Bisbee daily review., 1908-08-09

N In her dire necessity made him
feel only the more helpless and
hopeless.
! Would Klaas, the native house
boy, never return with DIR. kel-
-snan! What could be delaying him! True, it
was eight long miles from his lonely homestead
On the veldt to Pinetown, the nearest place that
harbored doctor and the road was a mere boul
der-strewn wagon track across the veldt char
scterstic of South Africa. But then Klaas
had been gone four hours now and was he
not mounted on the best horse about the place
Stoves own grand little Bssuto pony Jimmy!
And what was sixteen miles to jimmy! A mere
bsgatee,
Yes, surely Klaus ought to be back by this
time. Again and again did the try to
count for the nonsrrival of the native. All,
fool that he was not to have told Klaas to bring
nother-any doctor-if DR.. Kelman were away.
- Twenty times he stopped the end of the
stoep facing TO the west and shaded his eyes with
his hand as he gazed long with anxious, dread
haunted eyes, along the road by which the ma
tive must come. But he looked in vain, looked
until the agony of his suspense caused him to
grind his teeth and stamp his foot heavily
the brick laid floor of the verandah.
Steve. dearest" The voice. from weakness
scarcely more than whisper, was vet heard by
moment be by the bedside Of the whom
he loved more than everything else in this world
his wife, the object OF his .olicitude and ankle
y. Lying there, weak and ill., with her week
old baby on her arm. Jennie Boand appealed If
resistibly TO the big. strong. but wlthal tender
hearted fellow whom she was proud to call her
husband.
Don't worry dearest" .h. said reading in
his troubled eyes his unspoken thoughts. Il will
soon be better, dear DR.. Kelman must soon be
here now. and will be all right then"
Long he stood gazing tenderly down At his
sweet Young erl-wise Of only twenty summers
who. twelve month. before, had come TO gladden.
his heart and brighten his lonely existence out
there on the redt. Then he bent down and
with infinite tenderness kissed her the lips.
my poor. poor darling he murmured, in
husky tones. IF only l could do something for
you. Tell me sweetheart, can I mott"
Before the sick girl could reply the sound Of a
Esllopng horse approaching the house heard.
and Steve rushing out got to the door just
Klaas dashed up and threw himself of his pant
ing. reekins steed.
His clothes in ribbons. bis wool matted and
clocsed with blood from terrible cash at the sid.
Of his head. awful Jagged, gaping wound in
the 1eshy part OF his left arm. which hung limp
and heples. at his side and with the light of
Wild terror in his wide, staring eyes, Klaa. pre-
sented wocful picture indeed as he greeted his
bsas at the door Of the house
"Wah. baas" he cried before Steve had tim.
10 question him. the doctor give n. mutt uku.
ba umkako" (medicine for your wifel and say
him come by1n by. But him not get here. baas
Lo abafana' (the natives am rise and killing
the whites, and then here soon. Ne
meet"
Hush, you fool Missed the man through hi.
eienched teeth, the missus will hear you Come
away and tell what has happened
Taking the native TO the back OF the house
Steve gathered from his disjointed sentences and
ordinations that DR.. kelnan was unable to
leave a critical at once, but would come
over in the evening, and had sent bottle Of
medicine for his patient in the meantime But
che natives had risen in rebellion, and Klaas on
bis way home had ridden into small impi OF
rebels. who had attacked him. The wound in
bis head the result OF blow from knob
kerrie. whilst the awful cash in his arm had
been caused by assesai thrown at him as he
urged his horse forward and rode away with a
yelling crowd of natives after him. Being on
horseback, however, he had soon outdistsnced
bis pursuers, but seeing another gang ahesd be
fore they espied him, he had 10 ride many miles
round in order to evade them. Hence his delay
IN getting back.
But that was not the worst he had 70 tell. He
had seen TO the west of the road as he came
along, a dense cloud of smoke, which could only
rave one meaning-the burning OF the homestead
# the Steyns, their nearest neghbors in that
Erection.
The mans face blsnched under the tan as he
listened to the narrative of the native. For all
well he understood the significance of what
listening to. For time past there
I'd = rumors of impending native rising;
le " warriors had been dipping their as
gais5~T- blood" and ndulging in other prac-
whch-to those versed in the customs and
re of the natives, as Steve was-indicated all
surely that trouble brewing.
And now the cloud had burst, earlier indeed
IN most people had anticipated; and he was,
tn his sick young wife and their baby, sbso-
ely at the mercy of the first band OF blood
rsty rebel. that happened that way.
he slogan of once sounded, the signal
s once lighted on the hills TIE blood lust
e aroused, and the possession Of white skin
equivalent to death warrant for all who
e taken unawares. or were unable to resist
attack upon their houses and villages. And
y, was he with sick wife and a week old
s. and ut another creature about the place
this oa9Sloyal native. For at the first hint
rouble alf\pis natives had cleared away back
heir kraals And the dusky iends were al
3 at their devilish work less than FIVE miles
nav. probably even then their way 10
Unprotected home.
the full horror of their position and the ap-
peril that threatened his loved ones came
to him. he groaned aloud in agony of spir'
great beads Of perspirstion broke out on
rehead.
av.n.r' h. mut.er.d- What shall do;
can do?
as" said the native, As though IN reply 70
v IT take another horse and ride over to
ninsi" tmany sons and nstivesl and they