Part 14 (2/2)
True, the Transkei was a long way off, but the ruction would never stop there It was bound to spread The Gaikas and Hlambis in British Kaffraria were bound to respond to the call of the Paraion would spread to the Tembus, or Tambookies, within the Colonial territory, and were there not extensive Te the eastern border of the district of Doppersdorp itself? This was bringing the matter very near home indeed The enterprise of Doppersdorp was aroused, itsat white heat This indeed has its disadvantages; for at such a rate, with every citizen burning to sally forth and distinguish himself in the tented field, Doppersdorp would be deserted; and it was clear that with all itsKreli and his recalcitrant Gcalekas, that illustrious Centre of the Earth would be left at the mercy of all comers
At Jones' hospitable board, as the shades of evening fell, the tidings were discussed far erly than the painted yellow bones and rice to which allusion has been made From Jones hih the er of the local bank and a storekeeper's clerk or two, down to the journeyon-maker's apprentices at the lower end, the saue The Gcalekas had attacked and routed a strong body of Police in the Transkei, and had killed several men and an officer Indeed, the Inspector in co turned up at a distant post the following day without his hat Such was the report which had come in; every word of which, especially the latter circuesses of Doppersdorp--probably because Inspectors in that useful force, the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, did not at any time, when on duty, wear ”hats” But it was all the sarave?” said Jones eagerly, as Roden entered
”If there is, for the Lord's sake wait until we've all done,” struck in Erim and sardonic habit of h our oats, we are all in such a cast-iron hurry to start for the Transkei”
”There isn't any”
”Good Then we needn't prepare for the siege of Doppersdorp just yet-- we poor devils who can't rush forth, to death or glory”
”We could hold out for ever, for we should always have Ehed a storekeeper opposite; ”that is, if it is not already dead of fright frouffawed the bank-rinned sourly at this allusion
It happened that the pre of its employe's contained a spacious backyard, with an open shed and so This yard Emerson had seen fit to populate with thea young _aasvogel_, two or three blue cranes, an owl and a peacock, besides a fewfowls, a ta reprobate of a baboon--whose liberty and influences for evil were only restricted by a post and chain--severaland sinister aspect; and, in fact, innumerable specimens which it was iree of assurance, for the inhabitants of the , the latter according to the degree of watchfulness ression on the part of their neighbours This collection was known in Doppersdorp as Eht, Musgrave Away at Suffield's place, I think,” went on the last speaker, with a wink at the others ”Well, soht, and thinking it had escaped from Emerson's Zoo, reckoned it a Christian duty to restore the wanderer So he took it to the street leading to the bank-yard, tied one of those detonating squibs to its tail, and headed it for the gate Heavens! you never heard such an awful row in your life Phiz! bang! went the cracker, and there was thea shower of fiery sparks, and every now and then bang would go the cracker like pistol-shots You can just i kicked up the s, and the cats, and the peacock, and the _aasvogel_, and theat once; and theoff It didn't hurt the cur though, for it was a long way behind hi of the crackers started the notion that the toas being attacked, and La up gingerly with rifles The squib had long burnt out by the tiaze wason the top step, clad in a short nightshi+rt, euage!
Well, I can only give you so that it was so thick, that the chairs and tables he was hurling out stuck in it They could not even reach the ground”
”It looks as if you had a finger in the pie yourself, Smith You seerinned sardonically He did not think the recital worthy of comment Besides, he had heard it so often
”I? Not I It only came in at the end, as I tell you,” protested Smith
At this juncture a note was handed to Roden It was from Mr Van Stolz
”Here's a little ht,” he said when he had read it This was its burden ”One hundred and thirty-three mountedthrough They will ca out to meet them Tell everybody”
This was news indeed In a trice the table was deserted All who heard it were in first-rate spirits--those who belonged to the newly formed Volunteer Corps, because it would afford an opportunity for a lively game of soldiers; those who did not, because it reatest feather of all, for would there not be a prodigious consuht? Roden and Erave; let's go and have a look at these Barabastadt heroes,” said the latter ”The Light Brigade is nothing to them We are sure to see some first-class fun”
”Not a doubt of it,” was the reply And these two cynics rose to follow the crowd, but with a different ht, the whole toas astir The two men who had ridden in to notify the arrival of the main body were beset with questions--and drinks What was the latest news? Had Governher forces all round; and if not, would it do so? and so on, and so on Meanwhile the local Volunteer Corps, nues and sizes, had for whacks on the big druhty forcemass of humanity; even the inhabitants of Doppersdorp and its 'location'--so and laughing and horseplay and lighting of pipes; a squad of ragged Hottentots of both sexes, chattering shrilly, hanging on the rear
”Here co proceeded about a couple ofht So the Volunteers were halted, eke the civilians; and Mr Van Stolz rode forward to welco into double file, and preceded by the band, the new arrivals resumed their route for Doppersdorp
Now it happened, unfortunately, that the band of that doughty corps, the Doppersdorp Rifles, was very much in a state of embryo Its available repertory consisted of but two tunes, for the simple reason that it knew no others These were ”Silver Threads a the Gold,” and ”Home, Sweet Home” The first of these had enlivened the h it was started to effect the same object on the return, it would hardly last over a space of twothe returning warriors, as a God-speed was clearly inappropriate The bandmaster--our old acquaintance Darrell, the attorney, whose persuasive eloquence had not availed to save the mutton thief, Gonjana, from the just reward of his crime--was in a quandary
Music they must have Music, however, repeated to endless iteration point, orse than none In this dileht him of ”John Brown” Surely they could play that The inspiration was a happy one
No sooner did the well-known air bray forth--with so note it is true--than those nearest seized upon the chorus It was caught up, and went rolling along the whole line Then it occurred to so old Kreli to a sour apple-tree,” an idea received with the wildest enthusias
But over and above, and throughout all this rollicking jollity, there was a so here in the starlight, the gleam of the rifles, the sombre simplicity of the accoutre hoent; that the task of quelling a barbarian rising was not all child's play; and that soe experiences, while soht not return at all