dreader more than words
can express the prospect Of being drag
ged back to Pretoria
I realized with awful force that no ex-
ercise Of my own feeble wit and strength
could save me from my enemies, and that
without the assistance of that Higher
power which interferes more often than
we are Away prone to admit in the etern-
al sequence Of causes and effects. I could
never succeed. L prayed long and earn
estly for help and guidance.
The long day reached its close. The
western clouds flushed into fire; the sLad-
ows of the hills stretched across the val
ley. A pOnderous Boer wagon crawled
slowly along the black track toward
town. The Kaffirs collected their herds
and drew around their kraal The day
light died, and soon it was quite dark.
Then set forth. I hurried tosthe rail-
way line, paUsing only on. my way to
H.
time at the top of the steep gradient In
the hope of catching a train. But none
came, and I gradually guessed, and
have since found that 1 guessed right,
that the train 1 had already Travelled on
was the only one that ran at night At
last I resolved to walk on, and make
twenty miles of my journey. 1 walked
Tor about six hours.
Every bridge was guarded by armed
men; every few miles were graders huts;
1T intervals there were stations with viii
ages. Leaving the railroad I fell into
Dogs and swamps, and brushed through
high grass dripping with dew, and so 1
was drenched to the waist BY the will
IF God 1 sustained myself during the next
lew days obtaining food at great risk, /
testing in concealment by day, and walk
ng only at night On the fifth day I was
beyond NIiddleburg.
On the sixth day the chance came. /
'ound a train duly labeled to Lorenzo !
Marques standing in a siding, and, fill /
ng a bottle with water. l prepared for I
he last stage of my journey.
The truck was laden with sacks Of soft /
merchandise, and I managed TO work my .
way to the Utmost recess. 1 was resoIv-
d that nothing should lure me from my
hiding place until I reached Portuguese /
erritory. I expected the S3urney to taKe /
hirty-six hours; It dragged out into two
md a half days.
I feared lest the trucks should be
searched at Komati Poort, and my anxi-
~ was very great. To prolong it we
we're shunted on 10 a siding for eighteen
lours. Once indeed they began to search
ny truck, but did not search deep enough
% that I reached Deloga Bay at last
nd crawled forth weary, dirty, hungry.
nut free once more.
I found ny way to the British Consul (
.Ir. Ross, VINO at first mistook me for a
Ireman off one of the ships, but soon
me with enthusiasm. bought
lothes, I washed, I sat down to dinner
With a real table cloth and real glasses:
nd fortune. deteruined not 10 overlook
he smallest detail, had arranged that
he steamer Induna should leave that
cry night for Dur5an.
- rLsIr