Evening journal., 1900-02-21
DICK HADLOW'S RIDE
A south AFRICAN Va stony.

tons for leaving Mafel1ing, in British
Bechuanaland, where the English I'M
der Col. Baden-Powel were beleag-
uered by the Beers. Dick was a young
colonist Of &c, a typical specimen of
the South African born Englishman,
strong, self-reliant, enterprising, well
used to weld life; just now. for more
reasons than one, he was burning for
the approach of nightfall and the be.
ginning of an adventurous ride which
lay before him.
Dick, who had knocked about in
various parts of South Africa in quest
of adventure, dollars and experience
ever since the age of IS, had, three
years back, made a little money in
johannesburg, and for the last two
years had been farming Just outside
of Mafeking. When the war broke out
he had, with other Englishmen in
that district, come into the town for
reasons of safety, and had taken his
part in that vigorous defense which
the resourceful Baden-Powell was now
opposing to the strong force of Beers
gathered around.
Hadlow, after volunteering his ser
vices, had been selected to carry dis
patches from Mafeking down to the
Orange River. The telegraph wires
had long since been cut the rails torn
up, and the only way Of holding COM
munication with the south was by
means Of bold and well-mounted rid
ers, who knew the wild weld through
Bechuanaland and Griqualand West,
and were content to take their lives
in their hands and run the gauntlet
through the Gordon of watchful Beers
encircling the town. Dick had. as has
been limited, several reasons for under
taking the ride First, because the
Colonel was anxious to get through
some dispatches. Second, for the rea-
son that two prominent storekeepers
had offered a handsome premium for
any one succeeding in carrying very
important business letters of theirs
down to the railroad at Orange River.
To these two commissions were add
ed the dispatch of cables and letters
from various newspaper correspond
ents. These matters alone We're worth
a couple of hundred pounds to him 10
he succeeded. Fourthly, the enter
prise jumped exactly with his keen
and adventurous spirit And finally he
was exceedingly anxious to see and
get news of Edie Janson. girl for
whom he had very tender admira
ton.
The afternoon wore on slowly. Ma
felxing was somnolent under the heat
Commandant Cronje's bombardment
had ceased for some time; the men
under arms were mostly some way
out Of town. Dick Hadlow had made
all his plans, seen Col. Baden-Powcu
for the last time, and was now wait
ing impatiently for darkness and the
close Of the long day.
At he sauntered off to his bed
room, and thence, half an hour later.
went to the stable and saddled up his
good nag, a handsome black rather
over fourteen hands, in sound. hard
condition; then he quickly walked
across the broad market square. The
last man to shake hands with him
was well-known up-country trader
and storekeeper, for whom he was
carrying dispatches. lust before quit
ting the square, Dick mounted and
grasped his friends hand.
"Good-by, old chap" he said. "and
good luck to all you fellows here"
Goodnight. Dick" returned his
friend. Take care of yourself and a
lucky journey to you
They parted with a strong friendly
grip, and Dick rode off quietly for the
Molopo, no great way beyond. Cross
Ing the river, he struck into the yeldt
and after being challenged by one Of
the garrison outposts and giving the
password, now began to enter seri-
ously upon the business of the night
Suddenly from out of the vast si-
lence there came, some 300 yards
away to the right the shrill neigh Of
horse, a Dutchman's horse, undouht-
eddy, which had gotten his own nays
wind and was questioning it. Nest
instant, in spite of his attempt 10
quell the sound. his horse lifted it's
head and uttered a loud. clear call of
response. There was nothing for it
but a bolt, and, sticking in his spurs
Dick galloped straight ahead, reckless
Of meerkat holes and all the other pit
falls of the veldt. Three rifles were
discharged in his direction, but tho
bullets cut the air idly many safe
yards behind him. He heard hurried
voices in gutteral Boer tones, more
shots were fired, and then the thud
Of galloping horses came toward him.
He pressed on. Hark! From behind
him came the conclusion of a fall.
That was surely a horse down, and a
sharp smothered exclamation from
the rider confirmed his surmise. One
pursuer the less. At last the shelter
Of some friendly bush doomed up be-
fore him IN the starlit darkness.
All that night, setting his course by
the stars, Dick Hadlow pushed on at
a steady pace; sometimes walking
when the bush was troublesome, anon
cantering where glades of open coun-
try PERMITTED. Twice he off-saddled
before the dawn came. Just as the
light began to thicken in the eastern
sky he ate some breakfast gave his
good nag feed Of mealie, drank some
cold coffee from his water bottle-he
was afraid to light fire-and as the
wonderful colors Of the sunrise began
to emblazon the heavens, lit his pipe
climbed into the saddle and rode on
again. At / o'clock Dick rode up the
last shallow valley and halted before
a single-storied, little. white-washed
farm house. AS he climbed stifiy down
a girl ran out to the stoop.
"Dickl" she exclaimed, with pretty
flush upon her smooth cheek and q
warm sparkle Ia her brown eyes
where in the world have you spruna
from?"