The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-02

marvellous and out of experience. a proof indeed that she was not as others | are.
 | She quieted the mare, and rode on | between the white-shielded ranks. who their greeting finished, remained abSo- lutely still like bronze statues watch ing her with wondering eyes. When | at length they were passed. the cap | tains and a guard of about fifty men ran ahead of her. Then she came, and | after her Tamboosa. leading the white OK. followed by another guard, which | ill turn was followed by the entire regi- | mont. Thus royalty escorted, asking | no questions, and speaking no word | did Rachel make her entry into Zulu l land. Only in her heart she wondered | whtther she was going, and how that strange journey would end, wondered | too, how it would fare with her father and her mother till she returned to them.
 We'll might she wonder.
 When she had ridden thus for about | two hours an incident occurred which showed her how great. and indeed how dreadful was the eminence on which she had been set among these people. Suddenly some cattle. frightened by the approach of the impi, rushed
 through it towards their kraaI, and a bull that was with them, seeing this unaccustomed apparition of white woman mounted on a strange animal, put down it's head and charged her furiously. She saw it coming and by pulling the mare on to it's launches avoided it's rush. Now at the time she was riding on a path which ran along the edge of a little rock-strewn donga not more than eight or ten feet deep, but steep-side In to this donga the bull, which had shut its eyes to charge after the fashion of its kind, plunged headlong, and as it chanced struck its a tyUi dislocating the neck. so that it lay there still and dead.
 When the Zulus saw what had hap pened they uttered a Iong-drawn Ow- W of amazement, for had not the beast dared to attack the White Spirit, and had not the Spirit rewarded it with in- stant death? Then a captain made motion with his hand and instantly men sprang upon the remaining cattle, four or five of them that were follow ing the bull. and despatched them with assegais. Before Rachel could inter fere they were pierced with hundred wounds. Now there was a little pause while the carcases of the beasts were dragged out of her path, and the blood stains covered from her eyes with fresh earth. Just as this task was finished there appeared, scrambIing up the donga, and followed by some men, fat and hideous-looking woman, with fish bladders in her hair, and snake skins tied about her. who, from her costume, Rachel knew at once must be an IsanUzi or witch-doctress. Evi- dently she was in a fury. as might be seen by the workings of her face, and the extraordinary swiftness with which she moved notwithstanding her years and bulk. Who has dared to kill my cattle?' she screamed. "1S it thou whom men name Nomkubulwana?'
 Woman" answered Rachel quietly, would have hurt me. For the rest, ask of the captains of the King"
 The witch-doctress glanced at the dead bull which lay in the donga, its head twisted up in an unnatural fash ion at right angles to the body, and for Q moment seemed afraid. Then red rage at the loss of her herd broke out afresh. for she was person in au- thority, one accustomed to be feared because of her black arts and her of flee.
 When the Inkosazana is seen in Zululand." she gasped, death walks with her. There is the token of it, and she poinled to the dead cattle. ''So it has ever been and so shall it ever be. Red is thy road through life, White One. Go back. go back now to no my words are true" and springing at the horse she seized it by the bridle as though she would drag it round.
 Now i'll her hand Rachel held little rod of white rhinOceroS horn which she used as a riding whip. and with this rod she pointed at the woman, meaning that some of those with her should cause her to loose the bridle. Too late she remembered that in this salvage land such a motion when made by the King or one in supreme com mand. had another dreadful interpreta- tion-death without pity or repr1eve.
 Iii an instant. before she could in terfere. before she could speak, the witch -doctress lay dead upon the car case of the dead bull.
 What of the others, Queen, what of the others?" asked the chief of the slayers, bending low before her. and pointing with his spear to the attend ants of the witch -doctress,. who fled aghast. Do they join this evil-doer who dared to lift her hand against thee?'' !..
 Nay" she answered insa. low voice, for horror had made her almost dumb. T give them life. F'orward.''
 "She gives them Hfer' shouted the praisers about her t"rhe Bearer of life and death gives life to the chill dren of the evil-doer,'' and as the great cavalcade marched forward, com pany after company took up these words and sang them as song.
 CHAPTER x.
 The 0ru1en the Star