Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-01

vust ueA8nts lote Openeo ner oyeS ana
tried TO cry, but could mot, poor little
thing, because her tongue and lips were
90 swollen. But the lady got some water
into her mouth, and, M in my case. the
effect was magical. We allowed her TO
drink about Q quarter OF q pint, and no
moro, though she cried bitterly for II.
just then old Indaba- -ximbi camo 10 with
groan. He opened his eyes, glanced
round and took In the situation.
"What did I tell you, Macumaxahnf"
and he seized the bottle and took q long
pull ut Il.
Meanwhile sat with my back against
the trunk Of the great tree and tried TO
realize the situation. Looking to my
left / saw two good horses--one bare
backed and one with . lady's rude
saddle on II. BY the side Of the horses
were two dogs, Of stout greyhound
breed, that sat watching us, and near
the dogs lay . dead Airlie buck, which
they had evidently been coursing.
''Hendriks," said the lady presently,
"they must not eat meat just yet. Go
and look up the tree and see IL there Is
any ripe fruit ON It,"
Tho woman ran swiftly into the plain
and obeyed. Presently she returned.
II see some ripe fruit" she said, "but it
IL high, quite at the top"
"Fetch IT," said the lady.
"Easier said than done," thought 10
myself; but I was much mistaken. Sud-
denly the woman bounded at least three
feet into the air and caught one OF the
spreading boughs in her large, fiat hands
"a swing that would have filed an aero
bat with envy--and she was on II.
snow there is an end" thought, for
the next bough was beyond her reach.
But again was mistaken. She stood up
on the bough, gripping 1t with her bare
feet, and once more sprang at the one
above, caught 1t and swung herself into
1t.
Isuppose that the lady saw my look Of
astonishment. "Do not wonder, SIR"
she said; "Hendrika is not like other peo-
pie. She will not fall"
made no answer, but watched the
progress Of this extraordinary person
with the most breathless interest. On she
went, swinging herself from bough to
bough, and running along them like
monkey. At last she got to the top and
began to swarm along thin branch
towards the ripe fruit. When she was
near enough she shook tho branch vio-
lently. There was a crack--a crash--it
broke. shut my eyes, expecting to see
her crushed on the ground before me.
''Don't be afraid" said the lady again,
laughing gently. Look, she is quite
IN another two minutes we were all
three sucking the pulpy fruit. In an or.
dinary way we should have found 1t
tasteless enough; as 1t was thought ii
the most delicious thing I had ever
tasted. After three days spent without
food or water, in the desert. one Is not
particular. While we were still eating
the fruit, the lady Of my vision set her
companion to work to partially fay the
oribe which her dogs had killed, and
busted herself in making fire Of fallen
boughs. As soon as it burned brightly
she took strips of the oribe flesh, toasted
them, and gave them to us on leaves.
We ate, and now we were allowed o lit.
tie NOR water. After that she took Lit.
tie Tota to the spring and washed her,
which she sadly needed, poor child
Next came our turn to wash, and OH
the joy Of It'll
came back to the tree, walking pain.
fully indeed, but changed man. There
sat the beautiful girl, with Tota on her
knees. She was lulling her to sleep, and
held up her finger to me enjoining 81
lence. At last the child went off into q
al v,va
that should have been glad to follow
had 1t not been for my burning curiosity.
Then I spoke:
"May ask what your name is?'
said.
"Stella," she answered.
"Stella whatr" / said.
"Stella nothing" she answered, in
some pique. "Stella is my name; it is
short and easy to remember, at any rate.
My fathers name is Thomas, and we live
up there" and she pointed round the
base Of the great peak. looked at her
astonished. "Have you lived there longT'
asked.
"Ever since l was seven years old.
We came there in wagon. Before that
we came from England--from Oxford.
shire; can show you the place on the
big map. 1t is called Garsingham."
Again I thought l must be dreaming.
"Do you know, Miss Stella," l said, "ii
Is very strange-so strange that 1t al.
most seems as though 1t could not be
true-but also came from Garsingham,
in Oxfordshire, many years ago.
She started up. "Are you an Eng
iish gentleman! she sad. "Ah, have
always ionged to see an English gentle
man. have never seen an Englishman
since we lived here-no white people al
all, indeed, except few wandering
Beers. we live among black people and