Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-04-30
THE ALTERNATIVE
A Story of the South African
War.

"Thc question at ISSUE" Charles
Shacfcr said quietly, "is between this
ind that"
"This" was man, Il native black
South African runner. He lay fiat Oh
his back in the little valley, his unsee-
ing eyes wide open, motionless save
for an occasional twitching of the mus
cles his life blood trckling through
the hastily applied bandage which con-
cealcd the bullet wound in the head.
The man was silent, except when his
parched lips moved in the inarticulate
mutter of deliriunl.
Charles Shaefer, Reuters special
correspondent in the Transvaal, did not
allow his eyes to linger long upon the
Diteous black figure. His gaze revert
ed to that" n small package of pa
pers, evidently Of great Importance,
carefully wrapped in waterproof COW
ering which he had drawn from his
breast pocket.
"Now that we are reduced to two
horses only" he went on, his eyes
shifting for moment to the carcass Of
third horse which lay dead some 20
yards off, "and seeing that we are i'm
the enemy's country, probably "A hours
ride from the nearest we'll Of water,
and that this niger is a dead weight
on our hands,
you surely don't dream of abandon
ing the poor devil" Tom Barker broke
in.
Shaefer glanced uneasily at his COM
panOn. Barker was puzzle to him,
a poor man Of distinguished literary
ability, young, but already success as
a journalist, yet occasionally betraying
vein of sentimentality altogether out
of place in connection with his friend
Of Teutonic origin. Shaefer had had
inconvenient experience of this too
English popularity more than once
during the three months enforced i'm
prsonment in Ladysmith, from which
they had just escaped with the invalu-
able help of the negro runner
"You wouldn't leave him here to
die| the Englishman persisted.
Shacfer rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"He's sure to die soon in any case"
II don't think so. II we can get him
on my horse and carry him bit out Of
this
"It's out of the question, Barker.
He cannot walk, and these two horses
are already tired out, and we cannot
possibly do it.
Besides, the horses are my proper
ty," continued the German. II had to
pay big price for them in Ladysmith,
and we've already lost one in our re-
cent encounter with the Boer outposts.
| must get my dispatches in at the
nearest telegraph station. It's 40 miles
off yet, and | suppose you want to get
yours in. too for the London I.
reckon on selling these beasts when we
get safely over the Tugela river, and l
don't propose leaving one behind" And
the Germans eyes cleaned angrily, his
voice thick with passion.
"What's the life Of Niger runner
WORTH" he growled.
lies man, anyway" Tom Barker
retorted. Suppose l refuse to leave
the fcllow?'
"Thcn"-and now Shaefcr became
ominously cool-"I shall again be fore
cd to remind you that your horse Is my
property. go, and the horse you ride
goes with me. You can come or not, as
you please
Barker turned pale. THAT is the
choice you offer me? Then say you
aye a blackguard."
"And l say" indfferently, shat you
are fool. Come, will you mount?"
NO." furiously.
his shoulders.
"Have it your own way" he said.
you'll be food for the Beers before
morning." And, gathering up the reins
of the second horse, lie prepared 10
jump into his own saddle. But here
Barker sprang upon him suddenly.
mo, you don't" he cried. "You shall
leave me one horse, you brute, though
it We're hundred times your prop
erty."
"Stand off, the German cried.
Tom BarkerS answer was to close
with him silently, and there -ensued a
trial Of strength the issue Of which
seemed for several minutes doubtful
The men We're not badly matched.
Shacfer was a little heavier, but he
was older by Is years, and Barker's
1.-the body had known an English pub
lie school training. The result Of the
fight seemed uncertain, when the Ger
man suddenly loosed his hold and fell
back, leaving the rcins of the second
horse almost in the others clutches.
But Barker, raising his head and about
to seize the reins found himself COW
cred by his antagonists revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the German CORE
spondent observed, "you will listen to
reason. l know you haven't got gun
on you, my friend. l know something
Of your strange English character.
There is nothing like being ready for
any emergency that may arise"
Tom Barker, under the covering re-
volver, stood erect and mute. TO or
que further with a man prepared to
commit murder on behalf of horse
and a few news dispatches Of no great
importance would be simple waste of
breath.
Keeping the muzzle Of the revolver
pointed full at Barker's breast, Shaefer
pkINT AMI d.