Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-27

they are back, all the balloons in the
world | think. | saw a whole cliff black
with them.
is that all?'' | said. for saw that ne
had something behind. II am not
afraid Of a pack o. balloons.
No, Macumazahn, IL is not all The
Babyan-frau, Hendrika, is with them
Now, nothing had been heard or seen
Of Hendrika since her expulsion, and
though a first she and her threats
haunted me somewhat, by degrees she
had to great extent passed out Of my
mind, which was fully preoccupied with
Stella and my father-in-law's illness. 1
started violently. How do you know
this2' | asked.c
Il know it because | saw her, Macu-
mazahn. She is disguised, She is
dressed up in baboon skins, and her face
is stained dark. But though She was a
long way off knew her by her size, and
saw the white flesh of her arm when
the skins slipped aside. She has come
back, Macumazahn, with AN the balloons
in the world. and she has come back to
do evil. Now do you understand why
you should trek"
Yes | said; though don't see
how she and the balloons can harm us,
l think that it will be better to go. If
necessary We can camp the wagons
somewhere for awhile on the journey.
Hearken, Indaba-zimbi; say nothing OF
this TO the Star. | will not have her
frightened, And hearken again. Speak
to the head men. and see that watchers
are set around all the huts and gardens,
and kept there night and day. To-mor-
row we will get the wagons ready, and
next day we will trek
He nodded his white lock and went to
do my bidding, leaving me not little
disturbed unreasonably 80. indeed. 1t
was strange story That this woman
had the power Of eonyersing with
balloons knew That was not so very
wonderful. seeing that the Bushmen
claim to be able 30 do the same thing,
and she had been nurtured by them.
But that She lad been able TO muster
them. and by the strength 81 her human
will and intelligence muster them in
order to forward her ends Of revenge,
seemed TO me so incredib that, after
reflection, my fears grew ight Still
determined TO trek. Attet all. jour
ney in an OK wagon would not be such
a very terrible thing to a strong woman
accustomed To roughing il, whatever
her state Of health. And when an was
said and done ! did not like this tale OF
the presence of Hendrika with count
less hosts If balloons.
So went to Stella, and without say
ing a word to her Of the baboon story,
told her | had been thinking matters
over, and had come to the conclusion
that it was our duty TO follow her
fathers instructions 10 the letter, and
leave Babyan kraal at once. Into all
our talk need not enter, but the and
Of ii was that she agreed with me and
declared that size could quite well man
age the journey, saying, moreover,
that now that her dear father was dead
she would be glad to get away
Nothing happened to disturb us that
night. and on the following morning
was up early making preparations. Tho
despair OF the people when they learned
that we We're going 10 leave them was
something quite pitiable. ] could only
console them by declaring that We We're
but on a Journey, and would return the
following year.
They had lived in the shadow of her
father, who was dead, they declared;
sever since they we're little they had
lived in his shadow. lie had received
them when they were outcasts and wan
derers without mat to lie on Of bian-
ket to cover them and they had grown
fat in has shadow. Then he had died,
and the Star, their fathers daughter,
had married me- Macumalahn, and they
had believed chat ! should take their
fathers place and let them 1--we in my
shadow. WHAT should they do when
there was no ore 70 protect them? The
tribes were kept from attacking them
by fear Of the white man. he went
they would re eaten lip. and SO on.
Alas! there was but too much iounda-
ton for their fears.
returned 10 the nuts atmidday TO get
some dinner. Stella said that She was
going to pack during the afternoon, so
did not think it necessary to caution her
about going out alone. as did not wish
to allude to the subject Of Hendrlka and
the balloons unless was obliged to.
told her. however, that wonldc come back
to help heras soon as / could get away.
Then / went down 70 the native kraals
TO sort out such cattle as belonged 70
Mr.. Carson from those which belonged
to the Kaffirs, for | proposed 70 take
them with US. II was large herd, and
the business took an incalculable time.
At length. little before shutdown,
gave it up, and leaving lndabazimbi to
finish the job got my horse and rode
homewards.
Arriving. | gave the horse 10 one Of
the stable boys and went into the cen
tral hut There vas no sign Of Stella,
though the things she had been packing
lay about the floor. passed first into
our sleeping nut, thence one by one into
all the Others, but still saw no sign OF
her. Then vent out. and calling