The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-07-12

,.ivre, ana ne named secret valley
that was known to very few. eff you
do that l viii spare you and give you
three of the COWS. If you refuse or play
me false, then, by my fathers spirit, 1
will find way TO kill you"
Certainly will do it, my uncle" l
answered. why did you not trust me
before? Had 1 known that You wanted
to keep the cattle l would never have
smelled them out. only did so, fearing
lest you should lose the presents.
"You are not 80 wicked as thought
he growled- Get up, then, and do my
bidding. You can be back here in two
hours after dawn"
So got up, thinking all the while if
should try to spring on him. But was
without arms, and he had the knife: also,
if perchance 1 had prevailed and Killed
him 81 would have been thought that l
had murdered him, and should have
tasted the assegai. So l made another
plan. | wCIlld go and find the cattle IL
the valley where had sInelt them out,
bat would not bring them to the secret
hiding place. No, J would drive them
straight to the kTaaI and denouuce
Mona before the chief, my father, and
all the people. But l was young IN
| those days, and did not know al the
| heart of Mona.
went to the corner OF ny hut -roua
watching me all the while, and took a
kerrie and small shield. Then
| started through the moonlight
For an hour l travelled swiftly over
/ the plain, till l came to the hillside
I a. 4 I1z 7
/ the little buffalo path l sought, and
turned along it. Presently came 80 an
| open place where the moonlight crept
| in between the trees. l llnelt down and
looked. Yes! my snake had not bed TO
me; there was the spoOr of the cattle.
! Then l went on gladly till l reached a
! dell through which the water ran softly.
| Here the Trail Of the cattle was broad;
they had broken down the ferns with
their feet and tTamr-cl the grass fiat.
| Presently | came to pool l knew it
it was the pool my SNAKE had shown me.
stepped forward and loOked round.
NY eye cau-ht something; it was the
faint gray l'ght OF the dawn glinting on
the cattle's horns.
Then collected them and drove them
before me down the narrow path back
toward the kraal. Now the daylight
came quickly, and the sun had been up
an hour when | reached the spot where
| should turn if / wished to hide the cat
tie in the secret place, as Mona had bid
me- But this l would not do. No,
would 90 on to the kraal with them, and
tell all men that Noma was a thief.
Still, sat down and rested awhile, for
| was tired. AS l sat, 1 heard a noise
and looked mp. There, over the slope OF
the rise. came a crowd of men, and lead
ing them Was Mona, and by Ills side
the headman who owned the cattle.
stood still wondering. but as | stood
Dthey ran toward me, shouting and wav-
ing sticks and spears.
There he isl screamed Mona. There
he is!-the clever boy whom l have
brought up. to bring shame on me.
What did tell you? Did | not tell you
that he was a thief? Yes-yes! know
your tricks, Mopo, my child! See! he Is
stealing the cattle!" And he made a
rush at me with his stick lifted. and af-
ter him came the headman, granting
with rage.
l understood. my father, Ny heart
went mad in me. Every dining began tC
swim round; red clO,u seemed To ut
itself up and down before my eyes
have always seen it thus when was
forced to fight. | screamed ont one
word only-'L iar!7-anl rushed ,9maat
him. On came Mona. He Struck at
me with his ker1ie, bat 4 cau-la The
blow upon my little shield ana l.. back
Wowl did hitl The skull .- -..-
met my kerrie, and down aa ..... -.-.
at my feet. yelled again a..
on at the headJnGu- i.s ..-.t
gal. but it missed Iua. and --s.. ..
hit him too Re g.. -u
knocked II down ya.n ... .
over he rolled seEsaa.a
lived OF died / know -... .-
being Of the tl.,G -
a. that he lived. Tl.-. wa-.. ..
stood astoaishel, 4 .a..a-
They turcea. TOO. a-- .a .....
But none Of the-- cae.. ...a. .. .
- presently was out, sight GAO ....a.