The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

swamp was in the hands OF the English
beside the campfr-s We had passed and a
pretty fair guess had been made BY them
as 20 our destination Portuguese territory
FLASHES A WARNING.
Pretty soon the telegraph sounder at Hec-
tor Spruit. in our rea r. was ticking OF the
news in the office CT the British Consul at
Lorenzo Marquee. II said:
Boer secret agents on the wav TO Lorenzo
Marquee. Head them of, with the detach-
nent of Steinacker's Horse at your conn
mand.''
a messenger hoy toiled up the steps OF the
Hotel Continental at the Portuguese capital
with dispatch for Captain Buchanan. or
the high pass at the Iecombo range for the
''Boer spies
Hernens and the Baron never learned
this. but l found it out later l laughed at
the Old scouts fears and told him not to
fear. that some day the Transvaal would
conquer and he would go back and marry
his little blue-eyed Beer girl. but he only
shut his teeth srinly and drove his horse
ahead We forded the Kornau River and
were in sight OF the Lecombo range tbs
fat-topped mountains of the neutral terri
tory of Portugal. where all danger would be
passed.
''see.' shouted the Baron. overjoyed as
combo lies before u.s.
We passed another Kaffir kraaI that day.
and Hermsns grew grave when the negro
chief said he had heard OF US. They were
friendly enough and gave Us Kaffir beer to
drink Some Of them wore parts OF English
uniforms, and they were Just about to go
CT the warpath with another Kafir tribs
which they intended to exterminate. We
passed the night with them, and the next
day ran across great many kraalS. We
were in the northern country Of the SwaZi-
land tribe. and the slope leading up to ths
main ridge OF the Lecombo Mountains was
well peopled.
The Portuguese frontier lay at the top of
the mountain We toiled UP toward thas
point where safety lay. I remembered .
Portuguese custom-house, or blockhouse, In
the woods on the eastern slope, and planned
to reach IT, there to surrender our guns to
the commander and proceed as travellers. in
full protection OF the Government A little
Kafir boy in one OF the last villages offered
70 guide US I gave him e. but did not
know that the chief that sent him had met
an English trooper that very morning at
the outskirts OF the village. The boy was
leading US to certain capture.
The glaring sun beat down upon our tired
little band. The Kafir boy had said that
We should find water, but there was not
water. The top OF the mountain drew near
err Only a half hour and We should Be
safe: only fifteen minutes-only ten minutes.
ave. four, three. two. one-and then
The Kaffirst' groaned Hermens In my
ear What shall We do?'
Fire, and through them shouted In
German. taxing the only chance left for
safety.
We three urged our horses forward to-
Rether Three men dropped as our reVoi.
vers cracked. and poor Hermens plunged
over the head OF his horse. pierced by SIX
and killed. buzz the treacherous guide disap-
peareG In the midst Of the rain of shos
the Baron and 1 gaIioped down the slope
unhurt Twenty-tTo carbines sent their
bullets whis ling after is, and the horsemeu
followed in hot pursuit
ELUDED PURSUIT.
Our plrsuer. searched for US with lighted
torches but We lay still. and finally the
sound of pursuit drew away and left Us in
absolute stiffness. our faithful little horses
were at the end OF their strength. and We
STD the saddles from them and threy our
selves down. Painting. We pressed our lips,
Cracked by thirst, IL the cool ieavcs- We
dared not speak. The moon rose, aud by
Its pale light we saw gigantic balloons
crawling along ;hs trees. Tney came and
looked al u. but said nothing. Absolute
fitness in the Iorest after the CLASH OF
human passions which left poor Hermens
QeGE on Inc mountain. IldilE td"a
and sunrise, We held council of war.
and / opened my dispatches and read them
to the Baron. in case should not reach
Lorenzo Marquee and he was more suc-
cessfui- The dispatch read.
PETERSBURG SOUTH African Republic. Oct Il,
aSo To l. L. Malherbe, secretary Ok Treasury
Of the South African Republic. at Lorenzo Mar
quez. pslagoa Bay Dear Sir-I beg leave 10
AK you give the bearer OF this Captain W.
Manuel lie Cas=Eta in the name q the Govern
%
CO., as much as possible Of IL in bills OF the
South African Republic and gold end the hal-
ance in Government bonds. to cover the current
expenses caused by the war. This expenditure
aha.l be Brought into thu general account at tbs
close OF the Captain Manuel de Caserta 10
empowered to give receipt for this sum OF
:i0e. CO.
hope that your Honor will consider :his mat
ter according 10 its Importance. Further ] ad-
wise your Honor to issue Government bonds 10
tn. fun amount c: one milliGn pounds sterling
(tf- CO. so. ~ have learned from coed au-
thority tbs: the English Government itself Is put
ting such bonds into circulation
and my troops sill in good spirits- We
arrived here after forced march AZ our
horses and draf; animals are rather worn cut,
I divided rny commands into several parts ana
had them proceed by rail TO WarTabad- From
here go to the Orange Fres State. I presume
tina; your Honor has heard the latest news from
the Orange Free State. The situation th.fs 10
very favorable. CornDander-tn-chisf CArist;aA
Rudolph De Wet has SEQ bufyhers. Who VII
and the other officials are quite wei. have the
honor TO sign yours truly, u r SrEYS.
stas. President o. 2. g
y. 9th. commando of General Ben vil3ose
arrived here yesterday and Commander Gersr0
Louis BotE4 Is expected soon
SAFE AT LAST.
All that day we lay quiet. but saw MOTH
ing OF the English. At night we proceeded
by slow marches until we were upon Po:tu~
gal soil. and in due season we arrived az
Lorenzo Marquee The Secretary Of the
Treasury was not in town He had been
ordered away by the Portugal authorities.
and / received an order from President
Steyn to proceed to The Hague. whers I
| should find him. Before embarking ] had
occasion TO go to the Hotel Continental.
Sitting In the dining-room was-Captaia
Buchanan
"Oh. no. Captain Caserta," he cried,
warmly Come and have a bottle of wine
with me Congratulations on your piucky
escape Cad, man, my hats OF TO you"
How are you. Captain" said. when tbs
wine was poured How is Hermensr'
I'm sorry. Caserta." he replied Hes
dead. We buried him with two Of our own
men on the spot where he died. Here's
your very good health, Captain
And we drank standing TO the memory OF