Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-01-05

never seen. bellQu Inen 4dy q tIdCS
of land, half swamp and half bush,
where the Buffalo were supposed to be
hiding, beyond which in lonely grand
eur rose the mountain of Isandhlwana,
while in front was IN amphitheatre OF
the most gloomy forest, ringed round
in the distance by sheerside hills. Into
this forest there ran a river which
drained the swamp, placidly enough up
on the level. But il was not always le-
vel, for within three hundred yards OF
them it dashed suddenly over a preci-
pice. of no great height but very steep,
falling into a boiling rock-bound pool
that the light of the sun never seemed
TO reach.
What is the name Of that forest, Ma
hoon?" asked Hadden.
1T is named Emaggoody, The Home
Of the Dead" the Zulu replied absently,
for he was locking toward the kraal OF
Nanea, which was situated an hours
walk away over the ridge 10 the right.
The Home of the Dead. Why?'
Because the dead live there, those
whom we name the Esemkofu, the
Specifies Ones, and the Amahlosi, from
whom the breath Oh life has passed
away and who yet live on
Indeed" said Hadden, and have
you ever seen these ghosts?'
Am l mad that l should go to look
for them. White Man, only the dead
enter that forest, and it is on the bor-
ders OF j. that The people make offerings
to the dead"
Followed by NahoOn, Hadden walked
to the edge Of the cliff and looked over
it. To the left lay the deep and dread
full pool. while close to the bank OF it,
placed upon a narrow strip Of turf be-
tween the clif and the commencement
Of the forest, was a hut.
"Who lives there?" asked Hadden.
THE great Isanusi she who IS named
myanaa or Doctoress, she who is nam
ed the Bee because she gathers wisdom
from the dead VINO grow in the forest
DO you think that she could gather
enough wisdom to tell me whether l
am going to kill any buffalo, NahCon?'
"Mayhap, White Man, but" he added
with a little smile, those who visit the
Bees hive may hear nothing or they
may hear more than they wish for. The
words Of that Bee have a sting?'
Good, 1 will see if she can sting
me-"
80 be it," said NahOon and turning
he led the way along the cliff till he
reached a native path which zig-zagged
down the face Of 10.
By this path they climbed till they
came to the grass at the foot of the de-
scent and walked up TO the hut. 1t
was surrounded by low fence OF reeds,
enclosing a small court yard paved with
ant-heap earth beaten hard and polish
ed. In this court yard sat the Bee, her
stool being placed almost at the mouth
of the round opening that served as a
doorway to the hut. AT first all that
Hadden could see, crouched as she was
in the shadow, was o huddled shape
wrapped round with q greasy, catered
catskinn karOss, above the edge Of
which appeared two eyes, fierce and
quick as those Of cat At her feet
smou!dered a little fire and ranged about
il in a semi-circle were number Of
human skulls, placed in pairs as though
they were talking toether, while other
bones. 10 an appearance also human,
were festooned about the hut and the
fence Oh Jh5 courtyard
Il see ta:s gIe Old lady has got al
the usu3l properties though MADDEN,
but he said nothing.
Nor did the witch docreSs say any
tl.ng; che only fixed her beady eyes
upon his face Hadden returned the
compliment, staring at her with ali
his might, TIL suddenly he became
aware Mat he was vanqu.shed in this
curious duel. His brain became con
fused. and TO his fancy it seemed that
the woman before him mad shifted
shape into the likeness of q colossal and
horrid spider sitting at the mouth or
her trap, and that these bones were the
relies Of her victims.
why do you not speak, White
Man?" she said at last in slow clear
voice. wen, there IS no need, since
I can read your thoughts. You are
thinking that I who am called the Bee
should be better named the Spider.
Have no fear, did not XII. these men.
What would It profit me when the dead
are 50 many? I suck the souls Of men,
not Their bodies. White Man. Il is
their living hearts [ love to look on,
for therein I read much and thereby
grow vice. Now what would you Of
the Bee. White Man, The Bee that labors
in this Garden Of Death, and what
brings you here. son of Zomba? Why
are YOU not with the Umci-yu now that
they doctor themselves fer the great
war. the last war. the war Of the white
and the black. or if YOU have no eto-
mach for fighting, why are YOU net az
the side of Nanea the tall, Nansa the
fa,r?"
Nahoon made no answer, but Hadden
said;
"A small thing, mother. I would
know if l should prosper in my hun5-
ing"
I'm your hunting, White Man what
hunting? The hunting Of game, or
money. or of women? Vel one o.
them. for a-hunt:ng YOU mus. ever De,
that is your nature, TO hunt and 10 DO
hunted. Tell me now. how does that
trader do who tasted Of your steel yon-
der in the town Of the Maboon (Boer)
No need to answer, White Man, but
what fee. Chief. for the poor witch doc
toress whose skill you seek" she added,
In a whining voice. Surely You would
not that an Old woman should work
without q fae?"
81 have none to offer you, mother, so
I will be going, said Hadden, who be-
gan to feel himself satisfied with THIS
display Of the Bees powers Of obserya-
ton and though--reading.
Nay" she said with an unpleasant
laugh. would you ask a question and
not wait for the answer? / VIII take
No Zee from Won q nrasant. WHITE Man: