Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-11-30

the cattle and sheep and their guard
came the creaking. unwieldy wagons.
with their inspanned oxen. Beside the
first of these wagons rode a large,
broad faced man whose white hair and
air of authority proclaimed him the
head of the family. AS he came oppo-
site the boy stepped forward.
"Hello," he called again cieerfully.
The man looked down at him, his
face hardening. but he stopped
swell" he said harshly. "what DO
you want? Isn't 1t a little strange for
q boy to be crossing the veldt without
a horseY'
"Oh, don't know" the boy answer
ed carelessly Il walked up from the
coast three months ago. You see, ]
didn't have money enough for horse
and good outfit, and needed the out
At most. Besides, l was raised on a
farm and aoa used to walking. A man |
I met carried my outfit to the mines. |
and peggei on behind"
"And now you are going back home |
empty handed?" the Boer asked, sar-
castically
mo, indeed" quickly. 81 didn't
/ come here for fun. I'm going to college
some time, and that takes money; and
I've got half dozen brothers and sis
tiers who are planning for different
things. 1t was easiest for me to leave,
so all Of them put in their savings to-
ward my expenses. OF course ! don't
expect to get RICH" frankly, but shall
work hard to take back enough to get
us all good start"
The Boer grunted.
"Why are you going back, then, with
out your OUTFIT" he demanded.
"Got to have something to eat" the
boy answered easily. 81 went to the
mines first, but the only opening was to
work for somebody else or to buy a
claim at fabulous price, so l Shout
dered my outfit and struck off pros
pecting. l kept it up three weeks, and
now" his eyes flashing eagerly into the
grim ones above him, II believe I've
found spot that will turn me in a lot
, of money. But I'm out of provisions
and must go back after supply.
don't suppose you have any you would
J sellY
; NO" shortly, but where's your out
! ft?"
"Oh, I've concealed that in the sand.
l guess it'll be all right. Anyway,
there was nothing else to do But
didn't stop you to talk about myself,
coloring little. 81 wanted to say that
your cattle are awful thirsty. At home
we would drop everything to furnish
such cattle with water quick"
The Beers face relaxed somewhat.
even If there was no water between
four days journeyT he asked con
temptuously. You uitlanders, who
would do all things, can make rivers as
you need them SUPPOSE"
"There is the water course only one
days journey behind you" the boy re
torted, land your cattle show they were
not attended to there. No matter the
hurry man may be in, 1t is a crime Il
neglect beasts as you have yours"
1.-THE water course behind was dry
as this is, and as the next one may be,
the Boer said. "NIy teams have no
had water in three days, and Coz
| knows what may happen If the mex
river bed is like this one and the last"
The boys face paled suddenly.
"The river dry" he gasped. why,
counted on getting water there. Nv
| only just enough with me to last on
| day" Then he forgot himself In cor
| Germ for the cattle.
| "You must turn back toward tn
| place I've found" he cried authorize
| lively; "its only five or six miles away
There's hole in the river bed tina
DO has water, and it's thirty yards G
more across and several feet deep.
d. will be enough to supply your herd
ns for some weeks. And beyond II al
v. three or four miles of good grain
N. where the soil has not yet became dr..
II you keep on this course the catt
w will all perish"
OF The Boer had Strengthened up. pr
or paratory to riding on, but at this |
an turned sharply.
at water" he cried, "and plenty of 1t
LIT He raised his hand to his mouth al
ed called to the men in front One
At them rode back. To him he gave
a quick, peremptory order. Then
turned back to the boy.
int do you understand what you ha'
cir done?' he demanded. This place "
ar. have discovered will need water
nd work IT, and if g use that, as v
Sc doubtless shall. yoJ will lose all L
~ benefit of your discovery for this Sc
icy SON"
ely The boy threw back his head
an though to ward off the insinuatlOn.
"The cattle need the water more tn
JUS the land he returned. IF the wat
lit Is gone when / return with the pl