Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-12

a look of half defiance, half-entreaty.
Rowe shut his lips upon the word that
was about to escape from him, but
someone else had marked the swift
glance, and attention was fastened upon
the Zulu.
"who are you that force yourself
among us?'' demanded an officer of
native levies.
'who am l?'' repeated the Zulu 4,
looking proudly around and seeing de-
lection was certain-''I am Sirayo!'
A bombshell could not have caused a
greater CONSERVATION for moment, for
the name was that of the greatest Zulu
warrior, then dozen voices shouted
"seize him!'
At the wild shout, the white horse
bucked again, and taking Rowe una
wares, shot him headfirst in among the
struggling crowd.
Profting by the confusion, the Zulu
wrenched himself free, and bounded
away between the tents. In his path was
the chaplain 3 horse.
The chaplain himself alarmed at the
hue and cry tumbled out of his tent, and
seeing the fierce Zulu bounding towards
him, thought the catastrophe HAD hap
pened at last. Frsntically he mounted
his patient steed and dug his heels into
the ribs. Unfortunately, however, he
had forgotten to pull up the stake that
held the horse, and that ill-used animal
finding himself brought up when he had
stretched the rope to its fullest extent,
ran round in a circle. The fearful
chaplain closed his eyes and clasped his
horse round the neck while his coat tails
flew out behind.
At this extraordinary spectacle there
was wild yell of laughter from the
crowd of pursuers, but the pursued
himself had no time for mirth.
Selling the unlucky chaplain by the
leg, ne hurled him off the seat, then
drawing the peg, he vaulted to the
horses back and sped away, trailing the
rope from his hand.
''To horse, to horse'' shouted the pur-
suers, cor he will escape. No he can
not! See there are some 'friendlies' in
his way. -
That was true. The cry had reached
the sharp ears OF the natives, and q
dozen of them seized their assegais and
rushed forward to bar the way.
Those who had pursued now paused to
watch the impending tragedy.
A body of men rushed to meet the fly
ing horssman, leaving two to stop him
in case he escaped the first attack.
Srayo dashed on, drawing in the rope
until he held the heavy stake in his
hand. The men opened and let him en-
ter, but with n sudden pressure of his
knee he made the horse sWerve to the
right, thereby keeping all the men on
one side. At the same time he hurled
the stake at them; fruitless effort.
The assegais were poised-then they
few TO the mark, and the crowd waited
to hear the thud of the spears and the
shrek of the dying man.
1t was not to be. AT the critical mo-
ment Sirayo slipped off his horse and ran
along by its side, catching an assegai by
its shaft as it flew above him.
The men, thus deprived of their prey,
started in pursuit and rapidly gained on
the fast wearying horse. Seeing this,
Sirayo let go the rein and trusted to his
own ieetness to escape. Before him
were the two armed men, beyond was
the open prairie, and behind were a
dozen warriors and a score of mounted
men ready to hunt him down IL neces-
sary. 1t was a thrilling moment.
Escape was hopeless, but he would
make the attempt. The first of the two
men stepped forward to meet him, and
for second he paused.
Those in the camp marked the proud
lift of his hesd-then clear and distinct
above every other sound pealed forth the
Usutu war cry.
Those looking on saw the ffriendly'
native quail, they saw his assegai pass
harmlessly over the Zulu's head, then
they saw his arms go up as the spear was
driven into his heart.
The other man turned and fed, and
those who pursued hesitated like pack
of jackals suddenly confronted by lion.
Sirsyo, even in this moment of danger,
cut the skin across the abdomen of the
dead man. lest his spirit should haunt
him, and then he bounded on again.
"To horse-to horse-he will escape
shoot him. were the hoRrse cries that
busrt forth now that the pent up excite
ment was free.
Several men came forward with rifles,
and tiny puffs of dust marked where the
bullets struck about the flying warrior.
"Cease firing!' Numbered darcy
"don t shoot a man down like q dog. If
he is the Zulu chief he must be taken
alive. The fellow deserves to escape, -
he added under his breath.
A young officer had caught Rowe's
white horse and bridled him. Now with
his sword drawn, he rushed by, the horse
entering into the fierce excitement of the
chase. The riders blue eyes flashed and
his lips were parted.
A cheer greeted his appearance. $50
it, Blaine! Hurrah for the frontier
horse!'
Away flew the horse, passing the lag
gard "friendlies, passing the dead
mau, passing the outermost line of huts,
and flying on the heels of the Zulu.
Another cheer, as another officer, on
q powerful black steed, dashed by
Bravo, Dalstonl Mcdonald's horse
Dalston smiled as he rushed
by, cool and confident.
Between the Frontier Horse and Mao
donald's troop there was keen rivalry,
and greater interest entered into the
scene. A hush of expectation fell upon
the camp, and the tension of feeling
showed itself IN the white faces, burning
ayes, and pressed lips.
'sSee, he will surrender.'' The Zulu
looks round, as the thunder of the rush
ng steeds warn him of fresh danger.
He stops, turns, and waits for the
white horse.
"He will give himself up-no, by God
he will fight! Now Blaine, look outl"