New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-08-18
mixture Of Dutch and cafe, as to the cause 81 his

VWvVN
mixture Of Dutch and Caffre, as to the cause Of his
PRESENT plight
md stern, as he related how, proceeding with =
party II t the colony he had angered bis
chief, who, with bis own hand, bad thus wounded
him; and that he had crept into the thicket where
from bis eyes rs he added IF the chiefs make good
haste they may yet catch Ketano0 before he reaches
The Valley Of Blue Lillies." III
The Valley Of Blue Lilies An exclamation Of
horror rose to our lips, and pang Of agony shot to
my heart for II was that lovely and beautiful valley
where had built my home, and where but few
hours since had left my wife and little ones In
hncied security. II was distraction to think that
danger, perhaps death, around those dear ones,
and that WAS far away, unable to defend them from
the assaults of their fierce and pitiless foe or II
could do no more, to die with them. Without q
seconds delay, caught the bride of tho nearest
horse, and sprang into his saddle but ere could
start, my friends were around me. There was mo-
mentary consultation, when 1t was resolved that
Thornton should hasten on the only remaining horse
to demand assistance at the nearest military post and
Stanes hurry on foot TO bring the hunters to our aid
while should ride with all speed to Blue Lilies, to
share the fate of its dear inhabitants.
Swift as the wind, swept over the level prairie
but ere had gone many miles, the sun began to dip
and lose itself behind the western hills. and night
fell, leaving me with the worst part Of my journey
unperformed Sill, on went, stumbling over mon
ster ant-his and into miry ponds, as dashed on IN
the dim starlight.
Amid my anxiety, however, it struck me that some
unusual sound disturbed the profound stiffness OF me
wilderness. Could 1t be the Cafffe onslaught! but
remembered that Blue Lilies was still many miles
distant and that whatever its fate, no token could
reach me there. The next instant, q bend 10 the
stream brought the whole moont river full before
and there was aso .ne ora gu, srs e N au
from the opposite side their dark forms contrasting
with the svery water, which scarce reached to their
horses knees They were merry, too, and their echo
ing laughter came like mockery to the fears which
were wringng my heart, bnt FASTENED forward to
meet them and entreat their assistance.
Meanwhile, that strange sound grew rapidly on my
ear until it became crashing of trees and roar as
of distant ocean. Then the gay laughter changed
to wild cry, just above the strangers, the whole
bed Of the river became filled by an enormous wave,
| like crested wall Of water, rolling along with ter
rifle violence. There was no space for attempt at
| escape rescue, for the next moment the death
wave swept over its Victims buryng them in its tur
| bid depths.
| stood by silent and appalled,, while the torren.
rolled by me, roaring, foamng and bearing all before it
In Its headlong journey towards the had often
heard of the eshets, which, occasioned by the heavy
rains among the mountain Sources sometimes the
bursting of natural reservoir, come down the rivers
In gigantic waves, leaving death and desolation in
their track but this my first sight OF one, and
truly fearful scene it was the late gentle river
filled to the brm with boiling, surgpg flood, dark,
turbid and muttering laden with upturned trees and
tangled branches, and with dead and struggling ami
mails all tossing wildly hther and thither, now thrown
on the surface now drawn into the eddying depths,
| as they were swept swiftly by.
The next moment brongh With it the remembrance
that the freshet rolled between me and Blue Lilies
interpreting barrier stronger than iron, and more
| insurmountable than mountains. Should l venture,
it would not be to aid those loved, but to destroy
my last chance of ever again seeing them it would
be idly casting away life that might yet do them
service, and that thought held me reluctantly back
from the brink Of the river. Ny only hope was, and
oh how earnestly ! prayed for it, that Thornton,
who had the same river to cross only nearer the sea,
| might have passed ere the wave came down, and so
be able to bring aid to the dear ones, from whom l
was so utterly divided
During all the remaining hours of that night,
paced the email open space beside the ford, wenigh
frantic with my detention, now vainIy watching the
brink for sign of the rivers decrease, now look
ing up into the sky fearing each moment to see the
reflection of my blazing roottree while | thought
with agony of the unsuspecing feeble ones exposed
to the ruthlessness of savages. Then as the night
wore on, the voices of the wild animals rung wall
ingly through the bush-the hysteric laugh Of the
hyena the moaning bark of the jackal, and the roar
of the leopard mingled now and then with the de-
sparing cry of some wild animal swept down by the
freshetall tending to deepen my misery, and aiding
me in conjnring up narrowing thoughts.
Day at length dawned on the still Drumming flood,
and me, still watching beside it, while with every
hour Of forced inactivity my beart grew sadder and
more despairing. Towards sunset the force of the
began to abate and the eddes to gurgle and
mutter less angrily, SO resolved at to attempt
the passage Owing to the long delay by the river.
side, my horse was fresh and full Of vgor and cou.
rage; and when l rode him to favorable spot, a
little above the ford, he bounded in readily at q
touch OF the whip and spur regardless that was on
his back, and that held rife uplifted in my RICH,
hand
The next moment the torrent was sweeping US
down with all its force, and beating angrly agains
u.s. while my gallant steed, undsmayed by the tur
MOL, struck boldly and bravey ont for the opposite
bank; but where we gained foot across, we lost q
t11o
US with it, all the while surgng and gurgng loudly
and muterng in my ears hoarse threats that should
never more tread dry land, but turning and twisting
round among the eddies, we swept down, another
, trophy of the freshet's might.
. think they must have dinned like threat in thu
ears of my good horse, for in the center of the rive
he uttered cry of fear, and throwing his head VI
! higher, beat the water wildly with his fore feet
out of reach of the water, l tried with hand AM
voice to reassure him; but it was with very little
> cess and more than once had the surges foame
over both horse and rider my horse recovered hi
. courage and nerve again. Then the struggle wa
resumed, and arduous it proved and while the result
yet doubtful night closed in on the dark waters
adding to our difficulties and danger. Still the goo
steed toed on bravely in the darkness, until at leng
his feet touched ground the next minute he scram
bed up the bank, wearied and exhausted, but victc
: rious.
One roll on the grass, minute to recover breath
and my horse was again ready for the road and o
we dashed through the darkness towards Blue Lilies
As approached nearer the valley, all wore its usua
aspect of tranquil repose; and for the first time sine
= had heard the evil tidings, glimmering of hop
= crossed my mind. But when reached the spot,
:, found it the stiffness of desoation my hous
= was heap of smoudering ruins, my sheep.fods wer
torn down, my cattle kraals empty, and it seemed
living creature remained within the valley to tell tt
=, tale Of rapne, which had arrived in time
y prevent.
= Had the calamity fallen me without a moment
4, preparation, do not think it could have struc
80 deeper than it did Slowly and feebly, like
y aged man, l dismounted from my horse, and sun
y down beside the still smoking grave of all love-
while the torrent of grief and horror and yearnn
" for vengeance that rolled my soul, was deep
y and more tumutuous than the waters of the Kroor
y kie, through which had so lately struggled.
After time, a faint sound attracted my attention
and looked up to light flash cut from RUNE
"a shepherds hut, far up the valley. Imagining son
y lingering Cares to be there easting the SPOIL
10 seized my rife, and fastened up. But what cou
is equal my surprise, my almost frantic joy, when
e ting around the fire in life and safety behed tho
IN l SO deeply mourned. A Hottentot herdsman hi
~ the approaching foe from the summit of one
e. the hills and rushed in with the tidings in time
\. his mistress and her children to find safety in fig
IL into the bush and when the same Hottentot b,
m ascerained the Cafres departure they had return
TO again to Blue Lilies.
"a Ere long, there trampling of horses in IL
IN valley, a lowing Of cattle, and the loud voices
by men, 1t heraldel the arrival nf Thorn and II