The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-04

sible, to precipitate q quarrel. 1t
would not need extreme measures-a
nero quarrel, with perhaps little
misusage. and the Beers there in camp
would do the rest, for they would at
attack the border police as certainly
as we sit here. After that some his
tory would probably be made"
Young Phillips whistled thought
fully. cts rather to rich for us"
he said, "and not the incest job,
especially seeing that I'm an Ameri-
can. No, I guess not"
The big man raised himself up from
his chair, the lamplight fell upon him
redIy as he stood, tall as giant,
above the table where lay the map of
South Africa. can American" he
said, "that is all the better! Ameri-
cans are men OF our own blood and
this movement is for every man who
knowns what progress means. 1t is
war which must come, and in this
world we must look ugly facts in the
face. People who are afraid to do
this say to me-: 'Dut it will be too
dangerous they say to me, 1T is
wrorg;;' but 1 say to them, we must
look facts in the face; the Beers are
now arming with Mauser rifles I
say 10 them, My dear good people, I
admire your scruples, but remember
the ugly fact of those Mauaer rifles.
Remember that, and then if you agree
that war must come at last, tell me
whether delay will not mean ten times
rs many lives aud 100 times the treas
ure.' A united Africa, that is my idea
an Africa free for the Anglo-Sazon
from Cape Town to the Zambesi.
The dreamy gray eyes had lighted
up; the words came faster and faster
in the glow of the great idea. And rs
he spoke there breathed out of this
meu something mysterious and Won
der:ul, as out Of unfathomed depths,
spirit which could stiffen the hearts
OF other men and drive them forward,
reckless OF barriers. Young Phillips
gaZed at him, and the cold suspicion
melted out OF his face.
81 guess, maybe" said he slowly,
'that after all l am u wild young
thing"
The big man glanced at the other
men, and q little laugh all around
showed their appreciation OF how
Phillips had risen to his chance. cal
ways did like the way you Americans
could grasp a point" the leader said,
and shook hands.
The day after, Burton and Phillips
rode out Of klerksburg, and turned
their horses eastward. They left the
railroad line upon their left, and, as
they struck into the open Yeldt and
saw around them the wide circle Of
earth and sky, their spirits gayly rose
to this adventure. Darkness found
them still six miles from the camp OF
the border police, but Burton knew
the ground, and they pushed forward.
When they reached tue camp of the
border police they we're greeted with
applause. Burton knew most of the
men; letter which he brought made
them still more welcome. They ate,
and afterward among their hosts lay
back at ease around the campfire. In
visible horses champed and scufled
upon the plain around them; the
troopers smoked and looked up at the
watching stars until it was time to
surn in.
In the morning the two adventurers
had q last word with the captain and
then mounted their horses. They rode
to little eminence and stopped; they
were on the border line, the danger
line which needed only to be crossed
by fighting parties to mean war. A
solitary falcon lowered high in the
blue, and before them
stretched the Transvaal, its veldt as
yellow as a sea of gold. Old Zwager's
farm lay like dot in this and over
everything a Sabbath quiet brooded,
but here the spark could be struck
which should set South Africa afre.
The felt the delight of power, sense
of danger and daring leaped in their
blood and they rode straight forward
resolutely.
zwager's place was built up in
way usual to that region. A stone
wall encircled the squatty Dutch
buildings and served to keep the
calves in the front dooryard. A fence
might have been easier, but Zwaser's
great -grandfathers had managed it
this way, and what had been good
enough for them was good enough
for Zwager. They were admitted
the gate by lazy Kaffir boy
and, riding up to the house, beheld