The Irish standard., 1890-02-08
The I. 4 STRANGE 7. I. !. G E STORY ST r
81 3$5 Of
!. 4 guaturmain' Wife
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD,
AUTHOR OF 'sSnE," 'sK1Na SoLoMoN's
Miles, jess" 'sCLEo-
PATRA," ETC.
.
A NEW AFRICAN ROMANCE.

was I inclined to leave the safety of the
hillside where the lightning was never
known to strike and venture down to
:. the iron-stone. Occasionally there still
came flashes, but search as We would, we
could see no trace of either of the wiz
ards For my part, I believed they were
both dead. Now the clouds slowly rolled
away down the course OF the river, and
with it went the rain; and now the stars
shone out in their wake.
ssIet us go and see, "said the old chief,
rising and shaking the water from his
hair. The freight has ended, let us
go and see who has conquered"
rose and followed him, dripping as
though I had swan hundred yards
with my clothes on, and after me came
all the people of the kraal.
We reached the spot; even in that
light could see where the iron-stone
had been split and fused by the thun-
derbolts. While I was looking about me
4 suddenly heard the chief, who was on
my right, give low moan, and saw the
people cluster round him. went up
and looked.
There on the ground lay the body of
his son. He was a dreadful sight. His
hair was burnt off his head, the copper
rings upon his arms were fused, the as
segai handle which lay near was literal
" shivered into threads, and when [
took hold of his arm it seemed to me
that every bone OF it was broken.
The men with the chief stood gazing
silently. while the women walled.
s.Great is the magic of Indaba-zimbi,"
said man at length. The chief turned
and struck him a heavy blow with the
kerrie in his hand. M..4 ~
s'Greater or not, thou dog, he shall
die," he cried, ''and SO shalt thou if
thou singest his praises so loudly"
said nothing, but thinking it proba-
file that Indaba-zimbi had shared the
tate Of his enemy, went to look. But
o,uld see nothing of him, and at length,
being thoroughly chilled with the wet,
started back to my wagon to get a change
of clothes. On reaching it [ was rather
surprised to see strange Kaftir seated
on the drivingbox wrapped up in a.
blanket.
stHullo! come out OF that" l said.
the blanket, and with great dehberation
took pinch of snuff. ...
''It was good freight, white man,
was it not?" said linda ba-zimbi, in his
high, cracked voice. "But he never had
chance against me, poor boy. He
knew nothing about it. See, white man,
what comes of presumption in the
young. 1t is sad, very sad, but L made
the flashes fly, didn't I?''
"You old humbug,' / said, ''unless
you are careful you will soon learn what
comes of presumption in the old, for
YOUR chief is after you with an assegai,
and it will take all your magic to dodge
that"
sNow, you don't say So, said Indaba-
zimbi, clambering off the wagon with
rapidity: s:and all because of this
wretched upstart. There's gratitude
for YOU, white man. l expose him, and
they want 10 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
riving at the station was that of Indaba-
Eimbi.
:'How do you do, Macumazahn!' he
said, holding his head on one side and
noddinc his white lock. II hear you
are Christians here, and want to try a
new religion Mine must be a bad one,
seeing that my people wanted to kill
VIA fnr aypOSinr an I'M DOStOr."
CHAPTER III.
Imalze 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 1ndaba-
zirnbi; first because it was curious, and
secondly, because he takes some hand in
the subsequent events. If that old man
was 11unbug, he was q very clSver one.
What amount of truth there was in his
protcnsions of supernatural powers it is
not for me TO determine, though l 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 have him at the
station, for he had a great horror OF
these Kafir wizards or witch-finders.
But linda ba-zi1nbi persuaded himthat he
was anxious to investigate the truths OF
Christianity and challenged him to dis
i cussion. The argument lasted for two
years Ito the time Of my father s death,
indeed. 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-indeed, do not
/ think he ever meant to. It was to him
/. that INF father addressed his Letters to
B a Native Doubter !" This work. which,
/. a unfortunately, remains in manuscript,
i is full Of wise saws and learned In
Il stances. 1t ought to be published to.
Il gether with a precis Of the doubter's an
"A swers, which were verbal &
i Sas So the talk went on. If my father
Had lived i believe it would be going On
s B nov. Tor both the dispu tants were quite
mex hausti b1e Mean lie Ind l aba-zim r
81 MI lowed to 81 the station
sss III c3rd that he no Itch