San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-07

nOutn vi All opening III lue TOOK, WHICH
it fitted so accurately that, covered as il
was by the oyerhanging lichen, it might
we'll have escaped the keeneSt eye. We
dragged the bOwlder out; it was two
mems work 10 do it. Beyond was o
narrow, water worn passage, which ]
followed with a heating heart. Pres
entity the passage opened into a small
cave, shaped like Il pickle bottle, and
coming to neck at the top end. We
passed through and found ourselves in o
second. much larger cave, that | at once
recognized as the one of which Indaba.
Zimbi had shown me a vision in the
water Light reached it from above
how | know not-and by it l could see a
form half sitting, half lying Oh some
skins at the top end of the cave.
rushed to it. 1t WAS Stella! S,clla bound
with strips of hide, bruised, torn, but
still Stella, and alive.
She saw me. she gave one cry, then As
caught her in my arms she tainted. II
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' 5 mag
ic (on which be blessings had come to
our assistance.
We bore her to the open air. laid her
beneath the shade of tree, and cut the
bonds loose from her ankles. As we
went | glanced at the cave. 1t was cX-
aCtly as | had seen it in the vision
There burnt the fire. there were tn" rude
wooden vessels. ore of them still half
full Of the water which | had seen the
b&j!oOm bring. | felt awed as | looked.
and murvelcd at the power welded by g
savage who could not even read and
write.
Now could see Stella clearly. ueI
face was scratched, and haggard with
fear and weeping. Her clothes were al
most torn off her, and her beautiful hail
was loose and tangled. sent for water,
and we sprinkIed hcrfacc. Then forced
a littleor 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. "Thamk
God! thank God"
After while she grew Queter. and !
made her and Tota eat a little food from
the store that we had brought with us.
too ate and was thankful. for with the
exception of the mcalie cobS had tasted
nothing for nearly observation-disclosures
Then she washed hcr'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 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 a 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 inaction; 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 ard 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 coIoring
matter, she had no difficulty in recogniz-
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.
"Hendrka," Stella cried, what does
this mean? What are you doing with
Tota and those brutes:"
The woman heard her and looked I'D
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 liftnl I,nr n nd Tntn o.. It'll. H. |