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1 ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^ l. h grist & sons, Publishers, } % ^amitg feirspaper: jjir the promotion of the jhtitical, ftotial, Agricultural, and gmnmeyiat Interests of the people- { "established 18557 ~~ YORKVILLE, S. C-, SATURDAY, JXJJSTE 7, 1902. 1STO. 4^? 1 - ? ??-?- I f?c?i nir-Ti'np nie nnen rmrcs I 1.1 J J , ul_ _tJ_ THE SPUE BY ASHIj] 10A1 Kv Phorlofl "R "Rthprlnc 1 *?,111, VMM.. ?VM ?. ?? CHAPTER XXI. THE DAGGEB AND THE CHABT. ARRELL remained a prisoner in the Russian camP eig^t days. Except for his guards jgSatrJPg* he saw no one but ?M| Getchikoff and General Durban during *bat time. Every day the Russian reported upon the progress of the disbandment and departure of the Circassian array, and his words were confirmed by Durban It nnneared that the letter and the spirit of the terms were kept strictly in mind. There was no attempt at evasion, and to the Circassians the changed conditions were an infinite relief. After Kilziar's flight had become known in the city there had been panic Indescribable among the troops. It was rumored that Vera also had fled, and the soldiers cursed their leaders and raved In despair. When Durban returned with news that a general parole would be granted, with supplies and protection for the return to CIrcassia, the a*iny could hardly credit the report. I "urban became an idolized hero, but he was unable to endure the false light thus cast upon him and turned it frankly upon Darrell, the American. Lastly a rumor went abroad that it was the princess who, by thwarting Kilziar and surrendering herself into the Russians' hands, had saved her soldiers from the sword. Vein's illness gave color to the story. She was. in reality, the victim of a complete mental exhaustion. She bad 1?AK lwvl/1 ltlu\ll 11 ml lflV Itrt net UUIU UJH/ii IVUIKJ M?IU *.?J upon her couch nil day. dreaming and talking of days and events long past. It was feared that her reason was utterly gone, and upon that account all news about her was suppressed. Moreover, It was deemed essential by Durban and Colonel Korna. who alone knew the exact facts, that Vera's presence In the city should be unkuown. The truth was revealed to Darrell, and he could almost have found It in his heart to be glad. "Her mind will return some day," said Darrell to the gray old general. "If you are with her then"? "I shall be always." he interrupted, "until my service is no longer desired." "Toll her." said Darrell. with tears in his eyes?"tell her I was the chcerfulest Yankee you ever saw and that 1 was happy because 1 had been able to do her a smaP service in the hour of need." "Yankee?" repeated Durban, for the word had been untranslatable. "It's a name for my people." an swered Darrell. "But I forgot ? I am Mot man Khan." On the ninth day. the Circassians being nearly all en route for their country. a small part of the Russian force escorting General Getehikoff took the road northward toward Vladikaukas. Their start was delayed, and they met with many obstacles, so that at nightfall they were passing through a village about midway between the two cities. The greater portion of the force passed on, but the general and his immediate entourage took up their quarters In the village, which was called Meldek. Darrell bad made the journey in a covered baggage wagon, otherwise empty, much like an animal belonging to a traveling circus, but he had really Dothlng to complain of. He was comfortable enough, and fetters were considered unnecessary, though he was informed that Kilziar and bis friends were not so fortunate. Arriving at the village, Darrell was confined In a room of a small house, where he was served with a very scanty supper, but as he was granted the luxury of smoking afterward he entered no complaiut. He was nearly ready for sleep when, to his surprise, two soldiers came and led him to another house, seemiugly without purpose. for the quarters did not differ In any particular that he could perceive. "You have been very badly fed." said one of his new guards. "The general beard about it and raised a row. Here ?- 11 M ?> js uuuiuer supper iui ;uu If Darrell bad not been so careful in the written instructions for Gordon whleb he bad given to Getchikoff in pursuance of their agreement, be might have seen something suspicious in food thus offered, especially when accompanied by a small bottle of good wine. Though the cbauces were that Darrell would be shot in Stavropol, he had no wish to be poisoned or otherwise disposed of on the route, and he had explicitly provided in the agreement for an open execution or none at all. Being satisfied of GetchikofTs good faith In the matter, he ate the food and drauk the wine, and wheu next he became aware of his own existence it was broad daylight, and he was lying on the floor, having apparently falleu out of his bunk. His head ached most distressingly, and his senses were dull. lie could not even wonder at the absence of guards. The principal object or interest for his bedimmed and struggling intellect was a large kuife which stood up straight from the table where he had eaten his supper. Even while lying on the floor he could see the end of the kuife's handle, which shone in the sun. and the thing seemed odd. He arose with some difficulty and stood staring at the kuife. It was really a dagger of rich workmanship, the hilt iucrusted with small but tine gems. I OF FATE. 3Y TOWNE. f ton. "Vera's!" he cried and staggered to the table. The dagger was thrust through a sheet of coarse paper, upon which a diagram was rudelj drawn In ink. There was a square marked with a star In a corner of the paper, and from It a Hue ran among other squares, stopping with a flourish at one of them, which was also starred. It then turned aud ran across the paper toward the left, encountering a square marked "Botka" and ending in a large circle bearing the name "Paris." Darrell pulled out the knife and eyed It with wonder, slowly augmenting as his senses cleared. Of course it was possible that this weapon had been taken from Vera and bad come into OetchikoBTs possession, but why was It there? What was he expected to do with it? Murder his guards? At the thought he walked to the door and shook it. calling "Hello!" which Is good in all languages. There was no answer. Darrell crossed to the window. It was not fastened. No guards were to be seen. He raised the sash and thrust out bis head. The town wus still except for the songs of birds, glad of the bright morning. Darrell returued to the table and sat down uj)on the edge of it, his right hand pressed agaiust his aching forehead. "They drugged me." he muttered: "that's clear. And I had some ratb<" -oniofl' o lilo vicious In thp nnnrsp of tbe night. as they now come back to me: but tbis beats tbem all." He removed Vera's dagger from the table and thrust It through the belt of bU blouse, putting tbe diagram Into bis breast. Then he went to the wlnThcrc blood Vera. dow and climbed out. A shot from a concealed guard would not have surprised hhn. but It did not come. It began to dawn upon him that he was really free, but his mind was not yet clear enougli to comprehend the manner of It. Dimly he now remembered that at some point of the night lie had been half roused by the noise of ritle shots. They had been quite near, but the drug had held his senses prisoner. However, he recalled the direction fro'iu which most of the noise had seemed to come. and. turning to look that way along the rambling village street, he saw the form of a man lying ou the turf by the wayside. It proved to he a Circassian soldier, and the mau was dead. lie had been shot through the body. It was Impossible that an attack had been made and GetchikolT and his escort driven out. No force of Circassians capable of such a feat could have been in those parts, and had the deed been done there would be more evidence of the struggle, lie could see only this dead man and the battered door and windows of a building across the way to justify a conclusion that a rescue had been attempted. Looking at the building more closely, he discovered that it was the one in which lie had been a prisoner for Ids first few hours in the town. Could Vera have led a party to free him? If so. and site had so far succeeded as to lie able to leave her dagger in the room where he lay asleep, why had she gone out again aud locked the door behind her? lie laughed at the absurdity. lteturniug to the dead Circassian after viewing the wrecked house, he looked more closely at the body and reached the extraordinary conclusion that the man had been shot after death. To I the eye of one instructed in such matI ters it was quite plain that the soldier had died from the effects of a blow on the top of the head, received several days ago. Indeed there was indication that the wound had received medical attention, but this was the more ditHcult to decide because, like many others of his race, the poor fellow had been accustomed to shave his crown. Iu a field bordering the road was another Circassian, shot through the head, bu* there was every reason to believe that ho had died of fever. "Clearly." said Dnrrell. "this Is a fake* rescue. GetchikofT did not dare to take me to Stavropol. Fie has organized this farce with the aid of Circassian stragglers from Gredskov and two corpses from the ambulance train. But Vera's dagger? No; I can't seem to fit that into the scheme." The thought of the weapon reminded him of the diagram, and he looked at it again. What did the squares mean? Towns? There seemed to he an unnecessary number of them. Botka was a town, and It was represented by a square, but ft was drawn differently from those that were huddled together. "They are houses In this village." was Darrell's conclusion. The line upon the diagram Indicated that he must visit a certain house. What should he find there? Some form of death?a part of this strange plot? It might be so. yet he did not hesitate. There was little difficulty In following the clew. The house marked out to be visited was easily recognized, the other squares, indicating other houses, serving as a guide. It was a I better house than that In which he had been confined, mere were two stone* and three rooms on the ground floor, a hall lending back to the largest of them, which was in the rear. Darrell walked along the hall somewhat cautiously?for his mind was not quite free of the idea of a snare?and pushed open the door of the large room. He saw a table, upon which were a part of a roasted fowl, some bread, and I a glass flask containing milk. A chair was upset on the floor behind the table. Darrell had heard it fall, yet he saw no one. He paused, with his hand upon the catch of the door, which opened Inward. "Who Is it?" cried a voice, sudden and clear. Darrell sprang into the room and Instantly beheld the muzzle of a revolver that looked as big as a bucket It fell to the floor with a ring of steel upon the hard wood, and there stood Vera, white as a ghost, staring at him. ? * "You see," said Darrell, addressing Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gordon in Paris Borne weeks later, "the dear girl found out what had become of me, and she determined to divert the course of my destiny, which seemed at the moment to be tending toward a stone wall and a firing party in StavropoL Korna and the amazon tried to restrain her, but she slipped away from them at the minute when they were leaving Gred6kov, secured a horse somehow and rode after Getehikoff like a Valkyrie. She overtook him at nightfall In that village of Meldek, surrendered to him privately and demanded my release. "Getehikoff was in a quandary. He was pledged to me for Vera's safety. He could not take us both to Stavropol. He could not put her out of the way either by death or captivity, for it was in my bond that I should have word of her, and he had certainly gone too far to break faith with me, even supposing that there had ever been a time when be could do it. "Under these trying circumstances he did the smartest thing ever done by anybody. He made Vera promise that If my release and personal safety were absolutely assured to her she would play her part as Motraan Khan absolutely according to his wishes. For my life, she gave that promise. She was put under guard in another room of the house where I was first detained. Then under cover of the darkness we were both transferred by men whom Getehikoff could trust. The bogus rescue was easily managed through the aid of a squad of Circassian prisoners on their way to Stavropol for punishment for various violations of the Russian regulations In Gredskov. Their freedom was their reward, and of course they afterward dispersed beyond the possibility or doing narm. "As to Vera's promise, It was, of course, clear to her, though unexpressed in words, that she must follow the line upon the chart, the line that led to Paris. "Getcblkoff dared not trust me with the news that Vera was in the town. He feared I would not agree to his plan, which put her so completely under my power and direction, and I am greatly obliged to him for his delicacy. So I was drugged, and with a touch of the theatrical the dagger and the chart were left for me. Vera also had a sleeping potion with her supper and was as much surprised as I to wake In freedom. "There were horses for us in the barn behind the house where 1 found her,and we rode that day to Botlca, a village not far to the west. In the square denoting tlmt village was a little cross in the southwest corner as one views a map. It denoted an American missionary station, and there, my friends. Vera and I were married by a fine, earnest, handsome young clergyman named Perkins, who was born in the state of Maine. A quaint and beautiful little wedding we had in that far corner of the world. I shall never think of it without tears of purest happiness. "And so we are here, Robert, after our strange honeymoon journey. We have heard of Russia's grea<t lenieucy lo iui* i/imiKMuus wiiu rt-uiuiucu uuuur arms after (iredskov's fall ami of the restoration of pence lu that country. There is nothing we could do there even were we not pledged to keep away. "We have heard of Kilziar's death by his own hand in prison and of the mercy shown to his associates. "As for (Jetchikoff, he has laid me under such obligations that, though he had forged my own name for every dollar 1 possess, though he had slain Ladislov in cold blood and Ladlslov had been a good man and my friend. 1 must still have shielded the fellow to the limit of my power. I will surely do It, and, upon my word, after his courtesy to Vera in Meldek, I almost believe he is worthy of forgiveness for his sins. "B.v the bye. to Botka, not long after our arrival, cume Colonel Korua, with a few others of our friends, riding like mad and put upon the trail by a hint cleverly conveyed by Getehikoff. They were present at our wedding, and their blessings followed us." T1IE END. The chamois is usually identified with Switzerland, but the animal is less common there than in any other country which it inhabits. Austria la the real home of the chamois, whera the? are most plentiful. pisccllancflus Reading. "THE CAROLINA RIFLES." Roll of the Company an It Stood on Jnne 28, 1802. The following communication from The Yorkvillb Enquirer of July, 1862, Is republished at the request of Mrs. Sallie R. Logan for the benefit of different surviving members who are from time to time asking her for a roll of the members of the company commanded by her husband, the late Capt. D. J. Logan. Camp Simmon*, St. Paul's Parish, June 28, 1862. Dear Enquirer: We send you the roll of the "Carolina Rifles," as they now stand, reorganized for the war. We have no stirring news to write you, but are in expectation of warm work at any moment, as the enemy, from best accounts, are making great preparation for the reduction of our metropolis. We await their onset with confidence in our ability to maintain our position. Yours, L. OFFICERS. J. W. Avery, captain. D. J. Logan, 1st lieutenant. E. P. Moore, 2nd lieutenant. W. S. Moore, 3d lieutenant. O. R. Guntharp, 1st sergeant. J. A. Wallace, 2nd sergeant. Perry Martin, 3d sergeant. J. P. Caveny, 4th sergeant. Wm. Dunnovant, 5th sergeant. W. H. Mitchell, 1st corporal. G. W. Moore, 2nd corporal. F. Happerfield, 3d corporal. Robert Hayes, 4th corporal. PRIVATES. Henry Bolieler, Andrew Boheler, W. T. Boheler, E. H. Bridges, J. P. Burns, W. B. Byers, R. T. Caldwell, W. Carroll, Thomas Carroll, Edward Carson, J. B. Collins, R. L. Caveny, W. H. Clark, W. W. Dameron, J. W. Y. Dickson, Asa C. Dover, Felix Dover, E. J. Downy, S. A. Gallaher, James Garvin, J. J. Hays, W. A. Hays, James Hetherington, J. M. Hope, A. S. Jelterys, J. C. Kirkpatrick, J. G. Latham, James Martin, Thomas Martin, William Martin, James McLane, Robert McLane, Blanton Moore, G. M. Moore, George Morenouse, J. C. Moser, W. R. Murphy, R. Mulholland, Edward Owens, R. G. Parker, W. A. Parker, James Plexico, J. L. Plexico, J. A. Pollard, R. M Oamiiol PnKortq T Ti. r . i\UUCl IS, MUUIUVI A*VMV> **~t %r. ?. Rainey, R. S. Randall, M. L. Randall, Joseph Scates. M. Scates, Jacob Seapoch, Joseph Seapoch, W. B. Sherrer, J. M. Sherer, R. S. Stewart, T. S. lipping:. O. L. Wallace, John Weaver, W. R. Whitesides, J. S. Wilkerson, D. C. Williams, J. L. Williams, R. McConnell, Wm. M. Caldwell, C. F. Smith. Since the reorganization, the following members of the company have been appointed to positions in the regiment, viz: William Caldwell, Wagon Master: W. B. Byers, Ordnance Sergeant: A. S. Jefferys, D. C. Williams, Assistant Commissaries: J. P. Burns, W. B. Sherrer, J. M. Sherrer, J. G. Parker, George Morehouse, Regimental Band. f ? THE CONDITION OF COTTON. Government Report Mont Flattering Ever Inaaed. The statistician of the department of agriculture, in his report issued June 3, estimates the total area planted in cotton at about three-tenths of 1 per cent, less than the acreage planted last year on the basis of the acreage for the year 1902-03 of about 27,450,000 from the recently published census report for 1899; however, it is apparent that for some years past the acreage planted in cotton in the Carolinas, Arkansas and Tennessee- had been somewhat overestimated and that in Texas and other states more or less underestimated with the result for the cotton belt , as a whole there has been an underestimation of acreage and an overestimation of yield per acre. Adjustments have been made to bring the department's estimates into reasonable conformity with the report of the census, the net result being an addition of about 418,000 acres to the estimate of the area planted last year. This addition raises the estimate of the area planted for 1902-03 to about 27,878,000. ( or 72,000 acres less than the revised area for last year. There is a reported decrease in acreage amounting to 9 per cent, in North Carolina; 4.6 per cent, in South Carolina; 4 per cent, in Georgia; 3 per cent, in Alabama; four-tenths of 1 per cent, in Arkansas. On the other hand, there is an increase of 3 per cent, in Louisiana and Florida, 2.5 , per cent in Texas, 8 per cent, in Mis- ( souri. 15 per cent, in Oklahoma, 24 per ( cent, in Indian Territory and one-half Louisiana 96, Texas 95, Tennessee 100, Oklahoma 96, Indian Territory 99. The average condition of the growing crop on May 26 was 95.1 as compared with 81.5 on May 26 of last year, 82.5 on June 1, 1900. 85.7 on June 1, 1899, and a ( ten year average of 86, only twice within a period of 21 years, namely in 1887 and 1896. The condition by states is as follows: North Carolina 91, South Car- , oiina 97, Georgia 94, Florida 100; Ar- , kansas 100; Alabama 92, Mississippi 94, Louisiana 96, Indian Territory 99. In Oklahoma and Arkansas cotton is suffer.ng from lack of cultivation. Washington's Swell Church.?It is I1 easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a poor man to get into St. John's, the capital's most fashionable church. Every pew is taken and the only way to obtain a sit- 1 ting, even if one has the necessary money to purchase it, is to wait until the pew of somebody who dies Is sold at auction. There were two pews, the property of the Freeman estate, sold in this way the other day, one for $2,750, the other for $1,000, after spirited bidding. This sale brought to mind the story of a 1 man who came to Washington some years ago with a trunkful of indorsements from fashionable people in various parts of the country for a foreign mission. The applicant was not entitled to the post because of any service he had rendered his party, and his backers, al- 1 though the smartest people in society, had no political influence. To clinch the matter the place had already been promised. The president explained the situation as kindly as possible and then, Having a Keen sense 01 numur, smu. "My dear sir, these papers won't secure you a foreign mision; but they are strong enough to get you a seat in St. John's church. Take them over there and if there is a pew to be had you will be allowed the privilege of buying it." CUBA AND THE CUBANS. i Interesting Impressions of Mr. A. B. Williams. Mr. A. B. Williams, formerly of the Greenville News, now of the Richmond News, attended the ceremonies in connection with the delivery of the government of Cuba to the Cubans. Some of his observations were as follows: The people of Cuba are as cold as snow toward President Palma. They know he is not their choice and is the choice of the United States authorities. Bear in mind that the majority of the voters are Negroes?and a very poor class of Negroes at that. They have been trained to tyranny on one side and turbulence on the other. of course, the color question remains. It is not serious so far as the Cubans themselves are concerned. The lower classes of Cubans intermarry and associate freely with the Negroes. The upper classes have a line somewhere, although it is difficult for a stranger to catch. Negroes are served in the best cafes and hotels, and I am told, attend all the large functions, especially those of an official character; but they do not seem to visit or associate intimately with the Cubans of those classes, or to marry among them. In politics, however, a Negro administration would be an anti-American administration to begin with; and the American, English and Germans, certainly and probably the French, would shun a country so governed. I went to learn the real feeling and general condition of the Cuban people, and I believe I did u even in four days. A newspaper man is trained to comprehend situations from surface and general indications, and in this case the indications are so entirely one way that I do not believe I can be mistaken. My conclusions are: That the mass of the Cuban people hate the government and people of these United States with deep and bitter hatred. Tnat they have not one spark of gratitude to either. That they regard their new government with suspicion as merely the representative of American government and ideas, and will watch its every act with keenly suspicious eyes. That this feeling of distrust is so strong that it dampens almost to death the natural elation of new-found liberty. That the new government is confronted with many serious natural and unavoidable difficulties and that these will be complicated by the violence of factional and party opposition. That business interests are distressed. disturbed and doubtful. That the leading politicians and the new government are at sea together. Not being an able Journalist nor a leading statesman, I am not in the prophesying business, but if the Republica de Cuba gets along six months without a big internal row or foreign complications, or both, I shall be surprised. If the new outfit pulls through four years intact it will have a chance to amount to something. There is a glorious soil to begin with, lots of it undeveloped, and millions and millions of dollars of timber and minerals not yet touched. With a decent government and an energetic population this would be a paradise and the source of wealth beyond human power of calculation or expression In figures. Almost any five acres of it would make an industrious family comfortable. If the Spaniards continue to pour in as they have done in the last two years, and become citizens tney will help wonderfully to develop the land, but they will not do much to regulate politics. In four years the influence of the public schools may begin to be felt. I noticed 1hat the only one of the several processions parading about on the 20th that carried a United States flag was the Society of Santa Teresa, composed of children of school age. Attendance on the schools Is required by law and they are taught by bright young men and women of advanced ideas, and a course in English is part of the method. I do not believe the Cubans ever will voluntarily vote to be annexed to this country. The business and thinking people would like to be annexed today, but the Negro and low class majority would oppose it violently. If the country ever acquires sufficient intelligence and ambition to ask annexation by majority vote honestly counted, it will have intelligence and ambition enough to be self governing. For British Gold.?The Boston Herald prints an interview with President Kruger. in which he says: "Why cannot the greatest republic on earth at least give us a fighting chance? As it Is we are fighting probably the two greatest nations of the world, England furnishing the men and ammunition, American supplying the horses and mules. If you are going to print this In American newspapers, I wish you would explain that without horses and mules Great Britain, with her 300,000 troops, could never conquer the 10,000 men that we now have in the field. A column of infantry on the veldt is as helpless as a fish on dry land. To follow our quick movements the enemy must be mounted, and today the British soldiers is following us upon horses furnished by Americans. I cannot exaggerate the importance of America's aid to England in this war. She has supplied to our enemy more than 300,000 horses and mules, and with their aid alone has England been able to cope with us." tii' Japan has a written history extending over 2,500 years. How Ilotha, DeWet and Other* Appeared at Conference. When in March last the Boer leaders first appeared In the neighborhood of Pretoria to consult about peace, striking figures among them were thus described by Bennet Burleigh, in a letter recently published in the London Telegraph: General Delarey in the first Cape cart with his little son, a sad-faced lad of 9 or 10 years, who was dressed in khaki. Delarey was dressed in humble tweeds, with riding breeches and brown gaiters. He looked chirpy and smiled, his face lighting up. Most of his conversation was in English, though once or twice an interpreter was used in that and later instances. The general is not nearly so tall as his photos would suggest?a not Infrequent fault in photography. He is leggy and yet withal but 5 feet 10 inches or thereby. His longish beard, now well streaked with gray, seemed to have been trimmed and pointed. Steyn and DeWet sat side by side in the same cart. They, like the others, dismounted for a few minutes. Steyn seemed fat, heavy and round shouldered. At least, he stooped and had the appearance of being very depressed. But something of that may have been due to the fact that he wore a patch over his right eye, while his left appeared inflamed, watery and weak. We were told that there was nothing serious the matter with his eyesight; that he had only caught a severe cold, resulting in inflamatlon. Steyn wore a curious yellowish blanket-flannel suit, 1 1..0% aiiMi*AoHvo onrt 111U J U U1115 ti UUOCI a?a uuggcoviic ov? b veldt cricket costume. The ex-presldent's mustaches were very long, drooping, tawny and wavy. His rather dust-colored beard was loose and flowing. But the object of more Immediate attention was the Orange Free State commandant general, the elusive, truculent Christian De Wet. Clad In blue pilot cloth suiting, with straggling, dark beard, keen, dark-eyed, bronzed land ruddy withal; a chunky, a thickset, well-fed, medium-sized and rather saturnine-looking man, was this great Boer leader. Yet he could enliven his face with a smile at times, and, as with Delarey, seemed quite well pleased with himself, and as if Intending to enjoy his visit. With Steyn and De Wet were Judge Herzog, Commandants Brebner, Olivier and Cellier and several aides-de-camp or dispatch riders. Louis Botha looked much as when I saw him at Belfast over a year ago. A tall, handsome man, with a short, darkbrown beard, strong without being heavily built. His manners are frank and open and his face is a fair Index thereto, Louis Botha being, perhaps, Reitz excepted, the most straightforward and least "slim" In intrigue of all the Boer leaders. HUNTING OF THE LION. Chances Favor the Klnx of Beasts Against Man. Van Aardt came to me and suggested a little lion stalking. Now, I knew Hons as well as he; deliberate hunting for a Hon who mourns a murdered mate was a proceeding so timorous that the most foolhardy of the professional hunters would not dare the conflict. But, In the near neighborhood of the spot where Madame Lioness had been killed, there was one Hon, with an earthquake voice, whose rumblings fascinated the flery spirit of Van Aardt. "I am going," he said. I could not let him go alone, for we had fought too often side by side. We started off, my reckless comrade laying out In earnest confidence the artless plan he had of walking up to that tumultous hell of wrath incarnate and of blowing a few lethal holes In It with his Mauser. As we came nearer the roars censed. The Hon, weary with his imprecations of the night, had gone away from the scene of his bereavement for rest and sleep. But we found In the jungle's depths, the footway he had trod; In a sentry path of 20 feet he had stalked back and forth for 12 long hours, calling loudly for vengeance. Krlstmansen, who looked upon Van Aardt as a hot-headed madman for the time, decided he would use the morning ror a peacerui springooa num., and took his Kaffir boy along. He went in the direction opposite to ours. After half an hour's close tracking, the Kaffir, who had been in advance, appeared at his elbow with an impish suddenness, and a whispered word: "Bass, a lion!" Kristmansen started ahead of him. There, in a tiny clearing not 30 yards away, the monarch stood, his mane quivering with the intensity of his attention and his brilliant eyeballs gleaming in the effort to penetrate the single veil of cover that hid the hunter from his view. The Kaffir had a faith in his master that was sublime. "Shoot, Bass, shoot!" Kristmansen knew that death stood waiting for him in the clearing beyond. The chances were all against a fatal first shot. The wounded lion would tear him into shreds of mangled flesh before he could have time to fly. Step by step, his very breath pent up, he made the slow retreat. The Kaffir, fancying all his master need do was to fire a single shot, accompanied him with an expression of disdain. For ten good minutes Krlstmansen paced backward; and then came swiftly to the camp again upon the chance of making up a party whose numbers would mean safety in a concerted attack. But the majority of us were away, and that lion, with all the others among the spouses of Farie's lioness, went unmolested from that day forth. I was in Pretoria a little later and saw a sight that told me how wise Krlstmansen had been. The oldest uon hunter of the Transvall shook me by the hand?and used his left hand for the greeting. The other arm hung, wiuiereu unu uciyicas, tii ma aiuc. uiiij half his face was there to speak to me. The other half went Into a lion's maw a few months earlier. He was hunting: springbok with his son and carried an ancient muzzle-loader. A dead shot, the old man descried a buck not 50 feet away, and kneeling fired. The crack of the rifle was answered by the snarling roar of a wounded lion. The bullet, passing through the buck, had struck the mighty beast as he was about to spring. And it had no more than wounded him. He leaped for the smoke, coming on in flying bounds, while my old friend fumbled wildly with his powder horn. He was too slow. The bullet had not dropped Into the barrel before the lion was upon him. One crunch of his tremendous Jaws and an arm was stripped to the bone. Another and the side of his face had vanished. The cavernous throat above the prostrate man roared once, more before the teeth should clash together, when the son, running up. put his rifle barrel to the lion's side and drove a half-ounce bullet through his heart. The chances are In favor of the lion when accident brings him and man together.?Hercules D. Vlljoen, In Era. A WARY OSTRICH. BlK Bird That Displayed as Much Connln|[ as an Apache. A well-known hunter and taxidermist tells this story of personal experience In South Africa. It goes far toward dispelling a slander that has long clouded the fair name of the ostrich. "Arriving at one of the monster hills of the white ant, I climbed upon it and raised mv observation glasses to my eyes for a careful survey of the region. My first glance showed me, arising from the dead level of the plain beyond, two objects, each having the form of a captal S. These I knew were the heads and necks of two ostiiches. Though I believed tnat they had sighted me I remained immovable until their necks were suddenly drawn down to the level of the tops of the bushes which screened their bodies. Then I knew for a certainty that they were aware of my presence and would make a quick retreat. "Without losing an instant's time I ran to the spot where the birds had been standing and found their tracks. These I followed as far as they were distinguishable and then took a course which I believed the birds would naturally follow. No sooner had I reached the top of the ravine than I saw one of the ostriches climbing the side hill. Estimating the distance, I took sight and Ared. The ball passed Immediately between his legs and struck in the sand of the side hill behind him. "In an instant the bird darted away like an arrow in the direction of a small clump of bushes in the center of an open space. That he would pause behind this bush and then Anally emerge on the other side seemed certain, and I aimed to catch him as he made a fresh start from behind the thorn. He Aew over the sand at a terriflc rate and reached the oushes. Then I waited fully Ave minutes for him to emerge from his hiding, with my riAe ready sighted so that I could pull the trigger the second he reappeared; but Anally went forward to rout him out. When I reached the clump of bushes, an examination of the sand showed that the crafty old bird had shifted his course at a right angle, maicing uie turn so suddenly that his feet had plowed up the sand for a distance of several Inches. This wary tact had placed the bushes between the bird and himself, and he had made his way to new cover while I was Innocently waiting for him on the other side of the ambush. An Apache Indian could not have executed this maneuver more cleverly, and I smiled at myself for having ever been foolish enough to believe the traditional story of how the silly ostrich buries his head in the sand and believes that he is thereby concealed."?Philadelphia Post. Where Negroes Are Irish. The islands of Martinique, St. Vincent, Barbadoes, Montserrat, St. Lucia and Guadaloupe, besides affording an illimitable field for the study of seismology, constitute themselves one of the greatest ethnological curiosity shops in the world, so that he who visits these islands may stand prepared for a surprise at every turn. One of the strangest ethnological freaks is to be found on the island of Montserrat. This island is one of the oldest British colonies in Amercia and was first settled by Irish emigrants from Connaught. Subsequently Negro slaves were introduced in the island, whose descendants form the bulk of its present population, for here, as elsewhere in the Antilles, the white man seems to dave died out and disappeared, leaving the Negro in undisputed possession of the soil. The Negro slaves imported from Africa in 1648 learned the English language from the Irish settlers and planters, In consequence they to this day speak the lrisn Drogue wuu mc same breath of accent as the people of Kerry and Donegal. An amusing and true story Is related of an Irish saddler who, some few years ago, engaged to an Knglish firm having large sugar plantations in Montserrat to go to that island in their employ. The ship on which he made the voyage having reached the roadstead of the capital of the colony, a number of Negroes swarmed about the ship in their lighters soliciting carrying customs. One of them addressed the Irish saddler in this native Connaught brogue. The latter, in surprise, asked: "Thunder and turf, how long hov yez been here?" The Negro, thinking he meant the length of time he had been in that particular part of the island, replied: "Three months?" Three months?" exclaimed the Irishman. "Three months, and so black already? Be the powers Oo'U not sthay among yez anither dom day." The Irishman, in spite of all explanation and persuasion, returned to Ireland, declaring that $1,000 per day would not suffice to induce him to remain in a country where the sun's rays were powerful enough to burn a white man black in less than three months.