Wichita eagle., 1890-01-19

cred with overhanging caves. She sprung
straight and true like monkey, and,
catching the edge Of the hole with her
hands strove to draw herself through it.
But here her strength, exhausted with
the long struggle, failed her. For mo-
ment she swung, then dropped 10 the
ground and fell senseless.
''Ou!" gasped Indaba-zimbi. "Let US
tie the devil up before she comes to life
again"
/ thought this a good counsel, SO we
took rein that lay in the corner of the
room, and dashed her hands and feet in
such a fashion that even she could
scarcely escape. Then we carried her
into the passage, and Indaba-zimbi sss
over her, the knife in his hand. for l did
not wish to raise an alarm at that hour
of the night.
do you know how / caught her, Macu-
mazahn?" he said. ''For several nights
1 have slept here with one eye open. for
l thought she had made a plan. To
night kept wide awake, though l pre-
tended to be asleep. AN hour after you
got into the blankets the moon rose, and
I saw a beam Of light come into the hut
through the hole in the roof Presently
l saw the beam of light vanish. At first
/ thought that cloud was passing over
the moon. but / listened and heard q
noise as though some one was squeezing
himself through narrow place. Pres
emily ne was through and hanging BY
his hands. Then the light came in again,
and in the middle of it saw the babyan-
frau swinging from the roof, and about
to drop into the hut. She chung by both
hands, and in her mouth was a great
knife. She dropped, and ran forward
to seize her as she dropped, and gripped
her round the middle. But she heard
me come, and, seizing the knife, struck
at me in the dark and missed me. Then
we struggled, and you know the rest
You were very nearly dead tonight,
Macumazahn.0
every nearly, indeed" I answered.
still painting and arranging the rags of
my night dress around me as best I
might. Then the memory of my horrid
dream flashed into my mind. Doubtless
it had been oonjored up by the sound of
Hendrika dropping to the hoor-in my
dream it had been a grave that she
dropped into. All of it had been expert
snced in that second of time. Well,
dreams are swift; perhaps time itself is
nothing but dream, and events that
seem far apart really occur simultane-
ously.
We passed the rest Of the night watch
ing Hendrika. Presently she came to
herself and struggled furiously to break
the rein. But it was too strong even for
her, and, moreover, Indaba-zimbi uncer-
enormously sat upon her to keep her
quiet. At last she gave it up.
In due course the day broke-my mar
riage day. Leaving Indaba-zimbi to
watch my would-be murderess, went
and fetched some natives from the
stables, and with their aid bore Hen
drika to the prison hut-that same hut
in which she had been confined when
she had been brought baboon child
from the rocks. Here we shut her up,
and, leaving Indaba-zimbi to watch out
side, returned to my sleeping place
and dressed in the best garments that
babyan kraals could furnish. But when
l looked at the reflection of my face, I
was Mortified. Il was covered with
scratches inflicted by the nails of Hen
drika l doctored them up rs best 1
could, and went out for walk to calm
my nerves, which, what between the
events of the past night and of those
pending that day, were not little dis
turbed.
When / returned it was breakfast time.
I went into the dining hut, and there
Stella was waiting to greet me, dressed
in simple white and with orange flowers
on her breast. She came forward to me
shyly enough; then, seeing the condition
Of my face, started back.
why, Allan! what have you been
doing to yourselfT' she asked.
AS was about to answer, her father
came in leaning on his stick, and catch
ing sight Of me instantly asked the same
question.
Then told them everything, both of
threats and Of her fierce at
tempt to carry them into execution. But
did not tell my horrid dream.
Stella's face grew white as the flowers
On her breast, but that of her father be-
came very stern.
"You should have spoken of this be-
lore, Allsn," he said. Il now see that
lid wrong to attempt to civilize this
wicked and revengeful creature, who, if
'he is human, has all the evil passions Of
he brutes that reared her. Well, will
make an end of it this very day" O.,
"Oh, father" said Stella, don't have
Ter killed. 1t is all dreadful enough, but
hat would be more dreadful still. /
lave been very fond of her, and, bad as
he is, she has loved me. Don't have her
Tiled on my marriage day
NO." her father answered. "she shall
lot be killed, for, though she deserves to
lie, will not have her blood upon our
lands. She is brute and has followed
whence she came"
No more was said on the matter at the
ime, but when breakfast-which was
ather a farce-was done, Mr.. Carson
ent for his head man and gave him GER
ain orders.
We were 10 be married after the ser |
ice which Mr. Carson held every Sun |
ay morning in the large marble hut set /
part for that purpose. The service be-
an at 10 O'Clock, but long before that
our an the natives on the place came up |
a troops. singing as they came, to be
resent at the wedding of the Star" /. /
Tas pretty sight 70 see them, the men
ressed in all their inery, and carrying
hields and sticks ia their hands. and I