Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-06

fore, and which sent queer sensation
down his backbone, even 70 the tip OF
his dropping tail. Once more he drew
backwards, with pucker between the
eyes that told of puzzled brain. He
started TO go TO his master, but waen
halfway down be looked over his Shout
der and saw the white face above the
rocks. So the thing was watching MIN.
II was too much. He would go back
again and bite the creature! Accord
ingly he cautiously retraced his steps.
Blaine, ell this time, had been slowly
regaining his scattered wits. The oiow
on his head had fallen within hairs
breadth of his temple, and must have
been struck with the butt-end of q heavy
revolver. from the circular bruise il left.
After the total blank of insensibility,
there had been buZzing in his brain,
increasing in intensity and volume to the
wild roaring of the waves. With wild
feeling that his head would burst he had
opened his ewes, only to meet the star
tied gaze of the dog.
At the second visit ne had a glimmer-
ing of reason, and when he lifted his
body to look around, and saw below him
a Zulu warrior where he had left his
comrades, he understood enough TO
know that he was in peril OF his life.
When he heard the dog steadily creep
ing through the bush for the third time
the perspirstiou gathered on his fore
head, and his eyes were contracted IN
the effort upon his nerves to keep sbso-
lutely still.
This time the dog came nearer, but was
evidently more frightened than before,
by the intensity of the gaze fixed upon
| him. His legs trembied under him, ana
the lids of his eyes moved up and down,
| to shut out that strange magnetic lnfiu-
ence which seemed TO stream into his
brain.
Blaine felt that he could brighten the
| animal off, and rolled his eyes fearfuily.
| The effect was excellent at the moment.
| With whimper of fear, the dog turned
and bolted.
The spell however was broken. Once
outside the bush he jumped about and
| berked himself almost inside out.
| Blame kept quiet, quiet through
| which the beating of mis- heart seemed 10
| culver in waves Of sound, hoping against
! hope that no search would be made, Dur
a sound warned him. CHANGING up he
So . a sight which cnused smile to hit
across hlt face, a smile that saved MS
life. For looking down upon him was
the face of a Zulu, with broad red stains
| OF current Jam across his cheeks, and on
| the end of his fiat nose.
The warriors assegai was lifted to
thrust. but the feeble smile, and the
| evident helplessness of the white man
altered his purpose. Instead OF killing
Blaine. he lifted him up in his powerful
arms and carried him up to the kraal 1,
where after binding him, he proceeded
to examine his captive with great
gravity.
The two sat in silence for long time,
the inspector and the inspected, the
former ever and again stretching out
lean finger to to touch the circular
bruiss on the others forehead.
1t passed his comprehension how the
wound was made and by whom. Finally
he gave It up as hopeless puzzle, anc
turned to something which he could I'M
derstand-the examination of bis prls-
oner's arm and POCKET treasures. Ihes'
| included watch, a single, treasured
cigar, photograph of silver-halrea
mild-eyed, gentle old lady, and pho
tograph of a little girl with beautiful
brown eyes.
These pictures caused the warrior un
| bounded establishment. He clapped nj
hand against his mouth several times
scratched his head with pointed claV
of ivory, which his took from the lobe
his ear, and finally returned them t.
Blaine's pocket.
The cigar, which had been reserved TO
the quiet noon-day smoke, was ruth
lessly broken up, and ground down to
snuff between two rounded stones. In
spoon shaped butt end of the ivor
scratcher served to ladle the snuff int
his wide nOstrils.
Having satisfied himself, he kindly re
turned his attention to his captive, an
shoveled spoonful Of dry snuff up hl
nostrils.
The act was well meant. 1t signifed
too, that for the present, at least, tn
prisoner could consider himself safe
But Blaine nearly sneezsd his head OFF
and he fully appreciated how vile
thing a cigar was when not put to II
proper use.
The watch was regarded with grea
awe as sort of portable god, and wa
suspeuded from the kraal post to war
. off evil doors.
Thus far Blaine had 10 cause to fea
any present hostile intent and had begu
TO cast about for a chance to escape
though he could scarcely think for th
, violent throbbing at his temples, but tn
next movement of his captor prepare
him for the worst.
, The Zulu took a smooth fiat stone frol
: one of the huts, and squatting on h
, hams, fell to sharpening his assegai
rolling his eyes fiercelv upon his captive
, fro BE CONTINUED.