Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-06-01
The Mercy of the boer
A Wartime
Story Of the Transvool .,.-.


though they were not enough Tor her
and the child.
Klaus .raspcd tho kcrric dangling
from his belt at the recollection OF
the cut across the mouth that the
drunken transport rider had EIvcn him
with his sjambok when lie had asked
his permission. Besides. there was the
baby. and he could no; have left bo;h
Of them behind. 50 FAR from the kraal
and her own people. But Haas Jnkob
was hard man. and he did not under
stand such things.
Ever since they had left Burshers-
dorp-many weeks a.o-shc had
walked after them, the baby sluns on
her back: and there were yet three
weeks more and the dcscr, strip TO
cross before they reached the Great
Bel, and the river. hut the baby was
to ride In the wagon now with the
vrouw. and the girl would not be
so tired.
All! Baas Plct was good man-bct-
ter than Baas Jakob. He would help;
and later on he might even be rich
enough TO buy few head of cattle
and some ponies and they would all
go back to the old place on the krei.
and He started TO his feet
as the pipe OF a honeybird came faint
ly out OF the distance. Beta was
there at last. . UuI
The wagon was creaking along un-
der the burning MONDAY sun: the OK
en- stumbled lazily with lo,ling tom
CUES: crawling ut snaii's pace without
fear OF the flick OF the lash. FOR every
one was asleep except the little voer-
loper trudging In front of the two
lenders. grooming an endless native
song to himself. UH .lfl - .In.
Suddenly there was a stir under the
tilt. The curtain was f'unS aside. and
Baas Piet stepped out on to the fore
part of the wagon, yawning sleepily.
"Boy!" he shouted. "onsaddic the
mare. shall ride on to the water
hole beyond the drift. It cannot be
far off now" Hr
Klaus appeared from underneath the
wagon. where his blanket was siuns
hammock fashion in the day time.
mo. Baas Piet. the spruit should
not be more than one hours ride now.
and the hole is only two, three miles
further
Presently he brought the mare
around from the back of the wagon.
where she had been tied up. frightened
the girths and rolled up the riem OF
the neck halter Baas Piet swung
himself on the edge of the wagon into
the saddle.
"Tell the Baas when he wakes up,
he said; and with a shake OF the reins
cantered of through the dust.
'It cannot be far now." repeated
Klaus to himself. US he watched him
until he became invisible in the midst
of the vast brown expanse of sun
scorched hillside. $500
1t was now five days since they
had left the last vlei. and he had Civ
en- nearly all his share of the not
muddy water that the vrouw served
out to the girl for the last few days
but that was very. very little, ana she
was sick, too, Yr.I
The baby was certainly the most
contented of all, lying in an empty
sugar box under the shade OF the uit,
engaged In coiling the soft end OF the
eighteen loot lash round and round
It's chubby arms. 1t grew fatter ana
merrier every day. Tho vrouw rather
liked 1t, black as It was. for she hao
no children of her own. .#f,
All at once came warning snoa.
from the voeroper. They were risn'
on the edge of the drift, and the ieaa-
ers began to pick their way sio"s
down the steep bank over the LOOSE
rocks and sand. Klaus was BUSY p"'-
ting the heavy iron shoe drag under
one of the hind wheels, while baas
Jakob in bad temper at having MS
sleep disturbed. sat upon the front ol
the wagon, swearing at him anu 'he
other boys for being lazy ,
Now sliding sideways over smooth'
shelving rock. now plunging down