Part 4 (2/2)

”Only two hours more, Bernhard, so I trust”

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE ATTEMPTED RESCUE--HANS OUTWITTED AND CAPTURED BY THE MATABILI

The two hours which Hans had to wait before he believed Katrine would coer than would an hour pleasantly passed; and when only half the tian to feel uneasy, and to fear that he nals which Victor had seen Long before the time had elapsed, however, Hans saw Katrine and her sister stroll out fro the paths which led in the direction of the ravine in which were her friends She did not hurry, or seeh bent on an expedition of ih undecided in which way to journey, and as though not engaged on any special purpose Hans and his coreatest interest every roup of Matabili that fro from kraal to kraal Several ares and had walked rapidly froh some business of ere on hand About a dozen of these ar, near the kraal from which Katrine and her sister had first appeared; they took, apparently, no notice of the two girls, who seemed at full liberty to wander where they chose These men, after a short time, followed the same path as that which Katrine had chosen, but they appeared , for occasionally they stopped, sat down, and took snuff, whilst now and then one or tould engage in aeach others' shi+elds, would threaten with their spears as though engaged in a deadly combat At first these ed in watching Katrine; but being accustoht appear, he soon becas of these warriors Katrine steadily advanced towards the ravine, and was now distant scarcely half a mile; but behind her, and within a quarter of a mile, were the armed Matabili, who Hans saw had steadily followed her and her sister, although they seeth said Hans to his co Katrine, and either do so as athat she does not escape, or else they knoe are near and mean to attack us; there are but ten of them, and we can surely dispose of that nu; but we should not fire a shot if we can escape without doing so, for a gun discharged would alarm the whole country, and our escape would be very difficult See, theto her Hear what they say, Victor, '_Wena musa hamba kona_,' they speak to her in Kaffir, and say, 'You o there'

”Cess! if they lay hand on her I'll try a bullet at them even from here,” said Hans, as he observed two of the Matabili run towards Katrine and her sister

The two Dutch girls were not, however, to be ordered like children

They knew perfectly as said to thee of the temporary concealment afforded by some bushes behind which she walked, Katrine seized her sister's hand and ran rapidly up the path into the ravine Although unaware of this proceeding, yet the Matabili had intended to prevent the two girls fro the ravine; and so the whole party ran forward in order to bring the two maidens back

The Matabili, as well as the other tribes of South Africa, used a certain ah their wives are treated very much as are slaves Thus these irls should run away frory at it Thus, although Katrine and her sister were fully 200 yards in advance of their pursuers, yet the Matabili knew that the maidens could not escape them; for even if compelled to spoor them, these experienced hunters would soon re-capture their prisoners

The point at which Katrine entered the ravine was distant about 300 yards from where Hans was concealed; and thus, had he remained where he then was, the Matabili would undoubtedly have captured the girls before they could have reached hi down the ravine and intercepting the pursuers The suddenness of a discharge of fire-arms, which he was now convinced norant as they were of the number of their foes, that their retreat would be immediate, and he would thus be left in undisturbed possession of Katrine and her sister

Without any explanation of his reasons to his companions, ere men that needed not that a plain fact should be ument, Hans said ”Follow me,” and the three ran down the pathway to ht of Hans, was soon visible, and safely held for a ,” exclaiht the, now you are with me, Katie”

”But, Hans, more are about I fear so much for you How can we escape from these brutal murderers? Oh, it was fearful! My poor father was butchered before my eyes, and I lived to see it; but where can these men be? they were close behind us just now”

Hans was equally surprised at the disappearance of the Matabili, whom he had expected to see immediately behind Katrine and her sister, but who, it was evident, were not following her Seeing this, Hans turned to his companions and said, ”To the horses,Katrine, who, however, ell able to move on at speed, was followed by Victor and Bernhard, betas Katrine's sister The party walked and ran up the path towards where the horses had been left, and soon reached the open grassy glade where they had been allowed to graze Instead, however, of finding their five horses there ready saddled for , the place was deserted, and no horses visible

”Bernhard,” exclaimed Hans, ”where are the horses?”

”I left them here, Hans,” replied Bernhard, ”they can't be far off Let us each take a path, and we shall soon bring theirls wait here for us”

Hans reluctantly quitted the side of Katrine and selected the path to his left, his two co two other paths Hans had proceeded but a few yards along his selected path, and was looking at the spoor of the horses, which was fresh on the ground before hiht noise behind caused him to turn: he had but just time to raise his arm and partly ward off a blow aimed at his head by a Matabili as armed with a horn knobskerrie, when his arround, his gun dragged from him, and he was held by the powerful arms of some five or six Matabili Almost at the same instant a shout from Victor and an oath fro in the bush, indicated to Hans that his coular ambush must have been prepared for the whole party That he was not slaughtered at once, surprised him; for to make prisoners is usually considered by these warriors to be bad policy Still, to be thus suddenly made a prisoner, and to know that Katrine also must be once more in the hands of his enemies, was a severe blow to Hans, especially when success had just seemed about to crown his efforts

Hans was almost immediately bound with his hands behind hilade where he had expected to find his horses; there he found Victor and Bernhard, bound like himself, and near the on the ground, her ar bitterly, sat Katrine, entirely overwhelrief and disappointroup; whilst a Matabili chief, who see his prisoners

Suddenly addressing Hans, he said--

”Why have you come armed and without notice into the country of Moselekatse, when it is war between us?”

To this inquiry Hans gave no other answer than a look of disgust at theto his followers, led the way down the ravine towards the kraals

CHAPTER NINE