Evening star., 1909-02-12
CHAPTER Iv-Continued.

CHAPTER Iv-Continued.
When the wagon had creaked 10 the top
of the rise, for of course there was no
road. and the kaffirs were beginning TO
unyoke the hungry oxen. Rachel, who was
riding with her father. sprang from her
horse and ran to it TO help her mother to
descend She was now tall young
woman. full OF health and vigor. strong
and straightly shaped. Mrs. Dove. frail,
delicate. gray-haired. placed he1 foot up
on the disselooom and hes!tated. for TO
hen the ground seemed far off, and the
heels OF the cattle very naer.
Jump said Rachel in her clear. laugh
ing voice, as she smacked the near after
OK to make it turn round which 1t did
obedientlr for all the team knew her.
II! catch YOU"
But her mother still hesitated. SO thrust
ing her way between the OK and the front
wheel Rachel stretched out her arms and
lifted her bodily to the ground.
How strong you are, my love- said her
mother, with a sort Of wondering admira-
tion and a sad little smile; 1T seems
strange to think that ever carried you.
"One had need to be in this country.
dear replied Rachel cheerfully. Come
and walk little way. you must be stiff
with sitting in that horrid wagon and
she led her quite to the top of the knoll.
There" she added isn't the view love
ly? never saw such a pretty place in all
Africa. And oh! look at those buck. and
yes-that is a rhinoceros. / hope II won't
charge US.
Mrs Dove obeyed. gazing first at the
glorious sea, then at the plain and the
trees. and lastly behind her at the tower
ing cliff STEPPED in shadow-for the sun
was westering-down the face OF which
the waterfall seemed to hang like silver
rope.
AS her eyes fell upon this cliff Mrs.
Doves face changed.
ried voice. Il have seen it before.
Nonsense mother. answered Rachel.
I'VE have never trekked here, SO how
could your
member that cliff and the waterfall: yes,
and those three trees, and the buck stand
ing under them
''One often feels like that. about having
seen places. 1 mean, mother. but OF course
ii is ali nonsense. because It Is impossi-
BILE. unless one dreams of them first"
"Yes love. unless one dreams. Well.
think that l must have dreamt. What
was the dream now? Rachel weeping
Rachel weeping-my love. l think that We
are going to live here. and l think
think
IAN right" broke in her daughter
quickly. with a shade Of anxiety in her
voice as though she did not wish to learn
what her mother thought. II don't mind
I'm sure. I don't want to go to Zululand,
and see this horrid Dingaan who is al
ways killing people. and am quite sure
that father would never convert him, the
wicked monster. 1t is like the Garden OF
Eden, isn't 1t, with the sea thrown In.
There are all the animals. and that green
tree with the fruit on it might be the
Tree OF Life. and-oh: my goodness, there
is Adami''
Mrs Dove followed the line OF her
daughters outstretched hand. and per-
ceived three or fotir hundred yards away.
as in that sparkling atmosphere IT was
easy to do. white man apparently clad
In skins He was engaged in crawling up
a little rise Of ground with the obvious
intention Of shooting at some blesbuck
which stood in a hollow beyond with
quaggas and other animals. while behind
him was a mounted kaffir who held his
masters horse.
"I see,' said Mrs Dove mildly interest
ed. But he looks more ike Robinson
Crusoe without his umbrella. Adam did
not kill the animals in the garden, my
DEAR
HE must have lived on something be-
sides forbidden apples" remarked Rachel,
unless perhaps he was vegetarian as
father wants to be. There-he has fred"
AS she spoke cloud Of smoke arose
above the man. and presently the loud re-
port Of a roer reached their ears. One
of the buck rolled over and lay struggling
on the ground, while the rest. together
with many others at distance. turned
and galloped off this way and that. fright
ened by this new and terrible noise. The
old rhinoceros rose snortng. shifted the
air then hundred away up wind toward
the man. its pig-like tall held straight
above its back.
Adam has spoilt our Eden: I hope the
rhinoceros will catch him. said Rachel
IT. IL hos Il ia
Is running to his horse.
Rachel was right. Adam-or whatever
his name might be-was running with re-
markable swiftness. Reaching the horse
just as the rhinoceros appeared within
forty yards of him. he bounded to his
saddle and with his servant galloped off
to the right. The rhinoceros came to a
standstill for few moments as though 1t
were wondering whether II dared attack
these strange creatures, then making up
its mind in the negative. rushed on and
vanished When 1t was gone the white
man and Kaffir. who had pulled UP their
horses at distance, returned TO the fall
Ell buck. cut its throat and lifted it to
the Kaffirs horse, then rode slowly to-
ward the wagon.
They are coming to call said
Rachel. How should one receive a
gentleman in skins?''
Apparently some misgivings as to the
effect that might be produced by his ap-
pearance occurred to the hunter. At any
rate he looked first at the two white
women standing on the brow. and next
at his own peculiar attire. which ap
peared to consist chiefly of the pelt of
lion. plus very striking pair of trousers
manufactured from the hide of a zebra,
and halted about sixty yards away. star
ing at them. Rachel. whose sight was
exceedingly keen. could see his face well,
for the light Of the setting sun fell on it
and he wore no head covering. IL was
a dark, handsome face OF man of bout
thirty-fve years Of age. with strongly
marked features black eyes and beard.
and long black hair that fell down on
to his shoulders. They .gazed at each
other for a while, then the man turned
to his afterrider. gave him an order in
clear, strong voice, and rode away in
land. The after-rider on the contrary
directed his horse up the rise until he
was within few yards of them, then
sprang to the ground and saluted.
What Is it, asked Rachel in Zulu.
language which she now spoke perfectly.
"Inkosikaas" chat is-lady). answered
the man. my master thinks that you
may be hungry and sends YOU a present
of this buck" and, as he spoke. he loosed
the riem hide rope by which II was
fastened behind his saddle, and let the
animal fall to the ground.
Rachel turned her eyes from it. for it
was covered with blood and unpleasant
to look at. then replied:
My father and my mother thank your
master. How is he named and where
does he dwell?'
Lady. among US black people he is
named Ibubesi Gion). but his white name
Is Hishmel'
"Hishmel. Hishmel'' said Rachel. "Oh.
mother. told you he was something
h;h1fcal and of 1ShmaeI 6vUelf In