Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-01-12

Dut the plan was risky. All the AuluS
might not oveTeat themselves and go 20
sleep, especially after the death OF their
cOmrade: Nahoon, who watched him
day and night, certainly would not.
This was the oppcrtunity-but there
remained the question OF Nahoon.
Well if 1t came to the worst, Nahcon
must die; it would be easy. he had a
loaded rifle, and now that his assegai
was gone, Nahoon had only a kerry.
He did not wish to kill the man, though
II was clear to him, seeing that his
own safety was at stake, that he would
/ be amply justified in so doing. Why
should he not put it to him-and then
be guided by circumstances?
Nahoon was walking across little
open space about ten PAGES ahead or
him where he could see him very well,
while he himself was under the shadow
CT large tree with low horizontal
! branches running out from the trunk.
"Nahoon," he said
The Zulu turned round and took a
step toward him.
No, do not move I pray Stand
where You are, or | shall be obliged 10
! shoes you. Listen npw; do moi be
| afraid, fer shall not fire without warn
ing. am your prisoner, and you are
charged to take me back to the King to
be has servant. But l believe that a
war is going 10 break OH. between your
people and mine, and this being so, you
Will understand that | do not wish 10
go to C6tywayO's kraal, because should
either come TO a violent death there, or
my own Brothers will believe that am
traitor and treat me accordingly. The
Zulu border is not much more than an
hours journey away, let us say an hour
anu halfs; | mean TO be across it be-
fore the moon Is up. Now, Nahoon, will
you lose me In the forest and give me
this hour and halls start-or will you
stop here with that ghost people with
whom you talk? Do you understand?
| No, Please do not move"
i understand you" answered the
Zulu In perfectly composed voice.
and | think that was d good name
which we gave you this morning
though Black Heart, there is some
Justice In your words and more wisdom.
Your opportunity is good and one which
fall"
Il am glad to find that you take that
view OF the matter NahoOn. And now
VIII you be so kind as to lose me and to
promise not TO look for me till the moon
Is up?"
What do You mean, Black Hearth
What l say Come, have no time
to spare"
You are a strange man." said the
Zulu redectlvely you heard the King 8
/ order to me; would you have me disc
hey the order Of the King?"
Certainly | would. You have no
reason to love CtywayO, and it does
not matter TO you whether or no | re-
turn to his kraal 10 mend his guns
there. If you think that he will be
angry because ] am missing. you had
better cross the border also; we can go
together"
And leave my father and all my
brethren to his vengeancel Black
Heart, You do not understand. How
! can you, being so named9 | am o SOL
der and the Kings word is the Kings
wcrd. | had hoped to have died fight
ing, but | am the bird in your moose.
Come, shoot, or you will nc, reach the
border before moonrise," and he opsned
| his arms and smiled.
If it must be, so let 10 be. Farewell.
NahOOn, at least you are brave man.
but every one of us must cherish mis-
own life answered MADDEN calmly.
Then. with much deliberation. he
| raised his rife and covered the Zulu's
breast.
Already-while his victim stood there
still smiling, although the twitching Of
his lips betrayed the natural terrors
that 10 bravery can banish-already his
finger was contracting on the trigger
when Of sudden, as instantly, indeed
s5 Though he had been struck by light
ming. Hadden w5nt down backward
md behold there stood upon him a
great spotted beast that waved its tail
to and fro and glared down into his
eyes.
II was a leopard. a tiger as they call
it in Africa, which crouched upon a
Dough of the tree above. had been I'M
able to resist the temptation Of salts
flying its savage appetite on the man
below. For q second or two there was
silence, broken only by the purring, or
( rather the snoring sound made by the
leopard. and in those seconds there
sprung up before Hadden's mental Wis
ion a picture OF the inyuanga called the
! Inyosi or Bee her death-like head rest
ing against the thatch of the hut and
her death-like lips muttering think
of my word when The great cal purrs
above your face
Then the brute put out its strength.
The claws Of one paw drove deep into
the muscles Of HIS left thigh while
with another It scratched at his breast,
tearing the clothes from II and furrow-
ing the flesh beneath The sight OF the
white skin seemed to madden II, and in
its desire for blood, It dropped its
square muzzle and buried its fangs into
its victims shoulder. Next moment
there was q sound OF rushing feet and
club falling heavily. Up reared the
leopard. with an angry snarl. uQ till II
stood as high as the Zulu who attacked
it. At him il came. striking out saw
agelv and tearing the black man as il
had torn the white Again the kerry
fell full On It's jaws. and down il went
backward. Before it could rise again,
or rather as it was in the act of rising.
The heavy kncb stick struck It once
more with fearful force, this time as II
Glanced. full on the nape Of the neck.
Daralyzing il. It writhed and bit and
twisted. throwing up the earth and
leaves. and blow after blow was rained
upon IT, till at length. with a cOnvul-
siv7 struggle and a stified roar, It lay
still. the brains OoZing from It's Shat
tered skull.
Hadden sat mp. the blood running
from his wounds.
.tVou have saved nv life. NahOOn "