The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-05
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bOu 90 oCht q way. nv 1850
the kraal And there he gathered
that the uprising was to take place
within forty-eisht hours.
The natives planned to rush the lit
tie settlement, twelve miles away, at
dawn. 1t would be one of those mas
sacres so familiar to African history.
A rush of men. the welding OF the
terrible stabbing spear-and Grey
would be thing of the past. Swift
death for the mentor the women
worse fate.
Dawson knew all this through a
confidant, and his heart, hot within
him, approved. If Grey were oblit-
Grated, and it's three hundred souls
sent into eternity, there would be no
more sneering faces to greet him
when he walked into the town. And
the woman who wouldn't. pass him,
wouldn't even walk under the same
sun with him-he pictured her in the
power Of the savage warriors.
He had become so embittered that
his mind was twisted. and he saw all
this in the light of the natives. He
justified it. On the night before the
massacre was scheduled to occur he
lay down in his kraal. He knew that
the natives were suspicious OF him.
were watching him. He would show
them how ungrounded their suspicious
were.
He slept, and awakened suddenly to-
ward morning. In his sleep saner
vision had come to him. He saw
things in different prospective, now,
himself in all his baseness, and Lady
Sibyl prey to the savages.
Outside his hut party of young
men were keeping watch, armed with
spears.
The night was very dark. Dawson
crawled noiselessly from where he lay
ard wriggled out of the hut door. He
had to pass within dozen feet of
the camp fire. But he was skilled in
native craft.
Listen, brother!" said one Of the
young men by the fire. What is that
sound"
"A snakes" answered the other;
finging his spear in that direction.
Once beyond the range of hearing;
Dawson rose TO- his feet and ran noise.
lessly along. the trail which led To.
ward. Grey He knew that within q
very few moments his absence would
be discovered: but' he must carry out
his purpose now. He ran, htdins
against the Hight Of the rising moon
a shadow among the shadows Of ths
trees.
At the place where the trail Joined
the high road he came suddenly upon
nativeJ picket. The two men were
standing together, whispering. paw'
son leaped at them and bore them ia
the ground. He ran. He heard two
spears whiz past his head and the
hoarse cries Of the savages to theiI
0ompatriots. But Dawson had been Z
famous Splinter in his college days
and now, unframed though he vas, The
cid instinct awoke In him He cut
distanced the picket.
He heard the, hollow sound Of tap.
ping As he ran on. and knew that the
natives were soand&as hollow trNea
to warn those IN front Of him. He ran
with pampinS lungs and bursting
heart. until he saw Grey. . shadow on
the horizon against the misty dawn.
Two niiea-and the attack might
begin 1t any moment now. He quick.
ened hts speed. A group Of armed
warriors barst oxt from among the
trees. They flung their spears. but
missed him. He was almost invisible
smong the reeds Of the dried river
bed; and he ran. He heard their steps
die IN the distance. and Grey was
still safe ',-
A mile, and 1t was growing light.
The savages must be around the
town. waiting for the signal to close.
He stopped. A cluster of shadows
against the sky resolved itself into one
wing Of the savage army. drawn up in
battle array.
He knew that they would wait sew.
eral minutes while the witch-doetor
gave them medicine" to make them
invulnerable against bullets. He
worked his way round among the
reeds. He had got fifty yards In front
Of them before he heard the rustlins
Of their shields; and he knew that
Grey had still ten minutes of grace.
He was in Grey now. He passed like
q shadow between the outlying houses.
running along the highway until he
reached the administrators house.
next to the police camp He beat q
loud tattoo upon the doors.
Turn OUT" he screamed. Turn
out all men! The natives are attack.
ing Grey"
1t needed but a moment before the
alarm took effect. The sentries, the
guard came running to the gates.
Dawson shouted to them with all his
failing strength Of voice. pointing
down the main road. They under.
stood.
The soldiers and citizens swarmed
out Of their houses at the ringing Of
the alarm bell. Hastily dressed, they
had their rifles in readiness. Presently
Dawson began to hear the rattle Of the
distant Maxims, the shouts Of the
charging savages, the roar Of battle.
Then. long after, he opened his
eyes. A doctor was bending over him.
NO chance" he read in his eyes.
Where did you get that spear
wound, Dawson?" asked the doctor.
Before I started" Dawson an.
swered weakly.