The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-23

| l Then once more they went on, Ra chel wondering if she dreamed. the gir 1 Noie walking at her side, stern ant
 cold.faced as a statue.
 CHAPTER VT.
 ! The Casting of the Lots. i They reached the crest of the las l rise. and there. facing \them on the
 slope of the opposite wave of land
 stood the wagon. surrounded by tht thorn fence. within which the cattle and horses were still enclosed, doubt | less for fear of the Zulus. Nothing could be more peaceful than the as.
 pect of that camp. To look at it nc one would have believed that within a l few hundred yards a hideous massacre had just taken place. Presently, how ever. voices began to shout. and heads l to bob up over the face. Then it oc- cured to Rachel that they must think she was a prisoner in the charge Of a Zulu, and she told Noie to lower the
 shield which she still held in front o1
 her. The next instant some thorns were torn out. and her father, a gun in his hand, appeared striding towards them
 Thank God that you are safe" he said as they met. 'I have suffered
 great anxiety although I hoped that
 the white man Israel-no, Lshmael-
 had rescued you. He came here to
 warn us.''- he added in explanation,
 'very early this morning. then gallop-
 ed off to find you. Indeed his after
 rider. whose horse he took. is still here.
 Where on @earth have you been. Ra-
 chel, and--" suddenly becoming aware
 of Noie. who. arrayed only in a towel,
 shield, and a stabbing spear. pre-
 sented a curious if an impressive spec
 tacle. who is this young person?y
 ic, 1of{ {xyaA spiy 1T ra6 fr>,,r
 the massacre. replied Rachel. answer
 ing the last question first sIt is a long story. but I shot the man who Was going to kill her, and, we hid in a pool. Arc you all safe. and where is mother ?''
 Shot the man! Shed human blood.
 Hid ina poolv' calculated MT. Dove, overcome. Really. Rachel. you are a most trying daughter. Why should you go out before daybreak and do such things?"
 T don't know, I am sure, father; predestination. suppose-to save her life. you know"
 Again he contemplated the beautiful Noie. then. murmuring something about a blanket. ran back to the camp. By this time Mrs. Dove had climbed out of the wagon and arrived with the Kaffirs.
 T knew you would be safe, Rachel, T she said in her gentle voice. because nothing can hurt you. Still you do up- set your poor father dreadfully. and what are you going to do with that naked young woman?"
 Give her something to eat. dear answered Rachel. Don't ask me any more questions now. We have been sitting up to our necks in water for hours. and are starvedand frozen, to say nothing of worse things"
 At this moment MT. Dove arrived with blanket, which he offered to Noie. who took it from him and threw it round her body. Then they went into the camp, where Rachel changed her damp clothes. whilst Noie sat by her in a corner of the tent Presently too, food was brought. and Rachel ate hungrily. forcing Noie to do the same Then she went out, leaving the girl in the tent and with certain omissions, such as the conduct of Noie when she found her dead father. told all the story which. wild as were the times and strange as were the things that happened in them. they found wonder full enough.
 When she had done MT. Dove knelt down and offered up thanks for his daughters preservation through great danger, and with them prayers that she might be forgiven for having shot the Zulu, a deed that, except for the l physical horror of it, did not weigh upon Rachel's mind.
 You know, father, you would have done the same yourself she explain ed, ''ard so would mother there, if she l could hold a gun, so what is the good of pretending that it is a sin? Also no one saw it except that white man and the crocodiles which buried the | body, so the less we say about the l matter the better it will be for all of | !
 'I admit" answered MT. Dove, ''that l the circumstances justified the deed, l though I fear that the truth will out | since blood calls for blood. But what | are we to do with the girl? They l will come to seek her and kill us | au.''
 .They will not seek, father, because ,hey think that she is dead, and will never know otherwise unless that white man tells them, which he will do, as the Zulus would think hat he shot the soldier, not l. She las been sent to us, and it is our luty to keep her.
 1T suppose so' said her father Poor thing! Truly she las cause for gratitude to Providence III her relations killed by those blood thirsty savages and she saved!''
 'If all of you were killed and were saved, I do not know that hOuld feel partlcularly grdIeIul, all wered Rachel But it is no use ar ,uing about such things so let us be thankful that we are not killed too Vow I am tired out. and going to lie lown for of course we can't leave his place at present, unless we trek ,ack to Durham"
 Such was the finding of Noie.
 When Rachel awoke from the sleep nto which she had fallen, sunset was lear at hand. She left the tent where Joie still lay slumbering or lost in tupor, to- find that only her mother nd Ishmael's after-rider remained n the camp, her father having gone ut with theKaffirs. in order to bury $ many of the dead as possible before light came, and with it the jackals nd hyenas. Rachel made up the fire nd set sto work with her mothers elp to cook their evening meal Whilst hey were thus engaged her quick ears < aught the sound of horses hoofs, 1 nd she looked up to perceive the yhfte man, Ishmael. still leading the $ pare horse on which she had ridden z hat morning. He had halted on the I rest of ground where she had first I cen him upon the previous day, and I Jas peering at the camp, with the ( biect apparently of ascertaining f rhether it's occupants were still alive. t