Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-13

circle about the blaze. before which a
half dozen naked warriors lcaped and
bent and stamped in some grotesQue
dance.
I A $ THE girl came nearer. keeping in
"A the shadow of the huts. looking for
Naratu. she was suddenly discovered by
one upon the edge of the crOwd-a huge
woman who rose. shrieking, and came
toward her. From her aspect the white
girl thought the woman meant literally
to tear her to pieces. So utterly wan
ton and uncalled for was the attack
that it found the girl entirely unpre-
pared, aud what would have happened
had not II warrior interfcrcd may only
be guessed And then ISanga. noting
the interruption, came lurching forward
to question her.
What do you want" he cried,
food and drink: Come with me -
And he threw al arm about her and
dragged her toward the circle.
"No.' she cried. II want Naratu.
Where is N%aratu?"
This seemed to sober the black for n
moment. as though he had temporarily
forgotten his better half. He east
quick. fearful glanceS about. and then
evidently assured that Naratu had no
ticed nothing. he ordered the warrior
who was still holding the infatuated
black woman from the white girl tc
take the latter back to her hut and re
main there on guard over her.
First apprOpriating n gourd of beer
for himself, the warrior mOtioned the
girl to precede him and thus guarded
she returned to her hut, the fellow
squattlng down Just outside the door,
way where for some time he confined
his attentions to the gOurd.
Bertha kirChcr sat down at the fal
side OF the hut awaiting she knew no
what impending fate. She could moi
sleep, so hlled was her mind with wilc
schemes of escape. though each new
one must always be discarded as i'm,
practicable. Half an hour after thu
warrior had returned her to her prison
he rose and entered the hut, where h,
tried to enter into conversation Will
her. Cropping across the interior h,
leaned his short spear against the wal
and sat down beside her. and as h,
talked, he edged closer and closer unit
at lasi ne could reach out and toucl
her. Shrinking, she drew away.
DO not touch me - she cried. .,
Will tell lsanga if YOU do not leave IN,
alone, ana you know what he will d,
~ SSNF
The man only laughed drunkenly, an,
, reaching out his hand grabbed her arm
f aud dragged her toward him. Sh,
fought and cried aloud for Usanga. an,
at the same instant the entrance to tn,
4 hut was darkened by the form of q nan
E What is the natter" shouted tn,
e newcomer in the deep tones that In
3 girl recognized as belonging to the blacI
' sergeant. He had come, but would sh
I be any better off?
When Csanga found what had hap
e pened, he kicked the warrior out of til
Y hut and babe him begOne and when tn
: fellow had disappeared, muttering an
4 grGhnbling, the sergeant approached tn
! white girl. lie was very drunk, S
t drunk that several times she succeede
/ in eluding him, and twice she pushe
= him SO violently away that he stumble
and fell.
Y Finally ne became enraged and rush
0 ing upon her, seized her in his Ions
apelike arms. Striking at his face wit
e clenched fists, she tried to protect her
self and drive him away. She threat
ened him with the wrath of Narstu
S and at that he changed his tactics an
e began TO plead, and as he argued wit
e her, promising her safety and eventus
i freedom. the warrior he had kicked or
4 kof the hut made his staggering way I
s lNAratu's hut.
E usenga, finding that pleas aud prom