Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-01-09

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and it will take all your magic to dodge
that"
Now, you don't say so" said Indaba-
zimbi, clambering off the wagon with
rapidity; ''and all because of this
wretched upstart. There's gratitude
for you, white man. | expose him, and
they want to kill me- Well, thank you
for the hint. We shall meet again be-
fore long" And he was gone like shot,
and not too soon, for just then some
men came up to the wagon.
On the following morning started
homeward The first face ! saw on ar
irving at the station was that of Indaba-
zimbi.
GLOW do you do, Macumazahnl" he
said, holding his head on one side and
nodding his white lock. 81 heaEsyou
are Christians here, and | want to try
new religion. Nina must DO a bad one,
seeing that my people wanted to kill
me for exposing an impostor"
CHAPTER III.
make no apology to myself, or to
anybody who may happen to read this
narrative in future, for having set out
the manner of my meeting with lndaba-
zimbi; first because 1t was curious, and
secondly, because he takes some hand in
the subsequent events. If that old man
was humbug he was a very clever one.
What amount Of truth there was In his
pretensions of supernatural powers it is
not for me TO determine, though | may
have my own opinion on the subject.
But there was no mistake as to the ex-
traordinary influence he exercised over
his fellow natives Also he got quite
round my poor father At first the old
gentleman declined to nave him at the
station, for he had a great horror of
these Kaiiir wizards or witch-finders.
But Indaba-zimbi persuaded himthat he
was anxious to investigate the truths of
Christianity and challenged him to dis
cussion. The argument lasted for two
,years-to the time of my father death,
dndeed. At the conclusion Of each stage
Indaba-zimbi would remark, in the
words of the Roman Governor: almost
praying, white man, thou persuadest
me to become Christian" but he never
quite became one-indecd, | do not
think he ever meant TO. 1t was to hum
that my father addressed his Letters to
a Native Doubter This work, which,
unfortunately, remains in manuscript,
is full of wise saws and learned In
stances. 1t ought to be published to
gether with precis of the daubter's an
swers, which were verbal.
So the talk went on. II my father
had lived believe it would be going ON
now, for both the disputants we're quite
inexhaustible. Meanwhile Indaba-zimbi
was allowed to live in the station
on condition that he practised no witch
craft, which my father firmly believed
to be a vile of the devils. He said that
Us would not, but for all that there was
never an OK lost, or sudden death, but
he was consulted by those interested.
When he had been with us year a
deputation came to him from the tribe
he had left asking him to return.
Things had not gone we'll with them
since he went away, they said, and now
the chief, his enemy, was dead. Old
Indaba-zimbi listened to them till they
had done, and, as he listened, raked
sand into little heap with his toes.
Then he spoke, pointing to the little
heap. There is your tribe to-day" he
said. Then he lifted his heel and
the heap fiat. "There Is your
tribe before three moons are gone.
Nothing is left Of it. You drove me
away; will have no more to do with
you; but when you are being killed think
of my words"
The messengers went. Three months
afterwards heard that the whole COM
munity had been wiped out by an Impi
of raiding Pondos.
When l was at length ready to start
upon my expedition l went to old
Indaba-zimbi to say goodbye to him,
and was rather surprised to find him
engaged in rolling up medicine, asse-
gals and other sundries in his blankets.
Goodbye, Indaba-zimbi," | said, II
am going to trek north"
Eyes, Macumazahn," he answered,
with his head on one side; land so am L
Il want to see that country. We will
go together"
"Will wei" l said; wait till you are
asked, YOU old humbug."
"Yo had better ask me, then,
Macumazahn, for If you don't you will
never come back alive. Now that the
old chief (my i-ther) is gone to where
the storms come from, and he nodded
to the sky, Il feel myself getting into
bad habits again. So last night just
threw up tho bones and worked out
about your journey, and | can tell you
this, that if you don't take me you will
die, and, what is more, you will lose one
who is dearer to you than life. So just
because you gavo me that hint couple
of years ago, made up my mind to
come with YOU
Don't talk stuff to me-" | said.
"Ah, very well. Macumazahn, very
we'll; but what happened to my own peo-
pie six months ago, and what did | tell
the messengers would happenP They
drove me away, and they are gone. If
you drive me away you will soon be
gone, too, and he nodded his white
lock at me and smiled.
Now, / was not more superstitious
than other people. but somehow old In
daba-zimbi impressed me. Also ! knew
his extraordinary influence over every
class of native, and bethought me that he
might be useful In that way.
"All right" | said, Il appoint you
witch-finder to the expedition without
pay"
First serve, then ask for wages" he
answered. II am glad to see that you
have enough imagination not to be alto
gether a fool. like most white men,
Macumazahn. Yes, yes, it is want of
Imagination that makes people fools;
they won't believe what they can't
understand. You can't understand my
prophecies any more than the fool at
the kraal could understand that was
his master with the lightning. Well, it
is time to trek, but if we're you, Ma
cumazahn, | should take ono wagon, not
two
"Why?" | said.
Because you will lose your wagons,
and 1t is better to lose one than two"
''Oh, nonsensel'' said.
'All right, Macumazahn, live and
learn" And without another word he
walked to the foremost wagon, put his
bundle into it and climbed into tho
front seat.
So having bid an affectionate adieu to
my white friends. including the old
Scotchman who got drunk in honor OF
the event, and q.otcd Burns till the
Gears ran down his face, at length
started and Travelled slowly northward.