Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-30
Etc., and Edward Rapier.

UeIOTe sne reaches the kraAl.
fShall We wait for my men?' asked
Blaine, who was confused.
"Wait. Yes, wait, you dog" cried
the other, in burst of passion. His
great horse with snort of pain at the
vicious thrust of spurs bounded forward.
Blaine paused q moment, then he too
followed, Daiston S insulting words ring
ing in his ears. Suddenly the pale face
of the girl he had seen at Kopje Alleen
seemed to look at him from out the air,
her large brown eyes fixed reproaohfully
on him.
GOOD God - he said, show could I
have driven her out into the night. I
fired at her, too, - he muttered, horror
stricken.
He pressed his horse and was soon
riding side by side with his gloomy COM
panion. Each man knelt over the sad
die, reckless of all danger, intent only
upon fret reaching this girl.
They gained upon her at every stride,
and now III the greyish light of the dawn
they could see @ dim figure before them.
Mary shuddered with the feeling of
hunted creature. She called to her horse,
but he simply pricked his ears to her cry.
She looked up despairlngly, and through
q rift in the rising mist on the left she
saw the rounded outline of hut. Her
goal was near.
They also saw the hut and raised low
warning cry to her to stop.
1t flashed through her mind that there
was shorter way to the kraal than by
the path she was riding; way however
trayersed by a deep donga, and danger
Gus in that uncertain light. She would
try it. 1t was desperate case.
the left. Blaine was the first to detect
that she swerved from the course and he
turned also, but from the pace he was
going, he overshot her line. Dalston
SOON was up with Blaine on the fresh
track but with a startled exclamation,
for Mary had suddenly disappeared from
view.
Her horse had reached the brink of the
yawning donga and no more thought of
leaping il than he thought of flying.
There was no path down the slantlng
sides, but obedient TO his riders COM
mand he spread out his forelegs stiffiy,
gathered his hind legs together under his
belly and slipped down.
Once at the bottom, however, he de-
clined to mount the opposite side. Mary
heard the rush of her pursuers. After
all she would bs too late. Then her
heart stood still, as she ref ected that at
the speed they were travelling they must
fall hsadlons into the chasm.
She scrambled up the bank in breath
less haste and cried out to them to stop.
just in time, for Blaine's horse was SD
close upon the brink that his foreteet
beat the air over 1t as he was thrown
back on his launches.
A moment later Mary looked up to see
| that they were safe, then she followed
her hands and called aloud in Zulu to the
people in the kraal:
1.-THE soldiers are upon you. Fly!'
Trained as she had been, by Pala, to
practice the deep chest notes that the
| natives use in chanting, her voice
| Travelled far.
The first response came in the bark of
@ dog, then there was a hub bub of
women's voices in alarm. and then
silence. Already the women of the
krasl were flying TO the caves in the
| precipice on the hill beyond. Were there
| any men there! and If so would they
come down upon them? Even now, in
their silent way, they might be stealing
down.
Blaine thought of this. s'Miss Rath,
this Is not safe. Where is your horss2'
"At the bottom of the donga.
''Take mine,'' said Dalston, dis
| mounting. "You will find him quiet. {"
''Who is it that calls out q warning in
the night?'' asked deep voice from the
other side of the donga.
With a start the three looked across,
and there they saw the figure of man,
looming gigantic in the morning mist.
Mary recognized the voice. 'It is I i,
| the white girl from Kopje Alleen.
"Yoh! - and who are those with
you?'
"They came after me to prevent me
| from warning you. For Pala's sake l
have done this thing-also because you
saved my life.''
Hear i.!' He paused moment to
| consider this new phase in warfare, but
again expressed his surprise in the en-
| phatic ejaculation: 'Yoh!'
az will not forget it, he said, then
turned and stalked away, while Blaine
and Dalston bit their moustaches and
| looked at one another askance, to know
what should be done.
Meanwhile, Mary's horse, grown tired
of remaining below, scrambled up, with
many grunt, aud fell to eating the
| shrub. Both men were eager to help
| her to the saddle, but as each hesitated
| in favor OF the other she did without
| their assistance. The two officers could
| only stare at her supinely. AT last Blaine
found his voice.
miss Rath, }" said he, with a CULVER
| of emotion, "you have done q noble
| deed and thank God, from my heart,
| for His mercy in bringing you safe
through He raised the hand that
dropped listlessly at her side, and pressed
| his lips on it. 1t was the homage of a
chivalrous man 10 a brave woman, which
| she did not resent.
Daiston sighed as he saw this. He
dared not do that. With him, he felt
now it would be a liberty. He cleared
his throat to speak. but could not, and
with a savage glance at Blaine he vaul;ed
| into bis saddle.
| Mary did not answer at once. She felt
weakness at her throat. and ysarn-
ing at her heart for sympathy. The
touch upon her cold aud nerveless hand
had nearly been answered with o sob.
With an effort she gathered up her
reius and rode on. They placed them
selves one on either side.
''Thank you, she said YEARLY. al
can find my way home alone. Please
leaye me. You have been the cause of
all this trouble, -