Part 15 (2/2)

”That I will never do,” she replied with so much quiet conviction that I saas useless to pursue the arguht for a moment, as the position was very difficult The boy was not to be trusted, and if I ith hi these two alone and, in Ansob's state, alh I ate saw Ansob's driver, Footsack, the man whom I had despatched to Pretoria to fetch his oxen I noted that he looked frightened and was breathless, for his eyes started out of his head Also his hat was gone and he bled a little fro us he ran up the path and sat down as though he were tired

”Where are the oxen?” I asked

”Oh! Baas,” he answered, ”the Basutos have got them We heard from an old black woman that Sekukuni had an impi out, so aited on the top of that hill about an hour's ride away to see if it was true Then suddenly the doctor Baas appeared riding, and I ran out and asked hiain and answered-

”'Yes, quite safe, for have I not just ridden this road withoutso lad to have their oxen, as they wish to trek, or will by nightfall' Then he laughed and rode away

”So ent on, driving the oxen But e came to the belt of thorns at the bottom of the hill, we found that the doctor Baas had either lied to us or he had not seen For there suddenly the tall grass on either side of the path grew spears; yes, everywhere were spears In a aied As for me, I ran forward, not back, since the Kaffirs were behindat me, but I jumped this way and that way and avoided theais-see, one of theuns in their hands also, but none shot I think they did not wish to make a noise Only one of theoing to call on hie for him from our brothers whom he killed at the drift of the Oliphant's River'

”Then I ran on here without stopping, but I saw no more Kaffirs

That is all, Baas”

Now I did not delay to cross-examine the man or to sift the true from the false in his story, since it was clear to me that he had run into a couiled thereto by Rodd, and lost our cattle, also his companions, ere either killed as he said, or had escaped so to fetch some horses Do you stay here and help the Missie to pack the cart and make the harness ready If you disobey ain Do you understand?”

He vowed that he did and went to get so to Ansob and Heda, pointing out that all the inforather seemed to show that no attack was to be htfall, and that therefore we had the day before us As this was so I proposed to go to look for the horses myself, since otherwise I was sure we should never find them Meanwhile Heda must pack and make ready the cart with the help of Footsack, Ansob superintending everything, as he could very well do since he was now able to walk leaning on a stick

Of course neither of the them, but in view of our necessities they raised no objection So off I went, taking the boy with , as I have said, half dazed with grief or fear, or both, but when I had pointed out to him clearly that I was quite prepared to shoot hi saddled uiding me to a certain kloof at the foot of which there was a srass where he said the horses were accustoh we found two of them, and as they had been turned out with their headstalls on, were able to tie them to trees with the riems which were attached to the headstalls But the others were not there, and as two horses could not drag a heavy Cape cart, I was obliged to continue the search Oh! what a hunt those beasts gavethemselves free, for as Rodd's object was that they should stray, he had ordered the stable-boy not to kneel-halter therass they had started off for the farm where they were bred, which, it see as they went Of course I did not know this at the ti kloofs, as the ground was too hard for me to hope to follow them by their spoor

It occurred to me to ask the boy where the horses came from, a question that he happened to be able to answer, as he had brought the learned in what direction the place lay I rode for it at an angle, or rather for the path that led to it,to my stirrup leather About three o'clock in the afternoon I struck this path, or rather track, at a point ten or twelvea rise,towards me Had I been a quarter of an hour later they would have passed and vanished into a sea of thorn-veld We caught the thelade where the other tere tied up, we collected them also and returned to the house, where we arrived at five o'clock As everything seeave it soreat joy found Ansob and Heda waiting anxiously, but with nothing to report, and with them Footsack Very hastily I sed some food, while Footsack inspanned the horses In a quarter of an hour all was ready Then suddenly, in an inconsequent fe her father unburied

”My dear young lady,” I said, ”it see to be buried with hi him a visit of farewell, which I left her to do in Ansob's company, while I fetched h of the unhappy Marnhaain As I passed the door of the hospital, leadingwithin and sent the boy ith me to find out as the matter with him That was the last I saw of either of thedoot back to the front of the house I found the cart standing ready at the gate, Footsack at the head of the horses and Heda with Ansob at her side It had been neatly packed during the day by Heda with such of her and our belongings as it would hold, including our ared to abandon Also there were two baskets full of food, soood supply of overcoats and wraps I told Footsack to take the reins, as I knew hiood driver, and helped Ansob to a seat at his side, while Heda and the ot in behind in order to balance the vehicle I determined to ride, at any rate for the present

”Which way, Baas?” asked Footsack

”Down to the Granite Streaon stands,” I answered

”That will be through the Yelloood Swari, or to Barberton?” asked Ansob in a vague way, and as I thought, rather nervously

”No,” I answered, ”that is unless you wish to , if he h the Yelloood,” exclaimed Heda, who, I think, would rather have met the devil than Dr Rodd

Ah! if I had but known that ere heading straight for that person, sooner would I have faced the Basutos twice over But I did what see that he would be sure to return with another doctor or a istrate by the shorter and easier path which he had followed in theIt just shows onceis Fate, have it which way you will

So we started down the slope, and I, riding behind, noted poor Heda staring at the rew everdisappeared, especially at that part of it which hid the body of her old scalen and once more saw the bones of the blue wildebeeste that we had shot-oh! years and years ago, or so it seemed Then we struck out for the Granite Stream