The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-21
THE ALTERNATIVE
A Story OF tho South African
War.

War.
ooAoaoAoaoSoA ~ 0 4 oaosoAoxos
"The question at ISSUE" Charle
Shaefer said quietly, sis between thi
and that"
This was man, a native blacl
South African runner. He lay fiat OF
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 trickling through
the hastily applied bandagc which con
cealed the bullet wound In the head
The man was silent, except when his
pnrched lips moved in the inarticulate
mutter Of delirlum.
Charles Shaefer, Reuters specia
correspondent in the Transvaal, did not
allow his eyes to linger long upon the
piteous 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 bis
breast pocket.
"Now that we are reduced to two
horses only" he went on, his eyes
shifting for moment to the carcass of
a third horse which lay dead some 20
yards off, "and seeing that we are in
the enemy's country, probably "a hours
ride from the nearest well 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
panion. Barker was a puzzle to him,
poor man Of distinguished literary
ability, young, but already success as
journalist, yet occasionally betraying
a 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
prisonment in Ladysmith, from which
they had just escaped with the invalu.
able help of the negro runner.
"You wouldn't leave him here 10
dep the Englishman persisted.
shaefer rubbed his chin thoughtfully,
Hes sure to die soon In any case"
Il don't think 80. II we can get him
on my horse and carry him bit out Of
this
Its out of the question, Barker.
He cannot walk, and these two horses
are already tired out, and we cannot
possibly do 1t.
Besides, the horses are my proper
ty," continued the German. 81 had to
pay big price for them in Ladysnith,
and we've already lost one in our re-
cent encounter with the Boer outposts.
l must get my dispatches in at the
nearest telegraph station. It's 40 miles
off yet, and l suppose you want to get
yours in, too, for the London L.
reckon on selling these beasts when we
get safely over the Tugela river, and
don't propose leaving one behind" And
the Germans eyes CLEANED angrily, his
voice thick with passion.
"Whats the life Of a niger runner
worth?" he growled.
"He's man, anyway" Tom Barker
retorted. Suppose l refuse to leave
the fellowp
"Then'-and now Shaefer became
ominously cool-'I shall again be fore
ed to remind you that your horse is my
property. | so, and the horse you ride
goes with me. You can come or not, az
you please"
Barker turned pale. "That Is the
choice you offer me? Then I say you
are blacksuard."
"And say" indifferently, "that you
are fool. Come, will you mounti'
NO." furiously.
The Reuter- correspondent shrugged
his shoulders.
Have 1t your own way" he said.
you'll be food for the Beers before
And, gathering up the relns
Of the second horse, he prepared to
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 were a hundred times your prop.
prty."
stand off" the German cried.
Tom Barker's answer was to close
with him silently, and there ensucd a
trial OF strength the issue of which |
seemed for several minutes doubtful.
The men were not badly matched.
Shaefer was n little heavier but he
was older by Is years, and Barkers
1.-The body had known an English pub
lc school training. The result Of the
light seemed uncertain, when the Ger
nnn suddenly ioosed his hold and fell
back, leaving the reins Of the second
lorse almost In the others clutches.
But Barker, raising his head and about
o seize the reins, found himself COW
red by his antagonists revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the German CORE
pondent observed, "you will listen to
eason. know you haven't got a gun
n you, my friend. know something
t your strange English character.
here is nothing like being ready for
ny emergency that may arise"
Tom Barker, under the covering re-
Oliver, stood erect and mute. To ar
ue further with a man prepared to
ommit murder on behalf of a horse
nd few news dispatches Of no great