The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER w.

Sl1H' I'm Nv.
Over the Karroo Desert the stars
paled and the dawn broke swiftly.
From every kloof there loated pale
wtsps and Wreaths Of silver mist, out
Of which the flat-toDped kopies rose
like islands in ghostly sea. The sur
face OF the Moot river was hidden by
thicker pail OF this same fog.
With the coming OF the sun there
came merry breeze, which swept
kloof and kopje clean as with an in
visible Bosom, and anon the waters OF
the little river sparAIed and rippled
in the glorious sunshine Of new day.
But it was yet cold-horribly cold
reminding one of the hill country Of
North India. Gradually the sun gets
in his work, and the chill of the air
gives place to genial warmth which
before the meridian will turn to an
oppressive heat.
An antelope and its mate came
tyotting to the waters edge to drink,
but ere quenching their thirst shifted
the air suspiciously, and then galloped
off downstream, their hard little hoofs
rafting like castanets over the stones.
A hundred yards off the wild creatures
halted and gazed timorously back.
On the bank, by the gray embers of
a dead fire, lay a CHASTITY thing, hud-
died shapelessly in a heap, the cloth
ing soiled and dusty, a great reddish
brown stain on the khaki jacket, the
ends OF a waving brown beard matted
and clotted with the blood which had
dripped and oozed and discolored the
light, clayey soil.
Richard Dysart! Alive?-perhaps
Dead?-if not, he surely soon will be
unless succor comes.
Down the little kloof through which
the old wagon had creaked so cheer
fully the day before there stole like
shadows two dusty Kafiir boys. Tim
idly they gained its shelter, and eau
tiously pecred through the spokes of
the heavy wheels.
They point eagerly at the recumbent
figure, and chatter to each other in
their queer, clicking speech. Then,
looking fearfully around and over their
shoulders, they advance, and joey
drops on his knees beside his master.
"Baas, Baas!" he whines, and with
thumb and foreflnger raises an eyelid
to see if there be left any life.
The blue and parched lips move, and
there is a whispered moan:
Water! Water!"
The other boy looks on stupidity and
stolidly, but Joey dashes to the wagon
for a tin cup, which he fills at the
stream, and raising the head of the
sorely wounded man, manages to tilt
some of the blessed liquid down his
throat.
Catching sight Of the neck Of a flask
protruding from the sufferers pocket,
Joey sends some brandy chasing
after the water, and the viyifying eff
feet of the cordial is almost magical.
Dysart opened his eyes, drew few
shudderng breaths, and then man
aged to sit up, supporting himself with
one hand while he pressed the other to
his wounded side.
At sight Of the blood-stalned Jacket
and the dark pool which discolored the
ground there were more excited KafIir
clicks, while the poor, faithful, half
famished blacks watched their master
anXiously.
Slowly and painfully the details Of
the tragedy came back to HIS throb~
bling and feYer-parched brain His
gaze sought the ground on either hand,
then he grolned
Robbed. The damned houId!"
Reaching out his hand for the IRE
cious flask, he took another gup o. It's
contents, and then made as If he would
rise, but fell back, helpless as a child.
His limbs were cramped and stiff with
the nights exposure, to freezing tenn
perature, and he was besides awfully
weak from loss of blood.
But Dysart knew what must be done
If he would save his life, and so he
whispered
Strip me, joey"
Tenderly as women the boys did his
bidding. Slowly and amid many
smothered ordinations Of pain they
10 he continued