Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-20
THE LOST HEIRESS.
Love. Battle and Adventure.
e,
The Fosser Rapier
EARNEST GRANVILLE,
! COPYRIGHTED $780,
CHAPTER xv1.-AyoyG THE ENEMY.

men Tue Lulu, VINO lidi maui $780,
an easy capture of Blaine, finished put
ting an edge to his assegeI, he tried It's
sharpness by drawing it sharply across
his captive's riding boots, with gruiit
of satisfaction at each gaping cash maae
in the leather.
Then he poked the point Of the spear
an absent. preoccupied way at the
body Of his captive, while he debated
whether he should straightway XIII MS
man or slay him by inches, with inter
vals for n uoonGay nap, and dinner OH
the remainder of the booty.
The idea of a long-drawu out pro-
gramme so ticklei the Zulu, that he
made a harder thrust than he had IN
tended, which exasperated Blaine. lie
drew his feet up and sent his heavy boots
full into the others stomach.
The Zulu drew his knees up and
suuirmed in the dust, helpless as
manned worm, bur, happily for himself,
safe from his desperate captive, who,
struggle as he might, could not loosen
the b" nds that secured him to the post at
HE back.
The yellow dog, who probably thought
his master was in fit of silent mirth,
rushed round and round, barking in
great appreciation at this unaccustomed
fun.
With QuaverinG, indrawn breath,
that gave him an impression that be was
swallowing knives, the warrior passed
his hands over the pit of his stomach.
lie had never been so much surprised
before in his life, and as he moved his
hands gently over the painful spot,
he looked at Blaine reproachfully.
other prisoners lie had taken in tribal
warfare had not behaved so unreason-
ably. They had always awaited death
with calmuess, even indifference. 1t
was Just like a white man to kick like
dying buffalo.
Gradually he raised himself to sitting
position, and relieved his mind by calling
the cur by every slanderous epithet he
could remember under the circum-
stances. 4 black man, unless previously
instructed by his Christian brother. does
not possess the gift of swearing, but he
IS professor III the use and application
of insults.
The man drew so extravagantly upon
his imagination for a supply of appro-
pirate epIthets, that his mind was left as
dry as the palm OF his hand and he re-
solved to take eouncil with others as to
the fittest way of killing the inconsider-
ate white man.
Accordingly in a few minutes he was
escort.ng his captive across the yeldt in
direction due south.
They walked steadily, until afternoon,
with only one rest for refreshment,
which consisted of drink of water from
a running stream and Il bite of biltong.
Capt. Blaine had scanned the horizon
round and round, time after time, but
not n single human being had appeared
within the radius of that wide circle.
The silence over the land weighed upon
him, subdung the gallant spirit OF de-
tiance into n feeling of dull despair.
The very birds were voiceless. The
knorhaaDs lowered their heads and ran
through the grass out OF his path; the
great white breasted pauws raised their
long necks TO watch him aud his silent
companion or whirled away for short
distance on heavy wings.
Every step was taking him further
away from his friends, and nearer to his
fate, for he had no doubt that his death
was but deferred, and he guessed that
he was being taken TO some spot where
others, beyond his capturer, could see
him die. And ever between these SOM
Der thoughts there obtruded another.
elbow, - he asked himself, again and
again, "hnd he become prisoner?
Who had stolen upon him and struck him
down? What had become of his friends,
aud why had they not discovered him?''
These questions were beyond explaua-
ton and only added bitterness to the de-
spGir in his heart.
Towards evening they passed between
the fingers, two couiral shaped hills,
overlooking the tiny thread-like course
of the Itvosi-H stream fateful to the
house of Napoleon.
Soon after the warrior raised his voice
in a shout that rolled through the still
air until the waves of sound echoed
against the front of square mount,
qu te q mile away.
Back came an answering call, and the
savage from his deep chest sent reply
rs Il woman might send snatch OF Cos
sip across narrow street TO Il friend op-
posite.
The native in his home upon the plains
does without telephones or electric wires,
he can shout his message by word of
mouth from hill top 10 mill top, in u
laundering roll no civilized man can an
swer.
BIuiue lifted his weary eyes and saw
circle OF hats ut the base OF the moan
tain. That then was To be the end of
his journey-nnd the finish Of his life
lie looked upon the grim mountain
moment ana il faded from his view. In
its place he saw an old familiar room in
his English home far away, and in 1t the I
image of his Erav-hHired, sweet faced
mother, as she looked upon him with lips
that moved in silent PRAYER, the day he
said goodbye.
They crossed u wide, horseshoe shaped
douga, which formed natural moat
about the mountain, and the young
officer saw something which drove the
grayish tint from his face ana the weak
ness from his heart.
The warriors OF the kraal had evl-
IDENTITY been engaged at lssndlGna. They
had brought back from the field two of
the heavy transport wagons packed high
with booty. BloOd-stanad helmets
belts and boots, stripped from the dead
were scattered about the ground.
One of the long Jokes attached TO the
heavy ''trek' chain, had been set on
end, with the ''skeis'' (throat pieces
stll in. on the summit was q battered
helmet, aud rugged out below, on the
skels, WAS II red coat, gashed in q dozen
places with broad assegRi stabs.
As Blniue's eye fell upon this grim
IN, a la,,