The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-05-10

zimbi, who sat staring straight before
him as though he were looking into
space, and taking note of what went on
there. An idea struck me. This man
had some occult power. Several times
during our adventures he had prophe-
sled, and in every case his prophecies
had proved true. lie it was who, when
we escaped from the Zulu Impi, had
told me to steer north, because there we
should find the place of white man
who lived under the shadow of a great
peak that was full of balloons. Perhaps
he could help in this extremity-at any
rate it was worth trying.
"1ndaba-zimbi," l said, "you say that
you can send your spirit through the
doors of space and see what we cannot
see. AT the least / know that you can
do strange things. Can you not help
me now? If you can, and will save her,
Twill give you half the cattle that we
have here"
81 never said anything of the sort,
Macumazahn," he answered. 81 do
things, l do not talk about them. Neither
do seek reward for what 1 do like a
common witch doctor. 1t is we'll that
you have asked me to use my wisdom,
Macumazahn, for should not have used
it again without being asked-no, not
even for the sake of the Star and yourself,
whom love, for if so my spirit would
have been angry. In the other matters
had a part, for my life was concerned as
we'll as yours; but in this matter have
no part, and therefore 1 might not use
my wisdom unless you thought we'll to
call upon my spirit. However, it would
have been no good to ask me before, for
have only just found the herb want"
and he produced a handful of leaves of
plant that was unfamiliar to me. 1t
had prickly leaves, shaped very much
like those of the common English nettle.
"Now, MacumaZahn," he went on,
'bid the men leave us alone, and then
follow INC presently to the little glade
down there by the water"
did SO. When reached the glade l
found Indaba-zimbi kindling small fire
under the shadow of a tree by the edge of
the water.
"Sit there, Macumazahn," he said,
pointing to stone near the fire, land do
not be surprised or frightened at any
thing you see. If you move or call out
we shall learn nothing"
sat down and watched. When the
fire was alight and burning brightly, the
old fellow stripped himself stark naked,
and, going to the foot of the pool, dipped
himself i'll the water. Then he came
back shivering with the cold, and, lean
ing over the little fire, thrust leaves
of the plant have mentioned into his
mouth and began to chew them, mutter-
ing as he chewed. Most of the remaining
leaves he threw onto the fire. A dense
smoke rose from them, but he held his
head in this smoke and drew it down into
his lungs till saw that he was exhibiting
every sign of suffocation. The veins in
his throat and chest swellcd, he gaspcd
loudly, and his eyes, from which tears
were streaming, seemed as though they
were going to start from his head. Pres
emily he fell over on his side, and lay
senseless. l was terribly alarmed, and
| my first impulse was to run to his assist,
ance, but fortunately remembered his
caution and sat quiet.
1ndaba-zimbi lay ON the ground like n
person quite dead. His limbs had all the
utter relaxation of death. But as l
watched saw them begin to stiffen, cx-
actly as though rigor mortis had set in.
Then, to my astonisllment, perceived
them once more relax, and this time
there appeared upon his chest the stain
Of decomposition. Itspread and spread
in three minutes the man, to all appear.
ance, was u livid corpse.
sat amazed watching this uncanny
sight, and wondering if any further nat
ural process was about to be enacted
Perhaps Indaba-zimbi was going to fall
to dust before my eyes. AS watched !
observed that the discoloration was be-
| ginning to fade. First it vanished from
the extremities, then from the larger
limbs, and lastly from the trunk Then
in turn came the third stage of rclaxa-
| ton, the second stage Of stiffness or rigor,
and the first stage of after-death collapse.
When all these had rapidly succeeded
each other, Indaba-zimbi quietly woke
| up.
was too astonished to speak; simply
looked at him with my mouth open.
"Well, Macumazahn, he said, putting
his head on one side like bird and nod
ding his white lock in comical fashion,
'it is all right; have seen her."
';Seen who?" said.
"The Star, your wife, and the little
maid. They are much frightened, but
,n1 Tl,a lo1, nj,
them. She is mad, but the balloons obey
her and do not hurt them. The Star was
| sleeping from weariness, SO l whispered
in her ear and told her not to be fright.
ened, for you would soon rescue her, and
that meanwhile she must seem to be
pleased to have Hendrika near her.
"You whispered in her car::' I said.
"How could you whisper in her carr"
"Bah! Macumazahn. How could l
seem to die and go rotten before your
eyes? You don't know, do you? Well,
will tell you one thing. I had to die to
pass the doors of space, as you call them.
had to draw all the healthy strength
and life from my body in order to gather
power to speak with the Star. 1t was a
dangerous business, Macumazahn, for if
had let things go little further they
must have stopped SO, and there would
have been an end of Indaba-zimbi. All,
you white men, you know so much that
you think you know everything. But
you don't! You are always staring at
the clouds and can't see the things that
lie at your feet. You hardly believe me
now, do you, Macumazahn? Well, will
show you. Have you anything on you
that the Star has touched or worn!'
thought for a moment, and said that
l had lock Of her hair in my pocket
book. He told me to give it to him. /