Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-18
YOUR only hope. |"

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tumult lessened somewhat, and once
more the warriors drew back.
'Great white spirit-spirit Of victory"
said Indaha-zimbi, addressing me aloud,
and covering his eyes with his hand,
"hear me and forgive me. These chill
dreu are blind with folly, and think
thee mortal because thou hast dealt death
upon mortal who dared to stand against
thee. Deign to kneel down before me
and let me pierce thy heart with this
spear; then. when cali upon thee, arise
unhurt."
knelt down, not because wished to,
but because must. had not overmuch
faith in Indaba-zimbi, and thought 1t
probable that he was In truth about to
make an end of me. But really was
so worn with fears, and the horrors Of
the night and day had so shaken my
nerves. that / did not greatly care what
befell me. When had been kneeling
thus for about half minute Indaba-
zimbi spoke.
People of the Umtetwa children Of
TChaka," he said, "draw back little
space, lest ar evil fall on you. for now
the air is thick with ghosts.
They drew back space, leaving US In
circle about twelve yards In diameter.
Look on him who kneels before you"
went on Indaba-zimba, land listen to
my words, to the words of the witch
finder, the words Of the rainmaker,
Indaba-Eimbi. whose fame is known to
you He seems to be q man, does he
not2 tell, you, children OF the Umtet-
wa, he Is no man. He Is the spirit who
| gives victory to the white men; he IL Ia
who gave them assegais that thunder
and taught them how to slay. Why
were the impis of Dingan rolled back at
the Blood river? Because he was there.
Why did the Amaboona slay the people
of Mosilikaaye by the thousand? Be
cause he was there. And so I say to
you that, had I not drawn him
from the lager by my magic but
three hours ago, you would have been
conquered-yes, you would have been
blown away like the dust before the
wind; you would have been burned UP
Hike the dry grass In the winter when
the fire is awake among 1t. Aye, be-
cause he had but been there many OF
| your bravest were slain In overcoming
few-a pinch of men who could be
| counted on the fingers. But because ]
loved you, because your chief Sususa Ia
| my half brother-for had we not one
father?-I came to you. warned you.
Then you prayed me and ! drew the
| spirit forth. But you were not satisfied
when the victory was yours, when the
spirit of all you had taken asked but one
| little thing-a white child to take away
and sacrifice to himself, to make the
medicine of his magic Of
Here I could hardly restrain myself
from interrupting. but thought better
| of it.
"You said him nay; you said, Let him
fight with our bravest man, let him fight
with Bombyane, the giant, for the child
And he deigned to slay Bombyane as you
have seen, and now you say, Stay him;
he is no spirit Now / will show you II
he is spirit, for / will slay him before
your eyes, and call him to life again.
But you have brought this upon your
selves. Had you believed, had you Of
fered no insult to the spirit, he would
have stayed with you, and you should
have become unconquerable. Now he
will arise and leave you, and woe be on
you If you try to stay him. Now all
men, he went on, "look for space upon
this assegai that I hold up" and he lifted
the bangwan of the deceased Bombyane
high above his head, so that all the
multitude could see It. Every eye
was fixed upon the broad, bright spear.
For a while he held It still, then he
moved it round and round in a circle,
muttering as he did so, and still their
gaze followed 1t. For my part, follow
ed his movements with the greatest
anxiety. That assegai had already been
nearer my person than found at all
pleasant, and had no desire to make q
further acquaintance with it. Nor, In
deed, was ! sure that Indaba-zimbi was
not really going to kill me. could not
understand his proceedings at all, and at
the best I did not relish playing the
corpus vile to his magical experiments
"Looki looki lookp he screamed.
Then suddenly the great spear flashed
down towards my breast. felt nothing,
but it seemed as though it had passed
through me.
Seer roared the Zulus. "Ipdaba-
zimbi has speared him; the red assegai
stands out behind his back"
"Roll over, Macumazahn," Indaba-
zimbi Kissed In my ear, roll over and
pretend to die-quick! quick!"
Host no time in following these strange
instructions, but falling on my side,
threw my arms wide, kicked my legs
about, and died as artistically as could.
Presently gave stage shver and lay
| still.
"Seei" said the Zulus, she is dead. the
spirit is dead. Look at the blood upon
;he assegair"
| "Stand back stand back!" cried India
,a-zimbi. "or the ghost will haunt you.
Yes, he is dead. and now will call him
pack to life again. Lookl" and putting