The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-05-17

Stella was hidden away. For nearly
half all hour we searched and searched,
scanning the walls of rock for any pos
sible opening to a cave. In vain-we
could find none. Iapplied to old Indaba-
zimbi, but his foresight was at fault
here. All he could say was that this was
the place, and that the "Star" was hidden
somewhere in cave, but where the cave
was he could not tell. At last we came
to the top of the amphitheatre. There
before us was wall of rock, of which
the lower parts were here and there
clothed in grasses, lichens and creepers.
walked along it, calling at the top of
my voice.
Presently my heart stood still, for !
thought heard a faint answer. drew
nearer to the place from which the sound
seemed to come, and again called. Yes,
there was an answer in my wifes voice.
1t seemed to come from the rock !
went up to it and searched among the
creepers, but still could find no opening
"love the stone," cried Stella's voice,
"the cave is shut with stone"
took q spear and prodded at the cliff
whence the sound came. Suddenly the
spear sank in through mass of lichen.
l swept the lichen aside, revealing
bowlder that had been rolled into the
mouth of an opening in the rock, which
it fitted so accurately that, covered as it
was by the overhanging lichen, it might
well have escaped the keencst eye. We
dragged the bowlder out; it was two
| mems work to do it. Beyond was q
narrow, water worn passage, which l
followed with a beating heart. Pres.
emily the passage opened into n small
cave, shaped like pickle bottle, and
coming to neck at the top end. We
passed through and found ourselves in q
second, much larger cave, that at once
recognized as the one of which Indaba-
zimbi had shown ME vision in the
water. Light reached it from above
how know not-and by it 1 could see
form half sitting, half lying OH some
skins at the top end of tho cave.
rushed to it. 1t was Stella! Stella bound
with strips of hide, bruised, torn, but
still Stella, and alive.
She saw me, she gave ono cry, then as
1 caught her in my arms she tainted. 1t
was happy indeed that she did not faint
before, for had it not been for the sound
of her voice do not believe we should
ever have found that cunningly hidden
cave, unless, indeed, Indaba-zimbi's mag
ic ION which be blessings) had come to
our assistance.
We bore her to the open air, laid her
beneath the shade of tree, and cut the
bonds loose from her ankles. AS we
went glanced at the cave. 1t was ex-
actly as l had seen it in the vision
There burnt the fire, there were the rude
wooden vessels, one of them still half
full of the water which had seen the
baboon bring. felt awed as looked,
and marveled at tho power welded by
savage who could not even read and
write.
Now could see Stella clearly. Her
face was scratched, and haggard with
fear and weeping. Her clothes were al
most torn off her, and her beautiful hair
was loose and tangled. Isent for water,
and we sprinkled herfac Then 1 forced
a little of the brandy which we distilled
from peaches at the kraals between her
lips, and she opened her eyes, and throw
ing her arms about me clung to me as
little Tota had done, sobbing, "Thank
God! thank God!'
After while she grew quieter, and
made her and Tota eat little food from
the store that we had brought with us. l
too ate and was thankful, for with the
exception of the mealie cobs had tasted
nothing for nearly Neutrality-suspicious..
Il, g. 4 \
tidicd her rags of dress as well as she was
able. AS she did SO, by degrees drew
her story from her.
1t seemed that on tho previous after
noon, being wearied with packing, she
went out to visit her fathers grave, TAX
ing Tota with her, and was followed
there by the two dogs. She wished to
lay some flowers on the grave and take
farewell of the dust it covered, for Us
we had expected to trek early on the
morrow she did not know If she would
find later opportunity. They passed
up the garden, and, gathering some
flowers from the orange trees and else
where, went on to the little graveyard.
Here she laid them on the grave as we
had found them, and then sitting down,
fell into u deep and sad reverie, such as
the occasion would naturally induce.
While she sat thus, Tota, who was
lively child and active as a kitten,
straycd away without Stella observing
it. With her went the dogs, who had
also grown tired of inaction; a while
passed, and suddenly she heard the
dogs barking furiously about $50 yards
away. Then she heard Tota scream,
and the dogs also yelling with fear and
pain. She rose and ran as swiftly as she
could towards the spot whence the
sound came. Presently she was there.
Before her in the glade, holding the
screaming Tota in her arms, was figure
in which, Notwithstanding the rough
disguise of baboon skins and coloring
matter, she had no difficulty in recogniz-
ing Hendrika, and all about her were
numbers of balloons, rolling over and
over in two hideous heaps, Of which the
centers were the two unfortunate dogs
now in process Of being rent to frag-
ments.
"Hendrika," Stella cried, "what does
this mean? What are you doing with
Tota and those brutes?"
The woman heard her and looked up.
Then she saw that she was mad; mad
ness stared from her eyes. She dropped
the child, which instantly flew to Stella
for protection. Stella clasped it, only to
be herself clasped by Hendrika She
struggled fiercely, but it was of no use
the babyan-frau had the strength of ten
She lifted her and Tota as though they
were nothing, and ran off with them,
following the bed of the stream in order
to avoid leaving spoor. Only the ba-
boons who came with her. minus the one
the dogs had killed, would not take to
the water, but kept pace with them on
the bank.
Stella said that the night which fol-
lowed was more like hideous night
marc than n rno1itv Sbo v.,a povor n bIo