Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-14
By P. Z. BLACK.
rcopyrisA.. 1900. By P. =. Bl.eL.I

| There are moments anu occdsiouH
when utter strangers greet with effu'
sre heartiness and a brotheriy leaping
| OF the heart do not know that the
/ apparition or my wealthiest friend
would have more lightened my spirit
and more quickly have dressed my
face In smiles than did the presence
on the roadside Of that wandering ex-
trooper OF the Bechuanaland border
| police. He reclined, with an assured
ease and possession OF confidence
which. on that lonely veldt. 30 miles
from an Inn In a stranger peopled
country. rejoiced me as with the near.
ness Of home. A dwarfed tree AFFORD.
ed him shade. a nearly dried up pan
was not far OF. His blanket was
thrown beside him. ard billy Of q
convenient size reposed between the
extended military breeches.
Doubtless an extra sincerity was af.
forded to my cordial greeting by the
dainty vapors which arose from that
billy rs | drew near A hot mouthful
prevented him from doing more In the
way OF invitation than waving me to .
seat on the bowlder peppered turf. II
was enough Ny knife was handy.
and forked from the pot by Its aid
tenderly stewed birds wing. Our
eyes therefore sufiiced for space to
crafty any natural curiosity. our
mouths Il would have been q rudeness
TO interrupt The meat dispatched.
the trooper pushed the billy my way,
and. In the absence Of spoons. I drank
from II fair share Of the soup. which
he promptly finished. IL was then my
good fortune to contribute to the re-
past the last cupful OF coffee In my
possession. At the pan cleaned the
billy and flled II with fresh water.
while the trooper placed some more
fuel upon the smoidering Dire.
"a fear" said |. that have no
sugar"
This Is a beast OF q country" said
the trooper Il haven't bad any sugar
In my coffee for three days. Come to
think. 1 haven't bad much coffee either.
Well there Is always tobacco some
how. am economizlng on native"
Il have yet pipe or two OF birds
eye" was glad to say. and with that
we fraternized.
T. was early In the day when we
slD q. our blankets about our shoulders
and stepped out along the lonely trek
cheerfully. for to each some compan-
ionship was that morning the most
needful thing For nearly a week my
way had been entirely one Of solitude.
30 that my own voice had sounded
startllngly In my ears II ! had called
out to raise a chance bird In my path.
So. II appeared. had been the fortune
OF the stranger. and II was now mu-
tual delight to keep step and chatter.
He pleased me. His gray eyes twin.
kled humorously. his laugh rang heart
somely He strode nthleticnlly for.
ward with the frank front Of one who
would meet all adventures with the
confident Indifference OF alert strength
and the consciousness Of will and liv-
er equally good: also. though be was
garbed In the uniform OF a private. II
was no surprise to me to find him Of
education and breeding. He was read
lily catalogued-a prodigal and an exile.
one Of the South African army who
had left his past. perhaps his name. In
England. despairingly seeking n new
repute.
1T Is unnecessary" be remarked
when we had exchanged names. ito
ask II you are for the Rand"
1T Is the loadstone." | said. Every
body Is drawing there. and for my pur-
poses. which are pretty vague. Johan.
nesburg Is perhaps the most promising
place In South Africa"
That stretch Of road on the Bechu-
ana side Of the Transvaal-if we may
fiatter II by calling II roads ter
ribly monotonous. through unwooded
veldt. sinking to dried up brooks. ris-
Ing TO dusty SUBMITS. wearily intermi-
nable. We met. remember. in over 20
miles. not a living creature-nor Boer
nor kaffir.
We were fortunate In having cold
coffee and plenty Of tobacco. and II
was not until We began to feel hungry
that. In the proper fashion Of the road.
we cast about for a method Of provid-
Ing supper. We bad not between US.
II Is to be thought, sixpence. OF
lodging we were well assured Our
wide bed spread all about: our blan
kets were ready to unfold at sundown.
But the taste Of the mornings stew
was dead upon the palate. and our
neither garments hung slackly from
the waist. We chirruped not 80 gladly
and began TO reconnoiter the surround
ing veidt with q yearning for the sight
Of farmstead.
II neared sundown when we found
what we sought. mile and more from
the trail. a house of comforting proper
tons wrapped In an outer cloak Of
woods. An oblique path led down to II.
and this we took to levy wallaber's
tribute upon the farmer. The sun sank
rapidly as we approached. seeing no.
body about. and 1t was dusk when we
halted to consult by large pond. a lit
tie distance from the house. By this
the trooper "a: him down and grinned
at me.
MY DRESS" he said. ''is obnoxious to
the Boer. who has shot at such q uni
form before and may again. You 60
alone and do your best. II does not
matter IL he doesn't speak English.
He's pretty sure to understand you."
left him scraping crumbs from his
pockets to feed the ducks In the pond
and went on to the house Rising
ground soon hid him from my sight.
Following the path. was met BY
small barefooted boy. on whom law
ished my smiles. The suspicious little
rascal did not pause to return them.
out turned and ran swiftly to the house
door.
Now, undoubtedly, there was little in
my appearance Of the attractive. A
weeks wallaby. with half grown
beard, had possibly added to the pic
turesque aspect Of my personality. but
Boer, least Of all men, has the art
lists eye. was conscious that a new
hat aud shave would have Increased
any farmers liking for me. Still
trusted to what suayity Of speech and
manner could muster.
My disgust was then marked when,
ten yards from the threshold. was
confronted by an enormously big Boer,
| NTH a hoard cut ahoyelWise. who bore