The Globe-republican., 1890-10-15

>A-' ~~A-NA-A>N'
spreading boughs in her large fiat hands
"a swing that would have filed an
acrobat with envy-.nd she was on it.
NOW there is an end," l thought
again, 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 it.
l suppose that the lady saw my express
sion of establishment. do not wonder,
SIR" she said. ''Hendrika is not like
other people. She will not fall
1 made no answer, but watched the
progress Of this extraordinary person
with the most breathless interest. On
she went swinging herself from bough
to bough, and running along them like
a monkey. At last she got to 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 crack-a crash-it
broke. l 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"
1 looked, and so she was She had
caught bough as she fell, chung to it,
and was now calmly dropping to another.
Old Indaba-Zimbi had also watched this
performance with interest, but it did
not seem to astonish him over much.
'Baboon-voman," he said, as though
such people were 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
ordinary way we should have found it
tasteless enough; as it was l thought it
was the most delicious thing 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 a 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 were allowed q little
more water. After that she took little
Tota to the spring and washed her,
which she sadly needed, poor child.
Next came our turn to wash. and oh! the |
JOY of it!
l came back to the tree, walking pain |
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 enjoining |
silence. At last the child went of into |
sound natural slumber-an example |
that should have been glad to follow !
had it not been for my burning curios- |
ity. Then spoke.
said.
Stella" she answered.
Stella what?" said.
Stella nothing" she answered, in |
some pique. ''Stella is my name; it is
short and easy to remember, at any rate. |
My fathers name is Thomas, and we
live up there" and she pointed round
the base of the great peak. looked at
her astonished- Have you lived there
long?" asked.
'.Ever since 1 was seven years old.
We came there in wagon Before that
We came from England-from Oxford
shire; can show you the place on the
big map. 1t is called Garsingham-
Again l thought must be dreaming.
"Do you know. Miss Stella said, 1T
is very strange-so strange that it al
most seems as though it could not be
true-but l also came from Garsingham,
in Oxfordshire, many years ago"
She started up "Are you an English
gentleman" she said 'Ah, have al
ways longed to see IN English gentle