Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-26

the extrenities, then from the larger
limbs, and lastly from the trunk. Then
in turn came the third stage of relaxa-
lion, the second stage Of stiffness or rigor,
and the first stage of after-death collapse.
When all these had rapidly succeeded
each other, Indaba-zimbi quietly woke
up.
was too astonished to speak; I simply
looked at him with my mouth open.
well, Macumazahn,' he said, putting
ding his white lock in comical fashion,
sit is all right; l have seen her.
"Seen who?" I said
tine Star, your wife, and the little
maid. They are much frightened, but
unframed. The babyan-frau watches
them. She is mad, but the balloons obey
her and do not hurt them. The Star was
sleeping from WEAKNESS, SO whispered
in her ear and told her not to be fright
ened, for you would soon rescue her, and
that meanwhile she must seem to be
pleased to have Hendrika near her"
"You whispered in her carr | said.
SHOW could you whisper in her carr
bah! Maoumazahn. How could l
seem TO die and go rotten before your
eyes: You don't know, do you? Well,
/ will tell you one thing. had to die to
pass the doors Of space, as you call them
[ had to draw all the healthy strength
and life from my body in order to gather
power to speak with the Star. 1t was a
dangerous business, Macumazahn, for if
| had let things 90 little further they
must have stopped So and there would
have been an end of Indaba-zimbi. All,
you white men, you know so much that
you think you know everything. But
you don't! You are always staring at
the clouds and can't see the things that
lie at your feet. You hardly believe me
now, do you, Macumazahn? Well, will
show you. Have you anything on you
that the Star has touched or worm"
thought for moment, and said that
| had lock OF her hair in my pocket
book. He told me to give it to him. /
did so. Going to the fire, he lit the lock
of hair in the flame, and let it burn to
ashes, which be caught in his left hand
These ashes he mixed up in a paste with
the juice of one of the leaves of the plant
have spoken of.
"Now, Macumazahn, shut your eyes,"
he said
did so. and he rubbed his paste on my
eyeiids At first it burnt me, then my
head swan strangely. Presently this eff
feet passed off, and my brain was per-
fectly clear again, but l could not feel
the ground with my feet. Indaba-zimbi
led me to the side of the stream. Beneath
us was pool of beautifully clear water.
look into the pool, Macumazahn,"
said Indaba- zimbi. and his voice sounded
hollow and far away in my ears.
l looked. The water grew dark: it
cleared, and in it was picture. l saw
a cave with fire burning in it. Against
the wall of the cave rested Stella. Her
dress was torn almost off her, she looked
dreadfully pale and weary, and her eye
lids were red as though with weeping.
But she slept, and / could almost think
that 1 saw her lips shape my name in
her sleep. Close to her. her head upon
Stellas breast, was little Tota: she had a
skin thrown over her TO keep out the
night cold The child was awake, and
appeared TO be moaning with fear. By
the fire. and in such position that the
light fell full upon her face, and en-
gagged in cooking something in rough
pot shaped from wood, sat the baboon-
woman, Hendrika. She was clothed in
baboon skins, and her face had been
rubbed with some dark stain, which was,
however, wearing off.
In the intervals of her cooking she
would turn on Stella her wild eyes, in
which glared visible madness. with an
expression of tenderness that amounted
to worship. Then she would stare at
the poor child and gnash her teeth as
though with hate. Clearly she was jeal-
Gus of it. Round the entrance arch of
the cave peeped and peered the heads
of many balloons. Presently Hendrika
made sign to one Of them; apparently
she did not speak, or rather grunt, IN
order not to wake Stella. The brute
hoped forward, and she gave it a sec
ond rude wooden pot which was lying
by her. 1t took it and went. The last
thing that | saw, as the vision slowly
vanished from the pool, was the dim
shadow of the baboon returning with
the pot full of water.
Presently everything had gone.
ceased TO feel strange. There beneath
me was the pool, and at my side stood
linda ba-zimhi smiling
You have seen things he said.
Il have" answered, and made no
further remark on the matter. What
was there to say? do you know the
path to the cave" 1 added.
He nodded his head. Il did not follow
it all just now. because it winds" be
said. but KNOW 1t. We shall want
the ropes"
Then let us be starting; the men have
eaten"
He nodded his head again, and, going
to the men. told them to make ready,
adding that Indaba-zimbi knew the way.
They said that was all right; if lndaba-
zimbi had ''smelt her out" they should
soon find the Star. Sowe started cheer
fully enough, and my spirits were SO
much improved that was able TO eat a
boiled mealie cob or two as we walked.
We went up the valley. following the
~ ~ FOR ahnyYt milo.