The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-17
(COtinued.l

Did I? We'll. I dreamed of ghosts. or something of the sort" and she told him of the vision of the trees. though of the rest she could remember little. That's queer story" he said, when she had finished. T wish you had got to the end of it; I should like to know what happened"
 We shall find out one dav." she an- swered solen1nly.
 Do you mean to say that you be- HeVe 1t is true, Rachel?"
 Yes. Richard: one day I shall see you tied to that tree.''
 Then l hope you will cut me loose that is all. What a. funny girl you are." he added doubtfully. "I know what it is: you want something to eat Have the rest of that biltong."
 Mo- she answered. T could not touch 1t. There is a pool of water out there: go and bathe your arm. and I will bind it up again.
 He went. still wondering and a few minutes later returned. his face and head dripping. and whispered:
 Give me the gun. There is a reed buck standing close by: J saw him through the mist: we'll have a jolly breakfast off him.
 She handed him the roer. and crept after him out of the cave About thirty yards away to the right looming
  the fat reed buck.a Richard wriggled towards it. for he wanted to make sure of his shot. while Rachel crouched behind stone. The buck becoming alarmed. turned it's head. and began to sniff at the air. whereon he lifted the gun and just as it was about to spring away. aimed and fired. Down it went dead. whereo1. rejoicing in his triumph like any other young hunter who thinks not of the wonderful and happy life that he has destroyed. Richard sprang upon it exultantly. dra wing his knife as he came. while Rachel. who always shrank from such sights. re- later. however. being healthy and hun gry, she hal no objection to eating venison toasted upon sticks in the red en1bers of their fire.
 Their meal finished at length, they reloaded the gun. and although the mist was still very dense. set out upon 8 Journey of exploration. as by now the sun was shining brightly above the curtain of low-lying vapour. Stufnb- ling on through the rocks, they dis covered that the water had fallen al- most as quickly as it rose on the prev ious night. The. island was strewn, however. with the trunks of trees and other debris that it had brought down. amongst which lay the carcases of bucks and small creatures and with them number of drowned snakes. The two lions. however. appeared to have escaped by swimming, at least they saw nothing of them. Walking the donga. and sat down upon a, stone, since as yet they could not see how wide and deep the water ran.
 Whilst they remained thus, sudden ly through the mist they heard a voice shouting from the other side of the donga
 ''Missie." cried the voice in Dutch. "Are you there. Missie?'
 That is Tom our driver,' she said "come to look for me. Answer for me, Richard
 So the lad who had very good lungs, roared in reply:
 "Yes. I'm here. safe. waiting for the mist 10 lift. and the water to run down.
 God be thanked" yelled the distant Tom. we thought that you were surely drowned. But then why is your voice changed?"
 Because an English heer is with me- cried Rachel. "Go and look for his horse and bring a rope. then wait the pastor and my mother that I am safe''
 "I am here. Rachel" shouted another voice. her fathers. 'I have been look ing for you all night and we have got the Englishman's horse. Don't come into the water yet. Wait till we can see''
 That's good news any way" said Richard. though I shall have to ride hard to catch up the waggons."
 Rachefs face fell
 "Yes." she said: Every good news"
 Are you glad that am going then?' he as,-ed in an offended tone.
 Uyo0 xynJ xxrhn uy1 c good" she replied gently.
 1T meant I was glad that they had caught my horse. not that I had to ride away on it. Are you sorry, then?" and he glanced at her anxiously.
 'Yes. I am sorry. for we have made to you who will find plenty of people down there at the Cape. but you see when you are gone I shall have no friend left in this wilderness. shall I?'' Again Richard looked at her, and saw that her sweet grey eyes were full of tears. Then there rose within the breast of this lad who. be it remen- bered. was verging upon manhood. a sensation strangely similar. had he but known it. to that which had been ex- perienced an hour or two before by the child at his side when she watched l him sleeping in the cave. He felt as though these tear-laden grey eyes were l
 
 iron. Of love he knew nothing, it was but 8 name to him. but this feeling | was certainly very new and queer
 What have you done to me?' he | asked brusauely. T don't want to go away from you at all. which is odd, | as I never liked girls much. I tell l you.'' he went on with gathering | "that if it wasn't that it would be mean to play such a trick i upon my father. I wouldn't go. I'd l come with you. or follow after-all my | life. Answer nle-what have you done?'
 Nothing. nothing at all.'' said Ra- chel. with a little sob. Except tie up your arn1.''
 That can't be it.'' he replied, "any- one could tie up my arm. Oh! I know it is wrong. but I hope I shan't be able to overtake the wagons. for if I can't I will come back"
 You mustn't come back, you must