The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-02-27
CHAPTER v1I.-(Continued.)

S<~H
CHAPTER vII-(Continued.)
They rode all night straight on
without a halt. It was a desolate
country, uninhabited by native or
white man, and far removed from any
railway line; but Rothes felt certain
1t was the direction taken by Moore in
order to get into the Free State.
1t was in the early dawn, that they
came to narrow spruit (stream),
whose banks were different from the
dry, sandy veldt, soft and muddy.
Here they dismounted, and Heinrich,
the little Zulu, examined the mud at
tentively, uttered little cry. "Baah!
horses and of men! One. two mans
large footmarks, and one small wom-
ans or child's. We have tracked them
and they are not before us; I am sure
Of that"
Rothes sprang to his side and soon
convinced himself that Heinrich was
right. His excitement could hardly he
kept in check.
1--WE must press on, Henrich!" he
exclaimed. "It is hard on the poor
beasts, know, but there is no time to
be lost. Have a drink of water, boy,
and you can eat your biscuits rid
ing"
Once more they pressed forward. The
marks continued bit along the dom
ga, or water course, then they rose up
again to the plain, and of course were
lost there. They were now close to
some of the widest and most precip-
itous of the rocky range of mountains,
and as they approached the pass Rothes
felt in doubt as to whether he should
60 through it or continue in the di-
rection he had been pursuing. Sud-
denly Heinrich, giving a low, Kissing
sound between his teeth, turned to his
master, his round, wild eyes blazing.
"Baas, baas, look! Straight before
us! There is horse standing beside
the rock! Do you see him? There!
There must be man there, Also"
'Rothes' eyes were not so keen, but
as they approached nearer he distinct
~ saw the animal standing motionless
by the rock. AS they pressed their
horses on he saw, too, what Heinrich
first pointed out-a mans figure, lying
PROSTATE on tuft OF short grass I'M
derneath the rock.
He did not move until they were
close to him. Then Rothes saw he was
a native, and was not dead, as he had
at first thought, but sound asleep.
Quick as thought Rothes whipped out
his revolver and covered the PROSTATE
figure with it. while Heinrich, obeying
q signal from his master. crept stealth
lily to the man, placed his knee on his
chest and pinioned both his hands.
With yell the man started up,
struggling violently, but the 1.-THE Zulu
had bound his hands firmly, and
Rothes' revolver pointed straight at
his head.
"Ask him who he is. Heinrich, and
II he has seen man and woman pass
this way" said Rothes. TELL him l
shall shoot him if he does not answer
at once and tell the truth
But the crafty native, who was no
other than Gerald Moore's "boy," was
reader with his answer than Rothes
had hoped.
"Give me gold piece-one, two three
and tell you all you want to know,
baas," he said.
Rothes produced the gold.
II will give you that if you can tell
me anything about a.man and wom-
an on horseback who came from New
Kelso, near Ladysmith," said he.
The man showed his teeth in hor-
ribly ugly smile.
81 can tell you more about them
than any one in the world, baas. The
man was my master, and his name
is Mr.. Moore. He was taking the
. woman to Harrismith, and going to
marry her there. But she ran away
from us two days ago, and now my
master, after beating Chipanga, is try
ing to find her. She lose herself and
die of hunger and cold, if wild beast
do not get her."