Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-05-16


nearly mastered the two of Us. As it was
she did break loose. She rushed at the
bed, sprung on it. and bounded thence
straight up at the roof of the hut.
never saw such jump, and could not
conceive what she meant TODD In the roof
were the peculiar holes which l have de-
scribed. They were designed to admit
light, and covered with overhanging caves
She sprung straight and true like a mon
ker, and, catching the edge of the holS
with her hands, stroye to draw herself
through it. But here her strength, ex-
hausted with the long struggle, failed
her. For moment she swung, then drop
ped to the ground and fell senseless.
Our gasped linda ba-zimbi. Let US
tie the devil up before she comes to life
again"
thought this a good counsel, so we
took rein that lay in the corner of the
room, and dashed her hands and feet in
such fashion that even she could scarce
ly escape. Then we carried her into the
passage, and Indaba-zimbi sat over her,
the knife in his hand, for did not wish
to raise an alarm at that hour of the
night.
DO You know how l caught her, Ma
cumazahn?" he said. For several nights
have slept here with one eye open, for
thought she had made a plan. Tonight
l kept wide awake, though pretended &c
be asleep. An hour after you got into
the blankets the moon rose, and I saw 8
beam of light come into the hut through
the hole in the roof.
Presently | saw the beam of light van.
ish. At first | thought that a cloud was
passing over the moon, but | listened and
heard noise as though some one was
squeezing himself through Il narrow place
Presently he was through and hanging
by his hands. Then the light came in
again, and in the middle of it l saw the
babyan frau swinging from the roof,
and about to drop into the hut. She clung
by both hands, and in her mouth was
great knife.
''She dropped, and / ran forward to seize
her as she dropped, and gripped her round
the middle. But she heard me come, and,
seizing the knife, struck at me in the dark
| and missed me. Then we struggled, and
you know the rest. You were very nearly
dead tonight, Macumazahn."
Very nearly, indeed, | answered. still
painting, and arranging the rags of my
night-dress round me as best / might.
Then the memory of my horrid dream
flashed into my mind. Doubtless it had
been conjared up by the sound of Hen
drika dropping to the foor-in my dream
1t had been grave that she dropped into.
All of it had been experienced in that sec
ond of time. Well, dreams are swift, per-
haps Time itself is nothing but a dream,
and events that seem far apart really oc-
! cur simultaneously.
We passed the rest of the night watch
n1Fily ,-,l,o = Hn,.
self and struggled furiously to break the
rein. But it was too strong even for her,
| and. moreover, indaba -zimbi unceremoni-
ously sat upon her to keep her quiet. At
last she gave it up.
In due course the day broke-my mar
riage day. Leaving Indaba-zimbi to watch
my would-be murderess. went and fetch
ed some natives from the stables and with
| their aid bore Hendrika to the prison hut
that same hut in which she had been
confined when she had been brought
| baboon-child from the rocks. Here we
shut her up, and, leaving Indaba-zmbi to
watch outside, l returned to my sleeping
nlaos and dressed in the best garmants
| that babyan kraalS could furnish.
But when / looked at the reflection of
| my face, was Mortified. 1t was covered
| with scratches inflicted by the nails of
| Hendrika. / doctOred them up as best
| could, then went out for IA walk to calm
| my nerves, which, what between the
events OF the past night, and of those
| pending that day, were not little dis
| turbed.
| When returned it was breakfast time
| vent into the dining-hut, and there
| Stella was waiting to greet me, dressed in
| simple white and with orange flowers on
| her breast She came forward to me shyly
enough; then, seeing the condition of my
| face, started back.
| why, Allan! What have you been do
| ing to YOURSELF" she asked
| AS was about to answer, her father
came in leaning on his stick, and catching
| sight of me, instantly asked me the same
! question.
| Then told them everything, both Of
| Hendricks threats and of her fierce at
| tempt to carry tn EN- into execution. But
| l did not tell my hOrrid dream.
| Stella's face grew white as the flowers
on her breast, but that of her father be-
| came very stern.
| you should have spoken Of this before,
| Allan" he said II now see that | did
! wrong to attempt to civilize this wicked
| and revengeful creature, whO if she is hui
man, has all the evil passions of the brutes
that reared her. Well, | will make an
| end of it this very day."
| TO be continued.l