Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-01-13

struggled to sitting position, lifted the bottle to my lips and drained 1t. Oh! that drink of cool, pure waterl never had tasted any thing so delicious. At the first gulp I felt life flow back into me. But, wisely enough, she would not let mo have much. "No more! no more!" she said, and dragged the bottle from me almost by force.
 '"The child" said - sis the child dead?"
 II do not know yet," she answered. "We have only just found you, and I tried to revive you first"
 turned and crept to where Tota lay by the side of Indaba-zimbi. It was inn possible to say if they were dead or swooning. The lady sprinkled Tota's face with the water, which l watched greedily. for my thirst was still awful, while the woman Hendrika did the same office for Indaba-zimbi. Presently, to my vast delight, Tota opened her eyes and tried to cry, but could not, poor little thing, because her tongue and lips were so swollen. But the lady got some water into her mouth, and, as in my case, the effect was magical. We allowed her to drink about Q quarter of pint, and no more, though she cried bitterly for it. Just then old Indaba- zimbi came to with a groan. He opened his eyes, glanced around, and took in the situation.
 What did I tell you, Macumazahn?" and he seized the bottle and took long pull at 1t.
 Meanwhile sat with my back against tho trunk of the great tree and tried to realize the situation. Looking to my left I saw two good horses-one bare backed and ono with a rude lady's sad He on it. 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.
 ''Hendrika," said the lady, presently, ''they must not eat meat just yet Go and look up the tree and see if there Is any ripe fruit on it.'
 The woman ran swiftly into the plain and obeyed. Presently she returned. ''1 see some ripe fruit" she said, "but 1t is high, quite at the top."
 Fetch it," said the lady. Easier said than done," thought to 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 flat hands "a swing that would havo filled an acrobat with envy-and she was on it. "Now there is an end," thought again, for the next bough was beyond hcr reach. But again was mistaken. She stood up on the bough, gripping it with her bare feet, and once more sprang at tho one above, caught it and swung herself into it.
 suppose that the lady saw my expres- sion of astonishment. "Do not wonder, sir," she said. "Hendrika is not like other people. She will not fall"
 I made no answer, but watched tho progress of this extraordinary rerscn with the most breathless interest. O., she went, swinging herself from bough to bough, and running along them Ike a monkey. At last she get to tho to. and began to swarm along a thin hranc! towards the ripe fruit. When she was near enough she shook the branch vio lently. There was crack-a crash--i1 her crushed on the ground before me.
 "Don't be afraid" said the lady again laughing gently. Look, she is quite safe.'
 looked, and SO she wns. She had
 
 and was now calmly dropping to another performance with Interest, but 1t die not seem to astonish him over much "Beboon-woman," he said, as thoug1 such peopln wero common, and the1 turned his atten tion to soothing Tota who was moaning for moro we ter Meanwhile Hendlika came down the tree win extraordinary rapid1ty, ant swinging by one hand from bough dropped about ton feet to the ground.
 In ano her two minutes we were al three sucking the pulpy fruit In al ordinary way we should have found i as @ ess en ugt: as it was thought i w0s the most doicious thing had eve tasted. Alter three days spent withou food or weter m the desert one is no particular. While we were still eating the -rui' he la6J of my visicn set he companion to work to partially fay tn oriDe which her dogs had killed, an. ) busi herself making fire of falle, boug,.s. As soon as 1t burned brightl she to-: strips of the oribe flesh, toaste, ! them, and gave them to us on leaves We ate, and now were allowed ittl more water. After that she took littl Tota to the spring and washed her which she sadly needed, poor child Next came our turn to wash, and oh! tn joy of itl
 came back to the tree, walking pain fully, indeed, but a changed man. Ther sat the beautiful girl with Tota on he knees. She was lulling her to sleeI and held up her finger to mo enjoinin silence. At last tho child went of int A sound natural slumber-an examn1 that I should havo been glad to follo' had 1t not been for my burning curios tty. Then I spoke.
 May I ask what your name is?"
 said.
 "Stella," she answered. Stella what?'' I said. Stella nothing" she answered, some pique. Stella is my name; 1t short and easy to remember, at any rat' My fathers name is Thomas, and W | oh@