The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-29
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CHAPTER XVIII. (confd.)

~ without. Tor the sun was
4 = now well up. could see
D ing, since those green boaghs
oalm leaves were very closely
4 an. AS my eyes grew ac'
Toned 10 the gloom. however,
perceived a glittering object
led ON a kind of throne at the
1 OF the booth. while In double
4. In front knelt six white-robed
women. who seemed to wear
chains about their necks and
carried large knives slung round
their middles. Between i, these
women and the throne lay a dead
man on the floor. priest OF some
sort as I gathered from his garb,
who still held huge spear in his
hand. So silent was the figure on
the throne and those that knelt
before 1t that at first ! thought that
all of them were also dead.
LADY Sad-Eyes, Baas," Wills
pered Hans, "and her bride-women.
Doubtless that old Prsdikant came
to kill her when he saw that the
battle was lost, but the bride
women killed him with their
knives"
Here may state that Hans's
superstition proved to be quite cor
rect. which shows how quick and
deductive was his mind. The fig
urs ON the throne was Inez: the
priest in his disappointed rage
had come to kill her. and the
bride.women had hlled him with
their knives before he could do so.
babe the Zulus tear down the
curtain and pull away some o. the
end boughs so as to let in more
light. Then we advanced u. the
place, holding our pistols and
spears In readiness.
The kneeling women turned their
heads to look at us and saw that
they were all young and handsome
In their fashion, although fierce
faced. Also saw their hands 60
to the knives they wore. called
on them to let these be and come
out, and that IL they did so they
had nothing to fear. But II they
understood, they did not heed my
words.
On the contrary while Hans and
/ covered them with our pistols,
fearing lest they should stab the
person on the throne whom we
took to be Inez, at some word from
one of them, they bowed simultane-
ously toward her, then at another
word, suddenly drew the knives
and plunged them to their own
hearts,
II was a dreadful sight and ops
of which never saw the like. Nor
to this day do I know why the
deed was done, unless perhaps they
were sworn to the service of the
new queen and feared that IL they
failed to protect her, they would
be doomed to some awful end.
At any rate we got them out dead
or dying. for their blows had been
strong and true and not one of
them lived more than q few min
utes. nv
Then I advanced to the figure on
the throne, or rather tall chair of
black wood inlaid with ivory, which
sat 80 silent and motionless that
was certain 1t was that of q dead
woman. especially when per-
ceived that she was fastened to
the chair with leathern straps that
were sewn all over with gold wire.
Also she was yelled and with
one exception. made up, IL I may
use the term, exactly to resemble
the lady Ayesha, even down to the
two long plaits of black hair, each
finished with some kind of pearl
and to the sandalled feet. The ex-
ception was that about ner hung a
great necklace of gold ornaments
from which we're suspended PEN
dants also Of gold representing the
rayed disc of the sun in rude but
bold and striking workmanship.
I went to her and having cut the
straps, since / could not stop to
unite their knots, lifted the veil.
There beneath it was Inez sure
enough. and Inez living, for her
breast rose and fell as she
breathed, but Inez senseless. Her
eyes were wide open, but still she
was quite senseless.
Probably she had been drugged, or
perhaps. some of the sights of hor-
ror which she saw, had taken away
her mind. I confess that l was
glad that this was so, who other.
wise must have told her the dread
full story of her fathers end.
We bore her out and away from
that horrible place, apparently quite
unhurt. and laid her uudpr tho