The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-12-12

catastrophe weighed heavily upon
him, and left him at a loss. He
knew that if his boys returned with.
out the cattle this time he must
consider them gone for good. Then
what was he to do? He tried to
think the matter over coolly, but
could see no way out of the diff
Guilty. one thing was certain, he
could not return to his friends. He
remembered Jerry Boyles final
words. Besides, he knew his COM
rades, and those others who were
banded with them. Out of all the
directions in which he gropeil seek
ing a solution of his predicament,
there seemed to be only one that
offered anything like promise
There was trader in the neigh,
borhood of Marqwenk who had trek
oxen, but he knew enough to be Ger.
tain that he would not hire them
for journey through the desert, and
to purchase them was out of the ques-
ton.
Consequently, there remained only
one means of acquiring them, and
on this he fixed his whole atten-
ton. 1t was n question of inveigiing
his two boys into joining him in his
enterprise. If this could be done then
it was only left for them to ride
over to Maroqweng, a distance of
perhaps sixty miles, and make
night raid upon the kraals. 1t was
neck or nothing. A successful raid
would put things right. If he failed
he felt pretty certain that he was
hardly likely TO escape with his life,
which, after all, considering the cir
cumstances, was hardly a matter uhat
need worry him.
He thought long over his plans,
and the more he considered them
the better and easier the thing ap-
pedred. His spirits rose in proportion.
He felt that all hope was not yet
gone, and he found himself less anx-
ious for his cattle than for his boys
return to camp. He did not doubt
his powers of persuasion with them.
Besides, he would, and could be bib
eral in his promises. He was We'll
aware how easiy 1t is to buy a
Kaffir.
AS the morning drew on the heat
in the tent grew more and more in
tolerable, and at last he was forced
to lie about in the shade impotently
chafing and railing against his eX-
ecrable luck.
1t was noon. The sun was directly
overhead. and the shadow under the
wagon was confined to just the mar
row limits of the vehicles body |
There was not sound to break up |
the silence; therefore it came with
something of the nature of a shock |
when the sudden cracking and
swishing of bush fell upon his ears.
The sound proceeded from just be-
yond the camp clearing, and with a
start he sat bolt upright. A moment
later he darted out into the open.
He was thrilled with sudden wild
hope. The sound was that of an
animal-or possibly Misunderstanding
their way through the thorns. Coulc
it he that the cattle had returned?
No. His hopes were dashed al
most Immediately.
The bushes suddenly parted, and
Ferman Elwood rode into the clear
ing.
He rode straight towards the star
ing man, but his eyes were quietly
viewing the camp, from the wagon,
with its trek-chair and neck-yoke
strung ont ahead of it as though
only just awaiting the inspanning of
the oxen, to the fire and the litter
of cooking utensile lying adjacent.
The owner of these things seemed
to concern him least of all.
He drew up his horse and dis
mounted, and his greeting came in
a monosyl!abic inquiry.
We'll" he said, and his eyes rest
ed dispassionately on the others
dark features.
1t was that greeting, the slightly
ironical tone of it, that suddenly
awoke the other to a full realiza
ton OF something which until then
had not even suggested itself to his
harassed mind.
From the time of his starting out
on his journey he had feared inter
ference from this man; he had an
ticipatcd it the whole way, and yet