Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-11

In men. Twlcel tho forse OF the defenders
was changed, by order Of Nodwengo, fresh
men being sent ofgom the companies held in
| reserve to take hhe place OF those who had
/ borne the brunt OK Tho battle. This indeed.
/ II was necessary TO do, seeing that It was
| impossible to carry, water to SO many. and
IN that burning, valley men could not fight
| Tor long athirSt only Hokosa stayed on,
| for they brought, him drink in gourd and
wherever the Tray was icrcest there he was
! always; nor, although spears were rained
one OF them,
At length. as lie night fell, the kings
men were driyen, From their last scherm,
| In the western, ,halt of the valley, across the
| open space, back upon the koppe where
stood the Tree OF Doom Here they stayed
awhile. until, overfiatched and outworn they
were pushed from its rocks across the mar
! row stretch OF broken ground into the shell
! ter OF great stone scherm or wall that ran
| from side to side OF the further neck OF the
! valley whcreon thousands Of women. and
such men as could be spared had been work
day ~
II was as he rcireated among the last upon
this wall that Holiosa caught sight OF Mona
! Tor the first time since they parted in the
| mouse OF the Messenger In the fore front
| OF his troops, directing the attack was Ha-
tela, the prince, and at his side stood Mona,
carrying In her hand little shield and a
| spear Al this moment, also, she saw him,
! ana called aloud TO him;
You have fought we'll Wizard. but to-
| morrow all your magic shall avail you moth
! ing, Tor 1t shall be your last day upon this
| earth"
| "Ay, Mona" he answered "and yours
also" .
Then OF sudden company of the kings
men rushed from the shelter of the wall
| upon the attackers driving them back to
| the koppe, and killing several so that In
i,ne ,ne confusion and gathering darkness lIo-
kosa lost sight of her though man at his
! SIDE declared that he saw her fall beneath
the thrust Of an assegai And thus ended
the second day
Now when the watch had been set the
KING and his captains took counsel together
| Tor their hearts we're heavy
| Listen" said NodwenEo "Out OF 5000
soldiers a thousand have been killed and
thousand lie among us wounded. Hark to
| the groaning of them. Also we have with
us women and children and sick to the
| NUMBER OF l2,OOO, and between us and those
| who would butcher them every one there
stands but single wall Nor is this the
worst OF 1t. The spring cannot supply the
wants OF SO great a multitude in this hot
| place, and 1t is feared that presently the
water VIII be done. What way shall we
| turn? II we surrender to Hafela perhaps
| ne VIII spare the lives OF the women and
| chlldren, but whatever he may promise
me most OF us he will surely slay II we
| hght and are defeated then once his reRi-
| ments are among us. ell will be slain ac-
| CorhinS to the ancient custom of our people
| / nave bethLught me that we might re-
treat through the valley. but the river be-
| yond Is in flood; also II is certain that he
fore this multitude could reach il tho
prince VIII have sent a force to cut us off
Whlie he himself harasses our rear Now
let MN who has counsel speak"
King have counsel" said Hokosa.
What were the words that the Messenger
| spoke to us before he died? Did he NOT
| say Even now the heather is at ynur
gates. and mahy of you shall perish on his
spears but tell you that he shall not con-
| querE Did he not say: BE faithful and
Gllhs to the Cross and do not dare to
dolbt your Lord for He will protect you
! ana your children after you and He will
| Oe your Captain and you shall be His peo-
| pleF Did He not bid you also to listen to
| listen to my counsel? Then listen to IT,
| for II Is His; Your case seems desperate but
nave no fear and take no thought for the
| morrow, for all shall yet be we'll Let us
now pray to Him that he Messenger has
revealed to us, and Whom now he implores
| on our behalf In that place where he is TO
! guide us and save us, for then surely He
will hearken to our prayer"
$50 be It," said Nodwengo. and. going
out, he stood upon a pillar of stone in the
moonlight and offered up his supplication in
the hearing Of the multitude.
Meanwhile those in the camp OF Hafela
| were also taking counsel. They had fought
| brayely, indeed and carried the schanses:
| but at great cost since for every man that
| Nodwengo had lost three of theirs had
| fallen. Moreover, they were in evil case
| with weariness and the want OF water. as
| each drop they drank must be carried to
| them from the Great Place in bags made
of rawhide. which caused 1t to stink. for
they had but few gDurds with them.
Now, It is strange" said Hafela that
these men should fight so bravely. seeing
! that they httt
| be scarce 5000 OF them left, and vet | doubt
| not that before we carry those last walls
| OF theirs as many OF us more will he
| down. Aye, and after they are done with
we must meet their great mpi when it Ie-
| turns, and OF what Will befall us then /
scarcely like to think"
'Ill fortune will befall you while Hokosa
| lives, broke in Mona Had 1t not been for
! him, this trouble had beer done with by
| now; but he is wizard, aud by his wizard
| ries he defeats us and puts heart into Nod
| wengo and the warriors. You yourself have
| seen him this day defying us, not once but
many times, for upon his flesh steel has no
| power; ay! and this is but the beginning
| Of evil, for am sure that he leads you into
/ some deep trap where you shall perish ever
| lastingly Did he not himself declare that
| the power OF that dead white worker of
| miracles had fallen upon him, and who can
| fight against magic?'
"Who. indeed2" said Hafela humbly; for
| like all savages, he was very superstitiOus
| and moreover sincere believer in Hokosa's
supernatural capacities. This wizard is too
strong for us; he is invunerable, and, as
know we'll, he can read the secret thoughts
of men and can suck wisdom from the dead
while to his eyes the darkness is no blind"
NAY, Hafela," answel - Mona, there is
one crack in his shield. Hear me; II we can
but catch him and hold him fast. we shall
have no need to fear him more, and think
| know how to bait the trap
Glow will you bait it?' asked Hafela.
THUS. Midway between the koppie and
the wall behind which lie the men of the
king stands a fiat rock, and all about that
rock are stretched the bodies of dead sold
iers. Now, this is my plan; that when next
cne OF those dark storm clouds passes over
the face OF the moon, six OF the strongest
of our warriors should creep upon ttHir
bellies into the shadow of that rock, and
there cast themselves down this way and
| that as though they we're also numbered
with the slain. This done, you shall de-
spatch a herald to call in the ears of the
| king that you desire TO treat with him Of
peace. Then he viii answer that If this be
so you can come beneath the walls OF his
! camp, and youg herald shall refuse, saying
| that you fear stTesclery.
but he shall add. that II Nodwengo Will