Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-28

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: ing more careless az he advanced, until at las
he met with an awkward reminder. His hors
} stream. and paved uneasily at the water, wiici
just covered he pure white sand.
"Come up," shouted Rowe, digging tn
Ward, sank up to the knees, the next pluns
found him up to his girths and at the next b.
rolled over on to his side with mighty snort o
disgust and -. He was caught in a quicksand
For an hour Rowe worked TO get his hors
out. cutting bundles of rushes from the banks q
make footing, and cursing himself all the tim
for his carelessness. When, at the end OF tina
time, he brought his horse to the bank, thu
little fellow was weakened from his struggles.
IAN right. my boy. I'll give you rest wher
we pass the ridge" They climo.d the ridge a
a walk. passed village OF huts neatly arranged
in semi-circular clusters of four and six, witt
the cattle kraal in the center.
As horse and rider slowly picked their way
down the other side into shallow valley, {
looked after them Then with rifle and assega
in hand he followed cautiously after.
At the next maize 10Y mealieJ garden Rowe
gathered few cobs of green corn for roasting.
stopped to fill his tin at brook, and halted on a
small kopje which commanded view of the
country around Here he Off saddIed and knee
battered his horse, with double hitch of the
neck rein above the left knee, This brought the
head down and lifted the left leg up-an effect
i've means of preventing a horse from straying,
while giving him full liberty to Craze.
The fire was cracking under the "canteen, ~
the green corn was turning nice brown when
q curious booming sound broke on the silence.
1t was as though some enormous bee was bear
ing down at express speed but before Rowe
could determine what sort of an insect it was
| with o VIII izz, whir, boom, the thing struck the
| tIn plump in the center, and scattered the fire.
brands in every direction.
Rowe fell over his saddle, and his booted feet
| wildly paved the air, then splitting out cinders
and dust, and rubbing the ashes ont of his eyes
he reRained his feet.
what in thundcr-wal blame me- There
lying in the center OF the scattered fire was pot
leg. an inch or two of solid iron. broken off q
| Ri ngnam three-!egge pot. This was the
sol nj nj n ia m nnt nf
! gun barrel.
Things is getting interesting. guess I'd
! better get into the saddle again - But as he
started after the horse, another pot leg came
booming along, and tall Zulu Immediately
| stepped into view from behind a rock on adj
| joining hi to witness the effect of the shot.
EFF there's only one of EN-, guess I'll fight
| it out, - muttered Rowe hesitating. Seeing This
! the Zulu threw away his rifle with u gesture of
| disgust, and came down the hill armed only
with the stabbing assegai, long-bladed, Ihort-
halted spear.
''B anne me eff that isn't cheek; IN try his
nerve for him." He drew his revolver and fred
five successive seols, Lut at each the Zulu
simply lifted his spear. Rowe had, with all his
experience made The usual mis-, take of under es
timating the distance in the brilliant light and
clear atmosphere.
Seems pity to drop lin. SEEM he's not
armed. but it must be done. Hullo!' He hur-
riedly felt in his pouch, and then looked very
serious. The pouch was EN- tyI Every cartridge
b ad fallen into the quicksand.
The conditions were altered now with
geance. What was a bowieknife, the only
weapon left him. compared with the formidable
wall was hankerin' for excitement, and
here it is, By gosh wish were inside a trip
pie plated biler-that spears len; enough to
skewer hog. Anyhow here goes for fight
He drew heavy bowie knife from its sheath,
wrapped his saddle cloth a'ound his left arm,
and then watched the approach OF the Zulu.
The warrior, man of splendid build was per-
fectly naked save for the kilt of blue monkey
skin about his loins. His heal was unshorn,
showing that he belonged to one of the unmar-
feather marked him as chief; his
circets OF black and white hide around the
wrists and ank es, proved him warrior of the
famous Nkobomakosi regiment. Pride
manifested in the naughty carriage of his head,
siren, tn in the play of his corded muscles under
his satin skin of rich mahogany hue, q Id proofs
OF his courage were given in innumerable OLD
scars and in one recently healed cash right
IS his breast.
without moments pauae came striding up the
hill. He threw himself into position to receive
an attack, expecting that the Zulu would make
a rueh-but when twenty yards off the latter
paused.
He rested his hands on the butt of his assegai
and silently took stock of his opponent. The
fierce black eyes ram ed slowly over The white
mans form then dwelt 6xedly on his face.
slight quivering of the wide nostrils and the
warned Rowe of the coming rush. Then with
sudden fierce growl the warrior sprsng from the
ground and bounded forward.
Rowe escaped the lightning thrust BIZ rapid
spring and struck with his heavy knife. The
point just ripped the black skin below the arm
''Yoh!'' exclaimed the warrior in astonish-
ment. as he realized that his blow had failed.
With the light of battle in his eyes he again
lcapt forward like tiger on its prey, and the |
long blade flashed in the sun as it shot forth.
Rowe sprang back. throwing his left arm |
across his breast: The point of the blade pierre |
the muscles, and was withdrawn stained with |
blood "Sutu,'' shouted the war; or, giving |
the tribal war cry, and again he struck. With |
desperate attempt at defense, Rowe struck out |
swiftly and inst time to through the haft |
of the srear above the blade.
In instant the Zulu's long fingers closed !
uton Rowe's upilted arm, and the two men !
glared at one another. Rowe waited for the !
other to begin the struggle, reserving his |
strength, but in that moments interval, the
Zulu grasped the ia led blade between his toes,
reache d it and sprang away before Rowe realized
what was going on
The latter, however, was the better armed
and grim smile played about his lips.
CT will give him something TO 90 now. 4" he
viciously, and maneured round the
his chance, he Tented. then changed position
rapidly and lounged upwards.
The warrior was prepared for the blow. which
spent its force on the air and before Rowe could |
recover, u fearful blow fell on his head, cutting
right through the thick hat with its band Of
leather, and causing the blood to stream over
his eyes.
Through the red mist he saw the Zulu raise his
arm to stab. His head swan. but with mighty
effort he hurled his knife full at the warriors
head, then fell to the ground senseless.
CHAPTER III.-THE DOGS OF WAR.
When Rove recovered consciousness he was very
much surprised that he was alive. In fact with
he first futter of his senses, he felt as though
lis soul had taken leave of his body, and it was
lot until he sat up and looked around that he
ully satisfied himself that ne was in the land of |
he living.
There could be no mistake about it, for his
nemy, the Zulu, was few yards off, also very |
much alive, and beginning to move.
The heavy haft OF the bowie had struck the |
warrior full between his eyes. white mans |
kuil would have cracked under the force of the |
low, but the thick frontal bone of the native |
lad withstood the conclusion, and the only
fleet was temporary Inconsistencies.
The Zplu being in the very perfection of con-
ftion, nard as steel, and without superfuous
esh, was the first to recover He picked up the
OWE and the assegai blade, and with one in
ither hand, stepped up to Rowe. The latter {
ED his breath in that supreme moment; q Curl
us sensation manifested itself at a spot below
he right ear, where he felt the point OF the
nife would enter, while his eyes dulled by !
ain were fixed on the shining blade. As tiger
loats over his prey. the Zulu gloated over the
elpless white man, and deferred the death
troke. g
''strike!" said Rowe, hoarsely. "strike. {
on devil!'' The throbbing on his neck in.
Ieased, until it seemed as though all the nerves
] his body were concentrated at the spot He q
laceG his finger on his neck and bent his head | ,
one sfIe.
.'Strikel''
The zulu's eyes grew bloodshot, bis nostrils d
zpanded, and with t1e war-cry leaping from :
is lns, he raised the knife above his head