Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-25

while the woman Hendrika did the same
Office for Indaba-ximbi. Presently, 10 my
vast delight, Tota opened her eyes and
tried TO cry, but could not, poor little
thing, because her tongue and lips were
SO swollen. But the lady got some water
into her mouth, and. as In my case, the
effect was magical. We allowed her to
drink about quarter OF pint, and no
more, though she cried bitterly for II.
Just then old Indaba-zimbi came to with
q groan. He opened his eyes, glanced
round and took in the situation.
"What did / tell you, Macumazahne"
and he seized the bottle and took long
pull at 1t.
Meanwhile sat with my back against
the trunk OF the great tree and tried to
realize the situation. Looking to my
left saw two good horses-one bare
backed and one with q lady's rude
saddle On 4. BY the side OF the horses
were two dogs, Of a stout greyhound
breed, that sat watching Ms. and near
the dogs lay dead Airiie buck, which
they had evidently been coursing.
"Hendrika," said the lady presently,
''they must not eat meat just yet Go
and look up the tree and see II there is
any ripe fruit ON It."
The woman ran swiftly into the plain
and obeyed. Presently she returned.
~ see some ripe fruit" she said. "but II
is high, quite at the top
Fetch It.. said the lady.
Easier said than DONE" thought to
myself; but was much mistaken. Sud
denly the woman bounded at least three
feet into the air and caught one Of the
spreading boughs in her large, fiat hands
"a swing that would have filed an aero
bat with envy--and she was on 1t.
"Now there Is an end" thought, for
the next bough was beyond her reach.
But again was mistaken. She stood up
ON the bough, gripping it with her bare
feet, and once more sprang at the one
above, caught it and swung herself into
1t,
suppose that the lady saw my look of
astonishment. "Do not wonder, sir"
she said; "Hendrika Is not like other peo-
pie. She will not fall"
made no answer, but watched the
progress of this extraordinary person
with the most breathless interest. On she
went, swinging herself from bough to
Dough, and running along them like q
monkey. At last she got 70 the top and
began to swarm along thin branch
towards the ripe fruit, When she was
near enough she shook the branch vio-
lently. There was a crack-a crash--it
broke. shut my eyes, expecting to see
her crushed on the ground before me.
"Don't be afraid, said the lady again.
laughing gently. "Look, she is quite
safe"
I looked. and so she was, She had
caught bough as she fell, chung 10 II,
and was now calmly dropping to an
other. Old Indaba-zimbi had also
watched this performance with interest,
but 1t did not seem to astonish him over
much. "Baboon woman" he said, as
though such people We're common, and
then turned his attention to soothing
Tota, who was moaning for more water.
Meanwhile Hendrika came down the
tree with extraordinary rapidity, and
swinging by one hand from bough,
dropped about ten feet to the ground.
In another two minutes we were all
three sucking the pulpy fruit. In an or
binary way we should have found it
tasteiess enough, as it was thought it
the most delicious thing l had ever
tasted. After three days spent without
food or water, in the desert. one is not
particular. While we were still eating
the fruit, the lady of my vision set her
companion to work to partially fay the
oribe which her dogs had killed, and
busted herself in making fire of fallen
boughs. AS soon as it burned brightly
she took strips of the oribe flesh, toasted
them, and gave them TO US on leaves
We ate, and now we were allowed a lit
tie more water. After that she took lit
tie Tota to the spring and washed her,
which she sadly needed, poor child.
Next came our turn to wash, and oh.
the Joy Of 1t!
came back to the tree, walking pam
fully indeed, but changed man. There
sat the beautiful girl, with Tota on her
knees. She was lulling her to sleep. and
held up her finger to me enjoii ing =.
lence. At last the child went OFF into j,
sound, natural slumber--an example
that should have been glad TO follow
had 1t not been for my burning curiosity.
Then / spoke:
MAY ask what your namc ISL
said.
"Stella," she answered.
"Stella what2'' / said.
"Steua nothing" she answered in
some pique "Stella is my NAM: ii is
short and easy to remember. at any rate,
My fathers name is Thomas, and we live
up there" and she pointed 70, nd the
base of the great peak. / looked at her
astonished. "Have you lived there long2"
/ asked.
Ever since l was seven years old.
We came there in a wagon. Before that
we came from England-from Oxford
shire; can show you the place on the
big map. 1t is called Garsingham."