Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-09

and Dick stood.
The Basuto was the first to BE- exam
ined. giving his evidence in his native
tongue with sonorous accent and wealth
OF gesture, waiting with hand upltted
while his replies were Interpreted
The court was composed of Command
ant darcy, Col. Baker and the colonel.
''You asked the colonel for leave to
60 back to the nights bivouac. What
reason had you for going back
81 went back for spoor. When
hunter goes after wounded beast he
goes straight to that place where he last
saw it,
"True, but Capt. Blaine was not
woun ed. -
Chow does the chief know that?" de-
manded Dick quickly, becoming himself
the examiner.
g am asking you. You went back to
find the spoor. What spoor did you ex-
pect to fnd?''
"Blood spoor!" said Dick, in his deep
voice, and with a fierce roll of his eyes.
"What! Did you think Capt. Blame
had been wounded? If SO, by whom?"
The officers of the court leant forward.
Their suspicious of foul play were evil
IDENTIFY to receive confirmation.
Capt. Dalston flashed his black eyes q
moment upon the witness, then shifted
his glance to Rowe, who looked unmis-
takably moved.
The Basu,o lifted his arm. ''The
night was cold,' he began, land my
blanket had hole in ia large hole
''Yes, yas,' said the examiner,
irritably; "never mind your blanket and
the - hole. Come to the point.
Dick had no intention OF coming to
the point. He had something to tell,
and he meant to tell it in his own way.
''Thet night was cold - he continued,
Every cold, and the wind stole like a
thief through the holes in the blanket,
which is Gu old blanket, and might be
replaced by a better one. Men got I'D
and stamped their feet-some walked
about until it was far into the night.
Then for time there was silence, and
in that silence heard the voice of the
lost spirit calling aloud-even the spirit
that inhabts the body of the night To- |
Gust. l drew my blankets over my |
head, and was afraid. Someone was to |
die -
'What nonsense ls this?''
''Let him go on, sir'' said the inter-
prefer. 'This man is no fool. Someone
was to die-who was ir?''
Dick shook his hand above his head.
81 listened. Some one rose up. 1t was
Captain Blaine; he talked little, then
went away, and by-and-by the sentry
came back. / listened, for we'll l knew
that now the spirit had called him out
there into the darkness. Presently an
other arose softly, and like a enake he
stole away. NV ear was to the ground
now, and heard one exclaim in alright
such noise as man makes when he
Is surprised by some terrible thing. L
knew the spirit terrified him; then
heard blow, and l again covered ny
head. That is all.''
$50 you believe that Captain Blaine
was knocked down, who by? Who did
im iner angrily.
Dick looked grave. He did not like any
,ne to make light of serious matters, and
would give no more answers.
Rowe was now questioned, but he had
lot much light to throw upon the mat
sr. All he could tell was that they had
actually found traces of blood, and signs
which led 10 the supposition that the
Missing officer had been captured.
est is my opinion, said Rowe, "that
Japt. Blaine was knocked on the head
" some prowling Zulu. and that he is
low alive
"There Is some reason in that view,'
vserved one OF the court.
cit does not account for the pistol q
hot, however, nor the loosening of ]
;apt. Blaine's horse,' interpoeed the a
Colonel. "Do you think the Zulu car
led out the whole plan?'
oval, it would be like the cussed saw a
zee to play such a trick.
'You forget, interposed the Colonel
trp1 10 hnf hn VytIr l. |
cen cunning enough, would not have
cen able to select Capt. Blaine horse
rom the troop
''I cannot understand why the horse
as driven away or why the pistol was
red - remarked an officer.
eff you will allow me q word - said
'alston calmly, 81 may account for that
ysteriOus circumstance. The assassin
id not want any search made. He ac-
ordingly, imagine. turned the horse
drift to give color to the idea that
Lame aad purposely ridden away and he
red the shot to cause an alarm, which
ould lead to an early march from the
rot. -
Eyes, hat is an explanation which
70 the scheming of an accomplished ras-
Il, but not of Zulu. Possibly the man
ay have thought that Blaine's absence
QUO nave Deen attributed TO his fear of l.
] attack -
"Exactly,'' replied Daiston. che
'lculated upon our thinking that Blaine
Id bolted under fear.''
If that view Is to be accepted - said
'Arcy, warmly, "the man who struck
g blow could have known nothing of
apt. Blaine. He is not man to rum
''Yet it does not bring us any nearer
an explanation of the affair. Captain
ains, believe, was very popular
deer among all ranks, aud 1 cannot
nceive why this treacherous attack
ould have been made upon him by +,
o Of his comredes.'' tn
''The thing is monstrous, said COM tin
ander DARCY. hotly. "Blaine had co
{ single enemy. My belief is that be-
iu planned the whole affair; watched
approach, marked Blaine out-you
ow he was noticeable man ON his bay
and tracked hum down after creeping
long US.
In that case, - SAID Dalston, she
uld have killed Captain Blame and