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


looking steadily toward me.
cannot describe the surge of panic
which nearly overwhelmed me. I must
| be discovered dared not stir an inch.
But admit tumult of emotion, reason
whispered, thrust to the dark back
ground" remained motionless.
For long time the man and I were
opposite each other, and every instant
L expected him to spring forward. A
vague idea crossed my mind that 1 might
silence him. Hush, I am detective.
We expect that an officer will break out
here tonight. am waiting to catch
him.
son-scohnful this time-replied:
Surely a Transvaal detective would
speak Dutch. Trust to the shadow"
So I trusted. and after spell another
man came out of the house, lighted ci-
gether. No soner had they turned than
cat pursued by a dog rushed into the
bushes and coHided with me. The start
led animal uttered a ''mfau'' of alarm
and darted back again, making horri-
BILE rustic. Both men stopped at once.
But it was only the cat, and they passed
out Of the garden gate.
An hour had passed since I climbed the
wall. Where was my comrade? Sudden
~ 1 heard a voice within the quadrangle
say, "All up" I crawled back to the
wall. Two officers were walking up and
words, talking all manner of nonsense
amid which 1 caught my name. I risked
a cough.
One Of the officers Immediately bagan
fn oh oil
and clearly: Cannot get out. The
sentry suspects. It's all up. Can you
get back?"
But now all my fear fell from me. To
get back was impossible. Fate pointed
onward. Besides, I said: "Of course I
shall be captured, but I will at least have
run for my money"
I said to the officers, at shall go on
alone"
Now, was in the right mood for these
undertakings; no odds against success
affected me-
I said to myself '"Toujours de Paudace'
put my hat on my head, strobe into the
middle of the garden, walked past the
windows of the house without attempt
at concealment, went through the gate
ana turned to the left.
I passed the sentry at less than five
yards. Most of them knew me by sight
Whether he looked at me I do not know,
for 1 never turned my head. But after
walking hundred yards knew that the
second obstacle had been surmounted.
was at large in Pretoria
walked on leisurely, humming a tune
and choosing the middle Of the road. The
streets were full of burghers, but they
paid no attention to me. Gradually
reached the suburbs, and on a little
bridge L sat down to reflect.
was in the heart of the enemys coun-
try. I knew no one to whom I could
appeal for succor. Nearly three hundred
miles stretched between me and Della
goa Bay. My escape must be known at
dawn. Pursuit would be immediate.
Yet all exits were barred. The town |
was picketed. the country was patrolled, |
the trains were searched, 1.-THE line was
guarded.
l had e75 In my pocket and four slabs |
of chocolate, but the compass and the /
map, the opium tablets and meat lozen- |
ges were in my friends pockets. Worst |
or Kaffir.
But the hope had departed, fear had |
gone as well. I formed a plan. I would !
find the Deloga Bay Railroad. I must /
follow that in spite of the pckets. 1 .
loked at the stars. Orion shone brightly
Scarcely a year ago he had guided me
whe lost in the desert to the banks of
he Nile. He had given me water. Now
he should lead me to freedom.
After walking south half mile struck
the railroad. Was it the line to Delago
Bay or the Petersburg branch If it were
the former it should run east. But as
far as I could see this line ran northward
Still 1 resolved to follow it.
A cool breeze famed my face and a
Wild feeling of exultation took hold of
me. At any rate was free, if only for
an hour. The fascination of the adven-
ture grew. Unless the stars in their
courses fought for me 1 could not escape.
Where was the need Of caution?
marched briskly along the line. Here
and there the lights of a picket fire
gleaed. Every bridge had its watchers.
But L passed them all, making short de-
tours at the dangerous places. and really
taking scarcely any precautions Perhars
hat was the reason I succeeded.
As I walked I extended my plan.
could not march three hundred miles.
would board a train in motion and hide
lnder the seats, on the roof. on the coup
What train would 1
AXE? The first, of course.
After walking for two hours perceived
he signal lights of a station. I left the
inc and, circling round it, hid in the
itch by the track about two hundred
ards beyond. I argued that the train
would stop at the station and that it
would not have got up too much speed
~ the tine it reached me.
An hour passed. Suddenly I heard the
whistle and the approaching rattle Then
he yellow headlights Of the egine fash
ID into view. The train waited FIVE min
ties at the station and started again
With much noise I rehearsed the act
n my mind. I must wait until the en-
line passed, otherwise I should be seen.
Then 1 must make a dash for the car
iages.
The train started slowly. but gathered
peed soner than I expected The far
ns lights grew swiftly near. The rattle
rev into a roar. The dark mass hung
or second above me. The engine driver
nhouetted against his furnace glow. the
lack profile OF the engine, the clouds OF
team rushed past.
Then I hurled myself on the trucks,
utched at something, missed. clutched
gain, missed again. grasped some hand
lold. was swung of my feet-ny tees