Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-02

fore, and which sent a queer sensation
down his backbone, even 70 the tip OF
his dropping tail. Once more he drew
baok wards, with q pucker between the
eyes that told of puzzled brain. Il,
started 10 20 TO his master, but wier
halfway down he looked over his shout
der and saw the white face above the
rocks. So the thing vas watching him
1t was too much. He would go back
again and bite the creature! Accord
ingly he cautiously retraced his steps.
Blaine, all this time, had been slowly
regaining his scattered wits. The blow
on his head had fallen within hair =
breadth of his temple, aud must have
been struck with the but,-end of heavy
revolver, from the circular bruise il left.
After the total blank of insens ibiIity
there had been buzzing III his brain
increasing in intensity aud volume to the
/, wild roaring of the waves. With viii !
feeling that his head would burst he had
| opened his eyes, only to meet the star
tied gaze OF the dog.
/ At the second visit he had gIimmer-
! ing of reasoC, and when he lifted his
/ body 10 look around, aud cav below him
/ IL Zulu warrior where he had left his
comrades, he understood enough to
| know that he was in peril OF his life.
When he heard the dog steadily creep
ing through the bush for the third time
! the pPrspiraiiou gathered on his fore
head, aud his eyes were contracted in
the effort upon his nerves to keep abso-
lutely still.
This time the dog came nearer, but was
evidently more frightened than before,
by the intensity of the gaze nxed upon
him. His legs tremhisd under him. aud
the lids of his eyes moved up and down.
TO shut out that strange magnetic intii-
ence which seemed TO stream into his
brain.
Bluine felt that he could brighten the
animal off, and rolled his eyes tearfully.
1he effect was excellent at the moment.
With Il whimper OF fear, the dog turned
and bolted.
The spell however Was broken. Once
outside the bush he jumped about aud
barked himself almost inside out.
Blame kept quiet, quiet through
which the beating of his heart seemed to
CULVER in waves OF sound hoping against
hope that no search would lie made, but
d sound warned him. CHANGING up he
ga sight which caused smile to fit
across his face, smile that saved his
life. For looking down upon him was
the face of Zulu, with broad red stains
OF current jam across his cheeks, and on
the end OF his fiat nose.
The WARRIORS aSsega was lifted to
thrust, but the feeble smile, and the
evident heiplessness of the white mau
altered his purpose. lus;eId of killing
Bluine. he lifted him up in his powerful
arms ana carried him up to the kraal,
whers after binding him, he proceeded
to examine his captive with great
gravity.
The two sat in silence for long time,
the inspector and the inspected. the
former ever and again stretching cut a
lean finger to TO touch the circular
bruise on the others forehead.
1t passed his compre bension how the
wound was made and by whom. Finally
he gave 1t up as a hopeless puzzle, and
turned to something wh ch he could IN
derstand-the examination of his pris-
oner's arm aud poc::et treasures. These
included watch, e single, treasured
Cigar, photograph of a slver-haired,
mild-eyed, gentle old lady, and u pho
tograph OF a little girl with beautiful
brown eyes.
These pictures caused the warrior I'M
bounded establishment. He clapped his
hand against his mouth several times,
scratched his head with a pointed claw
of ivory, which he took from the lobe of
his ear, and finally returned them to
Bloine's pocket.
The cigar, which had been reserved for
the quiet noon-day smoke, WAS ruth
lessly broken up, and ground down to o
snuff between two rounded stones. The
spoon shaped butt end of the ivory
scratcher served to ladls the snuff into |
his wide nostrils.
Having satisfied himself, he kindly re-
turned his attention TO his captive, and |
a spoonful Of dry snuff up his |
The act was well meant. 1t signified, |
too, that for the present, at least, the |
prisoner could consider himself safe.
But Blaine nearly sneezsd his head of,
and he iullY appreciated how vile
thing cigar was when not put to its
proper use.
The watch was regarded with great
awe as sort of portable god, and was
suspended from the krasl post to ward
off evil doors.
Thus far Blaine had 20 cause to fear
any present hostile intent AMI had begun
70 cast about for chance to escape,
though he could scarcely think for the
riolent throbbing at his temples, but the
lext movement of his captor prepared
lm for the worst.
The Zulu took smooth fiat stone from
me of the huts, aud squatting on his
lams, fell TO sharpening his assegai,
'olling his eyes tierceiy upon his captive.
TO BE CONTINUED.