The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-01-19

for there is the only kraal 1 wish to see,
even if creep about it like snake"
sit is well, my brother" said the chief.
"Rest SOFTLY" and having shaken hands
with him, he gave an order to one of the
indunas, and turned away.
Then men came, and, supporting the
wounded man, helped him down to the
banks of the stream. Here, at his re-
quest, they tied a heavy stone round his
neck, and then threw him into a deep
pool. / saw the whole sad scene, and
the victim never even WINGED. 1t was
impossible not to admire the courage of
the man, or to avoid being struck with
the cold-blooded cruelty of his brother,
the chief. And yet the act WA neces-
sary from his point of view. The man
must either die swiftly or be left to per-
ish of starvation, for no Zulu force will
cucumber itself with wounded men.
Years of merciless warfare had so har-
dened these people that they looked on
death as nothing, and were, to do them
justice, as willing to meet it themselves
as to inflict it on others. When this very
iHlpi had been sent by the Zulu King
Dingaan, it consisted of some nine thou
sand men. Now it numbered about
three; all the rest were dead. They, too,
would probably soon be dead. What
did it matter? They lived by war, to die
in blood. 1t was their natural end Kill
till YOU are killed" That is the motto of
the Zulu soldier. 1t has the merit Of
simplicity.
Meanwhile the warriors were footing
the wagons, including my own, having
first thrown all the dead Beers into a
heap. looked at the heap; all of them
were there, including the two stout fraus,
poor things. But / missed one body,
that of the Hans Botha's daughter, little
Tota. A wild hope came into my heart
that she might have escaped; but no, it
was not possible. could only pray that
she was already at rest.
Just then the great Zulu, Bombyane,
who had left my side to indulge in the
congenial occupation of looting, came
out Of wagon crying that he had got
the ''little white one" looked; he was
carrying the child Tota, gripping her
frock in one of his huge black hands.
He stalked up to where we were, and
held the child before the chief. SIS it
dead, father" he said.
Now, as | could well see, the child was
not dead, but had been hidden away, and
tainted with fear.
The chief glanced at it carelessly, and
said:
Find out with your kerrie."
Acting on this hint the black devil
held up the child, and was about to Kill
it with his knobstick. This was more
than l could bear. sprang at him and
struck him with all my force in the face
little caring if 1 was speared or not. He
dropped Tota on the ground.
"Oh!' he said, putting his hand to his
, nose, 1.-The white spirit has hard fist
Come, spirit, will fight you for the
child"
The soldiers cheered and laughed
eyes! yes" they said, ''let Bombyant
fight the white spirit for the child. Lee
them fight with assegais."
For a moment hesitated What
chance had l against this black giant
But 1 had promised poor Hans to save
the child if could, and what did it mat
ter? AS well die now as later. How
ever, had wit enough left to make
favor of it, and intimated to the chic
through Indaba-zimbi that / was quit
willing to condescend to kill Bombyane
u On condition that if l did so the child
life should be given to me. Indaba-zimb
interpreted my words, but noticed tina
he would not look on me as he spoke
nut covered his face with his hands an,
spoke of me as 1.-THE ghost" or the $50
of the spirit" For some reason that
have never quite understood, the chic
consented to the duel. I fancy it wa
because he believed me to be more tha
mortal, and was anxious to see the las
of Bonbyane.
''Let them fight, he said ''Give ther
assegais and no shields; the child sha
be to him who conquers."
''Yesl yes!' cried the soldiers. ssLe
them fight. Don't be afraid, Bon
byane; if he is spirit, he's very sma
one"
- never was frightened of man G
4 beast, and 1 am not going to run ava
y from a white ghost" answered the re
doubtable Bombyane, as he examine
the blade of his great bangwanar stall
bling assegai.
Then they made a ring round us, CAV
me similar assegai and set us some tie
PAGES apart. L kept my face as calm {
could, and tried to show no signs {
fear, though in my heart I was terribl
afraid. Humanity speaking, my door
was on me. The giant warrior before III
had used the assegai from child ha
no experience of the weapon. Moreove
though 1 was quick and active, he mu
have been at least twice as strong as
was. However, there was no help for
10, setting my teeth, | grasped the gre;
Spear, breathed prayer, and waited.
The giant stood awhile looking, at m
and, as he stood, Indaba-zimbi wake
across the ring behind me, muttering
he passed, ''Keep cool, Macumazahn, an
wait for him."
As had not the slightest intention
commencing the fray, 1 thought tn
good advice.
Heavens! how long that half minu
seemed! 1t happened many years ag
but the whole scene rises up before n
eyes as write. There behind us w,
the bloodstained lager, and near it L.
the piles of dead; round us was rar
fupon rank of plumed savages, standir
4 in silence to wait the issue of the due