Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-20

the piles Of dead; round Us was rank
upon rank Of plumed savages, standing
in silence to wait the issue of tho duel,
and in the center stood the gray-haired
chief and general, Sususa, in all his
war fnery, cloak of leopard skin upon
his shoulders. A. his feet lay the sense
less form of little Tota, to my left
squatted Indaba,zimbi; nodding his
white lock and muttering something
probably spells; while in front was my
giant antagonist, his spear aloft and his
plumes bending in the gentle breeze.
Then over all, ovor grassy slope, river
and koppie, over the wagons of the
lager, the piles of dead, the dense
ranks of the living, the swooning child,
over all shone the bright, Impartial sun,
looking down like the great indifferent
eve of heaven upon the loneliness Of
nature and the cruelty of man. Dowr
by the river grew thorn-trees, and from
them foated the sweet scent of the
mimosa flower, and came the sound OF
cooling turtle doves. ] never smell the
one or hear the other without the scene
flashing into my mind again, complete
in its every detail.
Suddenly, without a sound, Bombyane
shook his assegai and rushed straight
at me. l saw his huge form come. Like
a man in a dream, | saw the broad spear
flash on high; now he was on me. Then,
prompted to it by some providential i'm
pulse, dropped to my knee, and, quick
as light, stretched out my spear. He
drove at me-the blade passed over my
head. felt weight on my assegai. 1t
was wrenched from my hand; his great
limbs knocked against me. I glanced
round. Bombyane was staggering
along with head thrown back and out
stretched arms, from which his spear
had fallen. His spear had fallen, but
the blade of mine stood out between his
shoulders-I had transfxed him. He
stopped, swung round slowly as though
to look at me, then with sigh the giant
sank down-dedd.
For a moment there was silence; then
a great cry rosa cry of 'Bombyane is
dead. The white spirit has slain Bonn
byane. Kill the wizard, kill the ghost
who has slain Bombysne by witch
craft"
Instantly I was surrounded by fierce
faces, and spears flashed before my eyes.
folded my arms and stood calmly wait
ing the end. In momentit would have
come, for the warriors were mad at see
ing their champion overthrown thus
easily. But presently through the tu-
multi 1 heard the high, cracked voice of
Indaba-zimbi.
STAND back, you FOOLS" it cried; ''can
spirit then be killed?''
''Spear him! spear himT' they reared
in fury. LET US see if he is a spirit
How did spirit slay Bombyane with an
assegai? Spear him, rain-maker, and
we shall see."
"Stand back" cried Indaba-zimbi
again, 'and will show you if he can be
killed. will kill him myself, and call
him back to life again before your eyes.
Macumazahn, trust me-" he whispered
In my ear in the Sisutu tongue, which
the Zulus did not understand. "TYnst
me; kneel on the grass before me, and
when 1 strike at you with the spear roll
over like one dead; then, when you hear
my voice again, gstup. Trust me-itis
your only hope"
Having no choice 1 nodded my head in
assent, though had not the faintest
idea of what he was about to do. The
tumult lessened somewhat, and once
more the warriors drew back.
Great white spirit-spiritof victory"
said Indaba-zimbi, addressing me aloud
and covering his eyes with his hand,
'skeaE me and forgive me. These chill,