Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-01

darting from front to rear and rear to
front with orders, and flying above 1t
the proud banner that has been 80 In
frequently lowered.
So they passed, the gay group OF gen.
eral and staff In front chatting and
laughing, until Of moment their talk
and laughter ceased, and swiftly the
chief sent his aids galloping back along
the column with sharp orders to close
up. Down the trek, with grim faces,
came slowly In retreat the advance
guard, the scouts, bearing with them
wounded men and dead.
"The enemy Is in force" they said,
"but they won't stand. They are here,
there and everywhere over the veldt,
behind anthills and trees, behind rocks
on the kopjes. always keeping at dis
tance and picking OF our men every
shot at long range"
A stronger guard was sent to the
front. Scouts were sent out on either
flank, and the column again moved for
ward. Now the laughing and talking
ceased, and vexation and wrath were
on the face of the chief and were re-
fected on the faces Of his aids, for the
number Of soldiers being sent to the
surgeons in the rear was increasing. and
nothing could be seen Of the Beers but
distant horsemen or rapidly moving
squads far of or occasional sharpshoot-
ers many yards away or perpetual
puffs of smoke above powders and be-
hind tho scrubby trees. Little drilled
In battle line and hollow square, the
farmer soldiers were defending their
country In their own way. So the COL
umn passed on. So the Beers retreat
ed. harassing front and flank. and the
English general growled and grumbled:
'The beggars are in force. Why
don't they stand up and fight"
And a little boy, riding alongside his
father to see the fun, so sure were the
English that 1t would be little more
than a sham battle. looked up at the
officer and asked with surprise:
"Pa. isn't 1t time yet to begin to lick
themT
Meanwhile the patriots had moving
among them their pastors. and before
the fight commenced their day had be-
gun with prayer to the Lord Of Hosts.
Theirs was not the trim and soldierly
appearance of the invaders. Old men
were there In the clothes in which they
followed the plow; boys were there In
the garb in which they herded the cat
tie or guided the long OF trains. Their
visage was grimly solemn - man and
boy. As they retreated along the trek's
tanks, holding together In squads. un.
disciplined save by the force engen-
dered by each mans love Of land, each
mans determination to follow to the
end a common purpose, officers gal
loped among them, cheerily and ear
nestly encouraging them. Among these
officers was old Dom Jan. and for all
his years his eye was as bright and bis
form as erect In the saddle as those Of
his people 30 years younger than ne.
He scanned as he rode the faces Of
those sharpshooters whom he passed,
delivering a deadly IRE upon the ene-
my, and many he knew and many he
spoke to. But one he knew and yet
knew not, for the face puzzled him un.
til, finding Peter, his son, eager eyed
and busy. he pointed the stranger out
and asked II Peter knew who he was
and from what district he came; then,
looking at bis boys face. he smiled and
said:
"He's not unlike you. my SON."
30 Peter. finding an opportunity as
they moved position, drew close to the
stranger and at once knew who 1t was.
although the yellow hair was closely
cut and the trim, Cape made dress had
given place to the rude dress Of q Boer
farmers lad.
"Marthaw he cried.
Che looked at him with smile.
"Is there any other way or better
way in which I can prove did not
mean treasonT she asked.
He was bswildered.
"Where did you get these clothssr
"Cousin Hofmeyr Is sick, and I went
to his farm and took them"
He said nothing more for awhile,
then asked:
"Do you know that Lieutenant Ven
able is with themT
"He is dead" she said.
Martha" he said after a long pause,
"father and l were furious last night,
but-but-this makes things
From In front came prolonged call
the Boer bugle call-and there was no
time to seek Dom Jan. A high hill was
at hand, and the Beers plan Of battle
was nearing its complete development.
1t was Majuba hill. The Beers retired,
and their relentless sharpshooting
slackened. The unfortunate English