The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-10-08
AN AFRICAN ROMANCE.
CHAPTER VI.

was not slow to take Indaba-zimbi's
hint. About hundred and fifty yards
to the left of the laager was little dell
where 1 had hidden my horse, together
with one belonging to the Beers, ard
my saddle and bride. Thither we went,
l carrying the swooning Tota in my
arms. To our JOY we found the horses
safe, for the Zulus had not seen them.
Now, of course, they wore our only
means of lOcomot1on, for the oxen had
been sent away, and even had they been
there we could not have found time to
inspan them. l laid Tota down, caught
my horse, undid his knee halter and
saddled up. AS was doing SO a thought
struck me, and l told Indaba-zimbi to
run to the lager and see if he could
find my double-barreled gun ana some
powder and shot, for l had only my ele-
plant ''roer' and a few charges of pow
der and ball with me.
He went, and while he was away poor
little Tota came to herself and began to
cry, till she saw my face.
''Ah, have had such a bad Dream"
she said, in Dutch; 81 dreamed that the
black Kaflirs were going to kill me.
Where is my papa?"
WINGED at the question. ''Your papa
has gone on a journey, dear l said,
land left me to look after you. We shall
find him one day, You don't mind go
ing with Heer Allan. do your
''No," she said, little doubtfully,
and began to cry again. Presently she
remembered that she WAS thirsty, and
asked for water. led her to the river
and she drank. "Why is my hand red
Heer Allan?" she asked, pointing to the
smear of Bombyane's blood-stained
fingers.
At that moment felt very glad that l
had killed Bombyane.
sit is only paint, dear" said; 'ssee,
we will wash it and your face"
AS was doing this Indaba-zimbi re-
turned. The guns were all gone; he
said the Zulus had taken them and the
powder. But he had found some things
and brought them in a sack. There was
a thick blanket, about twenty pounds
weight of biltong or sun-dried meat, a
few double-handfuls of ships biscuits
two water-bottles, a tin pannikin, some
matches and sundries.
''And now, Macumazahn," he said.
eve had best be going, for those
Umtetwas are coming back. l saw one
of them on the brow of the rise"
That was enough for me. l lifted
little Tota on to the bow of my saddle,
climbed into it and rode off. holding her
in front Of me. Indaba-zimbi slipped a
rein into tho mouth of the best of the
Boer horses, threw the sack Of sundries
on to its back and mounted also. hold
ing the elephant gun in his hand We
went eight or nine hundred yards in
silence till we were quite out of range
of sight from the wagons which were in
a hollow. Then 1 pulled up, with such
a feeling of thankfulness in my heart as
can not be told in words; for now knew
that, mounted as we were, those black
demons could never catch us. But
where were we to steer for? l put the
question to Indaba-zimbi, asking him if
he thought we had better try and follow
the oxen that we had sent away with
the kaffirs and women on the preceding
night. He shook his head.
NC - AAeStW - WALL 81 oAlSE Tie OAeu
presently" he answered, land we have
seen enough of them"
'Quite enough" answered, with en-
thusiasrn; Il never want to see another;
but where are We to go? Hero We are
with one gun and a little girl in the
vast and lonely veldt. Which way shall
we turn?'
''Our faces were toward the north be-
fore we met the Zulus." answered
Indaba-zimbi; ''let US still keep them to-
ward the north. Ride on, Macumazahn;
tonight when we off-saddle will look
into the matter"
So all that long afternoon we rode on,
following the course of the river. From
the nature of the ground we could only
go slowly. but before sunset I had the
satisfaction of knowing that there must
have been at least twenty-five miles
between us and those accursed Zulus.
Little Tota slept most of the way, the