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THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established jane, 186? SUMTER, S. C., -WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1887. Xew Series-toi. TIL No. 16. ?|? ?fejputi? aii? *oii?|).r0ii . N. OSTE?N, SUMTES. C. TERMS t Two Dollars per auaum -in advance. AU V S R T I S S at? X TS . ine Square, first insertion.Si 00 Svery subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three mouths, or longer will ->e made.at reduced rates. AH communications which subserve private interests will becharged for as advertisements. Obituaries and trihutes of respect will be barged foA . Absolutely Pure. This ponder iifv?r var?e?. A mar. el o; purify, strength and wholesomeness. tf?re economical than the ordinary ki:?ds, and can? not be sold in competition with th- afulti-t ud? of low test, short w?-i^hr. alum or phosphnb powders. Sold only in cans. ROYAL BAK? ING POWDER ?0 106 W*n-*r.. N" Y 'MASES ^^^^1 h ates III frp----psaassa K: M 1 i- ^ Should be used a few montLs before ccaLnemcsit. -Send for book f To SIOTHEES," snailed free. BRADFIELD REGXTLATOE CO., Atlanta, Ga. THE SUMTER FOR BOYS. Location Healthy and pi?-.-is:tnt. Cours?- of Instruction Thorough ?^Good Boarding Acco:nmcd.itions Terms reasoned?. Pupils prepared for CuHvge or Business. PALL SESSION-Sept 5 io Dre. 23.. 1867. . SPRING SESSION"-??rn. 2 to June -, ISSS". Best ret'eieoces given. For Circulars or other information, aoph ?to A. c. MCINTOSH, A. M." * Principal. * Lock Box No 40. 'Oct. 5. Sumter, S C. LANDS FOR SALE. THE PLANTATION seven miles North? west of the Town of Sumter, known as the '*Koox Place'' condining S>0 acres about 500 of which are arable-- i 00 of which is open and under fence, and is used as pas tare land; and the balance is wood land. This place has upon it a large S'room dwelling, baro3, stables* cow house, har? ness and gear room and other out houses appurtenant-, also large Gin House. 12 frame 'tecant houses and other improveme::*s. Ali of which are ia good repair. " -ALSO Place lying partly within corporate limits ?f tke?'own of Sum*erf near "Sumter Cotton Sills" Factory, and horderir.ir ou the W C k. A. Railroad extension from Sumter to Geor? gia, known a? the ^Dargan Place," cootain rng acres, about 08 of which are cleated, and the balance is iu woodland. This place contains a 7 room dweTKng. oars, stables, carriage hon?-?. wagon -i.-. truck rooms, 2-room servaras hou?'-, small .tore-bouse, good water, fine- garden spot, bunch-grape and scuppernong vines* plum, pear, peach, apple and other kinds of fruit trees, 5 good frame tenant houses (which tent for the aggregate sum of ?10.50 per toon th.) The latter pince will be sold as ? whole or in lots, the former ?s a who!*2- or in parcels. Parties wishing to inspect said places with Tiew of purchasing will be shown ti;- ratter by Mr. W..R. Brown, who no^v occupies the dwelling, or the former by the undersigned. Terms (except for lots) one-third cnsh. balance in one and two ye.irs with interest from date of sale and possession, secured by Bonds or Bonds and mi>.-rgi?[" or mortgages of purchaser or purchasers. For futher iu formation address tie undersigneds W. D. BLANDING, Sumter S. C. ypv. 2-4t mm mmmi\ FOE SALE, FR CASH, OR ON GOOD SEC URI TIES. All in first-class order. One Frick & Co , 8 horse power En? gine and Boiler, .-?2r>::- 00 OneSteaur3 35 horse bower Engine, 400 One Lane Saw Mill Carriage with set works, Rack Irons, Cheers and Rollers Complete, for 200 00 One Edging Saw, Mandril and^Table with twenty-five feet of "Y" and Flat Track, twenty-two feet of Carriage and two Saws, fur 100 00 T*eabove is at BARGAIN PRICES and could not be replaced new fur twice the amount. MOSES & ?IAKBY. SgP^*_ Sumter. S. C. Fish and Oysters, j ERCEIJTED DAILY, during the s^son I fresh fish and Oysters, which will be sent to the homes of customers wbeu so ! ?ordered. The patronage of the citizeus solicited Xeaxe oxdexs at the Express Offic*. _ .J.M.SPANN. WAITING. 'are not. it sorae outstrip thee in the race; The race is coi unto.the swift or strong; Thy gift will wait for thee however long; io hand but thine can take fi from its piace. 'are not, nor haste ; there is no soon or late, Bat all things have their seasons-stars to rise, Each star its place aud moment in the skies : \ud thoa must teach thy anxious heart to wait ?ow many years in God's eternal pian Tbe elements had waited, till they found Their point jn time's great circle rolling . round, SP ?o make thee what thou are.O Son of man. \o hand may touch the wheels of God's design To hasten or retard them ; and no power Can keep thee, at the one appointed hour, TOO finding that which right pronounces thine. -Samuel V. Cole, in the Critic. By H. ?IWEE HAGGARD. ?.cjpoR or "xrxa SOLO:-:O>:"S MINTS. " "SITE,' "JESS," "THE WITCH'S HEAD," ETC. * ICOXTIXU?D.1 "Mayhap, too," she worst on. :%l shall lose my crown,andrwith my crownmj-life and-' thine also. Serais is very strong and very bitter, and if she prevails she will not spare. "Who can read thc future? Happiness is the world's white bird, that alights seldom, and flies fast and far tiil cue day ho is lost in the clouds. Therefore should we hold him fast if by any chance he rests for a little space upon our band. It is not wisc to neglect the present for the future, for who knows what the futuro will be, Incubu? Let us ?.'luck our flowers while the dew is on them, for when the sun is up they wither, and on ruc morrow will others bloom that we shall never see." And she lifted her sweet face to him and smiled into his eyes, and once more I felt a horrible pang of jealousy, and turned and went away. Tivy never took much notice of whether I was there or not, thinking, ? sup? pose, thar Twas an old fool, and that it did not matter one way or the other, and really I believe they were right. So I went back to our quarters, and rumi? nated over things in general, and watched old Umslopogaas whetting his ax cr.tside the window, as a vulture whets his beak beside a dying ox. And in about an hours time Sir Henry canto tearing over, looking very radiant and wildly excited, and found Good and myself, and even Umslopogaa-, and asked us if we should like to assist ut a real wedding. Of course we said yes, and oil we went to the chapel, where ' we found Agon looking as sulky as any high priest possibly could: and no wonder. It appeared that lie and Ny?ep tha had had a slight difference of opinion alKHit the coming ceremony. He had flatly refused to celebrate it, or to allow any of his priests to do so, whereupon Nyleptha became very angry, and told him that she, as queen, was head of the church, and meant to l>e { obeyed. Indeed, she played the part of a j Zu-Vondi Henry VIII to perfection; and in- i sisted that if she wanted to be married >hz \ would be married, and he should many her. j He still refused to go through the cere "Well, I cannot execute a high priest, be? cause there is an absurd prejudice against ic, and I cannot imprison him, because all his subordinates would raise a crying that would bring tho stars down on Zn-Vendis and crush it. but I can leave him to contemplate tho altar of the Sun without anything to eat. l?e- ? cause that is his natural vocation; and if thou wilt hot many me, O Agon! thou shalt be ?daced before the altar yonder, with naught but a litte water lill such time a*= thou hast reconsidered the matter." 2iow, a-^ it happened. Agon had been hur? ried away that morning without his break? fast, and was already &xceedingi3" hungry, sc ho presently modified his views and consented \ to marry them, saying at the same time that ' he washed his bands of all responsibility in the matter. So it happened that presently, attended j only by two of her favorite maidens, came tuc Queen ^yleptua, with happy Washing ! face and downcast eyes, dressed in pure I wldtc, without embroidery of any sort, as seems to be the fashi:>:i .on these occasions in most countries of the world. She did not ' wear a single ornament even her gold circlets were removed, and I thought that it possible she looked more lovely than ever without Lhem, as really superbly beautiful women do. She came, courtesied low to Sir Henry, and Iben took his hand and led him up before the altar, and after a little pause, in a slow, clear voice uttered tiie following words, which are customary in Zu>Vendis if the bride desires and the man consents: "Thou dost swear by thc Sun that thou wilt take no other woman to wife unless ? lay my hand upon her and bid her come:"" **1 swear it," added Sir Henry, adding in English, "One is quite enough for me." Then Agou.wuo had been sulking in a . .orner near the altar, came forward und gabbled off something into his beard at such a vate that I could not follow ir, but it appeared to be an invocation to the Sun to bless th*- union and make it fruitful. I observed that Xyieptba listened very closely to every word, and after? ward discovered that sk-.' was afraid lest Agon should play her a trick, and by going through the ??vocatioiis backward divorce ? instead'-; {narry them. At the end of the invocations they--were asked, as-in our serv- j ice. U they toole'.each Other for. busd'sud and j wife, and ".: their ass* i:: they hi*s. d each j other before the altar and the service was over; so far ;is tbeiv rites were concerned; But it seemed to me that there was yet some? thing wanting, and so 1 produced a prayer book, which has. together with the ""Ingolds by Lfegetids." that i often read ?ben 1 lie awake at night, accompanied nie in ail my later wanS rings. 1 gave it t-> my i? boy | Harry years ago, and after his d- ath J found I it among his things and took ir ba k again: "Curt:-." I said, -I am not a clergyman, j and J m t know if what i am going to pro- i j>?se is alio wahl-I know it not legal-but i if you and the queen have <,., objection, I ! should like to read the English marriage ! service over yen. it is a solemn step which i you are tak lng. and I think that you . ! as far as c:reurn-:;?:i: ' s e. .ii t., give i; tue sanction of your own religion." .*i have thought < >f that." he >aid, "and i '. wish you would. I do .*:.: :".?-.! half- marri'*! j yet."" Nvle^thn raised i:o?.J.jV< rio:?.. fully dn<:?v- S standing 5 i;::* b r hus!?and ? ishe?] tveeiebrat? I Lug in IA-, own countrv, and so I s-1 to work md read thes^rvice from "Dearly beloved" j to "ama? mi nt," a< w. !i a> I could: and R hoii j [came to "?, H?-nry, take-thc-. Xyleptkn.'' I I rra:;.-i'at'ti. and also "?. Nyiepth:i, take thoo, j Henry." which sbe repented after mo very I weU. Then Sir Henry took a p?am gold ring ; from "his little -?inger and plarred it <'.M hoi's, ] and S" <<a t'> Ii:?- end. The ring had been j Curtis moth-rs wedding ring, and 3 could not h'-I:> thinking Low astonished the d'ar j oMiY.orkshFiedady would have been if she j could haye foreseen that her wedding >ing ! was to serve a similar purpose for Nyi-ptka, a qu-en <.;' ! he 7,-:-V< ndi. As for A~on, he was with difficulty, kept j calm wldle th?? second ceremonv was "cmg i on. f?>r i,e at once und? rst- ?od that i: was p> ; ligiou<s in its r.atu:;e. and doubtless bethought ; hbo of the ninety five nev.- faiths which ? Ibouied up^oonnn?'osiy in hise}es. Ind -?.}. he j at;once set me down as a rival high j ri-sr, and hated mc accordingly. However, in the ! end olF he went, posil p.-ely bristling wp.b in- I cognation, and I knewrhat wemight look out for dang' r from his dir .?::..!.,. And eff wen: Goo<l and I, an?lo:d (Jmslopo- ? raasalsojcaving t be ha;>py pair to themselves, \ and very low wea.il felt. Marriages are sup- j posed to be cheerful things, but my experi- ? ^ncc is that they are very much thc reverso to everybody except, perhaps, the twopeoplo chierty interested. They mean the breaking np of somany old tics as well, as thc under talcing of so many new ones, and there is alway? something sad about the passing away of the-'.?1?! order. So Good and I went and ate in silence, and them indulged in an extra fine, flagon of old Zu-Vendian to keep our spirits up, and pres? ently one of our attendants came and told a story that.gave us something to think about. It may, perhaps, be remembered that after his quarrel with TJhislopogaas, Alphonse had gone oil in at i exceedingly ill temper to sulk over his scratches. Well, it appears that ho .walked right past tho temple totbeSun, dow n the wide road on the farther side of the slope it crowns and thence on into thc beautiful park or pleasure gardens, which atv laid out just beyond thc outer wail. After wandering about there for a little he started to return, but was met near the outer gate by Sorais1 train of chariots, which were galloping furiously along the great northern road. "When she caught sight of Alphonse, Sorais halted her train and called to him. On ap? proaching he was instantly seized and dragged into otic of the chariots and carried off, '.cry? ing out loudly,7' as our informant said, and as, from my general knowledge of him, I can well believe. At first I was much puzzled to know what ob- ? ject Sorais could have in carrying off the poor little Frenchman. She could hardly stoop so i low as to try to wreak her fury on one -whom ? she knew was only a servant. " It would not ' be in keeping with her character to do so. At ? last, however, an idea occurred to me. We j three were, as I think I have said, much revered by the people of Zu-Vendis at large, | both because we were thc first strangers they j had ever seen, and because wc were supposed j to"be the ]*ossessors of almost supernatural: wisdom. Indeed, though .Sorais' cry against j the "foreign wolves,* or, to translate it more I accurately, "foreign li}-enas,v was sure to gc ; down very well with the nobles and the j priests, it was nor, as we learned, likely to be ! pi rricuinrly effective among the bulk of the | population. The Zu-Yondi people, like the ? Athenians of old. are ever seeking for some j new tiling, and just because we .were so new j our presence was, on the whole, acceptable to j them. Again, Sir Henry s magnificent per- j sonal appearance made a. deep impression : upon a rac? who possess a greater love of ! Beauty than any other I have ever b en ac- i quain ted with. Beauty may be prized in ; other countries^ but in Zn-Vendis it * almost ! worshiped, as, indeed, the national love of i statuary snows. The people said openly ia j tho market places, that there was not a man in tiie country to touch Curtis in personal appearance, as, with the exception of Sorais, there was no woman who could compete with Nyleptba, and that therefore it was meet that they should many; and that he h::d been sene by the Sm: as a husband for their queen. Now, from ail this it will be seen that the outcry against us was to a considerable es? tent fictitious, and nobody knew it I ?ct er than Sorais herself. Consequently it struck nie that, it might have occurred to her that down in the country and among the country people, ic : would be better to place thc reason of her conflict with her sister upon other and more general grounds than Nyleptha's mar? riage with the stranger. It would be oa^y in a laud where there bad been so many civil wars to rake out some old cry that would stir up thc recollection of buried feuds, and, indeed, she soon f omul aa effectua! one. This being so, itwas of great importance to her to have one of the strangers with her whom she could show to the common people as a great outlander, wiio had been so struck by thc justice of her cause that he had elected tb leave his companions ar.d follow be? standard: This, no doubt, "was the cause of her anxiety to got- a hold of Good, whom she would have used till he ceased to bo of service and then east off. I;i:t Good havirt^ dra w jr back, shes grasped at. the opportunity pf securing Al? phonse; who was not unlike him in personal appearance, though smaller, no doubt with tho object of showing bim off in tb^ cities and country as the great- UougwaTi himself. I told Good that 1 thought that that was her ?plan, ar.d his face was a sight to see, he was ! so bonified at the idea. ''Whatr he sai'r? "dress up that little ? wretch to represent me? Why, I shall have j to get out of tue-couutryl Sly reputation wiil j be ruined forever." I consoled him as weil as I could, but it is \ nor, pleasant to be personated ail over a ' strange country by an arrant little coward^ j and I can quite sympathize with his vexa? tion. Well, that night Good and I messed, as I j have said, in solitary grandeur, feeling-very ! much as though we had just returned from : burying a friend instead of manyi;:g otto, ! and next morning the work began in rood . earnest. The^messnges ami orders which had j bern dispatched by Nyleptha two days ? eforo ? now began to take effect, anti nw:lti:udes of ! armed'men came pouring imo the dry. Wo j saw, as may be imagined, but very b'.tle of ? Nyle.piha and not toe? much ot Curtis during j titos? next few days, but GO<H? mid I ?at daily : with the council of general and loyal lords, ! drawing up ??Ians of action; arranging com- j missariat matters, the distribution of com? mands, and a hundred and one other things. Men came in freely, anil all the d;iy lung the great roads leading to 3?Hosis were spotted with the banners <>f lords arriving from their places to rally Pound Xylcptha. After the-first two days it became eleni* that we should bo a!?le to take the fi;?ic: w ith about forty thousand infantry and twenty thousai>l cavalry-a veiy respectable forccj considering how snort was the. rime we had toco??e?? it, and tbarabout half of li:?- reg .- I Jar army had elected t<> follow Serais. But if our force was large. S rai-." was, according to the reports brought in dav by day by our spies, much larger. Site had takenup lier headquarters at a very strong j town called M'A rsl una. situated, as 1 have | said. tot.bo north of Mitosis, a?:d al? th;* i-oun- j try sid- was fl.x-king t?. her standard. Xastn . had pour.-il down from his highlands, and was. on h;> way to jj?hl her with tu* ?ess than twenty-live thousand of his mountaineers th - most te;-;::.:.. r-..id7e;>; to fae:- .,, ai j Zn Vendis. Another mighty lord,uam.??l JVlu F.ba, who lived in the great horse breeding dis: riet, had come'in with twelve thousand cavalry, and so on. Indeed, what I ?et ween j on" tiling anti ati'-thor. it seemed certain that j sile vv..i:?<? gatherii fud y armed host_of nearly j on- hundred thousand men. And tile!; came lia- news that she was pro- j P't?> break up lier camp and march on j tho Frowning (*ityit>>'lf,.d?.*sohtri_ng the conn- j try ;?< >].?. eaine. Thv.re.onarose thequestion j wlieth-r it would lu- !?.<;. t" meei her av ; M.---:s "r t?. go out und give her battle. ; When oar . ?pmion wa> asked utx?n theautr ' ji--\<;.! and I unh*-sitalingl\' gave ir in favor of an advance, lt w<; weivto >-imt. "ur- j ?....? s lip in the ft ryan?l wait to be attacked; \ it y- ns [-bat our inaction wonidby J set >I. ? v. ?i i" fear. U is so very important, ; esp.- ia" ly on au occasion of this sort. v. hen a ? Ver\ bit.*?.v. i;? sni'iee lo turn m?-m> -opinions on - way ']>.. ?.:!...-!-. tu lie np and doing ' ion.-. Arilof :'. >r a r:iu>e wiil soon : ... . , . i evaporate ll t u?- eause ijoes liol move, pul .-it, UyWJl to ConqU'f. Therefore We east, oui' ! Cot f.? r i?o'yjng .-i;: ;.?, ] giving hattie in the open, i:? *e.; i .,?' waiting lill we were drawn j from our va??? like a badger from a hob.: Sn Henry's opinion eomeided with ours, j atui >.'. needless to say, did timi of Xyleplha, | who. like a t'lint, was always ready to flash ; out tilt". A gre??* M nip i-f the country was : brought and spread om before her. About ' tliirtyiiiihis this sitie of M'Arstuna, where : S irais was. abd ninety odd miles from Milosis, j th\?;roud ranover, ri neel: of land w.?uie two j and a half m ies in width, and flanked on either .-: ie i-\ forest clad hills which, wiil ..nt ; l" it:-_r ! . : v, would be qiiiroijuprael wily for j agr?ai i .r.";:i;,'" laden army to rr? ?ss. Sljy ; J . r?r;iestlv at the map, and then, willi a ? qui- ku? . : p iv-ption that in some w<?meu J amounts abu?>st lo an instinct, she laid her j finger ilpili t ins i--? k ot risine; ground, anil j turning t-- her Imsband, said, -with a pr?-?u?l j air of !- .nti.l?-n**e and a toss of the goldeu j head, j "Here shalt thou meet Sorais1, armies. I j know the sp?'t: hero shalt thou m^tt them, and drive them before thee like tb. du>t be- | fore the storm." But Curtis looked grave and said nothing, j CHAPTER XX. TU1.; BATTLE OF THE PASS. It was on the third morning after this inci? dent of the map that Sir Henry and I started. With the exception of a small guardrail the great host hail moved on tho night before, j leaving the Frowning City very silent and j empty. Indeed, it was fouu<l ?.mr?essible to ! leave any garrison, wi; h thy exception of a j personal guard for Isyleptha and abcut 3,000 j men who fr? ?rn sickness or one cause or an* | other were unable to proceed with the anny"; ! but as the place was practically impregnable, ! and as our enemy was in front and not behind I us, tins tiki not sc much matter. Good and Umslopogaas hail gono on with j the arniy, but ISykptha accompanied Sir Henry and myself to the city nates, ? -ding a I magnificent white horse called . Daylight, I which was supposed to be the fleetest and ? most enduring animal in- Zit-Vendis. Her j face bore traces of recent weeidng, but there j were no tears .ia her eyes now, indeed she was ! bearing up bravely against what must hav? ? been a bitter trial to her. At the gate she i reined in her horse and bade us farewell. On j the previous day she had reviewed and ad"- j dressed the officers of the great army, sneak- j jug to them such high, eloquent words and j expressing so complete a confidence in their j valor and in their ultimate victory that she quite carried their hearts away; and cs sho j rode from rank to rank they cheered her till j the ground shook. And now today the same | mood seemed to be on her. "Fare thee weli, Macumazahn!* she said. I "l?enieml>cr, I trust tc thy wits, which are cs j a needle to a spear handle compared to those j of my people, to save us-from Serais. I know i tha? thou wilt do thy duty." I bowed and explained to her my horror of i fighting, and my fear lest I should lose my j head, at which she laughed gently and turned j to Curtis. '.Fare thee well," my lord!" she said. >:Come j back with victory;, mid as a king, or on thy j soldiers" spears." Sir Henry said nothing, but turned his ! horse to go; perhaps he had a bit of a lump" i in his throat. One gets over it afterwards, but these sort Of partings arc trying when one j has only been married a week. 'Here,3 added ?syiepiha, "will I greet yo ! when yo return in triumph. And now, my j lords, once moro fare wei il" Then we rode on, but when we kad*gon# ! 139 yards or so, we turned and perceived her j still sitting on her horse at the Same spotV j and looking .'ut after its beneath her hand, ; and that v. xs the hist we saw of her. About a mile farther on; however, we heard gallop1 lng behind us, and looking round, saw a j mounted soldier coming toward us, leading j ??yi?ptka's matchless Steed, DavJight. Then wc rode on. "The queen sends the white stallion as a ? farewell gift to her Lord Ir.cnbu, and bids me j tell my lord that he is the fleetest and the j most enduring horse in ail thc land," said the | soldier, bending to ids saddle bow before us. At first Sir I ienry did not want to take tho j horse, saying that ho was too good for such | rough work, but I persua???d him to do so, I thinking that .Nyl-ptka would Ivo hurt if he J did not. Tittie i lid I guess at - the tiree what j service that noble h*rsc would render in our : sorest need. It is curious to look back and j realize upon what trivial and apparently ac- j ?dental circumstances great events frequently ; turn, as easily and as naturally as a door on ? its hinges. "Well, -we took the horse, and a beauty ho ? was; it was a perfect pleasure to. seo him ; move: and. Curtis Laving sont back his greet- j iugs and thanks, we prcrccd-xl on our jour- ! ney. By midday wo overtook the rear guard of ! the great anny, of which Sir Henry formally took ??vcr th.e command. . It was a heavy rc- ! spons?b?ity; and it oppressed him very much, j but the queen's injunctions on the point were I sueh.as-did not admit of being trifled with, j Ile was beginning tu lind out that greatness ? has ?ts responsibilities as weil as its glories. j Theil we maredied on without meeting with any opposition, almost indeed without seeing \ anybody, for th" populations of tho towns ] and villages al^ng our route had for tho most j part fled, fearing lest they should be caught ] between the two rival armies and ground to j powder like grain between the upper a;>j the nether st mea. On the evening of the fourth day-for the progress of so great a multitude was necessa? rily slow-we camped two nulos this side of the neck or ridge 1 have spoken of, and our ! Outposts brought us word that Sorais, with all her "power, was rolling down upon tu*, and : hud camped that night ten miles the further : side of the neck. j Accordingly, before dawn we sent forward ! 1,000 cavalry to seize the position. Scarcely I had they occupied ir. however, before they ! were attacked by about as many of SoraLs' ; horsemen, ami a very smart little cavalry ? fight, ensued, with a loss to us of about thirty j men killed. On the advance of our supports, ; however, Sorais1 force drew off, carrying j their ?lead and wounded with them? The main body of the army reached thc ; nick about dinner time, and I must say that i Nylep'-a's judgment had not failed her; it j was an admirable place to give battle In, cs- : pecialiy to a superior force. The road ran down a mile or mere, through ground too-broken to admit of the handling of any considerable force, till it reached the crest of a great green wave of land that rolled down a gentle slope to the banks of a little stream, and thou rolled away again up a still gentler slope to thc plain beyond, the distance from the crest of the land wave down to tho stream being a. little over half a mile, and from the stream up to the plain be? yond a trifle less. The length of this wave of land a" its highest point, which corre? sponded exactly with; the width of tho-ncck of land between the wooded h?ls, was about two miles and a quarter, and it was proteet"i-d on either side hy dense, rocky, bush dad ground that afforded a,most valuable coyer to the thinks of the army, and rendered it almost impossible for thom to be turned. It was on the. higher slope of tins neck of land that Curtis encamped his army in the same formation that he had. after consulta? tion with the-various g?nerais. Good and my? self. ?Jetern?hiccl ibm ihey ..hoiiM occupy in the great pit?-hod battle which now appeared to |?o imminent. Our force of OM.II.I m- n was. roughly speaking; ?iivi? 1?'?1 a* f?-.H?>'ws: In the center was a l?ense 1? ni y < ?;' L '.Oin if? tit .*?. ?Miers, armed with spears, swords and I ii pp? ?pota mus hide shields, bivnst and baa; plates. These formed the chest of the army, and we're supported by y.Oo? foot and i}miHM horse in reserve, (hi ?.it her side of this chestw.:re stationed 7 .cot j horse, an ringcd ?n'd?>ep, majestic squadrons: j rind beyond, and on either si?l?\ but slightly : in front ol' them, again were tan bo?lil's, j numbering about T,0">' spc a mieneach, form- j jug t.{i?.> right and left wings of the army, ai:?l each supp??ried ly a contingent of some l%f?0h ; cavalry. This makes in all '',;>."oo men. (."arris commanded in ci oct", J wa-; in com? mand of the T.ooii horse bel ween i he chest and right wing, win?di was commanded by Oooil, : a nd. the ot lier battalions ami squadrons, were intrusted io /'u-\"en?ii generals. Scarcely liad we tn: --it np our positions be? fore Sorais- vast army begnnto swann on the opposite slop.* about a mile in front of u<. till the whole place seemed alive with the multi? tude of her spear points, and thc ground j shook with the tramp of her battalions, lt was evident that the spies had nor exag? gerated; we were outnumbered by at least a third. At first we expected that Sorais was j going to nt taek us at one?, a* the clouds of cavalry which hung upon her flanks executed j some threatening demonstrations, but she ; thought better of it, mid there was no fight j that day. As for the formation of her great forces I cannot now describe it Tri tb aecu aud it would only serve to bewilder if 1 but I may say. generally, taut in its Ie; features it resembled our own, only hi serve was much greater. Opposite our light ' wing, end for Sorais' left wing, was a great army of i wild looking me:\ armed with sword ?shield only, v.'ueb, I was informed^ was posed of I>. <a*s ?i3;000 savage hiibmen. .viv v rd, Good," said I, when I sawt '.you V...1 catch it to-morrow when gentlemen charge!" whereat Good not naturally looked rather anxious. A", day wc watched and waited, but : . happened, and nt hist night fell, c \ a?usand watch fires twinkled brightly o .slopes, to wane and dio one by one iii; sta i's they resembled, as the hours wo and the silence gradually gathered : deeply tiver thc opposing hosts. It was a very "wearying night, for ir dition to tho endless things that had seen to-, there was our gnawing suspen reckon with. The fray which to-mo would witness would bo so vast, and slaughter s? awful, that stout, indeed, i the Jieart have- been that was not < whelmed at the prospect. The time woro away till everything ready for tho coming slaughter; a;; lay down and thought, end tried to ; little rest. And at last up came the red sun. and huge camps awoke with a clash and a i and gathered themselves together for ba It was a beaittiful and awe inspiring sc and old Uinslopogdasi leaning on his contemplated it with grim delight. "Xever have I see:i t e like, Macumr.z: never," he,said. ..Tho battles of my pe are as the play of children to what this be. . Tiikikest thou that they will fig! outP "Ay," I answered cadlj", t{to thc de Content-.thyself-, \Woodpecker,' for euee s thou find thy lilt" Time went on, and still there was no of an attack. A force of cavalry ero the brook, indeed, and rode slowly along front, evideutiy taking stock of our posi and numbe*". With this we did not arte: to interf .. as our decision was to st strictly <. : . .:o defensive, and not to was; single mau. The men breakfasted and st to their arms, and the hours wore on. Al midday; when the tuen were eating tl dinner, for we thought they would fight ter on full stomach?, a shout ' of -Sv': Sorais." arose like thunder from the" enen extreme right, and taking the glas:, I . able to clearly distinguish the badyof Xight horse!:', surrounded by a glitter staff, and riding slowly corni the Hines of battalions. Ar.d hs shel went; that migl thundering shout rolled along before fieri the rolling of 10,000 chariots, or the roar of the ocean when the gale tarns sudde and carries the noise of it to the listen ears, tiil the earLh shook, and the air was ; of the majesty of sound. Guessing that this was a prelude to the ginning of the battle, we remained still ? made readj*. We had not long to wait. Suddenly, 1 flame from a camions mouth, out shot t great tongue like forces of cavalry, and ca charging down the slope towards the lil stream, slowly at first, but gathering sp< as they came. Before they got to the strea orders reached me from Sir Henry, who e dullly feared that the shock of sucha char if allowed to fall unbroken upon our fantry, would be too much for them, to se five thousand sabers to meet tho force < posite to me, at the moment" when it began mount the stiffest of the lise about fe hundred yards from our lines: -This I did, : maining behind myself with tho rest of i men. Off wetit the o,000 horsemen* drawn up a wed-rellke form, and I must say that t general in command handled them very ab] Starting at a baud gallop for tho first ? yards, be rode straight? ai tho tit) of t tongue shaped mass of cavalry which, nut bering, so far as I couid judge, about ?ig Ikonsand sabers, was nd vanning to meet t Then he suddenly swerved to the right ai put on tlte pace, and I saw the great wed; curl round, and bei ore the foo could che< himself and turu to meet it, strike him abo half way down In's length with a crashin rending sound, like the breaking up of va sheet .5 of iee. Ia sank the great wedge in his heart, and as ic cut its way hundreds < horsemen were thrown up on cither side of i justas thc earth is thrown up by a plot share, or, moro like still, as the foaming wat curls over beneath the bows of a rushii ship. In, yet in, vainly does the tongue twi its ends round :::i arony, like an injured snak and strive to protect ils center; still faith' in, by Heaven' right through, ami so, am cheer after cheer from our watching thoo ands, back again upon the severed *mdj, bea ing them downr driving them as a gale tiri v. spray, till at last, amid the rushing of hm drcds of riderless horses, lite Hashing < sw? -rds, and the victorious clamor of the pursuers, the great force crumples up liko a empty glove, then turns and gallops pell me for safety back to its own lines. I do not think it reached them more tba two-thirds as strong as it went out ten mn Utes before. The lines which were now ai vaiicing to the attack opened and swallowo tbem up, and my force-returned; having su fered a los> of.ou ly about ti vt? hundred men not randi. I thought, considering the fiera ness of the struggle. I could also see that th opposing bodies of cavalry cai oiir left win were drawing back, but bow the fight wen with them 1 do not quite know. It is a much as I can do to describe what took plac immediately around me. By this lime the immense lUasses of the on erny's left, composed almost entirely of Xas ta's swordsmen, were across the ?itt le stream and with alternate yells of ''Xasta" and ".Si rais,"' with dancing banners and glean:in: swo. ds were swarming up toward us Iib ants. Again J received orders to try and died this movement, and al.-o tho main ad'va no against the chest Of cur army, by.nicaus o cavalry charges, ami tin's I d?t! to Ibo best o my ability by t'orttinually sending squadron: of about a thousand sabers out against them These squadrons did the*- enemy much dam age, and it nasa glorious sight to see then Hash down t!ie hinside and bury thenjselve* like ?i living knife in the heart of the foe. fiut, also, we |o.-r many men, for after th.* ex? perience of a couple nf these charges, which had drawn a sort of bioody St. Andrew"* cross of dead and dying through the centemi XascaVs hosts, our foes no longer attempted to offer an Unyielding front to their irresistible weight, but opened but to Jet tho rush go through, throwing themselves on the ground, and hluiisiringing hundreds of Inu'ses As they passed. And so, notwithstanding all that we could do. e?cmj" drew nearer, titi at last lie hurled hin: :? if upon .Tnod*.-; forre *>f "..V?t* regulars, who vivre drawn np to reeeive them in three r-trong squares. About lite same time, ino. an awful and heart; shaking rons ?old me that the maia battle fur.? dosed in on ttie center and ext reme left. I raided myself in HIV stirrups and looked down to my left; s? far iii - eye could see 'ilse iv was along daztdihg shimmer of steel as the ?-un glanced upon falling and thrusting spear. To and fro swung tie' contending lines in that dread struggle.. u?W giving way. now -.-lining a little ut tho mad yet ordered confu? sion "I attack and defense, lint ir uns as much ns 1 could do to keep e< nut of what was happening to our ow n w ing; un i, as for the moment the cavalry had fallen bark under trover ?">? t-'ood's taree ??piaros, I had a fair view of this. Na-!a's v. ?ld swo:-??.-mei> were now bivi king in red y.'ayes against the : nilen rode like, squares, limo niter time dil they yd! rat their war cries, and hurl ihemsdv? s furiously again?.: the long t riple i Mg. s of sp -ir points, on ty to ie rolled bark a-> billows are when, they nu . t tho clin*. Ar.d. so for four long hours the battle raged nlmo-t without a pnu.-c. and at 1??e ?nitI of that time, if wo had gained Kolbing ?ye had lost ?nothing. Two attempts to turn our left flank, by inning a way through ibo wood by which it was protected, had Iteen defeated.; j and as yet Pasta's swordsmen had, notwiih- j standing their desperate efforts, entirely j failed to break Good's three square-, though j they liad thinned their numbers by quite n j third. As for tlie chest of the army, where Sir j Tierny was with his ?taff and fJmslopogaos,!? i Lad suffered dreadfully, but it bad held its omi with honor, and tho same may be said of our left battle. At last the attacks slackened and Sorais' army drew back, having, I llegan to think, had enough of it. On this point, however. I was soon undeceived; for, splitting up her cavalry into comparatively small squadrons, she charged us furiously with them all along thc linc and then once more rolled lier lens of tltousaud? of sword and spear men down upon our weakened squares and .squadrons Sorais herself directing the movement and, fearless as a lioness; heading thc main attack. On they caine iikc au avalanche-I saw her golden helm gleaming in the vail-our coun? ter charges of cavalry entirely failing to check their forward sweep. .Now they bad struck us, and our center bent in like a bow beneath thc weight of their rush-it parted, "and had not the 10.00J men m reserve charged down to its support it must have been de? stroyed. As for GOO?CS three squares, they were swept backward. Like boats upon an in? coming tide and the foremost one was burst into and lost half its remaining men. But the effort was too fierce and terrible to last Suddenly tho battle came, as it were, to a turning point and for a minute or two stood still. Then it ?xga? to move toward Sorais' camp. Just then, too, Nasta's fierce and ab most invincible highlanders-, either because they were disheartened by their losses or by way of a ruse, fell back and the remains of Good's gallant squares, leaving the positions they had held for so many hours, cheered wildlyiahd rashly followed then! down the slope, whereon the swarms of swordsmen turned, tc envelop them and once more flung themselves upon them with a yell. Taken thus on ever* side, what remained of the first square was quickly destro}* ed, and I perceived, that the second, in which I could see Good himself on a large horse, was on the point of annihilation. A few minutes more and it was broken, its streaming colors sank, and I lost fight of Good in the confused and hide? ous slaughter that ensued. Presently, however, a cream colored horse with a snow white inane and tail burst from the ruins of the square and came rushing past me riderless and with wide streaming reins, and in it I recognized the charger that Good had been riding. Then I hesitated no longer, but-taking with me half my effective cavalry force, which now, amounted to be? tween 4,000 and 5,C0? men, I commended my? self to God, and without waiting for orders, I charged straight down upon ?sasia's swords? men. Seeing me coming and being warned bjr the thunder of my horses' woofs, the ma? jority of them faced round and gave us a right warm, *velcome. Sot an inch would they yield; in vain did wo hack and trample them down ai; we plowed a broad red furrow through their thousands; they seemed to rc- j arise by' .hundreds, driving their terrible i sharp swords into our horses or severing their hamstrings and then hacking the i troopers who came to the ground with : them almost into pieces. My horsti I was speedily killed under me, but luckily 1 j had a fresh one, my own favorite, a coal black j mare Nyleptha had given me being held in ? reserve behind,- and on this I afterward mounted. Meanwhile I had to get.along as best I could, for I was pretty well lost sight of by my men in the mad confusion of the moment. My voice, of course: could not be heard in the midst of the clanging of st?el and the shrieks cf rage and agony. Pres? ently 1 found myself mixed up with the rem? nants of the square, which had formed round its leader, Good, and was fighting desper? ately for existence. I stumbled against some l>ody, and, glancing down, caught sight of Good's ey eg lr. ss. He had been beaten to his j knee: Over him was a great fellow, swing- ! in g a hca^y sword. Somehow I managed to j run the man through with the sime I had j taken from thc Masai whose hand I had cut ont: but as I did so he .dealt mc a frightful j blow in tho left side and breast with the sword, and, though my*chain shirt saved my life, I felt that I was badly hurt. For a min? ute I fell oil to my hands and knees among the deal anti ?lying, and turned sick and faint. When I came to again I saw that Xastas spearmen, or rather these of them that remained, were retreating back across tho stream, and that Good was there by me smiling beamingly. *0?ear gc thar," he shouted, "but all's weil that ends weil." I assented, but I conk: not help feeling that i it had not ended well f or me. I was sorely j hurt. Just then wo saw the smaller bodies of cav- ? ahy stationed on our extreme right ami left, j and which were now re-enforced by the 3,000 sabers which we had held in reserve, flash j out like arrows from their posts and fall i upon the disordered flanks of Sorais' forces, ? . and that charge decided the issue of the battle, j In another minute or two the enemy was in-! slow and sullen retreat across the little stream, ? where they once more reformed. Then came j another lull, during which 1 managed to get i ray second horse and received my orders to j advance from Sir Henry, and then, with one fierce, deep throated roar, with a waving of ? banners and a wide flashing of steel, the re? mains of our army took the offensive and j began to sweep down, slowly indeed, but ir- J ? resistibly, from thc positions they had so gal- t tautly held all dayj At last it wai our turn tc attack. ( >n we moved, over the piled np masses of ? dead and dying, and were approaching the ; stream when suddenly I perceived an ex- \ traordinary sight. Galloping, wildly toward j us, his arni- tightly clasped around his horse's neck; against which his blanched ? Cheek was tightly pi?scd, was a man j arrayed in the ft:Il costume of a Zu-YT-ndi j general, but in whom, as be came nearer. 1 j recognized none tither than our lost Al- . phonse. It was lui po*sil ile even then to mis- ; take tkiiso curling black mustaches. In a j minute he was tearing through our ranks j and narrowly escaped being cut down, lill at ! ?a?t-somebody caught isis iiorse's bridle, and I I;e was brought io me jus: ?;> a momentary halt, o: -curred incur n.iv?:vt? to allow wi?;; t remained of cur shattered squares tn form into j me. "Ah, monsieur." he gasped out, in a voice j that was nearly marci'-ulate with fright. J "graee lo lite, sky, i tis youl Ah, what 1 have ? endured; T:-t you win, monsieur--you win; they fly, ' !:e lae?ies. I'm listen, mons:? ur- ; I b-rget. it is no good: the queen is to be j :.::::der?d to--norr?.>w at the first light'in the palac?of Mil?s?s: her guards will leave their posts anil th-- priests r:ro going to kui he;-. Ah yes? ?hey little thought ir. but I was cn- 1 scon* erl beneath a banner, and I heard it ail." | /il ' 4 \V\) x '\ '"..'n-'J&L?^JM^ ?hf ?^v$/"A "jTTb; tj\:rr.i is f<> he nwnu'red l"-,:i>y?'o:c." "Tvhat !" I saki, horror struck, "'.".'hat ?io you m 'au :" -What 1 say, m?n-lcur; thar rlevir .^f a "y.-ct t. h.e w.-s:f List nightto sotMeihe affair with th?? archbidiop" (Agon). "The guard wili leave op'ui the gato leading ft^n> the gnat s tili r and g?"? away, an?! ?'as?n and Agon's prie ts wi I come in and k:il her. Themselves they would not kill br." "Come with me." I said, and shouting to liv stall" of?! -er next me ti) take over thc com? mand, I snatched his brid!.* mid galloped l,,<* hard as 1 could?or th" spot, between .: quar? ter and h df a milo off, where 1 saw ? he rovd pennon flying.and wheroXknew that I should find Curtis ii lie were still alive. On wo torc, our hartes clearing heaps of dead and dying mon, and splashing through pools of blood; on j?ast tho long broken lines of spearmen to where, mounted on the white stallion Xylep tha had seat to him os a parting gift, I saw Sir Henry = form towering abo ve the generals who surrounded him. Just as we reached him the advance began again. A Woody Cloth was bound around his head, but I saw that his e}'C was as bright and keen as ever. Beside bini was old Um slopogaas, his ax red with blood, but locking quite fresh and uninjured. "What's wrong? Quatc-rmair.?*' he shouted. '.Everything. There is a plot to murder the queen to-morrow at dawn. Alphonse herc, who has ju?t escaped from Sorais, has overheard it all,*" and I rapidly repeated to him what the Frenchman had told me. Curtis' face turned deadly pale and his jaw dropped. "At dawn!'* ho gasped, "and it is now sun? set. It dawns before 4, and we aro nearly ICO milis o ST-nine hours at the-. outside. What is to bo doner An idea entered into my head. "Is that horse of yours fresh?"' I said. '.Yes, I have only just got on to him-when my last was killed: anti he has been fed." "So is mine. Get off him, and let Umslopo gaas mount: he "can ride well. We will be at Miiosis before dawn, or if wo are- not-well, wo cannot help it. Xo.no; it is impossible for yen to leave now. You would be seen, and it would tura the fate of thc battle. It ia not won yet. The soldiers would think you were making a bolt of it. Quick now." In a moment he was down, and at my bid? ding Umslopogaas sprang into tho empty saddle*. "Now farewell," I said. "Send 1,000 horse? men with remounts after us in an hom* if pos? sible. Stay; dispatch a general to the left wmg to take over the command and explain my absence." "You will do your best to save her, Quater? vxxiv. V he said, in a broken voice. "Av. that I will. Goon; you are being left behind." Ile cast one glance at us, and accompanied ly his stall' galloped off to join the advance, which by this time was fording the little, brook that now ran red with the blood of the fallen. As for Umslopogaas and myself, we left that dreadful field as arrows leave a boa-, and in a few minute- had passed right out of the sight of slaughter, the smell cf blood, and tho turmoil and shouting, which only came to our ears as a faint. Tar off roaring, like the sound of distant breakers. CHAPTEPwXXL i WA Tl AT7AT! At the top of the rise we baited for a second to breathe pur horses; and turn? ing; glanced at the battle beneath tis, which, illumined as it was by tho fierce rays of the sinking sun staining the whole scene red, looked from where we were more like some wild titanic picture than an actual "hand tc hand combat. "We win the day, llaeumazah::," said old Umslopogaas, taking In the whole situation 'with a glance of his practiced eye. "Look, the Lady of -the Xight's forces give on every side :"*lhere is no stillness left in them, they bend like hot iron, they are fighting with but half a heart. C?talas! the battle will ina manner be drawn, for the darkness gathers and the regiments will not lie able to follow and slay!"-and he shook his heat! sadly. "But," he added, "I do not thiifc that they will fight again; we have "fed them wita too strong a meat. Ah! i tis well to have li ved 1 At last I have seen a fight worth seeing." By this time we were on cur way again, ami as wo went side by side I told bini what our mission was. and how that; if it failed, all the lives that had beet: lost that day would have been lost in vain; .'AbTbs st?id, "nigh on a hundred miles and no horses but these, and bc tkererbeforo dawn! Well-away! away! man can but try, Macumazahn; and mayhap we shall be there in time to spiit that old * wito? finders' " (Agon's) "skull for him. Once he wanted to burn us, tho old 'rain maker,' did he? And now he would set a snare for my mother" .Nyleptba); "would lae? Good! So sure as my name is the name of the Woodpecker; so surely, be iuy mother alive or dead, will I split him to the beard. Ay, by T'Chaka's head I swear it!" and he shook Inkosi-kaas as lie gal? loped. By now the darkness was closing in, but fortunately there would Jte a moen later, and the road was good. On we sped through the twilight; the two splendid horses we bestrode had got their wind by this, and were sweeping along with a wide, steady stride that neither failed nor varied for mile upon mile. Down the sides of slopes wc galloped, across wide vales that stretched to the foot of far off hills, ?tearer, and nearer grew the blue hills; now we were traveling up their steeps, and now we were over ami passing toward other's that sprang np like visions in the far, faint distance be yond. ' We spake not, but bent us forward on the necks of those two glorious horses, and listened to their deep, lons drawn breaths as they filled their great lungs, and to thc regular, unfaltering .ring of their round hoofs. Grim and black, indeed, did old Umslopogaas look beside nie- mounted upon the great white horse, like death i:i the reve? lation of St John, as now and again lifting . his fierce set face ho gutted out along tho road, and pointe?! with his ax toward sonic distant lise or Kousv. And so on, stiii'on, without break or pause, for hour after hour. Atlast I began to feel tliat even the splen? did animal that I rode Was beginning to give our. I looked at my watch; it was nearly midnight, aird we were considerably more titan half way. On the top nf a rise was a little spring. Thiel? 1 rememher*?d because I ?ind>;ep? by it a* fewblights beforehand herc 1 motioned to Umslopogaasto pull up. having determined to give 5ho hordes and ourselves ten minutes to breathe m. He did so, and we dismounted- that :".- to say. Uuis]ep*?gaas did. .md then helpet* ni-.-off. for what; with fatigue., stillness, ar.d th-? patti cf my wound. I c? aid not do no for myself; and the gallant horses stood panting there, resting first one leg and then another, while the sweat .fell il rip, drip, from t hem, ar.d the steam rose and hung in pale clouds in the still night air. Leaving U:ns!otM?ga:is to bold tho horses, I bobbled tc thc" spring and drank deer* of its sweet waters. I had had nothing but ? single j mouthful of wine since midday, when the ! hattie began, and I was pa relied tip. though ?jv fatigue was r.-o great to allow me to fix-1 ' hungry. Then, having taved my fevered j h.rei mid hands. I returned, and the Zulu | went and drank. "Next wo .-??lowed the horses I to Take a couple of mouthfuls each-no nu?i*e; ar.d oil. "'a:::, a ?-traggio we ha?! lo get the px.;>r In-asts away fivm tho water! There were yet two minutes, and I employed it in hobohr.g up and down to try and relieve my stillness, and m inspecting the condition of tho lu rses. My maro, gallant animal though tho was. was.? v?i?nt?y u:i:?"h tlisttvssed; she hung her headband her eye looked sick mid duli; lint Daylight. I*Cy:Iopt:ia"s'.glorioushorso -who.- if ho v.- served aright, should. like the steeds who saved the great Rameses in his need, feed for tho rostof his days out of a golden mau ter- -was stir!, eomparative?Y speaking, perfectly fresh, notwithstanding that ho had ha 1 by far the heavier weight; t-o carry. II.- was "tucked up." indeed, and Ins ?ogs were ?voary, but Lis eye was bright and i el. a.-. .-.nd be held his shapely head up and j gat-todout iuto the darkness round him in a j way that seemed to say ti:.-::, whoever failed, lie was good fer those live and fct?y miles that yet lay bctweeu u?and M ii. ?sis. Then I Urns;?;pogaas helped me into tho saddlc and vigorous old savage that he was.'-vaulted into his own without ton hing a st:mip,:and we were off ?>nce moro, si: -wjy a: first, t ill thc horses got into th? ir &t;i?Ie. c::d thou moro swiftly. ?So wo passe.: ovfcr another ten sn: los? and '.hen cai no along. weary ri e of some six or seven miles, and three times did ray poor biack mare nearly como to the ground v. i; li me. Bat on thy top she seemed tn ga; her herself together, ?-ind.rattled down the si rpo wit!. long, convulsive strides, breat?'ng in gasps. We did tiiat three or j lom- niiJcs moro swiftly than any since we bad started on our wild ride, but I felt it to j Tv a last, effort, and I vas light Suddenly my poor In-rse took thc bit between her teeth and ?"'Ired curiously along a stretch of level ground for some 3?0or4v;.' yunis, ami then, with two or"three jerky snides-pulled her-j self up and fell with a cra^h right ou LO her bead, 1 roiling niyseii iree na sue did no: As I straggled onto my feet the brave beast raised her headland looked at mp with^iteoas' bloodshot eyes; and then lier head dropped "with a groan and she "was dead. Her hears was broken. Umslopogaas pulled up beside tho carcass, and I looked at him in dismay. There wer# still more than twezffy miles to dd by dawn,' and how were we to do it with one horse?. ft ^seemed hopeless, but I had forgotten the old' Zulus extraordinary runningpowers." Without a single word he sprang from tili saddle and began to hoist inc into ic "What wilt thou dor I asked. "Pom," be answered, seizing my^ stirrup leather. Then off we went again, almost as fast as - . before; and, oh, the relief it was to me to get that change of borges" Anybody "who ha* ever ridden against timo will know what if Tflaeant. ... 1 Daylight spe?l along at a. long stretching hand gallop: giving the gaunt Zulu ? Kft*at every stride. It was a wonderful thing,to see old Umslopogaas run mile after utile, bi? lips slightly parted and his nostrils agape Mk? the horses. Every five miles or so ^estopged for a few minutes to let him get a?s breath", and then flew on again, * -- & "Canst thoa go farther,** I said rt* tte jfcird: of these stoppages; "or sliali 1 leave thee ta follow me?" ~; ' He pointed with lui ax to a'?^.ma?*^ fore us.- It was the Temple of the Sun, now not more than five miles away. r "I reach it or I die," h.* gasped. Oh, that last five milos! The skia was rubbed from the inside of ray legs, and every movement of my horse gaye rae anguish. Nor was that alL I was exhausted with tod, want of food and s?eep, ami also suffering veiw much from the blow I had received on my left side; it seemed as .though a piecfc of bone or something was slowly piercing; into my lung. Poor Daylight, too; was pi etty nearly finished, and no wonder. But there* was a smell of dawn in the air, and we "might not sta\"; better that all three of ns should die upon the road than that we should linger while there was life in .us. The air was thick and heavy; as itsometimes isbefore>thedasm breaks, mid-another infallible sign ia cer? tain parts of Zu-Vendis that sunrise is*'at - hand-hundreds of little spiders pendenfcon_ the end of long tB?gh webs were floating about in it. These early rising creature^of* rather their webs, caught upon tho hor?e** and our own form? by scores; and as we had neither rho time nor the energy to brush them ".off, we rushed along covered with hundreds bf long gray threads that streamed out a yard or more behind us-and a very strange ap? pearance they must have given us. ; And now before us are the. hugCi'Jbiaom - gates of the outer wall of the Frowning"6Ityy and a new aud horrible doubt strikes^mer What if they will not let ns in? < "Open! open1." I shout im"periou?y, attics same time giving the royal password"' "Open! open ! a messenger, a messenger with ' tidings of thc war!" _ . _ "What hews?** cried the guardr -*Andwho art thou that -ridest so madly? and rWho is that whose tongue lolls outV-and it actually did-**and who nins by thee like a doy ty s chariotr y*. % ? '*It Ls the Jjoxd Macurnyaku, and wjiharrri is his dog, his black dog. Open! open! I. bring tidiugs.** 1 --5 The great gates ran back on their rollers, and the drawbridge fell with a rating crash, and we dashed on through the one and over the other. . . ? > y-. "What news, my lord? what news?" cried the guard. ... .. .!.;1- " V:; "Incubti rolls Sorais bac?c/?s fh? wind a cl?ud," I answered; and was gone. One more effort, gallant horse;" and yet more gallant man! -. { So, fall not now* Daylight; and hold thy. life in* thee for fifteen short niinutes more, old Zulu war dog, and ye shall both livo' forever in the annals of the land? on, clattering through the sleep m g street*. We are passing the Flower Teinple iiow-7?na mile more, only one little mile-hold on, licejf your life lu ye, see the houses nm past of themselves. Up, good horsey np, there-but fifty yardsjnow. Ah! you see your stable?, and stagger On gallantly. "Thank God. tho palace at Hast!" and see^ the first arrows of the dawn are striking; caf the temple's goiden dome. But shall I get ?? here, or is the deed done and the way barred ? Once more I give the password and shout .'.Open! open!" Ko answer,'?nd my heart grows very faint; Again I call, and this time a single vuce re-' plies," and to my joy I recognize it as belong? ing to Kara, a fellow officer of Ny"epth&*i guards, a man I know to be ns honest as..the light-indeed, thc same wkom Xyleptha had sen t to arrest Sorais on the day she ?ed to tb? temple. '-*Is it thou, Kara?" I cry; *T am" ilacuma zahn. Bid the guard let down the bridge aof thnnv wide the gate. Quick, quickl** Then followed a space^ that seemed to m? endless; but at length the bridge fell and ona half of fhc gate opened, and we got- into the courtyard, where at last poor Daylight felt down beneath -me. as I thought., teed. X struggled free, and leaning against a post? looked around; Except Kara, there was.nor body to be seen; and his look was wi!d,*un<i bis garments yfere all toni. He had opened the gate anil !et down the bridge alone, and was now getting them up and shut ?gain (as," owing to a very ingenious arrangement <.f cranks and levers, one man. could -easily do;* * and indeed generally did do>. "Where are the guard C I gasped, fearing" his answer as I never feared anything before," "I know not." he answered: "two hours ago,' as I slept, wis I -se?-"^! and bo .md by tho - watch under me, at?! but now, tins very jnor rtent. have I freed myself with my teeth.. ? fear. I greatly fear, that we are -betrayed.^* His words gave me fresh energy. Catching" him by the arm, I >tuggeix\i, followed by Umslopogaas. who reciod " after ns like a' drunken man. through the courtyards,m> the' great hal?, which vi*as ?lent as the grave; te wards the queer.".. ?d<-~pir.g place. We reached tin*1 ti st ant-.n-*:m-no guard?;" the second, still no guards. Oh, surely tho thing was done! we were too late after ali/ tocHatel TI JO silence and solitude of thoso* great chan:bers was dreadful and weighed mc down like an evil dream. Ou* right into Xyientaa's cuambcr we rnsbed and staggered^ sick at heart, fearing thc very wcrsi? we saw* there whs a light in it. nye. ?nd a figuro hearing the light Oh,- thank G**T% it is th? ' White Qae?i? !rr?!=eif; the quecu unharmedt There she stands in her night gear, roused by tito clatter of our conting from lier bcdvtho heaviness of siee;>yet i:i her *y?s -and a red blush of fear and shame mantling her lovely breast and rhook. "Who i ; i. f she cries. '"What means this? Oh. Macumazabn. is it thou? Why lookes* thoa so wildly ? Thoa, comest a< ono bearing evil tiding.-:-and my lord-oh, tell me not' my loni is dead-not dead!" she wailed,' wringing her white hands. "I left Ineubn w?v.:nd? J. T:t leading tho advance against Sorais ' last night at sun-" down: therefore let thy heart. h:ivo rest.' Sorais is beaten back all along her lines and thy a rms" prevail.** * "i knew it." she cri ?1 in triumph, "I knew that lie would win : and thev called him an; outlander and si:ook tlieir wise heads when I gave him th<- eo.nnsaad; Last night at StU>' down, sayest thou, and rt is not yet dawn?* Surely" -Throw a cloak around thee, l?yleptha/* I broke itt, "and give us wine to drink; av, and' call thy maidens quick if thou wouldst sive* thyself alive. "Say, stay not,** Thus adjure-.!, she ran and called thropgh tho curtains towards some room beyOad/and' then hastily "put On !?or sandaLs aud a tbiclr cloak, by w hich t ime a dozen or so of half dressed women were pouring into "the room. . "Follow us and be silent," I said to them as" they gazed Arith wondering eyes, clinging' cue "to another. So wo went ift?o/thc first anteroom. . "Kow." I said, ' give us win* to drink and. food, if ye have it, for we are near to death.'" The mun was used as a mess room fnr?fS-" cers of the guards, andfromra capl?>ard some" flagons o C wine and some cold fieslrwere' brought ?orth, and Un?slopogaasai?lFfH?ranTt and felt life flow l?ack into v?t velus's&t?i?^"Vr^^i gexxl red wine went down.* "Hark to me, Nyleptha,** ? said, as I'p^*?^:^ iowa tlie empty tankard. "Hasr tho? ht-rs among these lbj: T^a?t?ng" la??cs' auy two ot.;' . J discretion'" r ' -5 .^ '18 * Av.** sh* saldar "sorely' * ^ . .-j_h j >; C0XT1XC5O o** yc?sm PA??? ?.?.?S~? ?... - h