The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-23

of 1t scratched him on the hand, caus- ing the pale blood to flow, sight at which Eddo and the other priests broke into tears and lamentations. that continued long after the Umkulu was dead
 why are they such cowards?- ask ed Rachel dreamily, for she had not seen the murder of the slave, and thought that Eddo had only scratch ed himself.
 Because they fear the sight of blood, Zoola," answered Noie, which is very evil omen to them Death they do not fear who are already al most ghosts, but it it is a red death, their souls are split with their life. or so they believe"
 Towards noon that day the sky banked up with lurid-coloured clouds; the sun which should have shone so hotly, went out, and hush that was almost fearful in it's heat and inten- sity. fell upon the desert. The Um- kulu bearers became disturbed, and gathered together into knots, talking in low tones. Eddo aud his brother priests who, either because of the ad- venture of the morning or the oppres- sive air, could not sleep, as was usual with them, were also disturbed. They crept from beneath their umprellas which, as the sun had vanished, were of no use to them, and stood together staring at the salty plain, which un- der that leaden and lowering sky look ed white as snow, and at the breeding clouds above. They even sent for their bowls to read. in them pictures of what was about to happen, but there was no dew left. so these could not be used.
 Then they consulted with the cap- tains of the bearers, who told them what no magic was needed to guess that g. mighty storm was gathering, and that if it overlook them in the. desert, they would be buried beneath the drifting sand. Now this was a stwhite death which the dwarfts did
 
 instant departure. instead of delaying the start until sunset. as they had in- tended, for then, if all went well, they would have arrived at their homes by dawn, and not in the middle of the night So the filters were made ready, and they went forward through the overpowering heat, that caused the bearers to hang out their tongues and reel as they walked
 Towards evening the storm began to stir. Little wandering puffs of wind blew upon them and died away, and lightnings fiickered intermittently. Then hot breeze sprang up that gradually increased in strength until the sand rolled and rippled before it, DOW one way and now another,for this breeze seeIped to blow in turn from every quarter of the heavens Sud- denly, however, after trying them all it settled in the west, and drove straight into their faces with eyer-in-s creasing force Now Eddo thrust out his head between the curtains of his litter and called to the bearers to hur-s ry, as they had but a little distance of desert left to pass, after which came the grass country where there would be no danger from the sand. They heard and obeyed. changing the pole Eangs frequently, as those who car ried the filters became exhausted.
 But the storm was quicker than they; it burst upon them while they were still in the waste, though not in fJIII strength Then the r. ness came, utter darkness, for no moon or stars could be seen, and salt and sand drove down on them like. hail. Through it all. the bearers