Complete Story A DUEL ON THE VELDT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VI, 9 February 1901, Page 240

Complete Story A DUEL ON THE VELDT.

By

GEORGE P. MOON.

For five long hours we lay undethat pelting death, blazing away at the invisible line of Boers with true British doggedness. But human fortitude could endure no more; and at length, beaten and demoralised, we began to retreat in confusion. Then somehow or other, up went the white flag, and “cease fire” rang out. A few of us, not stomaching the idea of a sojourn on Pretoria racecourse, made a bolt for freedom. I •was one. How many succeeded in escaping, or how many were shot down in the attempt, I had no knowledge at that time. It was indeed not clear to me how I got through the enemy’s lines myself, scathless. A mad rush, the yells of the foe, the whistling of a rain of bullets, and then I found myself galloping over the veldt, a free man, for the present at least. Night came soon, and 1 was glad of the circumstance, for it put away fears of pursuit, though, to tell the truth, they were not very- keen, for a simple trooper of the Light Horse was not a great prize. On the other hand, it brought into possibility the danger of losing my course and running again into the arms of the •enemy, whose disposition in the neighbourhood was not clear., bo with this contingency in my mind 1 slackened pace when 1 could no longer see a mile ahead, and advanced with caution.

My idea was to rejoin the forces at JModdar’s Kloof. This lay forty miles ■or so to the south. But now that night was upon me I lost all knowledge of the compass points, for the inky sky might have been the roof of a cavern for all the guidance one could glean from it. The best, indeed, the only course, was to wait for day before'beginning the journey, and having decided upon that, being then a good ten miles from the -enemy, I off-saddled in a sheltered fold of the veldt, and lay down to rest, for I was dog-tired. My colonial experience took the •edge off the strangeness of passing the night thup; and I slept like a top. The sun was well up when I awoke, feeling much refreshed. The first move I made was to ascend a little elevation near by, and look keenly in all directions. I scarcely expected to sight any of the foe, for the spot I had reached was well outside all routes to town or points of strategic importance. Indeed, I looked more in the hopes of seeing some of those who had with me broken through the Boer lines. But neither friend nor foe was visible — the only living things were a couple of ostriches far down on the western horizon.

As I turned away a trifling thing occurred, but, trifle as it was, its absence might have saved me from what follows. My boot lace had become untied, and I stooped to fasten it. While thus engaged a voice behind me said in a sneering tone:

“You keep a bright look-out, Mr Macallister.”

You can guess with what quickness I turned round. The voice had a familiar ring, though for the life of me I could put no name to it. And -even when I surveyed the form of the man standing out twenty paces off with rifle half-raised and forefinger pressing the trigger, it was a minute before memory rang true. “Schreiner,” I ejaculated. “Yes, Schreiner.” he said slowly. “I fear two months’ hard campaigning has altered me a little outwardly. But.” he added, with his bitter smile, “the man is the same.”

I began to scramble to my feet, but he stopped me.

“Remain as you are till we understand each other.” he said harshly, covering me with his rifle. “Does your fine perception enable you to guess why we have met here?” “Really. Mr Schreiner,” I said warmly. “I scarcely understand you. We were never friends, but whose fault was that?” “Yours.” he interrupted violently. “Did you not play the part of a piti-

ful talebearer and undermine me in the affections of the girl I loved” Is this a friend’s manner?”

“You are wrong,” I said coldly. “Miss Bracewell heard of certain not very creditable passages in your life from other lips than mine. You have my word for it.” "Your word,” he said decisively. “Your word indeed,” and he laughed loudly. "The word of a sneaking cur is of high value certainly.”

“Those expressions are scarcely worthy of a gentleman, Mr. Schreiner,” I said quietly, for I had no wish to let him pick a quarrel with me, which I thought was his object. Indeed, I felt myself in no little danger, for the time and the place were favourable to any extreme act of revenge which this man’s bitter hostility might push him into, and I knew him capable of everything. “Do you remember our last pleasant meeting, my gallant trooper?” he said, in .a fierce bantering tone.

“You have more reason to remember it than 1,” I said somewhat rashly; but the fellow’s manner irritated me.

“True. There is still a lump on my forehead raised by your friendly fist. But I wasn’t alluding to that; that trifle will be scored off my books presently, with other things. Do you recollect the last words I spoke to you on that occasion?” I put on a careless air. “Was there not some childish threat blowing my brains out?” “I said,” Schreiner replied, “that the next time we met, no matter when or where, I would shoot you like a dog. And now,” he went on after a ~ pause, which I did not break, “the moment is here, and what is to prevent me scattering your brains over the veldt?”

I looked him squarely in the eyes. “Nothing,” I said steadily, “not even the scruples of a gentleman to take advantage of a surprised foe—not even the abhorrence which the idea of assassination excites-'in the mind of a man raised only a degree above the brute.”

“Well done!” said he mockingly. “You gauge my character very fairly. But if, as you say, I have no fine scruples, I have my whims, and one is that I don’t choose to play the role of executioner.”

He paused, and I felt the weight that had come upon me since my eyes had fallen upon the man lighten somewhat.

“Besides,” he went on, in his hateful, bantering vein, “I had the pleasure of firing a dozen rounds at you while you were scuttling out of your hot corner last night, and I owe you some little concession for taking that liberty. Yes,” he said, replying to my look, “I was one of the party who gave you a practical lesson in Boer dash and tactics. I recognised you as you fled like a poltroon, and followed you. Y’our good angel must have been slumbering, for, as you see, I succeeded in tracking you down.”

“I am not surprised to have a confirmation of the rumour that you had joined the enemy,” I said. .“Indeed, it would surprise me more to know that you were ranged on the side of the loyal Dutch.”

“Loyal Dutch!” he sneered. “Egotists and time-servers, whose sole ideas ”

Then he pulled himself up and said. “Let us concern ourselves with the matter that brought me here. I have just remarked that I have no wish to put a bullet into you as you sit there, unless you; force me into it. Indeed, in spite of all the handsome things you have said of me you may go scot free if you like.” He paused as one who expects an answer.

“Well,” I said, “And what payment am I to make for this generous decision not to murder me?”

“This. Your solemn engagement never again to exchange words with Mi ss Bracewell, or to ”

"Mr. Schreiner,” I said coldly, “allow me to remind you that you are eomersing with a man of honour.” "You refuse?” "Most decidedly.” He showed no chagrin or anger. “Then we come to my second and final proposition. Only one of us,” he said, “mark me, only one of us ever leaves -this spot. The other remains behind—for the vultures. lam resolved on this; I will have no halfmeasures. Death or the wiping off of old scores. It must be one or other. Do you agree to a fight-with me, with no quarter given or craved?”

"1 have no desire to have your blood on my hands,” I began. “Answer, yes or no,” he said, brutally. “That coward’s subterfuge won’t pass, my most excellent man of honour. Besides you forget the alternative,” and he patted his rifle significantly. “You are too quick,” I said, my heart growing hot within me at his contemptuous words and manner. “I was about to say that although I have no wish to be responsible for your death since you leave me no choice I accept your terms.” “You are wise. It gives you a chanee,” he said, with a malicious smile which seemed to hint at that chance being slender. “Have you any weapon but your rifle,” he asked. I told him “No.”

“Then we’ll have to fight with rifles in the American style of duelling. Y’ou go off westward and I’ll take the opposite direction. Ten minutes’ march will put a good mile between us, and at the end of that time we face about and begin to stalk each other. Y’ou understand?”

I inelined my head coldly. Then, with a glance at my watch, an action which the other imitated, I shouldered my rifle and turned away without a word.

Even at the risk of incurring a charge of poltroonery I must confess my spirits were low enough as 1 walked over the veldt. That the present business was likely to go against me seemed a rather probable thing, for I knew well that Schreiner’s marksmanship was of the highest order, while I was merely a fair shot. But it was not so much the fear of death that oppressed me, for I can justly say I am no coward, as the circumstance that it would be really throwing away my life without any compensating feature. Had I been under the old flag, with the enemy before me as a target the sacrifice wouldn’t have been so hard, for it would then have been a case of give and take, but to fall under this fellow’s rifle—

The thought worked me into a fury against Schreiner, and I vowed it wouldn’t be my fault if the scoundrel didn’t get his deserts. Before the ten minutes had quite run out I came to a stand in one of the numerous dips of the veldt, and carefully examined my rifle, tightened my belt, and so on. Before this moment I had, as you will suppose, turned over in my mind a dozen plans of attack, and had finally decided upon one which seemed to promise the best issue. This was to gain possession of a rocky hillock, or kopje, as it is termed in South Africa, about midway between Schreiner and myself, but two hundred yards or so to the north. Once on this I would have command of the veldt on all sides, excepting, of course, those parts that dipped considerably below the general surface. Moreover, its possession would enable me to deliver a flank attack on the enemy, which would perhaps be unexpected. So at the expiration of the time arranged I set off swiftly to put the idea into execution.

Needless to say I took every advantage of the hollows that presented themselves, for not only did I wish to avoid exposing myself to Schreiner’s fire, but I was anxious also to keep my intention secret. Still, now and again, to cross an exposed belt was the alternative to retreat, and I chose the former.

Suddenly, when I was more than half way to my goal, Schreiner appeared not a quarter of a mile away, running quickly in my direction. Like a flash I took some sort of aim at him and fired.

It was, I considered, a bad shot, but to my astonishment he threw up his arms on the instant and fell forward on his face, like a man mortally wounded. Whether he moved again or

not it was impossible for me to say, for the ground hid him as he lay prone, 1 stood up, for I had fired while crawling on all fours, and debated with myself, whether or not 1 shotfid advance towards him. Then, suddenly a suspicion flashed into my mind, and I threw myself to the earth. And it was well I did so, for the next moment a bullet hummed through the air over me. As I had guessed, happily soon enough, Schreiner's dramatic fall was but a Boer trick to draw me into the open. The cover from the point I had now reached to the kopje was good and unbroken, so I was able to reach the inclination in a few minutes’ run.

It was more precipitous than I had imagined, but quite climbable. As will be supposed, I went up the side furthest from the point where I had last seen Schreiner. I was in hope that he had not noticed my intentions, for if he had my position instead of being an advantage would be by nature of its exposed position one of acute danger. With many a scan of the veldt behind me, I at length reached the top. The last ten feet at that spot bent little from the perpendicular, but the rugged surface made the ascent little more difficult than climbing a ladder. With infinite caution I drew myself up till my eyes overlooked the top, which sloped rapidly downward on the other side so that I could survey the veldt from the base of the kopje to the far distance. Schreiner was not in sight.

Scarcely had I become aware of the fact when a sharp pain shot through my right thigh accompanied by the crack of a rifle. Whether it was owing to the suddenness of the pain or the knowledge that I was out-manoeuvr-ed, I scarcely knew; but on the instant my foothold gave way, and I fell like a stone. Fortunately the base of the sheer portion of the kopje-jutted out into a narrow ledge which kept me from falling further. But, greatest disaster of all, my rifle was jerked from my grasp, and I heard it bounding from point to point till it was stopped by some obstruction near the bottom. I was now absolutely defenceless. I had fallen on my left side with my back to the rock. A little way from the base of the kopje I saw Schreiner coming slowly forward. Then, through my half-closed lids, for my sole defence (if worthy of the term) was now to sham death, I witnessed him stop and raise his rifle and take aim at me.

The bullet no doubt came soon; but to me the time seemed eternity, and 1 remember wondering in a dull fashion if it would hit me in a vital spot, for a miss at that range was out of the question. But providentially the shot did little damage, clipping off part of my ear merely, and sending a hot stream of blood over my cheek. This last rejoiced me, for it might lead Schreiner to imagine his bullet had pierced my brain, and cause him to retire from the field, thinking himself the victor. But his Boer nature on the one hand and his implacable hostility on the other, demanded more certain knowledge- He began to climb the kopje.

Seeing that, I gave myself up for lost. But- all at once an odd thought of there being some analogy between my position and Majuba Hill suggested a possible means of escaping death. For I recollected that when Colley’s gallant little band had expended all their ammunition they pelted the enemy with stones. Now, the ledge on which I lay was strewn with fragments of sandstone, some of considerable size. Add to this that I was an excellent bowler, and you will guess what was in mv mind.

Close to my right hand was a lump of rock about two pounds weight, and admirably shaped for a missile. This 1 clutched, turning it this way and that till it filled the palm snugly. Then I drew my left hand under me, ready for an instantaneous spring into a sitting posture, and thus waited Schreiner’s approach. The projection of the ledge hid him from , me now, nor dare I venture to look over it; I had to trust to my ears alone to warn me of his coming. But this called for little acuteness of hear-

Ing tor ao clothed wer* the side* of the kopje with loose ataM* and boulders H»*t no one could make th* ascent without sending veorvn of them rattling to the bottom. The only danger would be miscalculation on my part of bis nearness and a premature disclosure of the fact that I wee still alive. Strange to say, I did not then entertain a thought of the possibility of hi* working round so as to take me ia the rear. I calculated only on a front attack, and I was right. Koon my ears, strained to the utmost. eaught a hint of his approach. 1 made no move till I judged him close by. Then, like a flash, I sprang up, with the heavy missile poised in hand. The. movement was well timed for Schreiner was not six yards off. The piece of sandstone, hurled with all the skill and force of which I was capable, struck him fair on his forehead, and he went down under the sitroke like a builock in the shambles. J need not dwell upon what followed. With much pain from my wounded leg, 1 descended the kopje (securing Schreiner’s rifle in the passage), and crawled over to my horse. Before nightfall I was safe among friends, and had the satisfaction of learning that my injury would not long incapacitate me from serving under the old flag.