San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-27
QUATERMAIN'S WIFE.
By Il. RIDER HAGGARD.
Author Of Colonel Qudritch, V. c." "Mr.
Nelson's TTW," "A Tale of Three
Lions" ALLAN Quatermain,"
"She," Jess" etc.

observed to strike continually, and by
the exercise of their occult powers and
invOcatiOnS to the lightning, must strive
to avert death from themselves and
bring it on their rival. The terms of
this singular match had been arranged
month previously, but no storm worthy
of the occasion had arisen. Now the
local weather prophets believed it to he
brewing.
l inquired what would happen if
neither of the men were struck, and
was told that they must then wait for
another storm. If they escaped the
second time, however, they would be
held to be equal in power, and he jointly
consulted by the tribe on occasions of
importance.
The prospect of being a spectator of
so unusual a sight Overcame my desire
to be gone, and | accepted the chiefs in
vitation to see it out. Before midday
regretted it, for though the western
heavens grew darker and darker, and
the still air heralded the coming of the
storm, vet it did not come. BY 4 O'Clock
it became obvious that it must burst
sOOn-at sunset, the Old chief said. and
in the company of the whole assembly ]
moved down to the place of combat.
The kraal was built on the top of hill,
and below it the land slOped gently to
the banks of a river about half mile
away. On the hither side of the bank
was the piece of land that was, the ma
tives said, loved of the lightning
Here the magicians took up their stand,
while the spectators grouped themselves
on the hillside about two hundred yards
away, which was, l thought. rather too
near to be pleasant.
When we had sat there for aw iii" my
curiosity overcame me, and | asked
leave of the chief to go down and inspect
the arena. He said might do 50 at my
own risk. | told him that the fire from
above would not hurt white men. and
went and found that it was Il bed of iron
ore, thinly covered with grass, which of
course accounted for its attracting the
lightning from the storms a~ they trav-
eled along the line of the river. At each
end of this irOmStOne area were placed
the COmbatants, lndaba-Zimba facing the
east, and his rival the west, and before
each there burned little fire made Of
some scented root. Moreover. they were
dressed in all the paraphrrnalia of their
craft, snake skins, fish bludlrr,. and J
know not what besides, while round thei''
neckS hung cirClets of babnOm>' teeth
and bones from human hands. FRS. |
went to the western end where the
chiefs son stood. He was pointing with
his aSSegaj .'Ss-vds Ia: ,t.avcng storm
and invoking it in voice of great ex.
element.
Come, fire. and lick up Indabazi mbi!
Hear Inc, Storm Devil, and lick In
daba-zimbi with your red tongue!
Spit on him with your rain!
"Whirl him away in your breath
Make him as nOthing-melt the mar
row in his bones!
Run into his heart and burn away the
lies,
SHOW all the people who is the true
Witch Finder!
LET m" not be put to shame in the
eye, of this white man.
Thus he spoke. or rather chanted, and
al the while rubbed his broad cheSt-for
he was 4 very fine man-wjth some filthy
compound Of medicine al moGti.
After a while, getting tired Of his
song, walked across the ironotone, to
where Indaba-zimbi sat by his fire. He
WAS not chanting at all, but hi, per
tormanCr was much more impressive.
II consisted in staring at the eastern
sky, which was perfectly clear of cloud,
and every now and again reckoning at
it with his finger, then turning round to
point with the aSSegai towards his rival
For while | looked at him in silence
He was a curious wizened man. appa-
rently over fifty years of age. with thin
hands that looked as tough as wire His
nose was much sharper than is usual
among these races, and he had queer
habit of holding his head sideways like
a bird when he spoke. which, in addi-
ton to the humOr that lurked in his eye,
gave him a most COmical appearance.
Another strange thing about him was
that he had a single white lock of hair
among his black wool. At last | spoke
to him:
Indaba-zimbi, my friend" said,
you may be good witch doctor, but
you are certainly fool. 1t is no good |
reckoning at the blue sky while your
enemy is getting "a start with the storm" |
You may be clever, but don't think
you know everything, white man." the
old fellow answered, in q high cracked