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

stock must have been low about Babyan's
peak for many years afterwards. From
that day to this, however. I have always
avoided balloons, feeling more afraid Of
than than any beast that lives.
The path was clear, and we rushed for
ward up the water-course. But first we
picked up little Teta The child was not
in a swoon. as / had thought, but par
alyzed by terror, so that she could scarce
" speak. Otherwise she was unhurt,
though it took her many week to re-
cover her nerve. Had she been older.
and had she not remembered Hendrika,
I doubt if she would have recovered it.
She knew me again. and flung her little
arms about my neck, clnging to me so
closely that did not dare to give her to
any one else to carry lest should add to
her terrors. So I went on with her in
my arms. The fears that pierced my
heart may we'll be imagined. Should
find Stella alive or, dead: Should / find
her at all? Well, we should soon know
now. We stumbled on up the stony wa
ter-course; Notwithstanding the weight
of Tota, l led the way. for suspense lent
me wings. Now we were through, and
an extraordinary scene lay before us.
We We're in great natural amphithea-
tire, only it was three times the size of
any amphitheatre ever shaped by man,
and the walls were formed of precipitous
cliffs, ranging from one to two hundred
feet in height. For the rest, the space
thus inclosed was level. studded with
park-Eke trees, brilliant with flowers,
and having a stream running through
the center of it that, as afterwards dis
covered, welled up from the ground at
the head of the open space.
We spread ourselves out in a line,
searching everywhere, for Tota was too
overcome to be able to tell us where
Stella was hidden away. For nearly
half an hour we searched and searched,
scanning the walls of rock for any pos
sible opening to a cave. In vain-we
could find none. Iapplied to old Indaba-
zimbi, but his foresight was at fault
here. All he could say was that this was
the place, and that the ''Star" was hidden
somewhere in a cave. but where the cave
was he could not tell. At last we came
to the top of the amphitheatre There
before US was wall of rock, of which
the lower parts were here and there
clothed in grasses, lichens and creepers.
/ walked along it, calling at the top of
my voice.
Presently my heart stood still, for I
thought l heard faint answer. l drew
nearer to the place from which the sound
seemed to come, and again called. Yes.
there was an answer in my wifes voice.
1t seemed to come from the rock. I
went up to it and searched among the
creepers, but still could find no opening.
Move the stone" cried Stella's voice,
''the cave is shut with stone"
l took spear and prodded at the cliff
whence the sound came. Suddenly the
spear sank in thrOug h mass of lichen.
1 swept the lichen aside, revealing a
bowlder that had been rolled into the
mouth of an opening in the rock, which
it fitted SO accurately that, covered as it
was by the overhanging Hchen, it might
well have escaped the keenest eye. We
dragged the bowlder out; it was two
mems work TO do it. Beyond was a
narrow, water worn passage, which
followed with beating heart. Pres
emily the passage opened into a small
cave, shaped like pickle bottle, and
coming to neck at the top end. We
passed through and found ourselves in a
second, much larger cave, that at once
recognized as the one of which Indaba-
zimbi had shown me vision in the
water. Light reached it from above
how l know not-and by it I could see a
form half sitting, half lying on some
skins at the top end of the cave.
rushed to it. 1t was Stella! Stella bound
with strips of hide, bruised, torn, but
still Stella, and alive.
She saw me, she gave one cry, then as
1 caught her in my arms she tainted. 1t
was happy indeed that she did not faint
before, for had it not been for the sound
of her voice | do not believe we should
ever have found that cunningly hidden
cave, unless, indeed, Indaba-zimbi's mag
ic Ton which be blessings had come to
our assistance.
We bore her to the open air, laid her
beneath the shade Of a tree, and cut the
bonds loose from her ankles. As we
went glanced at the cave. 1t was ex-
actly as l had seen it in the vision.
There burnt the fire, there were the rude
wooden vessels, one of them still half
full of the water which had seen the
baboon bring. l felt awed as l looked,
and marveled at the power welded by a
savage who could not even read and
write.
Now l could see Stella clearly. Her
face was scratched. and haggard with
fear and weeping. Her clothes were al
most torn off her, and her beautiful hair
was loose and tangled. sent for water,
and we sprinkled her face. Then / forced
a little OF the brandy which we distilled
from peaches at the kraals between her
lips, and she opened her eyes. and throw
ing her arms about me chung 70 me as
little Tota had done, sobbing, Thank
God, thank GodI'
After while she grew quieter. and
made her and Tota eat little food from
the store that we had brought with as.
too ate and was thankful, for with the
exception OF the mssie cobs had tasted
nothing for nearly Neutrality-suspicious..
Then she washed her face and hands, and
tidied her rags Of dress as well as she was
able. AS she did SO, by degrees drew
her story from her.
1t seemed that On the previous after
noon, being wearied with packing. she
went out TO visit her fathers grave, tax