The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-25

"Nazarene, my lastl" and Inc oultan,l
eyes glistened with fierce anger. "Go
and carry my message. IT thy chic
agrees, thou art tree to remain; if not
thou art my prisoner, and must returnI'
e.ReturnW asked Haringsma.
ssWilt remain here? Thou canst. Be
fore the sun 10 high the Sultan OF Soc
rang Will be here, and then woe to the
Nazarenes! Not one of them shall re
turn to tell of itw
For moment Haringsma was unde'
cided. He knew the Soerang hordes
were on the march; he knew the disabled
condition of Velden's soldiers; he knew
there would be q blody fight with doubt.
less issue.
:! will go,' he said, "and give thy con
sand return, ifthey are otaccepted9"
asked Musha. f
"And return.~
'Th0u swearestr"
II never swear--my word is yes OF
no.n
Indeed, thy word is as good as swear
ing BY thy liar of.a Nazarene. Upon thy
word thou goeSt, upon thy word thou re-
turnest--if thou canst not persuade the
misbelievers." h.
..Spare thy Insults to a prisoner, o,
Mushai Thy Allan is our God; Him we
adore as thou, only we come nearer to
Him through Christ than thou through
Mahomet."
The Malay's passion rose, but for a
moment; to compare his prophet with
the Nazarene seemed blasphemy. After
a lew minutes' silence he seemed to mas
ter his anger, and said, in a voice threat
ening by its very slowness--
"Go, and keep thy word"
When Haringsma arrived at the gen.
erals tent, he was received with Joy.
The blast of horns and sounds of drums
early that morning had indeed been q
of wild and relentless attack
ON the kraaL and the tired soldiers were
reused TO fury by the capture OF their
beloved chaplain; but General Velden
had not allowed this eutburst OF rage, il
q timely aid of fresh troops had mot ar
rived the preceding night. Col. Wendell
left Batavia with . regiment of mus
keteers and two companies of calvary.
He yielded TO the entreaties of Martha;
the wife OF Haringsma, and allowed her,
though reluctantly, to accompany him
with her baby boy. A stranger In a
strange country, she thought hefeelf SAT.
est near her brave husband, and SUBJ
mitted cheerfully to the dangers and
tolls of marching column.
For many days the colonel had fol-
lowed the track of the contending ar.
mics, until he reached camp not long
after the disappearance of Haringsma
became known. His arrival had given
new energy to the already excited spirit
,f the soluiery. An attack had been i'm
resolved upon, when the flag
II truce interfered for twenty-four
hours.
Haringsma stated his message, to.
,ether with the particulars Just mar
'ated. He refused TO enter the generals
ent, and reluctantly shook hands with
he officers, who besieged him with
Luestions and congratulations.
81 am pfisoner," said he, Cat the
mercy OF a merciless foe. II his condi-
IONS are accepted, I shall again be free. |
I not, remain prison, and must re- 4
urn to redeem my plighted word"
The general gave orders to have a 4
ounci1 OF war assembled; he thought 4
erhaps some concessions might be |
lade, which, besides saving Haringsma.
ould prevent deadly hgnt and bloody
The council was ready, and Har-
lgsma introduced to state again the |
onditions of usha.
"Impossibie was the unanimous cry.
1t would be treason to our govern
lent."ss
Hafingsma asked, though reluctantly,
ii they were aware that the Rajah OF
oerang would be there with numerous
,0opsS"
$50 much the betterp' exclaimed Col.
' Tendel. "We can make an end OF the |
Ho-my two thousand men are worth 1
wenty thousand oil theirs"
"Gentlemen," said Haringsma,l with
n unmoyed voice, "is That your definite
4
ait is" answered General yeldea -
and Pm send herald to tell those inii-
els that tomorrow morning they may
Q ready"
"No need OF that" was the slow, firm
eply. 81 am the messenger, and bound
y word and honor TO bring the answer
lyseli."
Silence came over all again, and Har-
lgsma was leaving the tent when Gem
raj Veiden exclaimed:
nildl Tney are in the camp. They
ame last night. Your poor wiieV
Hafingsma psled.
my wife? DON'T let her know. It is
ard, a little. But even she would say:l
Sc man and keep thy word.' Fare |
ell. gentlemen and friends, tot we der
emp
And the hero left the amazed council, |
vith steady foot he walked, under es
,rt Of flag and soldiers, until the gates
the kraal we're opened, and shut after
m.
When in the afternoon the far.off bugle
,unds and drums of the approaching
oops OF Soerang were heard, 1t was dii-
cult to restrain the Dutch soldiers from
the kraal. But General Vel
IN kept his word OF truce, and EN-
Dyed the remaining time in organizing
lch an attack as should crush the ene-
=, now exulting In double strength.
With the rising sun the three columns
attack began to march. Many fever
ruck SO ldier gathered strength enough
join his company. II they could not
we Haringsma, they would avenge him.
stubborn spirit to conquer or to die
eyaded all ranks.
The struggle was long and bloody.
10 MRlays knew their superiority in
lmbers. With frantic rage they fought,
gardless Of life or limb. But strategy,
olness and endurance were too stl 5ng I
= them. The kraal was entered. |,
psha escaped with \ few trusty follow
., ana Ralah OF SaerAng was forced to
rrender, and for the time there was
end Of b.93dshed.
Rsnsacking the kraal, the soldiers
lnd the mutilated corpse OF Harings-
Il; and as his wife klssed the dead face,
a Raid he Kant hia ward for (lnd oni l.