The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-05-28

WTlUO
Now 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 to me as
little Tota had done, sobbing, "Thank
God! thank God"
After while she grew quieter, and
made her and Tota eat litAle food from
the store that we had brought with us.
too ate and was thankful, for with the
exception of the mealie cobs had tasted
nothing for nearly four-and-twentyhours.
Then she washed her face and hands, and
tidied her rags of dress as we'll 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
ing Tota with her, and was followed
there by the two dogs She wished to
lay some flowers on the grave and take
farewell of the dust it covered, for as
we had expected to trek early on the
morrow she did not know if she would
find q later opportunity. They passed
up the garden, and, gathering some
flowers from the orange trees and else
where, went on to the little graveyard.
Here she laid them on the grave as we
had found them, and then sitting down,
fell into deep and sad reverie, such as
the occasion would naturally induce.
While she sat thus, Tota, who was a
lively child and active as a kitten,
strayed away without Stella observing
it. With her went the dogs who had
also grown tired of inactiox; while
passed, and suddenly she heard the
dogs barking furiously about $50 yards
away. Then she heard Tota scream,
and the dogs also yelling with fear and
pain. She rose and ran as swiftly as she
could towards the spot whence the
sound came. Presently she was there.
Before her in the glade, holding the
screaming Tota in her arms, was figure
in which, Notwithstanding the rough
disguise of baboon skins and coloring
matter, she had no difficulty in recognize
ing Hendrika, and all about her were
numbers of balloons, rolling over and
over in two hideous heaps, of which the
centers were the two unfortunate dogs
now in process of being rent to frag-
mentS.
"Hendrika," Stella cried, what does
this mean? What are you doing with
Tota and those brutes?"
The woman heard her and looked up
Then she saw that she was mad; mad
ness stared from her eyes. She dropped
the child, which instantly flew to Stella
for protection. Stella clasped it, only to
be herself clasped by Hendrika She
struggled fiercely, but it was of no use
the babyan-frau had the strength of ten
She lifted her and Tota as though they
were nothing, and ran off with Them
following the bed of the stream in order
to avoid leaving spoor. Only the ba-
boons who came with her, minus the one
the dogs had killed, would not take to
the water but kept pace with them on
the bank.
Stella said that the night which fol-
lowed was more like hideous night
mare than reality. She was never able
to tell me all that occurred in it. She
had a vague recollection of being borne
over rocks and along kloofs, while around