Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-26

i
before she reaches the kraal.
"Shall we wait for my men?' asked
Blaine, who was confused
"Wait! Yes, wait, you dog,' cried
the other, in a burst of passion. Hi:
great horse with snort of pain at the
vicious thrust of spurs bounded forwar
Blaine paused q moment, then he toe
followed, Dalston s insulting words ring
ing in his ears. Suddenly the pale face
OF the girl hs had seen at Kopie Alleeu
seemed to look at him from out the air
her large brown eyes fixed reproachfully
on him.
GOOD God, - he said, chow could 1
have driven her out into the night. 1
fired at her, too, he muttered, horror
stricken.
He pressed his horse and was soon
riding side by side with his gloomy COM
panlon. Each man knelt over the sad
die, reckless of all danger, intent only
| upon first reaching this girl.
They gained upon her at every stride,
and now in the greyish light of the dawn
they could see dim figure before them
Mary shuddered with the feeling of q
hunted creature She called to her horse
but he simply prioked his ears to her cry
She looked up despalrIngly, and through
rift in the rising mist on the left she
saw the rounded outline of hut. Her
| goal was near.
They also saw the hut and raised low
warning cry to her to stop.
| 1t flashed through her mind that there
was shorter way to the kraal than by
the path she was riding; way however
| traVersed by deep douga, and danger
Gus IN that uncertain light. She would
| c q
Turning the horse she galloped away to
| the left. Blaine was the first to detect
! that she swerved from the course and he
| turned also, but from the pace he was
going, he overshot her line. Dalston
soon was up with Blaine on the fresh
track, but with startled exclamation,
Tor Mary had suddenly disappeared from
| view
Her horse had reached the brink of the
yawning donga and no more thought of
leaping 1t than he thought of fying
There was no path down the slantlng
sides, but obedient TO his rider's COM
| mand he spread out his forelegs stffly,
gathered his hind legs together under his
belly and slipped down
Once at the bottom, however, he de-
clined to mount the opposite side. Mary
heard the rush of her pursuers. After
all she would be too late. Then her
heart stood still, as she re fIected that at
the speed they were travelling they must
fall headlong into the chasm
She scrambled up the bank in breath
less haste and cried out to them TO stop.
just in time, for Blaine's horse was 50
close upon the brink that his forefeet
beat the air over 1t as he was thrown
back on his launches.
A moment later Mary looked up 70 sea
that they were safe, then she followed
her hands and called aloud in Zulu to the
people in the kraal:
1.-THE soldiers are upon you. Flv!''
Trained as she had been, by Pala, to
practice the deep chest notes that the
natives use in chanting, her voice
travelled far.
The first response came in the bark of
dog, then there was hub bub of
women's voices in alarm, and then
silence. Already the women of the
kraal were fiying to the caves in the
precipice on the hill beyond. Were there
any men there! and if so would they
come down upon them? Even now, in
their silent way, they might be stealing
down.
Blaine thought of this. nMiss Rath,
this Is not safe. Where is your horse?'
''At the bottom of the donga'
"Take mine,' said Dalston, dis
mounting. "You will find him quiet. -
"Who is it that calls out a warning in
the nIght?' asked deep voice from the
other side of the donga.
With start the three looked across,
and there they saw the figure of man,
looming gigantic in the morning mist.
Mary recognized the voice. cit is l.
the white girl from Kopje AIleen.'
"Yoh! - END who are those with
you?''
''They came after me to prevent me
from warning you. For Pala's sake 1
have done this thing-also because you
saved my life!'
''Hear it!' He paused moment to
consider this new phase in warfare, but
again expressed his surprise in the en-
phatic ejaculation: "Yoh!''
al will not forget it, he said, then
turned and stalked away, while Blaine
and Dslston bit their moustaches and
looked at one another askauce, to know
what should be done.
Meanwhile, Mary's horse, grown tired
of remaining below, scrambled up, with
many grunt, and fell to eating the
shrub. Both men were eager to helm
hSA ~ ehS SHASASt Oos GO
in favor of the other she did without
their assistance. The two officers could
only stare at her supinelY. At last Blaine
found his voice.
"Miss Rath, SAID he, with a culver |
of emotion. tyou have done a noble |
deed, and thank God, from my heart,
for His mercy in bringing you safe |
through He raised the hand that |
dropped listlessly at her side, and pressed |
his lips on it. 1t was the homage of a |
ehivelrous man TO a brave woman, which |
she did not resent.
Dalston sighed as he saw this. He |
dared not do that. With him, he felt |
now it would be liberty. He cleared |
his throat to speak. but could not, and |
with savage glance at Blaine he vaulted
into his saddle.
Mary did not answer at once. She felt
q weakness at her throat, and yearn-
ing at her heart for sympathy. The
touch upon her cold and nerveless hand
had nearly been answered with q sob.
With an effort she gathered up her
reins and rode on. They placed them
selves one on either side.
"Thank you, +" she said YEARLY. az
can ind my way home alone. Please
leaYe me. You have been the cause of
all this troubie.'
They refined in without a word and in |