The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-02-15

reaching a civilized region within 1T
tie more than a year from the date OF the
attack on the lager.
| The afternoon was now drawing to-
!, wards evening, but still there were no
! signs of the Impi A wild hope struck
| US that they might have gone on about
| their business. Ever since linda oa-zimb i
| had beard that the regiment was sup
posed to belong to the Umtetwa tribe,
| he had, noticed, been plunged in deep
! thought. Presently he came to me and
volunteered to go out and spy upon their
movements. At first Hans Botha was
against this idea, saying that he was
ssverdomde swartzel an accursed black
creature and would betray us. I point
ed out that there was nothing to betray.
| The Zulus must know where the wagons
were, but it was important for us to gain
! information of their whereabouts. So it
was agreed that Indaba-zimbi should go.
I told him this. He nodded his white
lock, said Call right, Macumazahn," ~ and
started I noticed with some surprise,
however, that before he did so he went
| to the wagon and fetched his ''mouti,"
or medicine, which, together with his
own magical apparatus, he always car
ried in skin bag. / asked him why he
did this He answered that it was to
make himself invulnerable against the
spears of the Zulus. / did not in the
least believe his explanation, for in my
! heart was sure that he meant to take
| the opportunity to make bolt Of it,
leaving me to my fate. / did not, how
| ever, interfere to prevent this, for i had
| an affection for the old fellow, and sim
cerely hoped that he might escape the
| doom which overshadowed us.
So Indaba-zimbi sauntered off, and as
| looked at his retreating form thought
I should never see it again. But was
, mistaken, and little knew that he was
risking his life. not for the Beers whom
he hated ons and all, but for me whom
| in his queer way he loved
When he had gone we completed our
preparations for defense, strengthening
! the wagons and the thorns beneath with
earth and stones. Then at sunset we
ate and drank as heartily as we could
| under the circumstances, and when we
had done, Hans Botha, as the head of
! the party, offered up prayer to God for
our preservation 1t was a touching
sight to see the burly Dutchman, his hat
of, his broad face Lit up by the last rays
of the setting sun, praying aloud in
homely, simple language to Him who
| alone could save us from the spears of
cruel foe. I remember chat the last
sentence of his prayer was: almighty,
! if we must be killed, save the women
and children and my little girl Tota
| from the accursed Zulus, AID do not let
US be tortured"
I echoed the request very earnestly in
my own heart, that know, for in com
mon with the othors I was dreadfully
! afraid, and it must be admitted not with
out reason.
Then the darkness came on, and we
took up our appointed places each with
| rifle in his hands and peered out into
the gloom in silence. Occasionally enc
of the Beers would light his pipe With
brand from the smoldering fre, sid
the glow of it would shine for a few mo-
ments on his pale, anxious face.
Behind me one of the stout fraus
| lay upon the ground. Even the terror
of our position could not keep her heavy
! eyes from their accustomed sleep, and
she snored loudly. On the further side
of her, just by the fire, lay little Tota,
wrapped in kaross. She was asleep
also, her thumb in her mouth, and from
| time to time her father would come to
| look at her. .+.
So the hours wore on while we waited
for the Zulus. But from my intimate
knowledge Of the habits Of natives had
little fear that they would attack us
at night, though, had they done so, they
could have comprised our destruction
with but small loss to themselves. 1t is
not the habit of this people, they like to-
fight in the light of day-at dawn for
preference.
About eleven o'clock, just as I was
! nodding little at my post, heard
low whistle outside the lager. Instant
| ly was wide awake, and all along the
line heard the clicking Of locks as the
Beers cooked their guns.
ssMacumazahn, said voice, the voice
of Indaba-zimbi, care you thereP
eyes," answered.
s'Then hold light SO that can seq
how to climb into the lager he said.
''Yah! yahl hold a light" put in one
of the Beers. 81 don't trust that black
| schepsel of yours Heer Quatermain; he
! may have some Of his countrynlen With
r