The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-04-05


swan to shore again. He did not stop
there long, however, for they pushed
him back and drowned him by force.
The strangest case of all was that of
the chiefs own brother. He had been
captain of the line, and his ankle was
smashed by bullet. Sususa came up to
him, and having examined the wound
rated him soundly for failing in the first
onslaught.
The poor fellow made the excuse that
it was not his fault, as the Beers had hit
him in the first rush. His brother ad-
mitted the truth of this and talked to
him amicably.
"Well," he said ut length, offering
him pinch of snuff, "you cannot walk
again"
"No, chief" said the wounded man,
looking at his ankle.
"And tomorrow we must walk far"
went on Sususa.
eyes, chief"
"Say, then, will you sit here on the
veldt, or"-and he nodded towards the
river.
The man dropped his head on his
breast for minute as though in thought.
Presently he lifted it and looked Sususa
straight in the face.
my ankle pains me, my brother" he
said; think Twill go back to Zululand,
for there is the only kraal wish to see,
even if creep about it like snake"
"It 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 heavy stone round his
neck, and then threw him into 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 was 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 infict it on others. When this very
impi had been sent by the Zulu King
Dingaan, it consisted of some nine thou
sand men. Now 1t 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. twas their natural end. "Kill
till you are killed." That is the mottoof
the Zulu soldier. It has the merit of
simplicity.
Meanwhile the warriors were looting
the wagons, including my own, having
first thrown all the dead Beers into
heap. Hooked at tho 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." Hooked; 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. "Is it
dead, father?" he said.
Now, as could we'll 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."
held up the child, and was about to kill
it with his knobstick. This was more
than I could bear. Isprang at him and
struck him with all my force in the face,
little caring il was speared or not. He
dropped Tota on the ground.
"oh!" he said, putting his hand to his
nose, "the white spirit has a hard fist.
Come, spirit. will fight you for the
child"
The soldiers cheered and laughed.
eyes! yesl" they said, "let Bombyane
fight the white spirit for the child. Let
them fight with assegais."
EOI mOueuC neSlCaCeQ. what
chance had against this black giant?
But 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 chief
through Indaba-zimbi that 1 was quite
willing to condescend to kill Bombyane,
on condition that if did so the child's
life should be given to me. Indaba-zimbi
interpreted my words, but 1 noticed that
he would not look on me as he spoke,
but covered his face with his hands and
spoke of me as "the ghost" or the "son
of the spirit" For some reason that
have never quite understood, the chief
consented to the duel. I fancy it was
because he believed me to be more than
mortal, and was anxious to see the last
of Bombyane.
"Let them fight" he said. "Give them
assegais and no shields; the child shall
be to him who conquers."
"Yes! yes!" cried the soldiers. "Let
them fight. Don't be afraid, Bonn
byane; If he is spirit, he's very small
one."
81 never was frightened of man or
beast, and am not going to run away
from a white ghost" answered the re-
doubtable Bombyane, as he examined
the blade of his great bangwanar stab
bing assegai