The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-05
CHAPTER XII.

Carson.
CHAPTER XII.
We gained the spot BY tho sere""
where Stella had been taken. Inc ma
tiyes looked at the torn fragments o.
the dogs, and at the marks OF Vloience.
and heard them swearing TO escn osne.
that whether the Star lived or died they
would not rest until they had e11eSmi,
mated every baboon on Baoyan,s feax. 1
echoed the oath, and, as shall oe SEEN
we kept it. o.,
We started on along the stream 1ol-
lowing the spoor Of the baDoons ss'"e
host could. But the stream lett no
snoor. and the hard, rocky banks oes
little. Still we wandered on. All n1sn'
we wandered through the lonely moon
lit valleys, startling the silence into a
thousand echoes with our cries. But no
answer came to them. In vain our eyes
searched the sides Of precipices formed
of water-riven rocks fantastlcaliy p,1es
one upon another; In vain we searcnea
through endless dells and 1eEn-ctao
crannies. There was nothing to DO
found. How could we expect to ind TWO
human beings hidden away in the re-
cesses OF this vast stretch OF mountain
ground, which no man yet had ever 1uliy
explored? They were lost anu III OLA
human probability lost forever.
To and fro we wandered hopeiess1y,
TIL at last dawn found US iootsore ana
weary nearly at the spot whence we mao
started. We sat down waiting iar Inc
ann to rise. and the. men ate OF sucn
food as thew had brought with them'
and sent to the kraa} for more:
sat upon stone WITH breaking
heart. 7 ca1 not describe my 1eenngs.
Let the reader put himself in my posi-
tion and perhaps he may get some 'oea
Of them. Near me was old lnoaos-
z;ubi, who sat staring straight Detore
him as though he were LOOKING 1neo
space, and taking note OF what went on
there. An idea struck me. Inls man
had some occult power. Several times
during our adventures he had prophe-
sled, and in every case his prophecies
had proven true. he 1t was who, when
we ESCAPED from the Zulu 1mpi, had toio
ma to steer north, because there we
should ind the place OF white man
who lived under the shadow OF greas
neak that was full OF baboons- Perhaps
he could help in this extremity-as any
rate it was worth trying
"1ndaba-zimbi," said, ''you say that
YOU can send your spirit through the
doors OF space and SEQ what we can moi
see. At the least know that you car
|, do strange things. Can you mo-
!, helm me now7 II you can, and Will save
, her, will give you half the cattle tina
we have here"
II never said any thing OF the sort
Mscumszahn," he answered. u o'
:, things. I do not talk about them
T. Neither do seek reward TOR what o'
, like q common witch-doctor. 1t Is wei
- that YOU have asked me to use my WIS
dom. Macumazahn, for l should no
!, have used it again without being aske'
no, not even for the sake OF the Sta
p and yourself, whom I love, tor II so m,
sass;sso aiegase Rafalss ssp9g5T1Hs 6RR 3
q this mater T have no part, and there
g fore might not use my wisdom unless
i you thought well to call upon my spirit
However, st would have been no good t.
ask me before, for I have only JUS
found the herb I want" and he produced
handful Of leaves OF a plant that was
unfamiliar to me. 1t had prickly leaves
shaped very much like those Of the com
mon English nettle.
"Now, Macumazahn," he went on
Ibid the men leave US alone, and then
follow me presently to the little glade
down there by the water"
I did SO. When reached the glade
found Indaba-zimbi kindling small fire
under the shadow Of a tree by the edge
OF the water.
'Sit there, Macumazahn," he said,
pointing to a stone near the 3re, ''and
do not be surprised or frightened at any
thing you see. II you move or caal out
we shall learn nothing"
I sat down and watched. When the
fire was alight and burning brightly the
old fellow stripped himself stark naked,
and, going to the foot Of the pool,
dipped himself in the water. Then he
came back shivering with the cold, and,
leaning over the little fire, thrust leaves
Of tho plant have mentioned into his
mouth and began to chew them, NUT
tering as he .chewed. Most of the re-
naming leaves he threw on the fire. A
dense smoke rose from them, but he
held his head in this smoke and drew it
down into his lungs till saw that he
was exhibiting every sign Of sutfocation.
The veins In his throat and chest
swelled, he gasped loudly, and his eyes,
from which tears were streaming,
seemed as though they were going to
start from his head. Presently he fell
over on his side, and lay senseless. I
was terribly alarmed, and my first i'm
pulse was to run to his assistance, but
fortunately remembered his caution,
and sat quiet
Indaba-zimbi lay on the ground like
person quite dead. His limbs had all
the utter relaxation OF death. But as
watched saw them begin to stifen,
exactly as though rigor maortis had set in.
Then, to my astonishment, I perceived
L u