San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-06

/ looked 80 the left; dimly through
the falling rain there also | saw the
plumes of warriors, and in their hands
hedge of spears. looked before me
toward the end of the cleft there also
doomed the plumes of warriors, and in
their hands was hedge of spears.
Then from all the people there rose
another cry-a cry of terror and of
agony.
"Ah, now they mourn indeed. Mopo,"
said Chaka in my ear; now thy people
mourn from the heart, and not with the
lips alone"
As he spoke the multitudes of the peo-
pie on either side of the cleft surged for
ward like wave. surged back again,
once more surged forward, then, with a
dreadful crying, driven on by the mer-
CHESS spears of the soldiers, they began
to fail i'll torrent of men, women and
children, far into the black depths be-
low
Thus was Makedama buried beneath
the bodies Of his people, and thus was
ended the tribe of the Langeni. As my
mother had dreamed, so it came about.
And thus did Chaka take vengeance for
that cup of milk which was refused to
him many year before.
Thou hast not won thy bet, Mopo,"
said the king presently. See, here is a
little space where one more may find
room to sleep. Full to the brim is this
corn chamber with the ears of death, in
which no living grain is left. Yet there
is one little space, and is there not one
to fill it? Are all the tribes of the Lam
gem dead indeed?'
There is one, . king" answered.
Il am of the tribe of the tangent. Let
my carcass fill the place"
Nay, Mopo, nay! Who, then, should
take the bet? Moreover, slay thee not,
for it is against my oath Also, do we
not mourn together, thou and l."
There is no other left living of the
tribe of the Langeni, o king! The bet
is lost. 1t shall be paidr'
Il think that there is another" said
| Chaka. There is a sister to thee and
me, Mopo. All! See, she comesw
looked up, my father and saw this
1 Sd" bdlChd' SlSlCls WANING lON dl u
us, and on her shoulders was kaross of
wildcat skins, and behind her were two
| soldiers. She walked proudly, holding
her head high and her step was like the
step of queen. Now she saw the sight
of death, for the dead lay before her like
black water in sunless pool. A mo-
ment she stood shivering, having guess
ed all, then walked on and stood before
| Chaka.
What is thy will with me, o king?"
| she said
Thou art come in good hour, sis
ter" said Chaka, turning his eyes from
| hers. 1T is thus, MOpo, my servant and
my brother, made bet with me, a bet
of cattle 1t was little matter that we
! wagered on-as to whether the people of
| the tangent tribe-thine own tribe,
Baleka, my sister-would fill yonder
place, U'Donga-lu- kaTatiyana. When
they heard of the bet, my sister, the
people of the Langeni hurled themselves
into the rift by thousands, being eager
to put the matter to the proof. And now
it seems that thy brother has lost the
bet, for there is yet place for one yonder
ere the rift is full. Then, my sister, thy
brother, Mopo, brought it to my mind
that there was still one of the Langeni
| tribe left upon the earth who, should
she sleep in that place, would turn the
bet in his favor, and he prayed me to
send for her So, my sister, as | would
not take that which | have not won
! have done so, and now do thou go apart
and talk with Mopo, thy brother, alone
upon this matter, as once before thou
didst talk when a child was born to
| thee, my sister.
Now Baleka took no heed of the words
of Chaka which he spoke of me, for she
knew his meaning well. Only she look
ed him in the eyes and said:
I'll shalt thou sleep from this night
where no sleep is. have spoken"
Chaka saw and heard, and of sud-
den he Quailed, growing afraid in his
heart, and turned his head away.
"Mopo, my brother" said Baleka, "let
us speak together for the last time; it is
the kings word"
So | drew apart with Baleka, my sis
ter, and spear was in my hand. We
stood together alone, by the people of
the dead, and Baleka threw the corner
of the kaross about her brows and
spoke to me swiftly from beneath its
shadow.
What did | say to you awhile ago,
Mopo? 1t has come to pass. Swear to
me that you will live ON and that this
same hand of yours shall take venge-
ance for me-"
II swear it, my sister!"
"SMear to me that when the Yenge-