St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-05-13
CHAPTER III.
MoPo VENTURES HOME.

threw myseif down on the grass and
painted till my strength came back; then
went and hid in a patch of reeds down
by a swamp. All day long | lay there
thinking. What was | to do? Now
was jackal without hole. Ii went
back to my people, certainly they would
kill me, whom they thought thief.
My blood would be given for No1na's,
and that did not wish, though my
heart was sad. Then there came into
my mind the thought of Chaka, the boy
to whom had given the cup of water
long ago.
had heard of him, his name was
known in the land. The words he had
said and the vision that my mother had
seen were beginning to come true. He
had taken the place of his father, SEN
zangacona. Now | remembered how
this Chaka promised that he would make
me great, and thought in myself that
would arise and go to him. Perhaps
he would kill me; well, what did it mat
ter? should certainly be killed if
staid here. Yes, | would go. But now
my heart pulled another way. There
was but one thing that | loved in the
world-it was my sister Baleka. My
father had betrothed her to the chief of
neighboring tribe, but knew that this
marriage was against her wish. Perhaps
my sister would run away with me if
could get near her to tell her that was
going. would try-yes, / would try.
/ waited till the darkness came down,
then went on till came to the kraal.
Some of my people were seated outside
of a hut, talking together over a fire. l
crept near silently as snake and hid
behind little bush. | knew that they
could not see me outside the ring of the
freight, and | wanted to hear what
they said. AS thought, they were
talking Of me and called me many
names. They said | should bring i'll
luck on the tribe by having killed SO
great witch doctor as Mona, also that
the people Of the headman would de-
mand payment for the assault on him.
I learned, moreover. that my father had
ordered all the men Of the tribe out to
hunt for me on the morrow, and to kill
me wherever they found me. "Ahl" !
thought, "you may hunt. but you will
bring nothing home to the pot" just
then dog that was lying by the fire got
up and began to sniff the air. I Icould
not see what dog it Was-indeed had
forgotten all about the dogs when | drew
near the kraa1; that is what comes of
want of experience, my father. The
dog shifted and shifted, then he began
to growl, looking always my way, and ]
grew afraid.
ssWhat is the dog growing at?o said
one man to another. $50 and see.
But the other man was taking snuff and
did not like to move. LET the dog go
and see for himself" he answered, sneez-
ing; sswhat is the good Of keeping a dog
If you have to catch the thief2 Go on,
then, said the first man to the dog, and
he ran forward, barking. Then I saw
him; it was my own dog, Koos, a very
good dog. Presently, as lay not know
ing what to do, he smelled my smell,
stopped barking, and running around
the bush he found me and began to lick
my face. sBe quiet, Koos," | whis-
pered to him, and he lay down by my
side.
Where has that dog gone nowY' said
the first man. Is he bewitched, that
he suddenly stops barking and does not
come back?'
Eve will see," said the other, rising,
a spear in his hand.
Now / was once more terribly afraid,
for thought that they would catch me
or must run for my life again. But as
sprang up to run big black snake
glided between the men and went off
toward the huts. They jumped aside in
a great fright, then all turned to follow
the snake, saying that this was what
the dog was barking at.
When they had gone / crept off the
other way, and Koos followed me. At
first I thought that would kill him,
lest he should betray me; but when
called him to me to knock him on the
head Il could not do il. So thought /
would take my chance, and we went on
together. This was my purpose: First
to creep into my own hut and get my
and SKIN bIanket then 4r gain