The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-05-21

IeIStli step approached me. anu III
voluntarily | claspad my beloved one
closer. as If that could avert his fate
But the voice which addressed me
was friendly one-that Of keemer,
the most promising of our little flock;
and he came with 4 hardwrung per
mission from the chief to bear my
wounded husband back to the station.
to which was added an imperatiy e
command to return without delay to
our own country. and no longer trouble
his. \ few other friendly Catfres fol-
lowed. and between them the mission
airy was borne carefully home. That
night, however, he died.
The Caffres raised lofty cairn Of
stones which formed at once my lus
bands tomb and his security from the
wandering beasts Of prey: but ere it
was finished message reached me
from the chief BY the Caffre law
he SEM word. '.the widow and children
Of slain man become the property
Of his conqueror. therefore my child
and [ were his. But he would be mer
cifUl to me: and if | and mine left his
territory at once we might go free
| had neither wagon nor oxen for
our transport, and at first It seemed
that | must take my little one in my
arms, and 90 forth alone to encounter
the chances Of the wilderness. But
my faithful Keen er did not desert me
in this strait. The only pack OK he
possessed was devoted to my services.
and he himself undertook to be my
protector and guide, though. as he
had never before travelled that way
he must shape his course by the pas
sage of the sun across the heavens.
and the flow Of the rivers toward the
sea. At early dawn we mounted our
pack OK. and hastened Oh our unknown
way. over wild hills and down prec;p
itous passes. where a single false step
would bave been destruction; through
thick, thorny iungIes. which tore us IS
we passed; and across vast plains of
burning sand, where there was neither
tree to shelter MS from the fiery sun
rays. nor water to relieve our consul
ming thirst: hurying on, regardless Of
hunger and heat and WEAKNESS, until
darkness brought Om arduous days
Journey to close.
We had crossed about half of Caffre-
land when. one night, the OK on which
my child aud | had hitherto ridden
broke his halter, and wandering over
the fiat was killed by Il hyena. This
was a serious disaster, ana keemer
was greatly troubled at the thought,
that, having no means Of purchasing
another, / must hencef0rth travel on
foot. But | had suffered too many
great affections to have much care or
small ones: and taking up the sheep
skin and blanket, which he'd formed
our saddle and bed. [ tired diligently
on beside the faithful Catfre, who, in
addition TO his wallet and arms, bore
my little son upon his shoulder.
But thongh | did my best, it soon
appeared our progress was reduced
one half and SO weary did | grow
with this unusual eXeTtion, that more
than once we were compelled 70 halt
for a half days rest. On one Of these
occasions we had camped beside a
large Wy or pond. The day was in
tensely hot and hreeZeless, and we
had retreated to the deepest shade of
an aged mimOsa, when suddenly we
perceived an extended cloud bank
showing darkly against the bright
blue horizon. Something in the
clouds aspect made Us watch its com
ing, as, advancing rapidly, as if borne
on a strong wind, it swept along the
brilliant sky, spreading and lowering
as it proceeded until it covered half
the heavens with inky blackness, and
it seemed ready to burst upon the land
IN furious tempest. When 1t reach
Ell the zenith it began rapidly to de
scend, emitting strange cracking
sound: and in another minute. to our
infinite astonishment and consterna-
tion, like a great hail il-storm vast
swarm Of locusts came rushing down
whirling, whizZing. and tumbling
around us, in binding and bewilder
ing mass, until they lay three OF four
thick upon the ground.
Not Il spot remained uncovered by
them. Far as the eye could reach
across the level prairie nothing was
visible but the shimmerin@ CLEAN of
the russet brown and green armor OF
the aerial lpgions. as they hattled
iiercely and ate yOraciousl Y every bud
and leaf and blade of grass Nothing
escaped them. Even the arums on
the borders Of the pond, and the blue
and white lotus flowers floating on the
surface wero hidden beneath their
struggling clusters, while the feathery
foliage above our heads dropped
and tremblod under the universal foe.
Small a9 were the ravages it was
fearful sight: and yet more appalling
was that which met Onr eyes scarcely
au hour after. when the living cloud
rose to seek fresh pastures. and we
looked on the desolation it left behind
the denuded shrubs. the skeleton
like trees and the long stretches of
bare brown earth. which that morn
ing had been green and glowing with
verdTc and flowers.
If any thing could have increased
our horror at the scene it was the
knowledge that our path lay through
this new made desert. and that, how
ever far it might extend. we could in
no way escape il, since the same dire
destroyer had passed both east and
west; while at the same time we knew
that It's kraals would Immediately be
forsaken. and its game would flee
where pasture could be found. and
that consequently no food would he
obta;nable. The only course open to