The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-12-26
Select Story.
THE ROYAL ZULU.

nuIu maiden knelt IN prayer on the morning
of the fatal 22d Of January, 1879. Her face
was pretty beyond most of her country-wo-
men, and her small hands and feet her dis
tinguuishing ornaments, and graceful form
bespoke her the daughter of some powerful
chief. But strange, considering her nation
atty, were the words of supplication which
| flowed from her lips as she raised her clasp
ed hands to heaven. Not from witchcraft or
enchantment, or from the equally powerless
deties of her nation, did she seek for help,
but from Him only, the one true God,
Jehovah.
Father ! she cried, Ito whom all the ends
of the Garth look for help in trouble, hear
me for the sake of Jesus. The evil spirit Of
war and persecution has come down and en-
tered my fathers kraal, and Cetywayo has
folded his hands and bowed his ear to listen.
lie has sworn to drink the blood of the white
men, and eat up all the Christian Zulus of
his nation. o Great Father in tha hour of
trial, keep Cassatonga and me faithful to
thyseli = .... ........HE ..f
| AT this moment a movement beside her
caused the wershiper to turn round, and she
behel6 stately warrior standing near her,
leaning on his black shield. His eyes were
fixed with unspeakable love on the youthful
form before him. Lucia he said, your
prayer for me is answered 1 can fight no
more for Cetywayo. Last night the murder
indescribable In cruelty, of Sirayo's wives,
for their adherence to the Christian faith,
proves what little mercy the king would
show toward any one, even yourself, were
you to oppose his will and though it is our
duty to bear persecution when it comes, it is
no doubt equally madness to provoke it.
Here we can no longer stay without declar-
ing our faith, and therefore we must fly with
all haste to Helpmakaar. You know the
good missionary there, the same who taught
us the will ofthe Great Master, and beneath
his care you will be safe from your fathers
wrath. This alternative is the only one left
to us, and feel it is the right one. viii
you come now, Luola? My horse stands
ready in the thicket.'
I will And though the hand extended
to him trembled, the voice was ready that
decided their fate.
by Rork's Drift is our shortest road, he
said, as they reached the tree where his
horse was fastened, and placing the princess
on its back he mounted behind her, and
turned his steedin the direction ofthe Buffa'
10. They travelled for some hours with ex.
treme caution, skirting every kraal and oper
ground, till at length they arrived at a large
thickly planted wood, in which they hoped
to find an hours repose. But they had
scarcely dismounted ere the roar of artillery
and the cracking of rifles, mingled with wilt
yells, were heard in the distance, and
Csssatonga hsstened to conceal his roya
charge before endeavoring to discover th'
cause. Hiding Lucia and his horse in thu
densest part of the grove around him, h'
selected lofty tree, whose thick branches
would be a shield in themselves. Climbing
with the agility of his nation to the topmos
boughs, lie beheld The fatal field of Isandul'
spread out before him. Amazement at tn,
unexpected sight and deep admiring pit.
flashed in his eyes as he looked on the tiny
band of white men who, shoulder to should
er, received unfinchingly the masses of hi
countrymen, as they swept down upol
them.
The first emotion of his heart was to fl
to the aid OF the devoted column, but tn
thought of his bride restrained him, and h,
sank back among the sheltering leaves
Strainiug his sight over the awful plain, h
could distinguish his own fierce regiment
although foremost in the work of death, ye
not so preoccupied Herewith as to be un
conscious of tina plunder which lay arounC
3 pausing even in their butchery to collec
cattle, stores, and wagons to be driven t
their distant kraals. Horror and DISCUS
filled his now enlightened soul. why d
those English soldiers stand there he aske
himself, as the breath came quickly throug
his laboring chest, 'on that plain of Afrc
far away from their island homes, to be she
down, steady in their matchless ranks,
their swarthy foes p His own heart gay
him the reply TO save helpless wome
from the savage butchery he beheld la
+" night to guard the gray hairs of old az
o from going down to a terrible grave beneat
the real or feigned imputations of witcl
craft and divination and, above all,
teach the pure faith of the Gospel whel
reigned the degrading demonology of h
l. native land His dark eyes blazed and h
pulses throbbed as these thoughts surge
, through his mind, and he pressed his hanc
over his aching eye-balls as he bowed hir
self to the service of that flag which shelte
Freedom and Truth beneath its folds.
But meanwhile the work of death we
3, on. Those who were sent for help to Rorkt
Drift were, alas shot or assegaied; few, he
few ! reached the river, and Cassatonga b
4. held with dismay that the Zulus were scs
e. tering toward the Drift. Could he skirt t
: wood and reach the ford before them wi
e his precious charge was now his anxio
thought. Descending quickly from his POI
tion, he found the trembling Lucia terrif
at his long absence. He described the a
full scene he had just witnessed and told
of the immediate necessity for endeavori
b. to cross the river.
er The blood of the lion-like founder of /
d d dynasty flowed in Luolas veins, and thou
convinced of imminent danger, she was I
wanting in courage. Let us 60, she sal
Id God will help us, and be our shield
Remounting, they rode on till they ca
to the edge Of the wood, when new dal
IL er menaced them, which testified to the
most the feetness of their steed. Bar
rs out of range of rihe-shot, some scattered p
ties of Zulus were coming toward them. G
satonga knew well he could give no rea'
ry for not being with his troops, ,aud the dsu
I'd ter Of their king was mo- unknown. w
ur she seized and condu ct d back to her fat
al he dared not think Of her fate Urpipp