Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-01-12
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST
By H. RIDER HHGGARD.
copyright, 1893, by the Author
CHAPTER III.

orOtnefS nau l0uDu MIN wandering about
the country in state of semistarvation,
and he had served them faithfully for
some years. They had given him the name
of Otter, his native patronymic being quite
unpronouncoable. because of his extraordi-
nary skill in swimming, which almost
equaled that of the animal itself. In face
he was hideous, though his ugliness was
not unpleasant, being due chiefly to the
great development of the tribal feature
the nose--and in body misshapen to the
verge of monstrosity. In fact, Otter was
a dwarf, measuring little more than
feet in height. But what he lacked In
height he made up in breadth. 1t almost
seemed as though, intended by nature to
be man of many inches, he had been
compressed to his present dimensions by
ert. His vast chest and limbs, indicating
strength nearly superhuman, his long iron
arms and massive head, all gave countc-
nance to this idea Otter had ono redeem
ing feature, however--his eyes, that when
visible, which at this moment was not the
case, were large, steady and, like his skin,
of brilliant black.
When the funeral was over and Thomas
Outram slept his last sleep beneath six
feet of earth and stones, his brother took
out the prayer book that Jane Beach had
given him, which in truth formed all his
library and read the burial service over
the grave, finishing it by the glare of the
lightning flashes. Then he and Otter
went back to the cave and ate, speaking
no word After they had finished Leonard
called to the dwarf, who took his food at
q little distance.
Listen, Otter. The tale Is yet to tell.
| The baas who is dead dreamed before he
died. He dreamed that | should win the
gold with which to purchase my home;
that 1 should win it by the help of woms
an, and he babe me wait here awhile after
he was dead. Say, now, Otter you who
come of people learned in dreams and
are the child of dream doctor, was this
true dream or sick mans fancy?"
Nay, baas, who can tell for sure?" the
dwarf answered. then pondered awhile,
drawing in the dust of the floor with his
finger, and spoke again: Yet l say that
the words of the dead uttered on the edge
of death shall come true. He promised
that you should win the wealth. You will
win it by this way or that, and once more
the great kraal across the water shall be
yours again, and the children of strangers
shall wander there no more. Let us obey
the words of the dead and bide here awhile
as he commanded "
Seven days had passed, and on the night
of the seventh Leonard Outram and Otter
sat together.
Baas," said Otter, you are sick,
baas."
No" he answered. that is, perhaps
little"
Yes haas, little. You have said moth
ing, but know, l who watch. The fever
has touched you with his finger. By and
by he will grip you with his whole hand,
and then, baas''-
And then, Otter, good night"
Yes, baas, for you, good night, and for
me, what? Baas, you think too much,
and you have nothing to do, that is why
you grow sick. Better that we should go
and dig again. -
What for, Otter? Ant bear holes make
good graves. -
Evil talk, baas. Better that we should
go away and wait 10 more than that you
should talk such talk, which is the begin
ming of death. -
Then there was silence for awhile.
THE fact is, Otter, said Leonard pres
emily, we are both fools. 1t is useless
for us to wait here with nothing to cat
nothing TO drink, nothing to smoke and
only the fever to look forward to, expect
ing we know not what. But what does it
matter2 Fools and wise men all come to
one end. Lord, how my head aches and
how hot it isl | wish that we had some
quinine left. l am going out, and he
rose impatiently and left the cave
Ottor followed him. He knew where lie
would go-to his brothers grave. Pres
emily they were there standing on the
hither edge of a ravinc. A cloud had hid
den the face of the moon, and they could
see nothing, SO they stood awhile idly
waiting for it to pass.
AS they rested thus suddenly a moaning
sound came to their cars, or rather sound
which, beginning with moan, ended in
a long, low wall.
What is that'' said Leonard, looking
toward the shadows ON the farther side of
the ravine, whence the cry seemed to pro-
coed
Il do not know" answered Otter, ''un-
less it be a ghost or the voice of one who
mourns her dead.
I'VE are the only mourners here" said
Leonard, and as he spoke once more the
low and piercing wall thrilled upon the
air. just then the cloud passed, and the
moonlight shone out brilliantly, and they
saw who it was that cried aloud in this
desolatc place, for there, not 20 PAGES
from them, on the other side of the rayine
c1oIchcd upon stone and rocking herself
to and fro as though in an agony of de-
spair, sat u tall and withered woman.
With an exclamation of surprise Leon
ard started toward her. followed by the
dwarf. So absorbed was she in her sorrow
that she neither saw nor heard them.
Even when they stood close to her she did
not perceive them, for her face was hidden
in her bony hands Leonard looked at
her curiously. She was past middle age
now, but he could see that once she had
been handsome and for a native very light
in color Fer hair was grizZled and crisp
rather than woolly, and her hands and
feet were slender and finely shaped. At
the moment he could discover no more of
the woman's personal appearance, for the
face was covered up, as has been said, and
her body wrapped in tattered blanket.
Mother" he said, speaking in the 81
sutu dialect, what ails you that you weep
here alonef"
The woman withdrew her hands and
sprang up with n cry of fear. As 1t CHANGED,
her gaze fell first upon the dwarf Otter, who
was standing in front of her, and at the
sight of him the cry died upon her lips.
and her sunken cheeks, clear cut features
and sullen black eyes became as those OF
one who is petrifed with terror So
strange was her aspect indeed that the
| dwarf and his master neither spoke nor
moved. They stood silent and expectant.
| 1t was the woman who broke this silence,
speaking III low voice of awe and ad-
miration, and as she spoke sinking to her
| knees.
| And hast thou come to claim me of
last" she said, addressing Otter, "oh,
thou whose name is Darkness, god of my
people and to whom was given in mar
riage, from whom / fed when l was
youngf Do see thee in the flesh, lord OF
| the night, king of blood and terror, and
is this thy priestf Or do / but dreaml
Nay, l dream not Stay on, thou priest,
and let my sin be purged.
Here, it seems, " said Otter, that we
have to do with one who Is mad"
Nay. god of my people, the woman
answered. 4 am not mad, though mad
ness has been nigh to me of late.
Neither am your god nor the god Of
sny, answered the dwarf. with irritation
cease to speak folly and tell the white
lord whence come you, for / weary of this
talk of gods.
If you are no god, black one, the
thing is strange, for as the god is 80 you
are. But perchance 1t does not please you,
having put on the flesh, to avow yourself
n ,yod At the least I've IL AZ Won will IL