Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-06-09
THE ALTERNATIVE
A Story of the South African
War.
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"The question at ISSUE" Charles
Shacfcr said quietly, sis between this
and that"
This was man, a native black
South African runner. He lay fiat on
his back in the little valley, his unscc-
ing eyes wide open, mOtiOnlcSS save
for an occasional twitching of IL mus
cles, his life blood trickilg Trough
the hastily applied bandage which con
ccalcd the bullet wound in the head
The man WAS silent, except when his
parched lips moved in the inarticuate
muttCr of delirium.
Charles Shacfcr. Reuters special
correspondent in the Transvaal did not
allow his eyes to lingcr long upon the
pitCouS black figure. His gaze revert
ed to that" small package of pa
pcrS, evidently of great Importance
carefully wrapped in Il waterproof cov-
ering which he had drawn from his
breast pocket.
Nov that we are reduced to two
horses only" he went on. his eyes
shifting for moment to the carcass of
q third horse which lay dead some 20
yards off, "and seeing that we are in
the cncmy's country, probably 24 hours
ride from the nearest well of water,
and that this nigger is IA dead weight
on our hands
you surely don't dream of abandon
ing the poor dcvil:" Tom Barker broke
in.
Shacfer glanced uncaSily at his com
panion. Barker was Il puzzle to him,
Il poor man of distinguished literary
ability, young. hut already Il success as
a journalist, vet occasionally betraying
vein of Sentimcntality altogether out
of place in connection with his friend
of Tcutonic origin. SharfCr had had
inconvenicnt experience of this too
English" pCculiarity more than once
during the three months enforced i'm
prisonmeut 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 EuglShman persisted
Shac:cr rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Hes sure to die soon in any case"
Il don't think so. If we can get him
'I my ll'l ~ anu Val MN al blt olll VI
this
Its out of the question. Barker.
lie cannot walk. and these two horses
are already tired out, and we cannot
possibly do it,
'BcSidCS, the horses are my proper
ty," continued the German Il 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 Tugcla river, and
don't propose leaving one behind" And
the Germans eyes CLEANED angrily. his
voice thick with passion.
"What's the life of Il niggcr runner
wOrth?" he groWled.
Hes a man. anyway" Tom Barker
retortcd. Suppose | refuse to leave
the fellow"
"Thcn'-and now Shacfer 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, as
you please"
Barker turned pale. THAT is the
choice you offer me? Then | say you
are a Dlackguard."
"And | say" indffercntly, that you
are a fool Come, will you mount?'
"No," furiOusly,
The Reuter- correspondent shrugged
his shoulders.
"IIavc it your own way" he said.
You'll be food for the Beers before
morning" And, gathering up the rcins
of the second horse, he 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
1t were hundred times your prop
erty."
stand Off" the German cried.
Tom Darkcr's answer was to close
with him silently. ana there cnSucd a
trial Of strength the issue of which
seemed for several minutes doubtful.
The men We're not badly matched.
Shaefer was a little heavier, but he
was older by 10 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 relnS, found himself COW
cred by his antagonists revolver.
"NOw, perhaps" the German cOrrc-
spondent observed, you will listen to
reason. know you haven't got gun
on you, my friend. 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-
volvcr, stood erect and mute. To ar
que further with n man prepared TO
commit murder on behalf OF horse
and 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