The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-16

and had she not remembered Hendr77S1a,
l doubt if she would have recovered it.
She knew me again, and flung her little
arms about my neck, clinging to me so
closely that l did not dare to give her to
any one else to carry lest should add to
her terrors. So | went on with her in
my arms. The fears that pierced my
heart may well be imagined. Should l
find Stella alive or dead? Should 1 find
her at all? Well, we should soon know
now. We stumbled on up the stony wa
ter-course; notwithstanding the weight
OF Tota, led the way, for suspense lent
me wings. Now we were through, and
am extraordinary scene lay before us.
We were in great natural amphithea-
ire, only it was three times the size of
any amphitheatre ever shaped by man,
and the walls We're formed of precipitous
cliffs, ranging from one to two hundred
feet in height. For the rest, the space
| thus mclosed was level, studded with
| park-like trees, brilliant with flowers,
and having stream running through
the center of it that, as l afterwards dis
covered, welled up from the ground at
the head of the open space.
We spread ourselves out in line,
searching everywhere, for Tota was too
overcome to be able to tell us where
Stella was hidden away. For nearly
| half an hour we searched and searched,
scanning the walls of rock for any pos
sible opening to cave. In vain-we
could find none. Iapplied to old Indaba-
zimbi, but his foresight was at fault
here. All he could say was that this was
the place, and that the ''Star" was hidden
somewhere in cave, but where the cave
was he could not tell At last we came
to the top of the amphitheatre. There
before us was wall of rock, of which
the lower parts were here and there
clothed in grasses, ichens and creepers.
l walked along it, calling at the top of
my voice.
Presently my heart stood still, for
thought heard a.faint answer. drew
nearer to the place from which the sound
seemed to come, and again called. Yes,
there was an answer in my wife's voice.
1t seemed to come from the rock.
went up to it and searched among the
creepars, but still could find no opening
''Move the stone," cried Stella's voice,
1.-THE cave is shut with a stone.''
l took spear and prodded at the cliff
whence the sound came. Suddenly the
spear sank in through a mass of Ichen.
l swept the Gchen aside, revealing a
| bowlder that had been rolled into the
mouth of an opening in the rock, which
it fitted so accurately that, covered as il
was by the overhanging lichen, it might
well have escaped the keenest eye. We
dragged the bowlder out; it was two
mems work to do it. Beyond was g
narrow, water worn passage, which
followed with beating heart. Pres
emily the passage opened into a small
cave, shaped like a pickle bottle, and
coming to neck at the top end. We
passed through and found ourselves in {
second, much larger cave, that l at once
recognized as the one of which Indaba.
zimbi had shown me vision in the
water. Light reached it from above
how l know not-and by it could see g
form half sitting, half lying on some
skins at the top end of the cave.
rushed to it. twas Stella. Stella bound
with strips of hide, bruised, torn, but
still Stella, and alive.
She saw me, she gave one cry, then Is
| caught her in my arms she tainted Il
was happy indeed that she did not faint
before, for had it not been for the SOUND
, CT her voice ] do not believe we should
ever have found that cunninglv bidder
cave. unless, indeed, Indaba-zimbi's mag
| ic Ton which be blessings) had come t
our assistance.
We bore her to the open air, laid hcl
beneath the shade OF tree. and cut tht
bonds loose from her ankles. As ",
went glanced at the cave. Il was ex
actly as | had seen it in the vision
There burnt the fire. there were the rude
wooden vessels, one OF them still hal
full Of the water which had seen tn,
. balloon bring. felt awed as looked
and marveled at the power welded by
savage who could not even read anC
write.
Now | could see Stella clearly. He
face was scratched, and haggard will
fear and weeping. Her clothes were al
most torn off her, and her beautiful hal
was loose and tangled. / sent for water
and we sprinkled her face. Then forcet
little of the brandy which we distilled
from peaches at the kraals between he
lips, and she opened her eyes, and throw
ing her arms about me chung to me a
little Tota had done, sobbing, "Thanl
God, thank God!''
After while she grew quieter, and
made her and Tota eat little food from
the store that we had brought with Us.
too ate and was thankful. for with til
exception of the mealie cobs l had tastes
nothing for nearly Neutrality-suspicious.
: Then she washed her face and hands, an,
tislied her rags of dress as well as she wa
able. AS she did SO, by degrees l drew
: her story from her.
: 1t seemed that on the previous after
noon, being wearied with packing, sh
; went out 10 visit her fathers grave, tax
ing Tota with her, and was followe,
there by the two dogs. She wished t
8 lay some flowers on the grave and tax
q farewell Of the dust it covered, for a
S we had expected to trek early on TIL
f morrow she did not know if she woul,
find later opportunity. They passe,
r up the garden, and, gathering som
e flowers from the orange trees and else
1t where, went on to the little graveyard
= Here she laid them on the grave as w