Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-07-27

/ q stray board with charcoal. "GoDa To
cunningham 80. B. - and set ont
wounded as he was, to walk i've miles
! across the yeldt' to his nearest neioh.
| bors
The Cunningham family lived on a
/ iarnstead to the east, and consisted
OF seven persons-the father, the
mother, two grown sons, and three
dauShters aged respectively seven
teen, fourteen and ten. Besides these
there were several Katfir servants
LIE boy was still so faint and ciddy
that be walked like q drunken man.
and several times fell over some
TRIVIAL obstruction by the avside. It
took nina quite four hours to cover
the distance, and the sun was setting
when the farm buildings OF his destin-
alton appeared at last within reach.
As yet lie did not dream of a whole
sale rising Of the natives; but, fancy
ing that the same marauding party
might be proving around the Gun
nlngnam place, he wisely reconnolt-
cred before, approaching too closely
lie could plainly see the front of the
i-1'iei-, anu dS Ib uuSductu uc saw
"hat sent the blood 10 his heart IN an
instant-the huge form Of Matabele
warrior with shield and assagai stand
lug IN the doorway.
He now made sure that the Gun
ningham5 had all been murdered, and
h lay st,li behind bush, debating
Oh his own best course. Presently
the warrior disappeared within. and
one Of the girls came out bearing a
pail OF water, which she emptied, and
then quietly returned to the house,
seemingly III no fear for her life.
This aroused Otto's astonishment.
1t was not long before he saw Lolita,
the eldest girl, coming down toward
the stable, and he hastened to inter
cept her.
She uttered scream at his CHASTITY
:nd bloodstained appearance before
she recognized him.
WIN, Otto, what Las happened?'
she exclaimed
''Where are the men? What arc
those Kaflirs doing al your house?
queried Otto breathlessiy.
Some Katfir boys came this morn
ing to get father and the boys to Sc
and look at some cattle, and they al
went way. There are five katfir al
the house now, with guns and spears
Mother and the children were fright
ened; but | don't think that the :
would dare to do any harm to US, dc
YOU? They say that they have been
hunting, aud that they want to SEE
father"
Otto felt snre that the father anj
brothers had been Gecoyed away 80 hC
slaughter ed, but he did rot hint thi>
belief TO the girl. He pressed BIZ
reeling head between his hands, al,
t.ied to think.
Did the men take their rities:' h,
asked
No, they left them at the house.
"Wel!, lon't be frightened, bat 7
afraid the Nalfirs mean trouble. i th'
men went away, OF course they are
safe enough; but We had better keel
on the watch. Can you let me int,
the house without those rascals seeing
me?"
There is o window at the back. y
began the girl.
"All right! Ani get all the rite:
and cartridges you can and, and bring
,ncm quietly into that back room
Hurry up and let ME in.
The girl ran back to the house, yer,
pale, but showing the nerve of iron
tier training. Otto crept around t
the rear OF the house, and IN less thar
minute the window was raised. an,
lie clambered IN as quietly as possible
In the room where he found himsel
we're Mrs Cunningham. Lotta an,
one OF the other Sirla. all consider
ably frightened, but cool. There were
three Winchestors and two belts G
cartridges lying or a table,
Tho ka.frS were II the next room
and otto stole 70 the door and peepe'
through a crack. There We're i've
item, as I.otta had said big, Drawn,
ti1.t!ne men. all with assacals an'
two with rifles. while aIl tive wore th
same decoration Of white OK tails tina
| Otto had before observed.
! The bov had already formulated h!
plan. He had no doubt tha: tAes
savayes were only waiting some ap
pointed time to fall upon tho whit
women rand massacre them. and il va
lis design 70 anticipate them n action
south African women are usual
trained 10 handle rite as ski!
fulv Is ,asir husbands AZ
, bsotheYS, and these were no excep
.,.3 - the ri. e OTTO explained HI
: scheme and as much Of his suspicion
! a. he thought proper: and the won
; ep. who lnstinctlyely looked . LiLl
bov as he was. 70: leadership, pre-
| pared - assist him.
u rhe Mstabe.e were sitting quiet!
. OF tie door, their weapons scros
9 ,aeic knees. when the closed door Q
! the olaer side o. the rool was SUD
? denly thrown open, aud they we-
confronted with the threatening nuz
) zles OF three W!ncAesters. Iney La
been quite unaware of O;to's preseEc
, :, .ha b,,sa and this made the 81!