Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-28

| VIC tEhu Iue6t tue eteru TepFOol u bue
colonel for disobeying instructions.
The ten troopers whom he had sent of
clrcled up with a spare .borse that had
run to them, and Blaine swayed in their
direction. He mounted, reeled from
side to side in his saddle like drunken
man, then with desperate effort reoov-
cred command of himself.
| tCharge!" he cried, "and revenge
! your comrades.
Away they flew, and at sight of their
numbers the Zulus slaoksned speed :,
opened to receive them, and then closed.
| Revolvers cracked, horses snorted with
| pain as the assegals struck them, but
still the gallant troopers swept on, right
| through the dark mass, then turned
again. One by one they fell from the
saddle, some to stagger to their feet and
fight on foot.
"Jui" yelled the Zulus; "Ju! Vic
tory-we kill. Great is our chIef-cun-
ming as jackal-terribls as the lion. -
This song OF triumph was premature.
| 1t was answered by fierce shout, and
| from behind a ridge swept down a
hundred horsemen the wiry figure of the
| colonel leading. Through the scattered
enemy they swept, overturning, striking
them down, and after them they went
fighting right up to the brink of
wooded kloof. Into this the Zulus
slipped, to rally again under the fierce
cry OF their chief, who stormed and
ragged at the catastrophe which had
taken some of the success from his
strategy.
In that short pursuit Dick shot Zulu
view his victim.
"Well. john, - he said, squatting down
by the side of the suffering but proudly
silent warrior; chow goes it?''
1--WE have killed you,' said the war
riOr, 1.-TWO for each of us.'
CAN right, but we made you run.
Are they all right at the kraal, plenty of
food eh, and beer. Are your people
tired of fighting?''
"You will be tired first
$50 Cetewayo is at Ulandi eh. Good;
Wen turn him out. Any more news,
but dom t speak if your leg hurts you.
Sirayo was with you; he is a big chief
"Aweh; l hear that yesterday he
slew Oham' 8 people beyond Kopjs
Alleen.''
"What did they do THEREOF
''They had captured white girl from
the old man, the white witch doctor. -
'Yoh, and where is she now?''
- on must ask Slray0.
"Good, John. Have you, more news.
None, well for what you have told me l
will kill you well. Where shall I shoot
you?'
"'In the heart said the warrior,
calmly, placing his hand over bis heart;
g first pinch of snuff.
Dick took from the lobe of his ear a
small tube filleu with snuff. The war
riOr in bn Of
hand, shifted II up with satisfied air.
"Now,' he said.
Dick drew back yard and placed
bullet through his prisoners heart.
After this grim business, which is no
fictitious make believe, and which to
Dick was al act of kindness, the Basuto
rode back towards the kopje.
He found Capt. Blaine endorsed again,
but sound in mind, though weak from |
loss of blood, and sadly troubled about |
the fearful consequences of having dis |
mounted bis men.
"Dick,' he said hopelessly, "half |
my brave men are lost
'Nefer mind, baas; they died fight |
ing-what more could they hope for? |
You kept the Zulus till we got up. 1t |
was good-so few against so many
81 wish had been killed too, Dick. -
'No, sieur, there is work for you. 1t
lie near time. Remember Kopje Alleen
and the bright fire. Come
He helped his officer on to his horse
aud ran by his side to the nearest ridge.
Blaine paid no attention TO his words,
but turned his eyes back upon the field
of that fierce and bloody figh !.
Far away on the horizon showed the
blue heights of the northern frontier;
Dick watched the growth of his shadow
as II stretched over the burnt goss oh
by inch. At length it crept up to the
mark he had placed to indicate the
proper length, and then he fixed his
keen, black eyes on small peak in that
distant range, wondering if the light
would come.
The moment had passed, and yet an
other; the shadow crept an inch beyond
his mark, and Blaine turned to look too.
"No duce. baes-caunot see. That
Skin-J Jacket made his big mistake.
He turned away to watch the troopers
and Blaine, with sudden
lighting of his face, leaped on the large
'ock aud looked to the north.
'Wot is it, Baas?''
'fLook, Dick, can you see apything?'
lie said in startled voice.
Dick turned his eyes again to the spot. |
"Umpagati, he cried in an awed
Toice, ''there is the light.
A tiny spark, like the brief light of
match struck afar off on dark night,
,lowed on the distant summit
1.-THE Zulu was right muttered
Dick. "Baas. we must go now. Skin
Iacket calls to us.
mo, - whispered Blaine to himself,
sit is Mary, / heard her call.
CHAPTER XxIx.-MIssING.
Capt. Blaine felt his strength and |
prt return at the silent message cast by
hat small spark. 1t made q claim upon
lis energy, his courage and perhaps his
life, and his first sensation was one akin
pleasure that it should come at such q
when his military career
eemed at its darkest. He had perhaps
judged himself too severely for his fall
ire to hold back the Zulus, but his only
ault had been that he had not taken the
dash of Sirayo into conf
liberation. Moreover In following up {
he enemy his reoklessuess had served
IS purpose, and reck!essness that sue
eeds is never condemned. |
However, in his own mind he had
Numbered, and he dreaded the censure r
7hich he believed the stern colonel ,
znvId hara ,ofeS 70 b,r,, | .