The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-18

THE El large clearing. It was a camping ground, where, no doubt, in times gone by, hundreds of traders had heat. The ground was bare and dot ted with grey patches, which sug- gested long -extinguished fires. Time had not yet obliterated all signs of the old freighters on this disused road.
 The men off-saddled and knee-hal- tered their horses. Then they went down to the river. There was water, intermittent, stagnant pools in filthy, reedy soil. To them they were as the purest crystal springs. The sup ply was ample, and Goodall's spirits rose.
 "Our luck holds," he exclaimed. "I was sure, but in Africa one never really knows. There is satisfaction in not making a mistake, eh, my Esthuisen?"
 Mistakes are easy in Africa" Esthuisen smiled, without any of his companions enthusiasm.
 "I know. That's why it pleases me not to make them.'
 The wagons were moving down the hill Their pace had increased, for the oxen smelt the water, and were inclined to trot. The voor-loopers were trying their utmost to keep them back. Once they got out of hand they would not stop till they were knee deep in the marshy river and the wagons securely mired. The drivers were on foot now, plying their long whips in the faces of the thirsty beasts. The lashed wagon-wheels were insufficient to stop the run. But the freighters knew their work, and finally brought the cumbersome vehicles to a halt at the selected spot; and the accuracy with which they placed them in the foAn of square was a piece of skilled driving. While the men out-spanned, the vor-loopers hurriedly fetched water for the camp. Then the oxen were turned loose to precipitate themselves at the water hole, which they only left when the mud bottoms were laid bare.
 Like the carcase of a dying OK will, as if by magic, produce 0 flight If carrion ashvogel out of Q cloudless, ely n1rn If o campfire produce the presence of the itinerant Kaffir in the veriest desert. It is an unfailing lodestone. No sound or sign of his presence may have been detectable before, he new ertheless makes his appearance as surely as tn swarm of flies round the cooking-pot.
 In this case Goodall and his Boer companion were prepared for such a visit, for they had seen the smoke on the hillside beyond. And the man who now made his appearance fitted in with their expectations. He was thin, sinewy savage, naked of all but a stertrhei about his lcins. He was as black as a Basuto, but his face was the face of a Zulu. He came and 4squatted himself upon his launches in the vicinity of the four white men, and silently watched them devour their rough food. Good ail glanced at him indifferently. The thin, hungry-looking body was suffi- cient to tell him all he wanted to know.
 ..He wants food" he said to old Es- thuisen, with a ca1Cns grin.
 The Boer nodded, and took in his two nephews, who had formed the rear-guard, with comprehensive smile.
 Hungry" he added, as though the others remark needed embellish- ment. He sucked noisily at the rib of spring-bok, and wiped his fin- gers on his patriarchal beard. Old port-rider. He was of that class known all over Africa as "cor-nook- ers"-men who go anywhere with anything they may be asked to transport. Money down, and they ask no questions and are ready to take any risks. And when there is no transporting to be done, they cheat the up-country Kafir and call it trade" Just such a man as Good all would prefer to work with. He was as sparing of words as only his race can be, holding that only those may talk who have something to tell. And he had nothing to tell.
 Goodall questioned the stranger without turning from his meal. He spoke in Dutch.
 up the hill, there?" he asked, nodding at the hill where they had seen the campfire.
 The man shook his head. He did not understand. Goodall turned to the Boer, who promptly put the same question in Baralong. He and the nigger spoke for some minutes. The Dutchman's manner had all the Boer's contempt for the Kaffir race. After awhile he turned to his com panion.
 aIIa ;S ono of old NTopkoro ', e