Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER ".
Over the karroo Desert the stars
paled and the dawn broke swiftly
FROM every kloof there f1oated pale
Wlsps and wreaths OF silver mist. on,
OF which the tiat-topped kopjes roSl
like islands in ghOStly sea. The sur.
race OF the Mooi river was hidden by
thicker pail of this same fog.
With the coming OF the sun there
came a merry breeze, which swept
kloof and kopje clean as with an in
visible bosom, and anon the waters of
the little river sparkled 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 All
oppressive heat.
An antelope and its mate came
trotting to the waters edge to drink.
but ere quenching their thirst shifted
the air suspiciously, and then galloped
on downstream, their hard little boots
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
dead fire, lay CHASTITY thing, hud-
died shapelessly in 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 lik,
shadows two dusty Kaffir boys. Tim
idly they gained it's shelter, and eau
tiously peered 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 forefinger raises an eyelid
to see if there be left any life.
The blue and parched lips move, and
there is 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 flask
protruding from the sufferers pocket,
;oey sends some brandy chasing
after the water, and the vivifying ef-
feet of the cordial is almost magical.
Dysart opened his eyes, drew a few
shuddering 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-stained jacket
and the dark pool which discolored the
ground there were more excited Kafir
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 fever-parched brain. His
gaze sought the ground on either hand,
then he groaned:
Robbed! The damned hound!"
Reaching out his hand for the pre-
cious flask, he took another gulp of its
contents, and then made as if he would
rise, but fell back, helpless as 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 EXPLANATIONS of pain they
got his belt and jacket of; then his
heavy flannel shirt, and silk UNDER
shirt-the last refusing to bulge I'M
til all around the wound had been well
wetted. Then was disclosed an angry
red puncture just below and q little
to the left of the right armpit. There
was larger and more jagged wound
at the back, where the heavy-calibre
bullet had ploughed its exit, lodging
between the flesh and the clothing,
whence it dropped to the ground as
the last garment was removed. tx -.
joey picked it up with a click and a
grin of establishment and handed it, to
Richard, who coolly slid 1t into his
trousers-pocket. Under his directions
the wOlind was washed clean. and then