Wichita eagle., 1890-01-05

round. Bombyane was staggering along
with head thrown back and outstretched
arms from which his spear had fallen.
His spear had fallen, but the blade of
mine stood out between his shoulders
had trans6xed him. He stopped, swung
round slowly as though to look at me.
then with a sigh the giant sank down
dead.
For moment there was silence; then
great cry rosa cry of "Bombyane is
dead. The white spirit has slain Bomb
yaGe. XIII the wizard, kill the ghost
wlso has slain Bombyane by witchcraft. 4"
Instantly was surrounded by fierce
faces, and spears flashed before my eyes
folded my arms and stood calmly wait
have come, for the warriors were mad
at seeing their champion overthrow
thus easily. But presently through the
tumult heard the high cracked voice Of
Indaba-zimbi.
''Stand back, you FOOLS" it cried; "can
spirit then be killed."
''Spear him! spear him" they roared
in fury. "Let Jus see if he is 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
- IL
the Zulus did not understand. Crust
me; kneel on the grass before me, and
when I strike at you with the spear, roll
over like one dead; then, when you hear
my voice again, get up. Trust met is
your only hope"
Having no choice, nodded my head
in assent, though l 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-spirjt of victory"
said Indaba-zimbi, addressing me aloud,
and covering his eyes with his hand,
''hear me and forgive me. These chill
dren are blind with folly, and think
thee mortal because thou hast dealt death
upon a mortal who dared to stand against
thee. Deign to kneel down before me
and let me pierce thy heart with this
spear; then, when call upon thee, arise
unhurt."
| knelt down, not because [ wished to,
but because l must. l had not overmuch
faith in Indaba-zimbi, and thought it
probable that he was in truth about to
10 Il 81 I1,,%z I
SO worn with fears, and the horrors Of
the night and day had so shaken my
nerves, that did not greatly care what
befeu me. When had been kneeling
thus for about half minute Indaba-
zimbi spoke.
People of the Umtetwa children of
TChaka," he said, draw back a little
space, lest an evil fall on you, for now
the air is thick with ghosts"
They drew back a space, leaving us in
circle about twelve yards in diameter
Look on him who kneels before you,
went on Indaba-zimba, "and listen to
my words, to the words of the witch
finder, the words of the rainmaker,
Indaba-zimbi, whose fame is known to
you. He seems to be a man, does he
~~t2 l tell, you, children of the Umtet-
"a, he is no man. He is the spirit who
gives victory to the white men; he it is
who gave them assegais that thunder
and taught them how to slay. Why
were the impis of Dingan rolled back at
the Blood river? Because he was there.
Why did the Amaboona slay the people
of Mosilikaaye by the thousand? Be-
cause he was there. And so | say to
you that, had l not drawn him
from the lager by my magic but
three hours ago, you would have been
conquered-yes, you would have been
blown away like the dust before the
wind; you would have been burned up
like the dry grass in the winter when
the fire is awake among it. Aye, be-
cause he had but been there many of
your bravest were slain in overcoming a
few-a pinch Of men who could be
counted on the fingers. But because
loved you, because your chief Sususa is
my half brother-for had we not one
father?-I came to you, warned you.
Then you prayed me and | drew the
spirit forth. But you were not satisfied
when the victory was yours, when the
spirit of all you had taken asked but one
little thing-a white child to take away
and sacrifice to himself, TO make the
medicine of his magic or
Here l could hardly restrain myself
from interrupting, but thought better
OF it.
You said him nay; you said, Let him
fight with our bravest man, let him fight |
with Bombyane the giant, for the child |
And he deigned to STAY Bombyane as you |
have seen, and now you say, Stay him; |
he is no spirit Now / will show YOU if |
he is spirit, for | viii slay him before |
your eyes, and call him to life again. |
But you have brought this upon your
selves. Had You believed, had you Of |
fered no insult to the spirit, he would |
have stayed with you. and YOU should |
have become unconquerable. Now he
viii arise and leave you. and woe be on |
you il You try TO stay him. Now all /,
men, he went on, ''look for space upon |
this assegai that hold up" and he lifted
the bangwan of the deceased Bombyane
high above his head, so that all the |
multitude could see it. Every eye
was fixed upon the broad, bright spear.
For Q while he held it still, then he |
moved it round and round in a circle, |
muttering as he did SO. and still their |
gaze followed it. For my part, follow
ed his movements with the greatest |
anxiety. That assegai had already been |
nearer my person than l found at all |
pleasant, and l had no desire to make |