Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-15
LONDON, ENGLAND.

had halted on the crest of ground where
she had first seen him upon the previous
day, and was peering at the camp. with
the object apparently OF as as, ,.l
whether it's occupants were still alive
Il will go and ask him in, SAID
Rachel. who. for reasons of her own.
wished to have a word or two with the
man.
Presently she came up to him. and saw
at once that he seemed to be very much
ashamed of himself.
well" she said cheerfully, ''you see
here I am. safe enough. and 1 am glad
that you are the same
you are wonderful woman he re-
piled. letting his eyes sink before her
clear gaze, "as wonderful as you are
beautiful"
"No compliments please" said Rachel:
they are out of place in this savage
land.
IL beg your pardon, ! could not help
speaking the truth. Did they Kill the
girl and let YOU co.
NO. | managed to hide up with her,
she is here now
THAT is very dangerous. Miss Dove. |
know all about it; 1t is she whom Dingaan
was after. When he hears that you
have sheltered her he will send and Kill
you all. Take my advice and turn her
out at once I say it is most dangerous.
Perhaps answered Rachel calmly.
but all the same l shall do nothing of
the sort unless she WISHES 10 go nor 10
think that my father will. either. Now
please listen a minute If this story comes
to the ears of the Zulus-and ] do not
see why 1t should. as the crocodiles have
eaten that soldier-who will they think
shot him. | or the white man who was
with me? Do you understands
Il understand and shall hold my tongue.
for your sake.
NO. for your own. Well. by way Of
making the bargain fair. for my part l
separated this morning. Not that j
blame you for riding off and leaving an
obstinate young woman whom you did
not know to take her chance Still other
people might think differently
Yes" he answered. they might, and
admit that | am ashamed of myself.
But you don't know the Zulus as | do.
and | thought that they would be all on
us in moment: also l was mad with you
and lost my nerve. Really l am very
sorry
please don't apologize. 1t was quite
natural and what is more. all for the
best. If We had gone on we should have
ridden right into them. and perhaps never
ridden out again Now here comes my
father: we have agreed that YOU Will not
say too much about this girl. have We
not?
He nodded and advanced with her lead
ing the horses, for he had dismounted, to
meet Mr. Dove at the opening in the
fence.
Good evening" said the clergyman.
who seemed depressed after his sad task,
as he motoned to one of the kaffirs to
put down his mattock and take the
horses. Il don't quite know what hap
pened this morning. but | have TO thank
you for trying to save my daughter from
those cruel men. Il have been hurylng
their victims in little cleft that we
found, or rather some of them. The
vultureS. you know and he paused
answered
stranger humbly. 1T seemed hopeless,
as she would not leave the kaffir girl
Mr.. Dove looked at him searchingly.
and there was a suspicion of contempt in
his voice as he replied:
You would not have had her abandon
the poor thing would you? For the rest.
God saved them both. so it does not much
matter exactly how. as everything has
turned out for the best. Won't you come
in and have some supper. Mr.-Ishmael-
1 am afraid l do not know the rest of
your name
There is no more to know. Mr. Dove,
he replied doggedly, then added: Look
here. sir as l dare say you have found
out. this is a rough country, and people
come to it. some of them whose luck has
been rough elsewhere Now perhaps l
am as we'll born as you are. and perhaps
my luck was rough in other lands. so
! that l chose to come and live in place
where there are no laws or civilization.
Perhaps too. | took the name of another
man who was driven into the wilderness
you will remember all about him-also
that it does not seem to have been his
fault Anyway. if we should be thrown
up together III ask you to take me as
am-that is, a hunter and a trader lin
the Zuu'-and not to bother about what
| have been. Whatever l was christened.
ny name is Ishmael now. or among the
kaffrs Ibubesi. and. if you want another,
let us call it Smith
Quite so, Mr.. Ishmael. 1t is no affair
| of mine." replied Mr.. Dove with a smile.
, for he had met people of this sort before
in Africa.
But within himself already he deter
mined that this white and perchance
fallen wanderer was one whom. per
haps it would be his duty to lead back
into the paths of Christian propriety and
peace.
the little camp. and A sentry having
been set. for now the night was falling
fast. Ishmael was introduced to Mrs
Dove, who looked him up and down and
said little. after which they began thei,
supper. When their simple meal was
finished Ishmael lit his pipe and sat him
self upon the disSelboom of the gon,
looking extremely handsome and pic
turesque in the flare Of the freight which
fell upon his dark face, long black hair
and curious garments. for although he
had replaced his ION skin by an old coat.
his Zebra-hide trousers and waiStcpat
mad, of an otter's pelt still remained.
Contemplating him. Rachel felt sure that,
whatever his present and past might be.
he had spoken the truth when he limited
tina; he was we'll born. Indeed. this
might be gathered from his voice and
method of expressing himself when he
grew more at ease. although it was true
that sometimes he substituted a Zulu for
an English word. and employed it's idioms
in his sentences, doubtless because for
years he had been accustomed to speak
and even to think in that language.
| Now he explaining to Mr.. Dove
the political and social position among
thai people. whose cruel laws and Gus
toms led to constant flights on the part
of tribes or families, who knew that they
were doomed and their consequent mas
sacre, if caught, as had happened that
day. OF course. the clergyman, who had
lived for some years at Durham, knew