Boys' Column.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1890, 16 August 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Boys' Column.

Tlie Hoyal Zuln. A TALE FOUNDED OX FACT. Beneath the shade of a grove of palms, a Zulu maiden knelt in prayer on the morning of the fatal 22nd of January, 1879. Her face was pretty beyond most of her countrywomen ; and her small hands and feet, her distinguishing ornaments and graceful form, bespoke her the daughter of some powerful chief. But strange, considering her nationality, were the words ol supplication which flowed from her lips, as she raised her clasped hands to heaven. Not from witchcraft or enchantment, or from the equally powerless deities of her nation, did she seek for help ; but from Him only, the one true G-od, Jehovah. " Father 1" she cried, " to whom all the ends of the earth look for help in trouble, hear me for the sake of Jesus. The evil spirit of war and persecution has come down and entered my father's kraal; and Cetewayo has folded his hands and bowed his ear to listen. He has sworn to drink the blood of the white men, and eat up all the Christian Zulus of his nation. 0 Great Father, in this hour of trial, keep Gassatonga and me faithful to Thyself 1" The morning breezes rustled through the leaves, and the deep-fringed palms moved their stately boughs, as if in response to the prayer, while the sparkling brook which flowed hard by seemed to murmur a low " Amen 1"

At this moment, a movement beside her caused the worshipper to turn round; and Bhe beheld a stately warrior standing near her, leaning on his black shield. His eyes were fixed with unspeakable love on the youthful form before him. " Luola," he said, " your prayer for me is answered; I can fight no more for Getewayo. Last night the murder, indescribable in cruelty, of Sirayo's wives for their adherence to the Christian faith, proves what little mercy the king would show towards any one, even yourself, were you to oppose his will; and though it is our duty to bear persecution when it comes, it is no doubt equally madness to provoke it. Here we can no longer stay without declaring our faith, and therefore we must fly with all haste to Helpmakaar. You know the good missionary there, the same who taught us the will of the Great Master, and beneath his care you will be safe from your father's wrath. This alternative is the only one left to us, and I feel it is the right one. Will you come now, Luola? My horse stands ready in the thicket." " I will." And though the hand extended to him trembled, the voice was steady that decided their fate.

"By Rorke's Drift is our shortest road," he said, as they - reached the tree where his horse was fastened ; and placing the princess on its back, he mounted behind her, and turned his steed in the direction of the Buffalo, They travelled for some hours with extreme caution, skirting every kraal and open ground, till at length they arrived at a large thickly-planted wood, in which they hoped to find an hour's repose. But they had scarcely dismounted ere the roar of artillery and the cracking of rifles, mingled with wild yells, were heard in the distance; and Cassatonga hastened to oonceal his royal charge before endeavoring to discover the cause. Hiding Luola and his horse in the densest part of the grove around him, he selected a lofty tree, whose thick branches would be a shield in themselves. Climbing with the agility of his nation to the topmost boughs, he beheld the fatal field of Isandula spread out before him. Amazement at the unexpected sight and deep admiring pity flashed in his eyes as he looked on the. tiny band of white men who shoulder to shoulder received unflinchingly the masses of his countrymen, as like their own mountain torrents, they swept down upon them. The first emotion of his heart was to fly to the aid of the devoted column, but the thought of his bride restrained him, and he sank baok among the sheltering leaves. Straining his sight over the awful plain he could distinguish his own fierce regiment, although foremost in the work of death, yet not so preoccupied therewith as to be unconscious of the plunder which lay around, pausing even in their butchery to collect cattle, stores, and waggons to be driven to their distant kraals. Horror and disgust filled his now enlightened soul. " Why do those English soldiers stand there," he asked himself, as the breath came quickly through his laboring chest, "oh that plain of Afrioa, far away from their island homes, to be shot down, steady in their

matchless ranks, by their swarthy foes?" His own heart gave him the reply: "To save helpless women from the savage butchery he beheld last night; to guard the gray hairs of old age from going down to a terrible grave beneath the real or feigned imputation of witchcraft and divination ; and above all, to teach the pure faith of the Gospel where reigned the degrading demonology of his native land." His dark eyes blazed and his pulses throbbed as these thoughts surged through his mind; and he pressed his hands over his aching eyeballs as lie bowed himself to the Bervice of that flag Which shelters Freedom and Truth beneath it 3 folds. But meanwhile the work of death went on. Those who were sent for help at Rorke's Drift were, alas ! shot or assegaied; few, to few, reached the river, and Cassatonga beheld with dismay that the Zulus were scattering towards the Drift. Could he skirt the wood and reach the ford before them with his precious charge ? was now his anxious thought. Descending quickly from his position he found the trembling Luola terrified at his long absence. He described the awful scene he had just witnessed, and told her of the immediate necessity for endeavoring to cross the river. The blood of the lion-like founder of her dynasty flowed in Luola's veins, and though oonvinoed of imminent danger, she was not wanting in courage. " Let us go," she said, " God will help us, and be our shield." Remounting, they rode on till they came to the edge of the wood, when a new danger menaced them, which tested to the utmost the fleetness of their steed. Barely out of range of rifle-shot, some scattered parties of Zulus were coming towards them. Cassatonga knew well he could give no reason for not being with his troops, and the daughter of their king was not unknown. Were she seized and conducted back to her father, he dared not think of her fate. Urging his horse to a gallop, he cleared the wood, and by carefully placing every hill and clump of bushes I between him and the savages, he succeeded in making several miles undiscovered. But just as he and Luola were beginning to hope they might escape unnoticed, a yell in the distance told that they were seen. Now was the hour of trial for horse and riders. The noble animal seemed hardly to touch the ground as he flew along the plain, the wild yells of the Zulus ringing behind. At length the banks of the Buffalo rose high before them, and Cassatonga realised with horror that he had not time to look for the ford, and must only trust his nearly exhausted companion and breathless horse to the perils of a plunge from those lofty banks. But it was their last hope of safety; they must do it or die. At length they reached the bank, which rose full six feet above the stream. Cassatonga held the princess tightly in his arms, and the horse's nostrils dilated and his eyes shot fire as he gazed on the torrent beneath. But not a second did the noble animal waver; obedient to his master's hand, he bounded from the bank, and in another minute tossed his noble head above the wave as he bravely breasted the stream. In a few moments, however, his feet touched the bottom; the ford was found, and the worst of the terrible strain was over. At length they gained the opposite bank, up which the weary horse toiled slowly; and soon, to his rider's great astonishment, the small English camp lay before them. The pair now paused to consult about their next move. The Zulus, they justly conjectured, would make no delay in crossing the river, and their poor horse was far too exhausted to carry them that night to Helpmakaar; therefore, they unhesitatingly felt their wisest course would be to place themselves under the protection of the English commander. Tying a white handkerchief to the end of his spear, Cassatonga approached the camp; and when within earshot, he called out in a loud voice to the sentries, informing them that they were Christian Zulus flying for safety. They were immediately seized, and brought before the officer in charge, who received them with much suspicion, as he had only just heard of the disaster at Isandula, and was in no mood to harbor Zulus of any kind. Their tale was soon told. But though the officer suppressed his pity for the sufferings of the royal maid, he gave orders to have them strictly watched, at the same time commanding that their wants should be supplied. It is needless to give a description of the night that followed. All the world knows how, through the darkness, the tide of battle surged up, wave after wave, against the weak barriers of the little fort, and was again and again repulsed. All the world has rung with the names of Bromhead and Chard, and all the other heroes who, with strong hands and stronger hearts, held the fort that night. But among them all who fought beneath the redcross flag there was no stronger arm, no braver heart than his, the young Zulu chief, who had renounced friends, fortune, country, to enlist beneath the banner of a higher Cross, and strive henceforth for a more enduring victory. As the morning broke upon the scene, and disclosed the dusky foe, disheartened and defeated, vanishing like dark clouds behind the distant hills, the gallant officer, begrimed with powder, seized the now scarcely darker hand of the noble Zulu, and thanked him, as a British soldier, for his timely aid. Luola felt in that moment she was rewarded for all the terrors of the night.. After some hours' needful rest at the fort, the young travellers prepared to. resume their journey. They were followed by the benedictions of all. Luola had been untiring in her assistance to the wounded; and the dying were cheered by her words of comfort. Thus, amidst many good wishes, they bade farewell to their new friends, and, accompanied by the officers bearing despatches, they set out for Helpmakaar. The evening shadows were lengthening as they entered and rode through the streets of that town; and soon they were received with warm welcomes beneath the roof of the good missionary. Not long afterwards, before these officers returned to their posts, they were called upon to witness the union of their Zulu comrade with his royal bride. The ceremony was performed by their friend, Mr. B ,in the I words of the beautiful service of the English Church. And here let us leave them. They j have set themselves resolutely to the task of preparing for that labor of love which they feel certain God will, in his own good time, open up for them—a wide field of missionary work in their dear native land. Be it ours to pray for the suocess of all such noble hearts; and for the time when the #words of all the world shall be beaten into pruning-hooks, and the nations study war no more !—Chambers's Journal,