The Globe-republican., 1890-11-12

eyes, yes, we know her, said little
ring Of head men, who formed the primi-
tive court of justice, and after the fash
ion of natives had squatted themselves
in a circle on the ground in front of us
1--WE know her; she is the white babyan-
woman; she is Hendrika, the body-serv-
ant Of the Star"
"You know her." said Mr.. Carson,
''but you do not know her altogether.
Stand forward, Indaba-zimbi. and te4-
the people what came about last night
in the hut of Macumazahn-"
Accordingly lndaba-zimbi came for
ward, and squatting down told his NOV
ing tale with much descriptive force and
many gestures, finishing up by produc-
ing the great knife from which his
watchfulness had saved me.
Then l was called upon, and in a few
brief words substantiated his story: in
deed, my face did that in the sight of all
men
Then Mr. Carson turned to Hendrika,
who stood in sullen silence, her eyes
fixed upon the ground, and asked her if
she had any thing to say.
She looked up boldly and answered:
"Macumazahn has robbed me of the
love of my mistress. l would have
robbed him of his life. which is
little thing compared to that which 1
have lost at his hands. l have failed,
and am sorry for it, for had killed
him and left no trace the Star would
have forgotten him and shone on mo
again."
Never" murmured Stella in my ear;
but Mr.. Carson turned white with wrath.
My people," he said, you hear the
words Of this woman. You hear how
she pays me hack, me and my daughter.
| whom she swears she loves. She says
that she could have murdered a man
who has done her no evil, the man who
is the husband of her mistress. We
saved her from the babyans, we tanned
her, we fed her, We taught her, and this
is how she pays us back. Say, my peo-
pie, what reward shall be given to her?'
Death" said the circle of indunas,
pointing their thumbs downwards, and
all the multitude beyond echoed the
word Death
Death" repeated the head induna,
adding: If you save her, my father, we
will slay her with our own hands. She
is babyan-woman, devil-woman; alb.
yes, we have heard of such before; let
her be slain before she works more evil. >
Then it was that Stella stepped for
ward and begged for Hendricks life in
moving terms. She pleaded the saw
agery of the woman's nature, her long
service, and the affecti that she had
always shown towards herself. She said
that 1, whose life had been attempted,
forgave her, and she, my wife, who had
nearly been left widow be fore she was
made bride, forgave her; let them for
give her also, let her be sent away, not
slain, let not her marriage day be
stained with blood.
Now, her father listened readily
enough, for he had no intention of kill
ing Hendrika-indeed, he had already
promised not to do SO. But the people
were in different humor, they looked
upon Hendrika as a devil, and would
have torn her to pieces there and then
could they have had their way. Nor
were matters mended by Indabi-zimbi.
who had already gained great reputa-
ton for wisdom and magic in the place.
Suddenly the old man rose and made
quite an irnpassioned speech, urging
them to kill Hendrika at once or mis-
chief would come of it.
At last matters get very bad, for two
Of the indunas came forward to drag her
off to execution, and it was mt until
Stella fairly burst into tears hat til.
sight of her griet, backed by Mr.. Car
sons orders and my own rcmocstrances,
carried the day.
All this while II ,ndrilla had been
standing quite unmoved. At last the
tumult stopped, and the leading induna
called to her to 60, promising that if
ever she showed her face near the
kraals again she should be stabbed like
a jackal. Then Hendril-a spoke to Stella
in low voice in English:
Better let them kill ne, mistress, bet
ter for all. Without you to love shall
60 mad and become babyan again
Stella did not answer, and they loosed
her. She stepped forward and looked az
the natives with a stare of hate. Then
she turned and walked past me, and as
she passed whispered q native phrase IN
my ear, that being literally translated,
means 'till another NOON" but which
has the same significance as the French
Eau revoir."
1t frightened me, for 1 knew she
meant that she had not done with me,
and saw that our mercy had been mis-
placed. Seeing my face change she ran
swiftly from me, and as she passed
Indaba-zinbi, with a sudden movement
snatcned her great knife from his land.
When she had gone about twenty PAGES
she halted, looked long and earnestly
on Stella, gave one loud cry of anguish
and fed. A few minutes later We saw
her far away, bounding up the face OF
an almost perpendicular clif-a cliff
that nobody except herself and the
balloons could possibly climb.
Look" said Indaba-zimbi in my
ear - Look. Macumazahn. there
goes the Babyan-frau. But, Macu-