The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-23

Strydom's house. with her walked a
naffir servant, carrying a large basket.
Herr Strydom," she said as the big
Dutchman rose from his chair on the
stoep. Il have brought some supper for
Mr.. Hadlow. Please give it to him.
There is bottle of whisky also, and as
father thought you might be short of liz
uor with so many friends in and out,
have brought you another bottle for
yourself" Strydom was a secret but ar
dent admirer of the handsome English
girl. He put on his best manners, ac-
knowledged the compliment in a clown
ish fashion and, having emptied her bas-
ket, Edie smiled pleasantly, babe him
good night and returned home.
Her scheme worked out exactly as she
had anticipated. 1t was a forlorn hope,
but it succeeded. Frans Strydom and his
friend devoted themselves after supper
Tin which their prisoner had no share) to
the contents of the whisky bottles and
by 10 O'Clock, when they had consumed
as much as they could manage, were not
only very drunk, but very sleepy. Short
ly after they were both lying on Stry-
dom's rough bed, snoring heartily in a
deep, drunken slumber. At II Edie,
who had long since found means to bride
udllNe SelNdul, WHO UlLlSelIt
as she happened to know, was only seek
ing Il chance to bolt from his masters
service, made her way into the house.
She was very frightened, but she stole,
with the silence of a mouse, into Dicks
room, cut his cords-KIaas, the native,
was keeping watch-and released him.
Together they crept out, whispered fare
well to Klaas and disappeared into the
darkness. Klaas meanwhile. with two
golden sovereigns in his waist belt pouch,
collected his scanty traps and struck out
for the kalahari, only too glad to es-
cape from Strydom's hard mastership.
A quarter of an hour later Dick Had
low had babe farewell to Mr.. Janson,
tenderly kissed Edie and, with his letler
regained and his Lee-Metford rifle on his
back, mounted his good horse and rode
away again southwestward into the star
lit night. Moving steadily on and inn
proving his pace as day broke, he reached
Granesa, q Bechuana village, 40 miles
from Mosita, by 10 o'clock next day.
Here he rested four hours and again
pushed on, this time for Kuruman, the
well known mission station, 80 long miles
ahead. No Beers, the friendly natives
said, were out in this direction, and the
road was safe. All night therefore he
pressed on, cantering doggedly along the
wagon track and making good progress.
Mosita, another Bechuana village, was
reached by Z o'clock next morning. All
was safe here. No Boer patrols had yet
reached this remote district. Some break
fast and two hours sleep, and once more
he mounted his horse for the 40 mile ride
to kuruman, where a remount could cas-
lily be procured. The gallant black was
looking worn and light and tucked up
now after his 40 miles of travel, yet his
spirit was keen as ever, and he reached
heartily ut his bride as Dick once more
got to his saddle. A long, weary day Of
travel under a parching sun and over
yellow, illimitable grass plains infinitely
monotonous to the eye succeeded. Five
miles from Thurman Dick refined up his
tired nag and halted for his last off sad
die.
Half an hour later, as he rose from the
grass and stretched himself by the thorn
tree against which he had been resting
a bullet whizzed past his ear and ratified
into the tree trunk. Dick was an old
campaigner and knew most tricks of ma
tive warfare. He threw up his arms as
IL shot and fell prone to earth, taking
care, however, to lay one hand upon his
loaded rifle.
As he squinted out Of the corner of his
eye a huge figure of a man lurched into
the open from behind a screen Of thick
brush 80 yards away. Dick knew the fig
ure at once. 1t was Frans Strydom, who,
with the skill and venom of bushman,
had spoored him from Mosita and had
thus murderously attacked him. With
iron nerve Dick let the man come well
I'd or Loo OF
then, springing on to one knee, leveled
his rife. Strydom turned to fly. 1t was
too late. His burly form offered splen-
did target. The Lee-Metford cracked,
and the bullet sped true for the Beers
right shoulder, flooring him in his tracks.
Dick ran up, saw the wound was not
mortal, bandaged the wretched man up
as well as possible, shortly giving his
opinion of him as he did so, propped him
against a tree and, mounting his own
horse and leading the Dutchman's, can
tered on to Kuruman. From Thurman
he sent out cart to bring in the wound
ed man, mission which was safely ac-
complished before nightfall. A long half
nights rest at kuruman in good bed,
and, with fresh horse, he went on his
way next morning rejoicing, leaving his
treacherous foe in the hands of a good
missionary and his wife, all the circum-
stances of the affair having been reported
to the resident magistrate.
Three days later, having passed
through Daniels Kuil and Douglas, in
Griqualand. where fresh horses were pro-
cured, Dick Hadlow reached Hope Town,
On the Orange river, whence his dis
patches were sent at once southwark in
safety. From Thurman he had travelled
1875 miles and from Mafeking 375. Dead
ly tired and stiff and travel worn as he
was, he could now afford to look back
upon his journey and it's incidents with
vast contentment.-St. Louis Globe-Dem-