San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-01

she is very strong, she could carry you
or me-
Hendrika grunted assent. | am sorry
that | cannot express her method of
speech by any more polite term. Some
times she grunted like monkey, some.
times she clicked like a BuShman, and
sometimes she did both together, when
she became quite unintelligible.
expostulated against this proposed
arrangement, saying that we could walk,
which was fib, for | do not think !
could have done a mile: but Stella would
not listen: She would not even let me
carry my elephant gun, but took it her
self So we mounted with some diff
Guilty, and Hendrika took up the sleep
ing Tota in her long, sinewy arms.
See that the 'baboom woman does not
run away into the mountains with the
little white one said Indaba-zimbi to
me in Kaffir, as he climbed on to the
horse.
Unfortunately, Hendrika understood
his speech Her face twisted and grew
livid with fury. She put down TOta and
literally sprang at Indahazimbi as a
monkey springs. But, weary and worn
as he was, the old gentleman was too
quick for her. With an exclamation of
genuine fright he threw himself from
the horse on the further side, with the
somewhat ludiCrOuS result that all in Il
moment Hendrika was occupying the
seat that he had vacated. just then
Stella realized the position.
Come down, you savage. come
down." she said, stamping her foot.
The extraordinary creature flung her
self from the horse and literally grUv
eed on the ground before her mistress
and burst into tears.
Pardon, Miss Stella" she clicked and
Srunted in villainous English, but he
called me a 'babyan frou' (baboOn wo-
mani.
Tell your servant that he must not
use such words to IIendrika. Mr.. Allan"
Stella said to he. IF he does she
added, in whisper, 'Hendrika will GER
tainlv kill him."
explained this to Indaba-zimbi, who,
being considerably frightened, deigned
was hate and war between these two.
Harmony having been thus restored,
we started, the dogs following us. \
small strip of desert interviewed between
us and the slope of the peak; perhaps it
was two miles wide. We crossed it and
reached rich grass lands, for hor" a con
siderable stream gathered from the hills;
hut RI, Iva,
landS it passed to tn" cast along the foot
- T." bills. This stream we had to pass
Ey ? ford. Hcndrika walked boldly
through it, holding TOta in her arms.
Stella Ieapt across from stone to stone
like a rOebuCk: thought to myself that
she was the most graceful creature that
had ever seen. After this the track
passed round a pleasantly wooded Shout
der of the peak, which was, found,
known as Babyan Kap, or Balloon Head.
OF course we could only go at a foot
pace, so our progress was slow. Stella
walked for some way in silence, then she
spoke.
Tell me, Mr.. Allan" she said, how
it was that | came to find you dying in
the DESERT
So l began and told her all 1t took
an hour or more to do 50, and she lis
tened intently. now and again asking "A
question.
1T is all very wonderful" she said
when ! had done, very wonderful, in
deed. Do you know | went out this
morning with Hendrika and the dogs for
a ride, meaning to get back home by
midday, for my father is ill, and do not
like to leave him for long But just as
was going to turn, when we were about
where we are nOw-yeS, this was the
very buSh-an oribe got up, and the dogs
chased it. followed them for the gal
lOp, and when we came to the river in
stead of turning to the left as bucks gen
orally do, the Oribe swan the stream and
took to the bad lands beyond. | followed
it, and within a hundred yards Of the
big tree the dogs killed it, Hendrika
wanted me to turn back at once, but !
said that we would rest under the shade
of the tree, for knew that there was a
spring of water near. Well, we went; and
there | saw you all lying like dead but
Hendrika, who is very clever in some
ways, said no-and you know the rest.
Yes, it is very wonderful"
1T is, indeed" said. Now tell me,
Miss Stella, who is Hendrika:'
She looked round before answering to
see that the woman was not near.
"Hers is a strange story, Mr.. Allan. |