Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-26

WA would not rest till
they had EXTERN
mated every baboon on Babyans peak.
/ echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen,
we kept it.
We started on along the stream. fol-
lowing the spoor of the balloons as we
best could. But the stream left no spoor,
and the hard, rocky banks but little
Sull we wandered on. All night we
wandered through the lonely moonlit val
leys, startling the silence into thousand
echoes with our cries. But no answer
came to them. In vain our eyes searched
the sides Of precipices formed of water
riven rocks Enthusiastically piled one upon
another; in vain we searched through
endless dells and fern clad crannies.
There was nothing to be found. How
could we expect TO find two human
beings hidden away in the recesses of
this vast stretch Of mountain ground,
which no man yet had ever fully ex-
plored? They were lost, and in all hui
man probability lost for ever.
To and fro we wandered hopelessly,
till at last dawn found us footsore and
weary nearly at the spot whence we had
started. We sat down waiting for the
SUN to rise, and the men ate of such
food as they had brought with them, and
sent to the kraals for more.
sat upon stone with breaking
heart. l cannot describe my feelings.
Let the reader put himself in my posi-
ton and perhaps he may get some idea
of them. Near me was old Indaba-
Imbi, who sat staring straight before
him as though he were looking into
space, and taking note of what went on
there. An idea struck me- This man
had some occult power. Several times
during our adventures he had prophe-
sled, and in every case his prophecies
had proved true. He il was who, when
we escaped from the Zulu Impi, had
told me to steer north, because there we
should find the place of white man
who lived under the shadow of a great
peak that was full OF balloons. Perhaps
he could help in this extremity-at any
rate it was worth trying.
? "Indaba-zimbi," | said, "you say that
you can send your spirit through the
doors of space and see what we cannot
see. At the least l know that you can
do strange things. Can you not help
me now? If you can, and will save her,
/ will give you half the cattle that we
have here"
Il never said anything Of the sort,
Macumazahn," he answered. Il do
IL I Il IL Na5t
do / seek reward for what | do like a
common witch doctor. 1t is well that
YOU have asked me 10 use my wisdom,
Macumazahn, for should not have used
it again without being asked-nO, not
even for the sake of the Star and yourself,
whom l love, for if so my spirit would
have been angry. In the other matters
had a part. for nay life was concerned as
well as yours; but in this matter | have
no part. and therefore | might not use
1ay wisdom unless you thought well to
call upon nv spirit. However, it would
have been no good to ask me before, for
l have only Just found the herb | want
and he produced handful of leaves of
a plant that was unfamiliar to me. 1t
had prickly leaves, shaped very much
like those of the common English nettle.
Now, Macumazahn. he went on,
Ibid the men leave us alone. and then
follow me presently to the little glade
down there by the water"
/ did SO. When reached the glade
found Indaba-zimbi kindling small fire
under the shadow of tree by the edge of
the water.
.Sit there, Macumazahn," he said,
pointing to a stone near the fire, land do
Tot be surprised or frightened at any
thing you See. If you move or call out
we shall learn nothing"
| sat down and watched. When the
fire was alght and burning brightly, the
old fellow stripped himself stark naked,
and. going to the foot of the pool, dipped
himself in the water Then he came
back shivering with the cold, and, lean
ing over the little fire, thrust leaves
of the plant have mentioned into his
mouth and began to chew them, mutter-
ing as he chewed. Most Of the remaining
leaves he threw onto the fire. A dense
smoke rose from them, but he held his
head in this smoke and drew it down into
his lungs till saw that he was exhibiting
every sign of suffocation. The veins in
his throat and chest swelled, he gaSped
loudly. and his eyes, from which tears
were streaming, seemed IS though they
were going TO start from his head. Pres
emily be fell over on his side, and lay
serseless. / was terribly alarmed. and
nv first impulse was 70 run TO his assist
ance. but fortunately l remembered his
caution and sat quiet.
Indaba-zimbi lay on the ground like a
person Quite dead. His limbs had all the
ntter relaxation of death. But as
watched | saw them begin 70 stiiTen, ex-
actly as though risor morris had set In.
Then. TO nv astonishment, l perceived
them once more relax, and this time
there appeared upon his chest the STAN
of decomposition. Itspread and spread;
IN three minutes the man, to ali appear
ance, was Hvid corpse.
sat amazed watching this uncann!
sight. and wondering if any further nat
ural process was about to be enacted.
Perhaps Indsba-Eimbi was going to tau
to dust before my eyes. As watched L
observed that the discoioration was be-
uiSnins to fade. FIRST it vanished from