The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-09-05

he spoke, which, in addition to the
humor that lurked in his eye, gave him
most comical appearance. Another
strange thing about him was that he
had single white lock of hair among
his black wool. At last I spoke to him.:
''1ndaba-zfnbi, my friend" l said,
''you may bs good witch-doctor, but
you are certainly a fool. 1t is no good
reckoning at the blue sky while your
enemy is getting start with the storm"
You may be clever, but don't think
you know every thing, white man." the
old fellow answered, in a high cracked
voice, and with something like grin.
"They call you Irontongue," 1 went
on; you had better use it or the Storm
Devil won't hear YOU"
1.-The fire from above runs down iron,"
he answered, 80 keep my tongue quiet.
Oh, yes, let him curse away. I'll put
him out presently. Look now, white
man."
Hooked, and in the eastern sky there
grew a cloud. At first it was small. but
very black, but it gathered with extra.
ordinary rapidity.
This was odd enough, but as I had
seen the same thing happen before it
did not particularly astonish me. 1t is
by no means unusual in Africa for two
thunder-storms to come up at the same
time from different points of the COM
pass.
"You had better go on, Indaba-zimbi,"
/ said, ''the big storm is coming along
fast, and will soon eat up that baby of
yours, and pointed to the west.
''Babies sometimes grow to giants,
white man." said Indaba-zimbi, beckon-
ing away vigorously. Look now at my
cloud-child."
l looked; the eastern storm had spread
itself from earth to sky, and in shape
resembled an enormous man. There
was its head, its shoulders and its legs;
yes, it was like huge giant travelling
across the heavens. The light of the
setting sun escaping from beneath the
lower edge of the western storm shot
of splendor, and, lighting upon the ad-
vancing figure, wrapped its middle in
hues of glory too wonderful to be de-
scribed; but beneath and above this
glowing belt his feet and head were black
as jet. Presently, as 1 watched, an awful
flash of light shot from the head Of the
cloud and circled it about as though
with a crown of living fire and vanished.
"Aha," chuckled old Indaba-zimbi,
my little boy is putting on his mans
ring" and he tapped the green ring on
his own head, which natives assume
when they reach a certain age and dig
nifty. Now, white man, unless you are
a bigger wizard than either of us you
had better clear of, for the freight is
about to begin"
/ thought this sound advice.
''Good luck go with you, my black
uncle" said. Il hope you don't feel
the iniquities of misspent life weigh
ing on you at the last
'You look after yourself, and think OF
your own sins, young man." he an
swered, with grim smile, and taking a
pinch of snuff; and at that very moment
a fash of lightning, I don't know from
which storm, struck the ground within
thirty PAGES of me. That was enough
1SA L ldAAAl OOOh W 1iCC4os a.
went heard old Indaba-zimbi's dry
chuckle of amusement.
climbed the hill till came to where
the chief was sitting with his Indunas,
and sat down near to him. I looked at
the mans face and saw that he was in
tensely anxious for his sons safety, and
by no means confident of his powers to
resist the magic of Indaba-zimbi. He
was talking in a low voice to the Induna |
next to him Iaffected to take no no.
tice and to be concentrating my atten- |
ton on the novel scene before me; bu. |
in those days had very quick ears, and |
caught the drift of the conversation.
''HearkenI" the chief was saying, ssif |
the magic of Indaba-zimbi prevails |
against my son I will endure him no |
more! OF this am sure. that when he |
has slain my son he will slsy me, me
also, and make himself chief in nv
place. 1 fear Indaba-zimb;. On"
'sBlack one," answered me Induna,
wizards die as dogs die, and, once dead,
dogs bsxf no more"
sand s1ce dead, said the chief, 'twiz-
ards work no more SPELLS" and he bent
and whispered in the Induna'sear, look
ing at the assegai in his hand as he whis-
pered