The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-17

na,deared. that is, every aoie-Douieu
nan between Is and so in the district
40. callsl to take his horse, his bill
.onro or dried beef ration, his rifle
md ammunition and proceed at once
~ the rendezvous, thence to proceed
,ge;nst the fierce aud warlike Zulus,
who had again raided the Transvaai.
Farmer Putter sa ldled up and hurried
Of. as his first duty was, but nrss ne
sailed to him Piet, his son, ana SOL
smnly spoke to him.
s.Son of NINE" said the farmer-sol-
Tier. s'you are not yet man tall enough
% face the Zulu impis in open held
mt to your care I give mein vrouw
and your little sister Greta and Pre-
.orins. your brother. You must, II
need be, play q mans part. for. since
Ihe two gold prospectors left the farm
A. the sign OF war, there is mono to
take command Of the Kahr servants
Then Piet said without bravado:
"You may trust, my father, Tor,
hough I be not a man, still 1 am
Boer."
so the farmer rode away, and Piet,
shus promoted to command, withdrew
INTO the sitting room, and almost at
nnce his troubles began. His hrst care
ras to clean and load all firearms.
Thess hung on the walls, and some
ware old-fashioned and without am
muniton to fit them. But PETS eye
seeking his own pet light rlhe, WHO'D
he had won in shooting match against
ali bows of his age for many miles
,ound. missed it. He was startled,
lor Il ia almost criminal to meddle
With another mans glory-his rifle,
and he sought Pretorius to see II that
ambitious youth had taken it down:
Pretorius had it not, and Pet ran OUT
40 call Malula, a native servant, with
sndden fear in his soul. Malula did
not come at the call, and Piet, with q
pale face, thought for moment ana
then, taking his old gun ana oelt:
leaned bareback on horse, without
word to alarm the family, and rode
of unseen at a gallop. He rode &c
the cornfield, where the native labor
ara should have been working. Ths
green corn waved in the wind deserted
Not a man was in sight He dashed
10 the meadows down the valley
where the herders should have beel
with the cattle. Here, in spite OF him
self, tears sprang to his eyes, for In
cattle were gone, and the herds.
were absent. The great grassy nelo
were silent as were those OF corn.
"They have deserted US. as soon
INV fathers back was turned" erie
PET In dismay. "And they were NJ
Hulusl Can it be general rlslr
among the Kaair tribes" s,
At that thought he trembled, but
had still vigor enough to ride to u
ton of a kopje near by. From u
peak he had view OF mucn count!
and saw cloud Of dust far away, VIM
he guessed was made by the stoi'
cattle. .c.
"Never mind" said Piet, "if
beat the Zulus we shall get them Da
with interest"
Then he dug his heels into
borse's ribs and dashed down
hillside. He had seen, half n
away. a black figure moving ewil
across the veldt, and the sun CLAN
from something borne on his shout
"a gun, Malula. Before the ira
seryant was aware OF pursuit,
was within 400 yards of him. 1
the Kaffir heard the horses hoofs
turned. For a moment the ID
seemed inclined to run, but chan
b;a mind as the boy shouted to
.norily. Malula deliberately ra
.he stolan rife to his shoulder.
threw himself from the horse, as
lat whistled over the vacant sac
The boy. already hunter, rep
with hut a hasty glance through
sights, aud Malnla uttered now
ptapyered and fell to the GROUND 81
An the chest. Piet felt spas
horror. Deer a-plenty had ne
hut never till now man, 30 ina
heart for a flash stood still, ant
a,vn face was deathlike. He
slowly up to Malula, and found
Kafir writing in a death agony.
.co;n dismountod and attempt
offer aid. but the savage repulsed
with a look of hate he glared
boy, and cried in his own .on aew
sI an one, but tonight co"
Zulu and no white tnAuS "a
hall live. For mine there shall
deaths" A.,
So he died, gloryiug in the n
speedy revenge. and the Boel
leaving him, recovered his ne
and rode slowly and mournfuliy
ward. Here his troubled moth
him.
"Piet." she said, 'the Kahir
left us.
sT know" said he, and look
bar brave face, and told her vi
happened and what Maiuia N
of the nearness OF the Zulus.
IF my father had known II !,
h.r son. enc would not have y
"He was Communicated"
Roer wife. 'It was his duty.
6rst-always, my son.
.But," said Pet, IN mu'n
baton, my father did not II
blacks would fly. He thoul
thew. Basutos. would fght
enemv. the Zulu. If these col
are we to dos Shall we lie;