Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

While attending to this little disposition of my
property, Major Pretorius was scoopng out hole in
which to bury his dispatches. He thrust them into
it and placed over them big stone.
Blake Wanted to Fight Alone
NOV we're ready for them!" exclaimed, catching
~ his eye. 1--WE haven't chance in the world.
l added, and there is something want to say to
both of you. When are captured and taken to
Pretoria you will be held prisoners of war; while l.
of course will be executed with big crowd present
to see the fun. Now, don't propose to be present
here, and l going to kill few of them before
they do it. But there need for you two to be
in this. AS they come for you had better
surrender to be of the way of their bullets
when l make my fight"
by all that's holy cried Pretorius Il will listen
to no such proposition! will fight them as long
'And so will Il" said Gustave.
You cannot argue with brave men on point like
this. held out my hand to each of them in silence.
Then, taking fresh grips rifles we turned
once more toward the swar1ning cavalry and waited
for them to The officers were gallopng along
the line, apparently uncertain whether to stay where
they were or to move farther down the road. The
force from the veldt added to the confusion.
Orders rang OUT horses plunged against another.
The line started ahead and stopped again. Under
ordinary circumstances this would have been in
teresting spectacle of military indecsion and in
competency; but we behind the rocks breath
ing hard waiting fearful tension for the officers to
give their attention. l learning the feelings
of one who faces death.
Suddenly there was diversion. Beyond the
road, little to the southwest of us. the sounds OF
rapid rifle fire broke out abruptly Quick commands
were shouted Almost a the columns
wheeled and went galloping back up the road toward
the top of the slope The rattle of the rifles
We relaxed our grips guns, knowing that for
time at least the enemy would have their hands
full. They had been attacked by Beers who
evidently in the kopjes off to the right of the
south side of the road 1t the suspicion that
these were in the neighborhood that had caused the
British line carefully and obviously.
80 1~.c1 E<x,@
ears; but almost Immediately, before dared to
try get away, the column turned again and came
down the highway, not walking this time, but with
the thunder of racing horses. Abruptly the fore
most troopers drew rein in front of us once more
Others crowded upon them. There much
profanity and confusion 1t began to look if,
after all, might escape by lying quiet. But
some of the officers suddenly awoke to the fact that
there were saddled horses in the bushes and that
they had taken no part in the movement up the hill
least % disobsdence Of orders II was susn;c;ous
circumstance. With pointing fingers they inquired
of another to what instructions were keeping
the horses there.
Were at the end of our rope, boys, remarked,
with dry throat The Jig up; but we may
we'll be shot trying to get away as here Let's make
try for the Shurweburg road.
Break for Freedom
MAJOR PRETORIUS secured the dispatches
A'A again, and we rose quite casually. and guided
by instinct than reason strobe up to horses
without any show of haste or fright. We led them
carefully out from among the bushes picking a way
in single file through the rocks that the high grass
half concealed. The ground here much too rough
for riding. Since it necessary for us to proceed
slowly, we did SO with an indifferent and confident
air. We did not go toward the English, did we
move away from them. We paralleed their line;
but all the time the ground was becoming less rocky
and we were getting nearer to the Shurweburg road.
The English gazed at in doubt. One of the
officers little to the west of us, whom l could
out of the corner of my eye, seemed to be about to
give command to halt us, when another beside