New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-04

the baby was to ride In the wagon now with
the Vrouw and the girl would not be so tired
An! Baas Pet was good man-better than
Baas Jakoo. He would help; and later on he
might even De rich enough to buy a few head
OF cattle and some ponies. and they would all
go back TO the old place on the Krei and
ne started to his feet the pipe of a
honeybird came family out of the distance
Beta was there at last
The wagon was creaking along under the
burning MONDAY sun; the stumbled lazily
with loliing tongues. crawling at snaiPs mace
without fear of the flick OF the lash for every
one was asleep except the little voerloper trudg
ing in front or the two leaders, grooming an end
less native song to himself The wind. more
burning than the sun, came in ceaseless gusts
across the arid veldt, destitute of grass or tree
and, catching up great clouds of red dust
whired them in eddying. choking masses about
the wagon, and then swept them away until
they vanished in the shimmering heat haze
Now and then tortoise dragged his black and
yellow shell out Of the way of the span. and
numbered heavily off the track to a safe dis
lance there to retire within himself until the
unwonted apparition had disappeared beyond
his limited horizon; snake would shoot out
shining head from the shelter of some deserted
from his nap; and far up in the clear blue air
floated great vulture. without tremor of his
wide pinons. just he had f1oated for many
days past, watching and waiting
Suddenly there was stir under the tilt The
curtain was flung aside. and Baas Pet stepped
out to the fore part of the wagon, yawning
sIeepily.
Boy" he shouted. "onsaddIe the mare I shall
ride on to the waterhole beyond the drift It
cannot be far off now
Klaus appeared from underneath the wagon
where his blanket was slung hammock fashion
in the daytime
No Baas Piet; the spruit should not be more
than one hours ride now and the hole is only
two three mile further"
Presently he brought the mare around from
the back Of the wagon, where she had been
tied up, frightened the girths and rolled up the
rem Of the neck halter Baas Piet swung him
self off the edge Of the wagon into the saddle
Tell the Baas when he wakes up" he said
and with a shake Of the reins cantered off
through the dust.
1T cannot be far off now repeated Klaus to
himself, as he watched him until he became in
visible in the midst of the vast brown expanse
of sun scorched hillside.
It was now five days since they had left the
last Wei, and he had given nearly all his share
of the hot muddy water that the Vrouw served
out to the girl for the last few days, but that
was very very little; and she was sick, too.
For a moment he stopped and looked back
ward. There just topping the last rise miles
and miles away, his keen sight could pick out
against the skyline the little black speck that
had been behind them for so many weeks now,
faltering on with parched lips through the
! heat and loneliness of the plains, always drop
/ ping further and further behind evening
! drew in
He heard the snores of the transport rider and
| his Vrouw as they slept comfortably under the
/ tilt. If they could only feel what Beta felt
yet it easier for her that she had not
the baby to carry; and the water was close in
front; and after that only two or three days