The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-08-17

--EsSSElS
AND QUICK AS LIGHT STRETCHED Up MY
SPEAR.
the piles Of dead; round Us was rank
upon rank of plumed savages, standing
in silence to wait the issue OF the duel,
and in the center stood the gray-haired
chief and general, Sususa, in all his
war finery, cloak of leopard skin upon
his shoulders. At his feet lay the sense
less form of little Tota, to my left
souatted Indaba-zimbi; nodding his
white lock and muttering something
probably spells; while in front was my
giant antagonist, his spear aloft and his
plumes bending in the gentle breeze.
Then over all, over grassy slope, river
and koppie, over the wagons Of the
laager, the piles OF dead, the dense
ranks of the living, the swooning child:
over all shone the bright, impartial sun,
| looking down like the great indifferent
eye of heaven upon the loveliness OF
nature and the cruelty of man. Down
| by the river grew -thorn-trees, and from
them foated the sweet scent of the
mimosa flower, and came the sound OF
cooing turtle doves. never smell the
one or hear the other without the scene
flashing into my mind again, complete
in its every detail.
Suddenly, without sound, Bombyane
shook his assegai and rushed straight
at me. I saw his huge form come. Like
man in dream, I saw the broad spear
flash On high; now he was on me. Then,
prompted to it by some providential i'm
pulse, dropped to my knee, and, quick
as light, stretched out my spear. He
| drove at me-the blade passed over my
head. 1felt a weight on my assegai. 1t
was wrenched from my hand; his great
limbs knocked against me. I glanced
sisst 'tsts
stretched arms, from which his spear
| had fallen. His spear had fallen, but
the blade of mine stood out between his
shoulders-I had transfxed him. He
stopped, swung round slowly as though
to look at me, then with a sigh the giant
sank down-dead.
For moment there was silence; then
a great cry rose-a cry of 'Bombyane is
dead. The white spirit has slain Bonn
byane. Kill the wizard, kill the ghost
who has slain Bombyane by witch
craft"
Instantly I was surrounded by fierce
faces, and spears flashed before my eyes.
I folded my arms and stood calmly wait
ing the end. In momentit would have
come, for the warriors were mad at Sec
ing their champion overthrown thus
easily. But presently through the tu-
multi heard the high. cracked voice OF
Indaba-zimbi.
''Stand back, you fools, it cried; 'can
spirit then be killed?"
"Spear him! spear him. they roared
in fury. Let US see if he is a spirit.
How did spirit slay Bombyane with an
assegai? Spear him, rain-maker, and
we shall see."
"Stand back" cried Indaba-zimbi
again, ''and I will show you if he can be
killed. will kill him myself, and call
him back to life again before your eyes.
Macumazahn, trust me-" he whispered
in my ear in the Sisutu tongue, which
the Zulus did notunderstand. Trust
me; kneel on the grass before me, and
when strike at you with the spear roll
over like one dead; then, when you hear
my voice again, get up. Trust me-itis
your only hope"
Having no choice I nodded my head in
assent, though l had not the faintest
idea Of what he was about to do. The
tumult lessened somewhat, and once
more the warriors drew back.
Great white spirit-spirit of victory
said Indaba-zinbi, addressing ne aloud
and covering his eyes with lis hand
shear me and forgive me-. These chill
dren are blind with folly, and think
thee mortal because thou hast dealt
death upon a mortal who dared 70 stand
against thee. Deign to knccl before me
and let me pierce thy heart with this
speart, then when call upon taec arise
unhurt."
Iknelt down, not because l wished 20,
but because I must. I had not over
much faith in Indapa-zimbi, and thought
it probable that he was in truth about to
make an end of me. But really was so
worn with fears, and the horrors OF the
night and day had SO shaken my nerves,
that did not greatly care what befell
me. When I had been kneeling thus
for about half a minute 1ndaba-zimbi
spoke.
people of the Umtetwa children OF
TChaka," he said, draw back little
space, lest an evil fall On you, for now
the air is thick with ghosts
They drew back space, leaving US in
a circle about twelve yards in diameter.
Look OF him who knecls before
you." went on lndabazimbi, ''and
listen to my words, to the words Of the
witch-fnder, the words OF the rain
maker, Indaba-zirn5i, whose famo is
known to you. He seems to be man,
does he not? I tell you, children of the
Umtetwa, he is no man. II" IS the
spirit who gives victory TO tho white
men, he it is who gave them asscgals