Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-11


started at once. The proposition was at
once agreed to, and, what is more, it was
settled that one Dutchman and such OF
the women and children as could travel
should go with them. In half an hours
time twelve of them started with the ma
tives. the Boer in charge, and the cattle.
Three Of my own men went with the
latter, the three others and Indaba-zimhi
stopped with me in the lager.
Theparting was heart breaking scene,
upon which do not care to dwell. The
women wept, the men groaned, and the
children looked on with scared white
faces. at length they were gone, and
for one was thankful OF it. There re-
manned in the lager seventeen white
men, four natives, the two Boer fraus
who were two stout to travel, the woman
in childbed and her baby, and Kama
Botha's little daughter Tota, whom The
could not make up his mind to part with.
Happily, her mother was already dead.
And here may state that ten of tho
women and children, together with about
half Of the cattle, escaped. The Zulu
impi never saw them, and on the third
day Of travel they came to the fortified
place of Griqua chief, who sheltered
them on receiving half the cattle in pay
ment. Thence by slow degrees they
iourneyed down to the Cape Colony,
reaching civilized region within little
more than year from the date of the
attack on the lager.
The afternoon was now drawing to-
ward 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 Indaba-zimbi
had heard 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 q
"verdomde swartzel"-an accused black
creature-and would betray us. 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. told him this. He nodded his white
lock, said "All right, Macumazahn," and
started. noticed with some surprise,
however, that before he did 80 he went
to the wagon and fetched his "mouti.r
or medicine, which, together with his
own magical apparatus, he always car
ried In skin bag. asked him why he
did this. lie answered that 1t was to
make himself invulnerable against the
spears of the Zulus. did not in the
least believe his explanation, for In my
heart i was sure that he meant 10 take
the opportunity to make bolt of 1t, iesv-
ing me to my fate did not, however,
Interfere to prevent this, for ! had an
affection for the old fellow, and sincerely
hoped that he might escape the doom
which overshadowed us.
So Indaba-zimbi sauntered off, and as
looked at his retreating form thought
that should never see.it again. But J.
was mistaken, and little knew that he
was risking his life, not for the Beers
whom he hated one and all, but for me-
whom in his queer way he loved.
When he bad 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 head of the
party, offered up prayer TO God for our
preservation. 1t was touching sight to
see the burly Dutchman, bis hat off, 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.
/ remember that 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, and do not let us be tortured
echoed the request very earnestly In
my own heart, that ! know, for in COM
mon with the others ! was drcadfully
afraid, and 1t 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 one
of the Beers would light his pipe with
brand from the smoldering fire, and the
glow Of it would shine for 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 watt
ed for the Zulus. But from my in
innate knowledge Of the habits Of ma
tives had little fear that they would at
tack us. at night, though, had they done
so, they could have compassed our de-
struction with but small loss to them
co1xac II Ia MT tho habit ~ fhie r,aOYlle