The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-12
THE FARMER: JANUARY II, 1911


struggle to loosen its strings.
But it was always the same. Elwood
to him in his thoughtful way,
accepting his cajolery and asserting
to all he said and advised, and, in
the end, purchasing just what he
came to, purchase, and nothing more.
Having exhausted the mans i'm
portunities, and incidentally arrang-
ed for the victualling of his eXpedi-
ton, he mounted his horse and turn
ed it's head homewards. His way
him through the outskirts of the viii
lage in the shadow of the wide
spreading, park like trees, and at the
drift he paused to water his horse.
The farm, some four hundred yards
distant, stood on the brow of the up
land in full view of the river. Half
the intervening space was covered
with a low scrub two OF three feet
high, and dotted here and there with
solitary camel-thirn trees. Beyond
this the open veldt stretched away in
every direction, vast pasture-land,
rising and falling in great pillows not
unlike the American prairies.
A dash Of crude colour amidst the
tawney green of the scene before him
caught the horseman's eye while he
was in the act of readjusting his bril-
die. The object was set close in be-
meath the shade of an unusually large
bush at the dividing line where the
plain opened out. Instantly he rec
ognized it, and his attention became
fixed. It was the blanket-clad figure
of the Niger he had seen stealthily
making his way towards the farm
while he was talking to Emily Yer
Kicker.
The man was crouching down on
his launches with his back turned to
him. Nor did it need second
glance to tell him that he was hid
ing. His whole attention seemed to
be fixed upon the house. Elwood
was interested, and, instead of re-
mounting, he off-saddled his horse
and flung his accoutrements down
beside a BUSH Then, leaving the an
imal to its own devices, he proceeded
to stalk his quarry.
He came upon the Kaffir like bolt
from the blue.
,'What are you doing here?" he
asked sharply in Baralong.
The man faced about with a des-
perate jump. His ugly black face
was a picture Of surprise and dismay
and for awhile the question remained
unanswered. The fellows mental
faculties seemed to be paralyzed by
the suddenness of the challenge. This
white man was certainly the last per-
son he wanted to encounter.
What mischief are you up to?'
Elwood demanded still more roughly
Into the Kaffir's eyes came a look
of logged resignation.
ST have briefje,' he said sullenly
at last.
who is it far, and why do you
skulk here?" his interrogator asked
again, while he tried to recall the
mans face. He felt sure he had
seen it before.
i"It hot. I sit here by the shade
the niger replied evasively.
"Ha! And the briefje?"
The other shook his head.
you mean you are not going te
tell me who it's for?"
The staring black eyes dropped be
Suddenly Elwood remembered. II,
had a wonderful memory for Kaffil
faces.
"You come from Kunwana. 70,
were working at the store. Who SEN
you here with a letter."
The niger rolled his eyes. Hi
fear was evident but perplexity trou
bled him most. Corner Kaff1r ant
he always becomes the victim O
doubt as to what course to pursue
and generally lies; equivocation il
natives Ferman Elwood was regard
ed as something more than an ordin
airy human being, therefore the fel
low resorted to no further subter
fuge, but promptly threw over thu
lesser light and flung himself upoI
the mercy of the greater.
s'The briefje for vrouw - you
vrouw, baas. I work by Baas Chal
mer, and he stay at ROOF Grond now
We leave Kunwana long time"
The white mans eyes remained
deadly cold, and the man shrunl
| visibly before them.
"GiVe me the briefje"