San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-28

loved as a son, still in the land of life.
Now | asked her what could be done,
for my heart was stirred by her tears,
and the dread of evil crept from her to
me as shadows creep from the valley to
the mountain.
She answered, Take me with you, my
husband, that may leave this evil land,
where the very skies rain blood, and let
me rest awhile in the place of my own
people till the terror of Chaka has gone
by"
How can | do this thing?" | said.
None may leave the kings kraal with
ont the kings word"
"A man may put away his wife, she
replied. The king does not stand be
tween man and his wife. Say, my
husband, that you love me no longer:
that | bear you no more children, and
that therefore you send me back to
whence | came BY and by we will
come together again if we are left to
look upon the sun"
80 be it," answered. Leave the
kraal with NADIA and Umslopogaas this
very ulS III. anu lOllb44ON lLLOl hAliSS LAVOI
me at the river bank. and we will go on
together, and for the rest may the spir
its of our fathers hold us safe"
So we kissed each other, and she went
on secretly with the children.
Now at the dawning on the morrow
called the men whom the king had given
me and we started upon our journey.
When the sun was we'll up we came to
the banks of the river, and there found
my wife, Macropha, with the children.
They rose as | came, but | frowned at
my wife and she gave me no greeting.
Those with me looked at her askance.
Il have divorced this woman" | said
to them. She is q withered tree, worn
out old bag. and now take her back
whence she came
Weep not, l added to Macropha, lit
is my last word.
Swhat says the king" asked the men.
81 will answer to the king" said,
and we went on.
We had journeyed seven days, for the
way was long, and on the night of the
seventh day we came to a mountainous
country where there were few kraals,
for Chaka had eaten them all up years
before. Here in this wild place we must
sleep, for darkness drew on. Now we
soon learned that there were many lions
in the rocks around. for we heard their
roaring, and were much afraid, all ex-
cept Umslopogaas. who feared nothing.
So we made circle of thorn bushes and
sat in it, holding our assegais ready.
Presently the moon came up so bright
that we could see everything for long
way around. Now some SIX spear throws
from where we sat was cliff. and at the
top of the cliff was a cave, and in this
cave lived two lions and their young.
We saw the lions come out and stand
upon the edge of the cliff, and with
them were two little ones that played
about like kittens.
"Oh, Umslopogaas," said NADIA, II
would that | had one of the little lions
for dog
The boy laughed, saying, Then ]
shall fetch you one, sister,
Peace, boy | said. mo man may
take young lions from their lair and
live"
Such things have been done, my
father" he answered, laughing.
Now when the lions had played
awhile, we saw the lioness take up the
cubs in her mouth and carry them into
the cave Then she came out again,
and went away with her mate to seek
food, and soon we heard them roaring
in the distance. Now we stacked up
the fire and went to sleep in our in
closure of thorns without fear, for we
knew that the lions were far away eat
ing game. But Umslopogaas did not
sleep, for it had come into his mind that
he would fetch the cub which NADIA had
desired.
So while we slept he crept like snake
from the fence of thOrns, and taking an
assegai in his hand he slipped away to
the foot of the cliff where the lions had
their dep. Then he climbed the cliff,
and coming to the cave entered it and
CROPPED his way into it. The cubs heard
him and, thinking that it was their
mother, began to whine and purr for
food. Guided by the light of their yell
low eyes he crept over the bones, of
which there were many in the cave, and
came to where they lay. Then he put
out his hands and seized one of the cubs,
killing the other with his assegai, be,
cause he could not carry both of them.
Now he made haste thence before the
lions returned and came back to where
we lay.
awoke at dawn and looked out. Lol
there on the farther side of the thorn
fence, looking large in the gray mist,
stood Umslopogaas, laughing. In his
teeth he held the assegai, yet dripping