The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-19
eContinued.)

lI naQ begun, dllu lilS iiiipi iSohCsh man wondered what had happened. If his friends were victorious there could be no doubt but that he would soon be rescued from his ridiculous position On the other hand-but he put the thought out of his mind. He knew what defeat would mean. Probably death to himself; certainly the loss of the precious cargo on the wagons.
 The time dragged slowly on. Every thing was perfectly still, and no one came near him. The sunlight that flooded in through the doorway of the hut shifted as the day wore on tow ards its close. He rolled over and stared at the gathering twilight. It brought him no hope. The sheep were still out on the veldt; he could see them. But there was no sign of the herder or his assistants. Still, he knew that they must be about, or the herd would not be there
 Oddly enough he remembered the
 
 in Africa and thought bitterly of his vaunting reply, That's why it pieases me not to make any. He had made a hideous mistake, the dis astrous effect of which he could not as yet estimate. And in his bitter rage he rolled on the floor and strug- gled to free himself from his bonds. His best efforts were utterly unavail- ing, and a feeling akin to despair came over him as darkness closed in and he was left to the solitude of his lonely prison.
 An hour later, it may have been two, the silence about him was sud- denly broken. His ears, straining for the least sound, detected light foot fall on the grass outside. Then came the heavy, shuffling plod of a horses hoofs They were approach ing, and finally ceased just outside the doorway.
 Presently the wattle facing parted close beside him, and a hand was thrust through. The fingers touched him. and though he shrank away they instantly caught and held the thongs that bound him. For mo- ment he thought murder was intend ed, and the instinct of self-preserva- ton made him. struggle with all his strength But the hand held fast. The wattle creaked. and another hand was thrust through. He felt a sharp tug at his bonds and heard the snick of a knife, and the rawhide binding Then the hands were instantly with drawn, and, in a .twinkling, his I cramped arms were free, and he sat up. To release his ankles and ! knees was the work of a few mo- nents; then he stood up. ready to defend himself.
 He was still very uncertain what to ' do He feared attack, and yet he could not make his sudden release fit in with the thought
 He moved to the door and looked cautiously out The moon was ris- ing-a great, golden globe in the east. 1 The shadows were profound, but Tightening. He stepped out, and in- stantly the horse he had quite forgot ten flung itself backwards, and nearly pulled the doorpost, to which it's reins ewre tied, from it's place. He reach ed out and caught the bridle, and speaking gently, sought to pacifl the frightened beast. A moment later it dawned upon him that his captors had placed his own horse, saddled and bridled, ready for him to use.
 His astonishment further increased and again he scented trickery. New ertheless, seizing the opportunity | whatever might lie behind it, he sprang Into the saddle and turned the creatures head in the direction of the drift.
 He was at the clearing where he shad -outspanned that morning. His eyes were distended and straining He was sitting in his saddle, helpless Iy struggling to realize the full mean ing of what he beheld. His usually fncisive brain was hopelessly confus ed The wagons had vanished a. though they had never been there and in their place was the remain: of a huge bonfire, still burning fit fully, and sending up occasional ton. gues of flame sufficient to illuminate the surroundings.
 Presently he slid to the ground and drew nearer. His foot kicked against something lying just beyond the reach of the fire. He stopped and felt it; then he picked it up. I was the metal-work of a Martini Henry rifle. The stock was charret to a cinder. and crumbled in hi hand. He threw it from him witt an exclamation of anger, and, com ing to the edge of the fire. stopped and examined the debris at his feet IL was the same. In every direction lay the charred and broken remain; or frnes-
 He remounted his horse. The moor nad topped the trees, and its ligh now yielded up the scene. He rod, round the clearing, carefully examin ing everything. And what he saw