San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-29
QUATERMAN'S WIFE.
By Il. RIDER HAGGARD.
Author Of "Colonet Quaritch, V. c." "Mr.
Nelson's IVW," "A Tale of Three
Lions" Allan quatermain,"
"She," Jess" etc.

Happily, her mother was already dead.
And here ] may state that ten of the
women and children, together with about
half of the cattle, escaped. The Zulu
impi never saw them, and on the third
day of travel they came to the fortified
place of a Griqua chief, who sheltered
them on receiving half the cattle in pay
ment. Thence by slow degrees they
journeyed down to the Cape Colony,
reaching civilized region within a little
more than year from the date of the
attack on the laager.
The afternoon was now drawing to-
ward evening, but still there were no
signs of the impi. A wild hope struck
us that they might have gone on about
their business. Ever since Iudaba-Zimbi
had heard that the regiment was sup
posed to belong to the Umtetwa tribe,
he had, noticed, been plunged in deep
thought. Presently he came to me and
volunteered to go out and spy upon their
movements. At first Hans Botha was
against this idea, saying that he was a
''verdOmde swartZel'-an accurSed black
creature-and would betray us. point
ell out that there was nothing to betray.
The Zulus must know where the wagons
were, but it was important for us to
gain information of their whereabouts.
SO it was agreed that Indaba-zimbi should
go. | told him this He nodded his white
lock, said "All right, Macumazahn,' and
started. noticed with some surprise,
however, that before he did 50 he went
to the wagon and fetched his "mOuti,"
or medicine, which, together with his
own magical apparatus, he always car
ried in Il skin bag. | asked him why he
did this. He answered that it was to
make himself invulnerable against the
spears of the Zulus. did not in the
least believe his explanation, for in my
heart | was sure that lie meant 10 take
the opportunity to make bolt OF it, leav-
Ing me to my fate. | did not, however,
interfere to prevent this, for | had an
affection for the old fellow, and sincerely
hoped that he might escape the doom
which OvcrShadOwed us.
So Indaba-zimbi sauntered off, and as
looked at his retreating form thought
that | should never see it again. But |
was mistaken, and little knew that he
was ri5kimg his life, not for the Beers,
whom he hated one and all, but for me,
whom in lis queer way he loved.
When he had gone we completed our
preparations for defense, strengthening
the wagons and the thOrns beneath with
earth and stones. Then at sunset we
ate and drank as heartily as we could
under the circumstances, and when we
had done, Hans Botha, as head of the
party, offered up prayer to God for our
preservation. 1t was touching sight to
see the burly Dutchman, his hat off, his
broad face lit up by the last rays Of the
setting sun, praying aloud in hOmely,
simple language to Him who alone could
save us from the spears of Il cruel foe.
remember that the last sentence of his
prayer was, almighty, if we must be
killed, save the women and children and
my little girl Tota from the accused
Zulus, and do not let us be tortured.
echoed the request very earnestly in
my own heart, that ! know, for in COM
mon with the others | was dreadfully
afraid and it must be admitted not with
out reason
Then the darkness came on. and we
took up our appointed places, each with
a rifle i'll his hands, and peered out into
the gloom in silence. Occasionally one
of the Beers would light his pipe with
brand from the smoldering fire, and the
glow of it would shine for a few mo-
ments on his pale, anxious face.
Behind me one of the stout ''fraus"
lay upon the ground. Even the terror
of our position could not keep her heavy
eyes from their accustomed sleep, and
she snored loudly. On the further side
of her, just by the fire, lay little Tota,
wrapped i'll kaross. She was asleep
also, her thumb in her mouth, and from
time to time her father would come to
look at her.
So the hours wore on while we wait
ed for the Zulus. But from my in
innate knowledge of the habits of IA
tives had little fear that they would at
tack us at night, though, had they done
so, they could have comprised our de-
structiOn with but small loss to them
selves. 1t is not the habit of this people,
they like to fight in the light Of day-at
dawn for preference.
About | O'Clock, just as was nodding
a little at my post, heard low whistle
outside the lager. Instantly was wide
awake, and all along the line heard the
clicking of locks as the Beers cooked
their guns.
HNIacIni2zahD said n vOiCa rho vCica