The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-24
BY II. RIDER HAGGARD.
TN me second morning the headme


selves before US without their weap-
onS.
They were conquered, they said, and
Wambc was dead, so they came to
heai' the words Of the great lion who
had eaten them up, and of the crafty
white man, the jackal who had dug
hole for them to fall in, and of Maiwa.
Lady Of War. who had led the charge
and turned the fate of the battle.
So we let them hear the words; and
when We had done an cid man rose
and said that in the name of the people
he accepted the yoke that was laid
upon their shoulders, and that the
more gladly because even the rule of a
woman could not be worse than the
rule of Wambe.
Moreover they knew Maiwa- the
Lady of War, and feared her not,
though she was 4 witch, and terrible
to see in battle.
Then Nala asked his daughter if she
was willing to become chieftainess Of
the tribe under him.
Maiwa, who had been very silent
since her revenge was accomplished,
answered yes. that she was, and that
her rule should be good and gentle to
those who We're good and gentle to
her, but the forward and rebellicus
she would smite with a rod Of iron,
which, from my knowledge of her char
acter, I thought exceedingly probable.
The headmen replied that that was
q good saying. and they did not COM
plain at it, and so the meeting ended
Next day we spent in preparation for
departure.
Mine consisted chiefly in superin-
tending the digging up of the stockade
of ivory tusks. which l did with the
greatest satisfaction.
There were some five hundred of
them altogether.
1 made inquiries about it from Ev-
cry, who told me that the stockade had
been there so long that nobody seemed
to exactly know who had originally
collected the tGsks.
There was, however, kind Of super
stitious feeling about them, which had
always prevented the chiefs from try
ing to sell this great mass of ivory.
Every and examined it carefully,
and found that although it was so old,
its quality was really as good as ever,
and there was very little soft ivory i'll
the lot.
7 1lnr al fI.oi1
that my services had been rendered,
Nala should hesitate to part with so
much valuable property; but this was
not the case.
When 1 spoke to Linn on the subject
he merely said:
"Take it, MacumazaLn, take it-you
have earned it WELL"
And to speak the truth, though I say
il who shouldn't, I think l had.
So We pressed sev-ral hundred Matu-
ku bearers into our service, and next
day marched off with the lot.
Before we went took formal fare
we'll of Maiwa. whom we left with 4
bodyguard of 500 men to assist her in
rettling the country.
She gave me her hand to kiss in
&reenly sort of way, and then said:
"Macumazahn, you are brave man,
aud have been a good fliend to me in
my need.
IF ever you want help or shelter, re-
member that Maiwa has good men,
Dry for friend and foe.
"All 1 have is yours"
And so I thanked her AID went.
She certainly was very remarkable
woman.
A year or two ago heard that her
father Nala was dead, and that she
had succeeded to the chieftainship OF
both tribes, which she ruled with great
justice and frmneSs.
I can assure you that we asccnded
the pass leading to Wambe's town with
feelings very different from those with
which we had descended it few days
before
But if I was grateful for the issue Of
events, you can easily imagine what
poor Every's feelings were.
When we got to the top OF the pass
he actually, before the whole 1mpi,
Topped down upon his knees and
thanked heaven for his escape, with
tears running down his face.
But then, as have said, his nerves
were shaken; though now that his
beard was trimmed, and he had got
some sort Of clothes on his back and
hope in bis heart. he looked very
whom we had rescued from death by
torture.
Well, we separated frori Nala at the
little stairway OF pass over the mount
ain, Every and l and the ivory going
down the river N!:tch we had come up
a few weeks before, and the chief re-
turning 10 his own kraal on the farther
side CT thc mountain.
He gave us an escort Of $50 men,
however, with instructions to accom-
pany us for ST.. days Journey. and keep
the MatuEu bearers in order, and then
return.
knew that in six days we should be
able to reacu diStric. where porters
were plentiful and whence we could
easily get the ivory conveyed to Della
goa Bay.
And did you land it up safe:" I
asked.
We'll, no. said Quartermain, I'VE
lost about a third Of it crossing river.
a food came down suddenly, just
as the men were crossing, and many