Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-04

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the combatants, Ipdaba-zimba facing the
east, and his rival the west, and before
each there burned little fire made of
some scented root. Moreover. they were
dressed in all the paraphernalia of their
craft, snake skins, fish bladders, and
know not what besides, while round their
necks hung circlets Of balloons teeth
and bones from human hands. First
went to the western end where the
chiefs son stood. He was pointing with
his assegai towards the advancing storm
and invoking It in voice Of great ex-
element.
Come, fire, and lick up Indaha-zimbil
Hear me, Storm Devil, and lick In
daba-zimbi with your red tonguel
"Spit ON him with your RANT
"Whirl him away in your breathl
snake him as nothing--melt the mar.
row In his bonesi
"Run into his heart and burn away the
lest
"Show all the people who Is the true
Witch Finderl
'Let me not be put 20 shame In the
eyes Of this white mani"
Thus he spoke, or rather chanted, and
all the while rubbed his broad chest--foi
he was very fine man-with some filthy
compound Of medicine al month.
After while, getting tired Of his
song, walked across the ironstone, tc
where Indaba-zimbi sat by his fire. he
was not chanting at all, but his per.
Torrance was much more impressive.
It consisted In staring at tho eastern
sky. which was perfectly clear Of cloud,
and every now and again beckoning at
1t with his finger. then turning round tc
point with the assegai towards his rival
For while / looked at him In silence,
He was curious wizened man. appa-
rently over fifty years Of age, with thin
hands that looked as tough as wire. His
nose was much sharper than L. usual
among these races, and he had q queer
habit of holding his head sideways like
bird when he spoke, which, In addi-
ton to the humor that lurked In his eye.
gave him a most comical appearance.
Another strange thing about him was
that he had single white lock OF hair
among his black wool At last spoke
to him:
"Indaba-zimbi, my friend" I said,
"you may be a good witch doctor, but
you are certainly fool. 1t is no good
reckoning at the blue sky while your
enemy is getting a start with the storm"
"You may be clever, but don't think
you know everything, white man." the
old fellow answered, In high cracked
voice, and with something like grin.
"They call You Irontongue," went
on; "you had better use it, or the Storm
Devil won't hear you"
"The fire from above runs down iron,S
he answered, $50 / keep my tongue quiet.
Oh, yes, let him curse away, I'll put him
out presently. Look now, white man."
looked, and in the eastern sky there
grew cloud. At first 1t was small, but
very black. but 1t gathered with extraor-
binary rapidity.
This was odd enough, but as had
seen the same thing happen before it did
not particularly astonish me. IL Is by
no means unusual In Africa for tw.
thunderstorms to come up at the same
time from different points Of the COM
pass.
"You had better go on, Indaba-zimbi,"
said, "the big storm Is coming along
fast, and will soon eat up that baby of
yours" and pointed to the west.
Babies sometimes grow to giants,
white man." said Indaba-zimbi, beckcn-
ing away vigorously. Look now at my
cloud-child."
looked; the eastern storm had spread
itself from earth TO sky, and in shape
resembled an enormous man. There
was Its head, Its shoulders, and It's legs;
yes, 1t was like a huge giant travelling
across the heavens. The light of the
setting sun escaping from beneath the
lower edge of the western storm shot
across the intervening space In sheet
Of splendor, and, lighting up the adj
vancing figure, wrapped its middle in
hues Of glory, too wonderful to be de-
scribed; but beneath and above this
glowing belt his feet and head were
black as Jet. Presently, as watched,
an awful fash of light shot from the
head of the cloud and circled it about as
though with a crown of living fire and
vanished.
"Aha," chuckled old Indaba-zimbi,
my little boy is putting ON his mans
ring" and he tapped the green ring on
his own head. which natives assume
when they reach a certain age and Dig
nifty. Now, white man, unless you are
a bigger wizard than either of us you
had better clear off. for the fire fight is
about to begin"
Thought this sound advice.
"Good luck go with you, my black
uncle" | said. II hope you don't feel
the iniquities Of misspent life weighing
on you at the last"
You look after yourself, and think OF
your own sins, young man." he an
swered, with grim smile, and taking a
pinch of snuff, and at that very moment
a flash of lightning, / don't know from