Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-30
THE ROYAL ZULU.
A TALE FOUNDED ON FACT.

A TALE FOUNDED ON FACT.
Beneath the shade ola grove of palm
Zulu maiden knelt in prayer on the morn
| ing of the fatal twenty second of January
| 1879. Her lace was pretty beyond mos
OF her country women, and her small
hands and feet, her distinguishing orna
ments and graceful form bespoke her tht
daughter of some powerful chief. But
strange, considering her nationality
were the words of supplication which
lowed from her lips as she raised hel
clasped hands to heaven. Not from
witchcraft or enchantment, or from the
equally powerless deities of her nation
did she seek for help, but from Hin
only, the one true God, Jehovah.
Father!n she cried, " to whom all the
ends of the earth look for help in trouble
hear me for the sake Of Jesus. The evil
spirit of war and persecution has come
down and entered my fathers kraal, and
Cetywayo has folded his hands and
bowed his ear to listen. He has sworn
to drink the blood of the white men, and
eat up all the Christian sZulus of his
nation. Oh, Great Fatherl in this hour
Of tries,, keep Cassatonga and me faithful
to thyself!"
At this moment a movement bes ide
her caused the worshiper to turn
around, and she beheld stately war
rior standing near her, leaning on his
black shield. His eyes were fixed with
unspeakable love on the youthful form
before him. Luola," he said, ''your
prayer for me is answered; l 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 de-
claring 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 of the
Great Master, and beneath his care you
will be safe from your fathers wrath.
This alternative is the only one left to
us, and l feel it is the right one. Will
you come now, Luolap My horse stands
ready in the thicket."
"I will" And though the hand ex-
tended to him trembled, the voice was
steady that decided their fate.
by Rorke's Drift is our shortest
road" he said, as they reached the tree
where his horse was fastened, and plac-
ing the princess on its back, he mounted
behind her, and turned his steed in the
direction of the Buffalo. They travelled
for some hours with extreme caution,
skirting every kraal and open ground,
till at length they arrived at 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 wild yells, were heard in
the distance, and Cassatonga hastened to
conceal his royal.eharge before endeavor-
ing to discover the cause. Hiding Lucia
and his horse in the densest part of the
grove around him, he selected lofty
tree, whose thick branches would be a
shield in themselves. Climbing with
the agility of his nation to the topmost
boughs, he beheld the fatal field of Isan-
dula spread out before him. Amaze
ment at the unexpected sight and deep
admiring pity flashed in his eyes as he
looked on the tiny band of white men
who, shoulder to shoulder, received un-
| flinchingly the masses Of his country
men, as they swept down upon them.
The first emotion of his heart was to
| fly to the aid of the devoted column,
| but the thought of his bride restrained
him, and he sank bai.k among the shell
tering leaves. Straining his sight over
| the awful plain, he could distinguish his
own fierce regiment, although foremost
in the work of death, yet not SO preoc-
cupied Herewith as to be unconscious o.
the plunder which lay around, pausing
even in the butchery to collect cattle
stores and wagons to be driven to theil
filled his now enlightened soul. why
he asked himself. as the breath came
quickly through his laboring chest, "or
that plain of Africa, far away from tEeil
island homes, to be shot down, steady il
their matchless ranks, by their swarthy
foes?" His own heart gave him tht
reply: "To save helpless women from
the savage butchery he beheld last night
to quad the gray hairs Of old age from
going down to a terrible grave beneath
the real or feigned imputations of witch
teach the pure faith of the Gospel wher,
reigned the degrading demonology O
his native land" His dark eyes blaze,
andhis pulses throbbed as these thought
surged through his mind, and he presse,
his hands ovel his aching eyebails as h
bowed himself to the service of that fla,
which shelters freedom and truth be
meath its folds.
But meanwhile the work of dealt
went on. Those who were sent for helpt
Rorke's Drift were, alas! shot or asst
gated; few, how few reached the river
| and Cassafon 0a hahp1d with dismav U tb.