The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-14
CHAPTER II.
MoPo Isl IN TRoURLR

CHAPTER II.
MoPo is, IN TRoUBLR
Now must tell how my mother did
what the boy Chaka had told her, and
died quickly. For where his stick had
struck her on the forehead there came
sore that would not be healed, and in
the sore grew an abscess, and the alb
scess ate inward till it came to the
brain. Then my mother fell down and
died, and l cried very much, for loved
her. After that my brothers poisoned
the mind Of my father against me and
he treated me badly. But Baleka and
loved each other, and she chung to me
like a creeper to the only tree in plain.
Now saw that the witch finders and
medicine men were feared in the land,
and that all people looked up to them,
SO that even when they had only stick
in their hands, ten men armed with
spears would fly before them. There
fore determined that l would be a
witch doctor. So LEARNED the arts of
the medicine men. / made sacrifices
and learned much; for there is wis
dom in our magic as well as lies
w GAA44S5o WCAt OA tA4l J. was VW0uGY
years of age. By now had learned all
could learn of myself, SO joined my
self onto the chief medicine man of our
tribe, who was named Mona. He was,
old, had one eye only and was very
clever. Of him l learned, but at last he
grew Jealous Of me and set trap to,
catch me. As it CHANGED, big man of
. neighboring tribe had lost some CATTLE
and came with gifts to Mona praying
him to smell them out. Mona tried and
could not; his magic failed Then the
headman grew angry and demanded
back lis gifts, but Noma would not give
up that which he once had held. The
headman said that he would kill Mona;
Mona said that he would bewitch the
headman.
Peace, l said, for feared that blood
would be shed. peace, aid let me see
if my snake will tell me where the cattle
are?'
"You are nothing buta boy, answered
the headman. Can a boy have wis
dom?'
! "That shall soon be known" said,
taking the bones in my hand.
''Leave the bones aloner' screamed
Noma. eve will ask nothing more Of
our snakes for the good of this son of
dog"
"He shall throw the bones," answered
the headman. IF you try to stop him
will let sunshine through you with my
assegai."
/ Then threw the bones; my snake stood
up. knew nothing of the mans cattle,
but my spirit was with me, and soon
saw them all, and told him, too, where
they were.
Now the man was much pleased, and
said that if my magic was good, and he
found the cattle, the gift should be
| taken from Mona and given to me.
Mona was very angry. It was big
herd of cattle, and if they were found
where had said, then all men would
hold me the greater wizard. Now the
headman said that at the first light he
would go with me to the spot where my
snake said the cattle were.
l, too, went into my hut and lay down
to sleep. Suddenly awoke, feeling
weight upon my breast tried to start
up, but something cold pricked my
throat. ] fell back again and looked.
The door of the hut was open. The
moon lay low on the sky, like ball Of
tire far away. could see it through
the door, and its light crept into the
hut. It fell upon the face of Mona, the
witch doctor. He was seated across me,
glaring at me with his one eye, and in
his hand was knife. It was that which
! had felt prick my throat.
sYOu wha1n whom I hove b,oA -, -
tear meV he Kissed into my ear. .'You
dared to divine where failed, did you?''
and ne began driving in the knife under
my chin.
Mercy, my unclel" l said. "Have
mercy, and will do whatever you will!'
viii you do this?'' he asked, still
prlcklng me with the knife. will you
get up, go find the dogs cattle and drive
them to certain place and hide them
theres and he named secret valley
that was known to very few. .If you
40 that l will spare you and give you
three OF the cows If you refuse or play
me false, then, by my fathers spirit,
Will lind way to kill you!"
certainly will do it, my uncle,"I
answered: why did you not trust me
before! Had known that you wanted
10 Keep the cattle | would never have
s1nelled them out. only did SO, fearing
lest you should lose the presents"
on are not so wicked as thought"
ne growled. sect up, then, and do Inv
bidding. You can be back here in two
) hours after dawn"
80 got up, thinking all the while if
snoula try to spring on him. But was
MlChout arms, and he had the knife; also,
u perchance had prevailed and killed
MN 1t would have been thought that i
had b2,Adereti him, and should have
'7'-"' inc assaoai So made another