Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-16

and to serve as a review ground for their inn
pts in times Of peace or festival.
At the outer gate Of the kraal there was a
halt while the Keepers of the gate dispatched
a messenger to the King to announce the
advent of the white man. OF this pause
Owen took advantage to array himself in
the surplice and hood which he had brought
with him In readiness for that hour; then
he gave the mule to John to lead behind him.
What do you, Messenger? ?" asked the
leader Of the guard, astonished.
II clothe myself in my war dress he
answered.
Where, then. is your spear, Messenger"
Here said owen, presenting to his eyes
a crucifX of ivory, most beautifully carved.
81 perceive that you are of the family of
wizards said the man and fell back.
Now they entered the kraal and passed for
200 yards or more through rows of huts, till
they reached the gate of the stockade. which
was opened to them. Once within 1t Owen
saw a wonderful sight-suCh a sight as few
white men have seen. The ground of the
enormous oval before him was not fiat;
either from natural accident or by design
1t sloped gently upward, so that the spec
tator, standing by the gate or at the head of
it, before the House of the King, could take
in the whole expanse, and, If his sight were
keen enough, could see Gerry individual on it.
On the particular day of owens arrival 1t
was crowded with regiments. twelve of them,
all dressed in their different uniforms and
bearing shields to match, not one of which
WAS less lila S,DuU StTOnB' Al lHlS IlUuleHl
the regiments were massed in deep lines,
each battalion by itself, on either side of
the broad roadway that ran straight up the
kraal to where the King, his sons, his adj
visers and guards, together with the com
pany of wizards. were placed in front OF the
royal house. There they stood in absolute
silence, like tens of thousands of bronze
statues, and owen perceived that they were
resting or that they were gathered thus to
receive him. That the latter was the case
soon 1nnar nn nuflnnt Fnr nc hn Tnnnrnl n
white spot at the foot of the slope, count
less heads turned and myriads of eyes
fastened themselves upon him. For an in
slant he was dismayed; there was something
terrifying in this numberless multitude of
warriors, and the thought of the task that
he had undertaken crushed his spirit. Then
he remembered, and, shaking off his fear
and doubt, alone, save for his disciple John,
holding the cruciix aloft, he walked slowly
up the wide road toward the place where
he guessed that the King must be. His
arm was weary ere ever he reached it, but
at length he found himself standing before
a thict-set old man, who was clad in
leopard skins and seated upon a stool of
TT is the King whispered John behind
him.
Peace be to you," said Owen, breaking
the silence.
THE wish is good; may it be fulfilled"
nswered the King in a deep voice, signing
80 ~ 'e'a N'> ~ ~ yoN'S - Z"
strange greeting" he added. Whence come
you, White Man, how are you named, and
what is your mission to me and my people?"
king, | come from beyond the sea. l am
named Messenger, and my mission is to
deliver to you the saying of God, my King
and yours"
AT these words a gasp of establishment
went up from those who stood within hear
ing, expecting as they did to see them re-
warded by instant death. But Umsuka only
said:
my King and yours? Bold words, Mes
senger. Where, then, is this King to whom
|, Umsuka, should bow the knee?"
H is everywhere-in the heavens, on
the earth, and below the earth"
"If He is everywhere, then He is here.
Show me the likeness of this King, Mes
senger."
Behold it," Owen answered, thrusting
forward the crucifix.
Now all the great ones about the King
stared at this figure of a dying man crowned
with thorns and hanging on a cross, and
then drew up their lips to laugh. But that
laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a
mysterious wave of feeling, choked in their
threats. A sense of the strangeness of the
contrast between themselves in their multi
tudes and this one white-robed man in his
loneliness took hold of them, and with it
another sense OF something not far removed
from fear.
"A wizard, indeed" they thought in their
hearts, and what they thought the King
uttered.
Il perceive" he said, that you are either
mad. White Man, or you are a prince of
wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for
your eyes are calm, therefore a wizard you
must be. Well, stand behind me; by and
by l will hear your message and ask Of
you to show me your powers; but before
Are the lads ready? Ho, you, loose the
bull!'
At the words a line of soldiers moved
from the right, forming itself up in front
of the King and his attendants and reveal
ing a number OF youths of from 16 to IS
years of age, armed with sticks only, who
stood in companies outside a massive gate.
Presently this gate was opened, and through
it, with a mad below, rushed a wild
buffalo bull. On seeing them the brute
halted, and for a few moments stood paw
ing the earth and tearing at it with his
great horns, Then it put down its head
and charged. Instead of making way for
it, uttering a shrill whistling sound the
youths rushed at the beast, striking with
their sticks. Another instant and one of them
appeared above the heads of his companions,
thrown high into the air, to be followed
by a second and a third. Now the animal
was through the throng and carrying a poor
boy on its horn, whence presently he fell
dead; it charged furiously backward and
forward through the ranks of the regiments.
Watching it, fascinated, Owen noted that
1t was a point of honor for no man to stir
before its rush; there they stood. and II
the bull gored them, there they fell. At
length, exhausted and terrified, the animal
headed back straight up the lane, where
the main body Of the youths were waiting
for 1t. Now it was among them, and,
reckless of wounds or death, they swarmed
about 1t like bees, Selling it by the legs,
the nose, the horns, and the tail, till, with
desperate efforts, they dragged it to the
ground and beat the life out of it with their
sticks, This done they formed up before
the King and saluted him.
"How many are killed." he asked.
Eight in ALL" was the nswe "and
fifteen gored."
"A good bull" he said, with a smile;
that of last year killed but five. Well,
the lads fought him brayely. Let the dead
be buried, the hurt tended, or, If their harms
are hopeless, slain. and 10 the rest give a
double ration OF beer. Ho, now, fall back,
men, and make space for the Bees and the
Wasps to fight in"
Some orders were given, and a great ring
was formed, leaving an arena clear that
may have measured $50 yards in diameter.
Then suddenly, from opposite sides, the two
regiments known as the Bees and the Wasps
respectively, rushed upon each other, utter
ing their war cries.
Il put ten head OF cattle on the Bees;
who wagers ON the Wasps?" cried the King.
Il. lord answered the Prince Hafela,
stepping forward.
You, Prince said the King with a quick
frown. We'll, you are right to back them;