The Elbert County tribune., 1912-08-23

VI inc movement OF the
campers.
few hours later gray columns OF
smoke rose perhaps fivs miles to the
sou'h Hungry and thirsting and
oieeding from thorn scratches, set
OUT toward the smoke as fast a. l
couid In my fatigued condition. Two
nours walk brought me in view Of
the unmfstakable Boer laager, .
square OF white-topped wagons around
wnich horses were hitched. Broad
snouidered bearded men,, heavily
armed and booted. sat around the
nres cried with Joy and. taking
NY nat In one hand and my rife in
tne other. l waved them and stag
sered on as the campers rushed for
ward to meet me. 1t was party OF
Soers searching for the same lost
vcortrekkers.
4 told them In few broken sem
FENCES my Incredible story. Jan Van
visl. the leader. listened to me In
tently.
Word was given to inspan and. ten
minutes later. oxen were dragging the
groaning wagons In G long line across
tne country. I was placed on a horse
and led the way.
When We came in sight Of the
camp on the distant hillside the sun
was setting. Vigil decided that he
would go to the camp with me and
lay out plan of action before the
natives learned of the arrival of the
boer commando. We reached the
tent under cover of the night. and Van
vlgi for the first time heard the mys-
terious roaring that came out OF the
| earth.
My God!" he cried, that's the
roar of lions. but 1t is unearthly!"
You are right" l muttered. "It
cane from HE'LL
We left the tents and made our way
through the bush to the opening in
the rocks. when did you say they
iced man to these devils?' Jan
asked. looked at the stars and saw
It was about an hour from midnight.
In an hour. or perhaps two"
| answered.
Without word Van yigi turned on
his heel and walked away. l followed
him down hill for some distance.
What shall we do?"
We shall do what we always do
an eve for an eye, a tooth for a toothl
Return to the tent. and when you hear
an owl screech twice come back to
| the cave"
/ returned to the camp, armed my
self and filled my bandoleer with all
the cartridges 1t would hold. After
an inpatient walt l heard the signal
and made my way to the mouth of
the den AS l passed through the
bush a black figure rose before me.
I'VE are here" said Van Vigil. "If
they come tonight the lions will have
more than their fill."
An hour passed, when the brushing
Of men through the bush caught our
ears. In the opening troop OF men
was carrying body bound tight In
hammock. They halted before the
cave and. moment later, the torches
illuminated the night, and they danced
around their victim. Then, when the
slow whir! ceased. two of them raised
the body and carried 1t toward the
mouth OF the pit.
A roar OF horrid welcome came from
the depths OF the den, cut by the
crack of rife driving bullet into
the hear OF the black nearest the
hole. With groan he dropped the
hammock and fell dead. The natives
hurled their torches to the ground
and tried to escape. The bushes
we're riyen with flashes as a mercI-
less hail of bullets poured from the
guns OF the Beers. On every side dry
grass and brush set on fire by the
torches blazed up, showing the saw
ages against the livid background.
Frantic with the pelt of the bullets
and the raging flames that leaped
from the grass around their bodies.
they rushed In their madness toward
the only break in the ring of rifle
men, unmlndful that 1t was the mouth
OF the pit. or seeking any cover from
the fire. In moment we saw them
plunging headlong into the depths of
the den and heard the roaring rise
to the pitch of fury as the waiting
lions bounded on their prey.
When the last man fell with a
screech we rushed forward and
dragged the unconscious soldier from
the burning grass.
The next day we returned to the
den and filled the mouth with lighted
bundles OF bushes and dry grass to
scare back the lions. When the fire |
burned out we entered and found the |
brutes .suffocated by the smoke in the |
farthest recesses OF the caves. Scat
tered about on the stony floor were |
fragments OF human skeletons and |
rags and patches OF clothing and leath- |
er. and we saw the tattered felt |
schoen OF the Beers mingled with the |
uniform OF the Portuguese soldiers.
Rings and trInkets. which Van YIgl,s |