The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-05

| capable OF the exercise of every artiffce
| and cunning. In that way she was sane
enough, but in every other she was mad.
Moreover. she had not forgotten her hor-
rible jealousy. Already saw her glar-
ing at Tota, and knew that the child's
| murder was only a matter of time. Prob
ably within few hours she would be
killed before my eyes. OF escape, even
| if l had the strength, there was abso-
lutely no chance, and little enough of
our ever being found. No, we should
be kept there guarded by a mad thing,
half ape. half woman, till we persisted
miserably. Then 1 thought of you.
dear, and of all that you must be suffer
ing, and my heart nearly broke. could
only pray to God that might either be
rescued or die swiftly.
LAS prayed dropped into a kind OF
doze from utter WEAKNESS, and then /
had the strangest dream. 1 dreamed
that Indaba-zimbi stood over me nod
ding his white lock, and spoke to me in
Kafflr, telling me not to be frightened,
for you would soon be with me, and that
meanwhile must humor Hendrika, pre-
tending to be pleased to have her near
me. The dream was so vivid that l act
ually seemed to see and hear him, as
see and hear him now"
Here 1 looked up and glanced at old
Indaba-zimbi. who was sitting near. But
it was not till afterwards that l told
Stella of how her vision was brought
about.
"At any rate" she went on, ''when
awoke I determined to act on my dream.
took Hendricks hand and pressed it.
She actually laughed in a wild kind of
way with happiness and laid her head
upon my knee. Then made signs that
wanted food, and she threw wood on
the fire, which 1 forgot to tell you was
burning in the cave, and began to make
some of the broth that she used to cook
very well, and she did not seem to have
forgotten all about it. At any rate the
broth was not bad, though neither Tota
or could drink much of it. Fright and
WEAKNESS had taken away our appetites.
After the meal was done-and pro-
longed it as much as possible-I saw
that Hendrika was beginning to get jeal-
Gus of Tota again. She glared at her
and then at the big knife which was
tied round her own body. I knew the
knife again; it was the one with which
she tried to murder you, dear. At last
she went so far as to draw the knife. l
was paralyzed with fear; then suddenly
I remembered that when she was our
servant, and used to get out of temper
and sulk, 1 could always calm her by
singing to her. So 1 began to sing
hymns. Instantly she forgot her jeal-
ousy and put the knife back into its
sheath. She knew the sound of the sing
ing and sat listening to it with rapt
face; the balloons, too, crowded in at
the entrance of the cave to listen. /
must have sung for an hour or more all
the hymns that 1 could remember. 1t
was so very strange and dreadful sitting
there singing to mad Hendrika and
those hideous man-like apes that shut
their eyes and nodded their great heads
as sang. 1t was like horrible night
mare, but 1 believe that the balloons
are almost as human as the Bushmen-
well, this went on for long time
till my voice was getting exhausted.
Then suddenly heard the balloons out
side raise loud noise, as they do when
they are angry. Then, dear, 1 heard
the boom of your elephant gun, and 1
think it was the sweetest sound that
ever came to my ears Hendrika heard
it too. She sprang up, stood for a mo-
ment, then, TO my horror, swept Tots
into her arms and rushed down the cave.
OF course could not stir to follow her,
for my feet were tied. Next instant 1
heard the sound of rock being moved,
and presently the lessening of the light
in the cave told me that I was shut in.
Now the sound even of the elephant gun
only reached me very family, and pres
emily 1 could hear nothing more, strain
ing my ears as 1 would.
AT last 1 heard faint shouting that
reached me through the wall Of rock ]
answered as loud as 1 could. You know
the rest; and oh, my dear husband,
thank God. thank Godr' and she fell
weeping into my arms.
no BE CoSTISuKDl