Digital Editor's Note:

Italics are represented in the text with _underscores_. In theinterest of readability, where italics are used to indicatenon-English words, I have silently omitted them or replaced themwith quotation marks. 

Haggard's spelling, especially of Zulu terms, is wildly inconsistent;likewise his capitalization, especially of Zulu terms. For example, Masapo is the chief of the Amansomi until chapter IX; thereafter histribe is consistently referred to as the "Amasomi". In general, Ihave retained Haggard's spellings. Some obvious spelling mistakes(as "Quartermain" for "Quatermain" in one instance) have been silentlycorrected. 

Some diacriticals in the text could not be represented in 7-bitASCII text and have been approximated here. To restore allformatting, do the following throughout the text:

Replace the pound symbol "#" with the English pound symbolPlace an acute accent over the "e" in "Nombe", "acces", "Amawombe", and "fiance", and the first "e" in "Bayete"Place a circumflex accent over the "u" in "Harut" and the "o" in "role"Place a grave accent over the "a" and circumflex accents over the first and third "e" in "tete-a-tete"Replace "oe" with the oe ligature in "manoeuvring"

FINISHED

by H. RIDER HAGGARD

DEDICATION

Ditchingham House, Norfolk, May, 1917. 

My dear Roosevelt, --

You are, I know, a lover of old Allan Quatermain, one whounderstands and appreciates the views of life and the aspirationsthat underlie and inform his manifold adventures. 

Therefore, since such is your kind wish, in memory of certainhours wherein both of us found true refreshment and companionshipamidst the terrible anxieties of the World's journey along thatbloodstained road by which alone, so it is decreed, the pure Peakof Freedom must be scaled, I dedicate to you this tale telling ofthe events and experiences of my youth. 

Your sincere friend, H. RIDER HAGGARD. 

To COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Sagamore Hill, U. S. A. 

CONTENTS:

I. ALLAN QUATERMAIN MEETS ANSCOMBEII. MR. MARNHAMIII. THE HUNTERS HUNTEDIV. DOCTOR RODDV. A GAME OF CARDSVI. MISS HEDAVII. THE STOEPVIII. RODD'S LAST CARDIX. FLIGHTX. NOMBEXI. ZIKALIXII. TRAPPEDXIII. CETEWAYOXIV. THE VALLEY OF BONESXV. THE GREAT COUNCILXVI. WARXVII. KAATJE BRINGS NEWSXVIII. ISANDHLWANAXIX. ALLAN AWAKESXX. HEDA'S TALEXXI. THE KING VISITS ZIKALIXXII. THE MADNESS OF NOMBEXXIII. THE KRAAL JAZI

INTRODUCTION

This book, although it can be read as a separate story, is thethird of the trilogy of which _Marie_ and _Child of Storm_ arethe first two parts. It narrates, through the mouth of AllanQuatermain, the consummation of the vengeance of the wizardZikali, alias The Opener of Roads, or"The-Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born, " upon the royal ZuluHouse of which Senzangacona was the founder and Cetewayo, ourenemy in the war of 1879, the last representative who ruled as aking. Although, of course, much is added for the purposes ofromance, the main facts of history have been adhered to with somefaithfulness. 

With these the author became acquainted a full generation ago, Fortune having given him a part in the events that preceded theZulu War. Indeed he believes that with the exception of ColonelPhillips, who, as a lieutenant, commanded the famous escort oftwenty-five policemen, he is now the last survivor of the partywho, under the leadership of Sir Theophilus Shepstone, or Sompseuas the natives called him from the Zambesi to the Cape, wereconcerned in the annexation of the Transvaal in 1877. Recentlyalso he has been called upon as a public servant to revisit SouthAfrica and took the opportunity to travel through Zululand, inorder to refresh his knowledge of its people, their customs, their mysteries, and better to prepare himself for the writing ofthis book. Here he stood by the fatal Mount of Isandhlawanawhich, with some details of the battle, is described in thesepages, among the graves of many whom once he knew, ColonelsDurnford, Pulleine and others. Also he saw Ulundi's plain wherethe traces of war still lie thick, and talked with an old Zuluwho fought in the attacking Impi until it crumbled away beforethe fire of the Martinis and shells from the heavy guns. Thebattle of the Wall of Sheet Iron, he called it, perhaps becauseof the flashing fence of bayonets. 

Lastly, in a mealie patch, he found the spot on which the corngrows thin, where King Cetewayo breathed his last, poisonedwithout a doubt, as he has known for many years. It is to beseen at the Kraal, ominously named Jazi or, translated intoEnglish, "Finished. " The tragedy happened long ago, but even nowthe quiet-faced Zulu who told the tale, looking about him as hespoke, would not tell it all. "Yes, as a young man, I was thereat the time, but I do not remember, I do not know--the InkoosiLundanda (i. E. , this Chronicler, so named in past years by theZulus) stands on the very place where the king died--His bed wason the left of the door-hole of the hut, " and so forth, but nocertain word as to the exact reason of this sudden and violentdeath or by whom it was caused. The name of that destroyer of aking is for ever hid. 

In this story the actual and immediate cause of the declarationof war against the British Power is represented as the appearanceof the white goddess, or spirit of the Zulus, who is, or was, called Nomkubulwana or Inkosazana-y-Zulu, i. E. , the Princess ofHeaven. The exact circumstances which led to this decision arenot now ascertainable, though it is known that there was muchdifference of opinion among the Zulu Indunas or great captains, and like the writer, many believe that King Cetewayo waspersonally averse to war against his old allies, the English. 

The author's friend, Mr. J. Y. Gibson, at present therepresentative of the Union in Zululand, writes in his admirablehistory: "There was a good deal of discussion amongst theassembled Zulu notables at Ulundi, but of how counsel was swayedit is not possible now to obtain a reliable account. "

The late Mr. F. B. Fynney, F. R. G. S. , who also was his friend indays bygone, and, with the exception of Sir Theophilus Shepstone, who perhaps knew the Zulus and their language better than anyother official of his day, speaking of this fabled goddess wrote:"I remember that just before the Zulu War Nomkubulwana appearedrevealing something or other which had a great effect throughoutthe land. "

The use made of this strange traditional Guardian Angel in thefollowing tale is not therefore an unsupported flight of fancy, and the same may be said of many other incidents, such as theaccount of the reading of the proclamation annexing the Transvaalat Pretoria in 1877, which have been introduced to serve thepurposes of the romance. 

Mameena, who haunts its pages, in a literal as well as figurativesense, is the heroine of _Child of Storm, _ a book to which shegave her own poetic title. 

1916. THE AUTHOR. 

CHAPTER I

ALLAN QUATERMAIN MEETS ANSCOMBE

You, my friend, into whose hand, if you live, I hope thesescribblings of mine will pass one day, must well remember the12th of April of the year 1877 at Pretoria. Sir TheophilusShepstone, or Sompseu, for I prefer to call him by his nativename, having investigated the affairs of the Transvaal for acouple of months or so, had made up his mind to annex thatcountry to the British Crown. It so happened that I, AllanQuatermain, had been on a shooting and trading expedition at theback of the Lydenburg district where there was plenty of game tobe killed in those times. Hearing that great events were towardI made up my mind, curiosity being one of my weaknesses, to comeround by Pretoria, which after all was not very far out of myway, instead of striking straight back to Natal. As it chanced Ireached the town about eleven o'clock on this very morning of the12th of April and, trekking to the Church Square, proceeded tooutspan there, as was usual in the Seventies. The place was fullof people, English and Dutch together, and I noted that theformer seemed very elated and were talking excitedly, while thelatter for the most part appeared to be sullen and depressed. 

Presently I saw a man I knew, a tall, dark man, a very goodfellow and an excellent shot, named Robinson. By the way youknew him also, for afterwards he was an officer in the PretoriaHorse at the time of the Zulu war, the corps in which you held acommission. I called to him and asked what was up. 

"A good deal, Allan, " he said as he shook my hand. "Indeed weshall be lucky if all isn't up, or something like it, before theday is over. Shepstone's Proclamation annexing the Transvaal isgoing to be read presently. "

I whistled and asked, "How will our Boer friends take it? They don't look verypleased. "

"That's just what no one knows, Allan. Burgers the President issquared, they say. He is to have a pension; also he thinks itthe only thing to be done. Most of the Hollanders up here don'tlike it, but I doubt whether they will put out their handsfurther than they can draw them back. The question is--what willbe the line of the Boers themselves? There are a lot of themabout, all armed, you see, and more outside the town. "

"What do you think?"

"Can't tell you. Anything may happen. They may shoot Shepstoneand his staff and the twenty-five policemen, or they may justgrumble and go home. Probably they have no fixed plan. "

"How about the English?"

"Oh! we are all crazy with joy, but of course there is noorganization and many have no arms. Also there are only a few ofus. "

"Well, " I answered, "I came here to look for excitement, lifehaving been dull for me of late, and it seems that I have foundit. Still I bet you those Dutchmen do nothing, except protest. They are slim and know that the shooting of an unarmed missionwould bring England on their heads. "

"Can't say, I am sure. They like Shepstone who understands them, and the move is so bold that it takes their breath away. But asthe Kaffirs say, when a strong wind blows a small spark will makethe whole veld burn. It just depends upon whether the spark isthere. If an Englishman and a Boer began to fight for instance, anything might happen. Goodbye, I have got a message to deliver. If things go right we might dine at the European tonight, and ifthey don't, goodness knows where we shall dine. "

I nodded sagely and he departed. Then I went to my wagon to tellthe boys not to send the oxen off to graze at present, for Ifeared lest they should be stolen if there were trouble, but tokeep them tied to the trek-tow. After this I put on the bestcoat and hat I had, feeling that as an Englishman it was my dutyto look decent on such an occasion, washed, brushed my hair--withme a ceremony without meaning, for it always sticks up--andslipped a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver into my inner poacherpocket. Then I started out to see the fun, and avoiding thegroups of surly-looking Boers, mingled with the crowd that I sawwas gathering in front of a long, low building with a broadstoep, which I supposed, rightly, to be one of the Governmentoffices. 

Presently I found myself standing by a tall, rather loosely-builtman whose face attracted me. It was clean-shaven and muchbronzed by the sun, but not in any way good-looking; the featureswere too irregular and the nose was a trifle too long for goodlooks. Still the impression it gave was pleasant and the steadyblue eyes had that twinkle in them which suggests humour. Hemight have been thirty or thirty-five years of age, andnotwithstanding his rough dress that consisted mainly of a pairof trousers held up by a belt to which hung a pistol, and acommon flannel shirt, for he wore no coat, I guessed at once thathe was English-born. 

For a while neither of us said anything after the taciturn habitof our people even on the veld, and indeed I was fully occupiedin listening to the truculent talk of a little party of mountedBoers behind us. I put my pipe into my mouth and began to huntfor my tobacco, taking the opportunity to show the hilt of myrevolver, so that these men might see that I was armed. It wasnot to be found, I had left it in the wagon. 

"If you smoke Boer tobacco, " said the stranger, "I can help you, "and I noted that the voice was as pleasant as the face, and knewat once that the owner of it was a gentleman. 

"Thank you, Sir. I never smoke anything else, " I answered, whereon he produced from his trousers pocket a pouch made of lionskin of unusually dark colour. 

"I never saw a lion as black as this, except once beyond Buluwayoon the borders of Lobengula's country, " I said by way of makingconversation. 

"Curious, " answered the stranger, "for that's where I shot thebrute a few months ago. I tried to keep the whole skin but thewhite ants got at it. "

"Been trading up there?" I asked. 

"Nothing so useful, " he said. "Just idling and shooting. Cameto this country because it was one of the very few I had neverseen, and have only been here a year. I think I have had aboutenough of it, though. Can you tell me of any boats running fromDurban to India? I should like to see those wild sheep inKashmir. "

I told him that I did not know for certain as I had never takenany interest in India, being an African elephant-hunter andtrader, but I thought they did occasionally. Just then Robinsonpassed by and called to me--

"They'll be here presently, Quatermain, but Sompseu isn't cominghimself. "

"Does your name happen to be Allan Quatermain?" asked thestranger. "If so I have heard plenty about you up in Lobengula'scountry, and of your wonderful shooting. "

"Yes, " I replied, "but as for the shooting, natives alwaysexaggerate. "

"They never exaggerated about mine, " he said with a twinkle inhis eye. "Anyhow I am very glad to see you in the flesh, thoughin the spirit you rather bored me because I heard too much ofyou. Whenever I made a particularly bad miss, my gun-bearer, who at some time seems to have been yours, would say, 'Ah! ifonly it had been the Inkosi Macumazahn, how different would havebeen the end!' My name is Anscombe, Maurice Anscombe, " he addedrather shyly. (Afterwards I discovered from a book of referencethat he was a younger son of Lord Mountford, one of the richestpeers in England. )

Then we both laughed and he said--

"Tell me, Mr. Quatermain, if you will, what those Boers aresaying behind us. I am sure it is something unpleasant, but asthe only Dutch I know is 'Guten Tag' and 'Vootsack' (Good-day andGet out) that takes me no forwarder. "

"It ought to, " I answered, "for the substance of their talk isthat they object to be 'vootsacked' by the British Government asrepresented by Sir Theophilus Shepstone. They are declaring thatthey won the land 'with their blood' and want to keep their ownflag flying over it. "

"A very natural sentiment, " broke in Anscombe. 

"They say that they wish to shoot all damned Englishmen, especially Shepstone and his people, and that they would make abeginning now were they not afraid that the damned EnglishGovernment, being angered, would send thousands of damned Englishrooibatjes, that is, red-coats, and shoot _them_ out of evilrevenge. "

"A very natural conclusion, " laughed Anscombe again, "which Ishould advise them to leave untested. Hush! Here comes theshow. "

I looked and saw a body of blackcoated gentlemen with one officerin the uniform of a Colonel of Engineers, advancing slowly. Iremember that it reminded me of a funeral procession followingthe corpse of the Republic that had gone on ahead out of sight. The procession arrived upon the stoep opposite to us and began tosort itself out, whereon the English present raised a cheer andthe Boers behind us cursed audibly. In the middle appeared anelderly gentleman with whiskers and a stoop, in whom I recognizedMr. Osborn, known by the Kaffirs as Malimati, the Chief of theStaff. By his side was a tall young fellow, yourself, my friend, scarcely more than a lad then, carrying papers. The rest stoodto right and left in a formal line. _You_ gave a printeddocument to Mr. Osborn who put on his glasses and began to readin a low voice which few could hear, and I noticed that his handtrembled. Presently he grew confused, lost his place, found it, lost it again and came to a full stop. 

"A nervous-natured man, " remarked Mr. Anscombe. "Perhaps hethinks that those gentlemen are going to shoot. "

"That wouldn't trouble him, " I answered, who knew him well. "Hisfears are purely mental. "

That was true since I know that this same Sir Melmoth Osborn ashe is now, as I have told in the book I called _Child of Storm_, swam the Tugela alone to watch the battle of Indondakasuka raginground him, and on another occasion killed two Kaffirs rushing athim with a right and left shot without turning a hair. It wasreading this paper that paralyzed him, not any fear of what mighthappen. 

There followed a very awkward pause such as occurs when a manbreaks down in a speech. The members of the Staff looked at himand at each other, then behold! you, my friend, grabbed the paperfrom his hand and went on reading it in a loud clear voice. 

"That young man has plenty of nerve, " said Mr. Anscombe. 

"Yes, " I replied in a whisper. "Quite right though. Would havebeen a bad omen if the thing had come to a stop. "

Well, there were no more breakdowns, and at last the longdocument was finished and the Transvaal annexed. The Britishersbegan to cheer but stopped to listen to the formal protest of theBoer Government, if it could be called a government wheneverything had collapsed and the officials were being paid inpostage stamps. I can't remember whether this was read byPresident Burgers himself or by the officer who was called StateSecretary. Anyway, it was read, after which there came anawkward pause as though people were waiting to see somethinghappen. I looked round at the Boers who were muttering andhandling their rifles uneasily. Had they found a leader I reallythink that some of the wilder spirits among them would have begunto shoot, but none appeared and the crisis passed. 

The crowd began to disperse, the English among them cheering andthrowing up their hats, the Dutch with very sullen faces. TheCommissioner's staff went away as it had come, back to thebuilding with blue gums in front of it, which afterwards becameGovernment House, that is all except you. You started across thesquare alone with a bundle of printed proclamations in your handwhich evidently you had been charged to leave at the variouspublic offices. 

"Let us follow him, " I said to Mr. Anscombe. "He might get intotrouble and want a friend. "

He nodded and we strolled after you unostentatiously. Sureenough you nearly did get into trouble. In front of the firstoffice door to which you came, stood a group of Boers, two ofwhom, big fellows, drew together with the evident intention ofbarring your way. 

"Mynheeren, " you said, "I pray you to let me pass on the Queen'sbusiness. "

They took no heed except to draw closer together and laughinsolently. Again you made your request and again they laughed. Then I saw you lift your leg and deliberately stamp upon the footof one of the Boers. He drew back with an exclamation, and for amoment I believed that he or his fellow was going to do somethingviolent. Perhaps they thought better of it, or perhaps they sawus two Englishmen behind and noticed Anscombe's pistol. At anyrate you marched into the office triumphant and delivered yourdocument. 

"Neatly done, " said Mr. Anscombe. 

"Rash, " I said, shaking my head, "very rash. Well, he's youngand must be excused. "

But from that moment I took a great liking to you, my friend, perhaps because I wondered whether in your place I should havebeen daredevil enough to act in the same way. For you see I amEnglish, and I like to see an Englishman hold his own againstodds and keep up the credit of the country. Although, of course, I sympathized with the Boers who, through their own fault, werelosing their land without a blow struck. As you know well, foryou were living near Majuba at the time, plenty of blows werestruck afterwards, but of that business I cannot bear to write. I wonder how it will all work out after I am dead and if I shallever learn what happens in the end. 

Now I have only mentioned this business of the Annexation and thepart you played in it, because it was on that occasion that Ibecame acquainted with Anscombe. For you have nothing to do withthis story which is about the destruction of the Zulus, theaccomplishment of the vengeance of Zikali the wizard at the kraalnamed Finished, and incidentally, the love affairs of two peoplein which that old wizard took a hand, as I did to my sorrow. 

It happened that Mr. Anscombe had ridden on ahead of his wagonswhich could not arrive at Pretoria for a day or two, and as hefound it impossible to get accommodation at the European orelsewhere, I offered to let him sleep in mine, or ratheralongside in a tent I had. He accepted and soon we became verygood friends. Before the day was out I discovered that he hadserved in a crack cavalry regiment, but resigned his commissionsome years before. I asked him why. 

"Well, " he said, "I came into a good lot of money on my mother'sdeath and could not see a prospect of any active service. Whilethe regiment was abroad I liked the life well enough, but at homeit bored me. Too much society for my taste, and that sort ofthing. Also I wanted to travel; nothing else really amuses me. "

"You will soon get tired of it, " I answered, "and as you are welloff, marry some fine lady and settle down at home. "

"Don't think so. I doubt if I should ever be happily married, Iwant too much. One doesn't pick up an earthly angel with acast-iron constitution who adores you, which are the barenecessities of marriage, under every bush. " Here I laughed. "Also, " he added, the laughter going out of his eyes, "I have hadenough of fine ladies and their ways. "

"Marriage is better than scrapes, " I remarked sententiously. 

"Quite so, but one might get them both together. No, I shallnever marry, although I suppose I ought as my brothers have nochildren. "

"Won't you, my friend, " thought I to myself, "when the skin growsagain on your burnt fingers. "

For I was sure they had been burnt, perhaps more than once. How, I never learned, for which I am rather sorry for it interests meto study burnt fingers, if they do not happen to be my own. Thenwe changed the subject. 

Anscombe's wagons were delayed for a day or two by a broken axleor a bog hole, I forget which. So, as I had nothing particularto do until the Natal post-cart left, we spent the time inwandering about Pretoria, which did not take us long as it wasbut a little dorp in those days, and chatting with all andsundry. Also we went up to Government House as it was nowcalled, and left cards, or rather wrote our names in a book forwe had no cards, being told by one of the Staff whom we met thatwe should do so. An hour later a note arrived asking us both todinner that night and telling us very nicely not to mind if wehad no dress things. Of course we had to go, Anscombe rigged upin my second best clothes that did not fit him in the least, ashe was a much taller man than I am, and a black satin bow that hehad bought at Becket's Store together with a pair of shiny pumps. 

I actually met you, my friend, for the first time that evening, and in trouble too, though you may have forgotten the incident. We had made a mistake about the time of dinner, and arriving halfan hour too soon, were shown into a long room that opened on tothe verandah. You were working there, being I believe a privatesecretary at the time, copying some despatch; I think you saidthat which gave an account of the Annexation. The room was litby a paraffin lamp behind you, for it was quite dark and thewindow was open, or at any rate unshuttered. The gentleman whoshowed us in, seeing that you were very busy, took us to the farend of the room, where we stood talking in the shadow. Just thena door opened opposite to that which led to the verandah, andthrough it came His Excellency the Administrator, Sir TheophilusShepstone, a stout man of medium height with a very clever, thoughtful face, as I have always thought, one of the greatest ofAfrican statesmen. He did not see us, but he caught sight of youand said testily--

"Are you mad?" To which you answered with a laugh--

"I hope not more than usual, Sir, but why?"

"Have I not told you always to let down the blinds after dark?Yet there you sit with your head against the light, about thebest target for a bullet that could be imagined. "

"I don't think the Boers would trouble to shoot me, Sir. If youhad been here I would have drawn the blinds and shut the shutterstoo, " you answered, laughing again. 

"Go to dress or you will be late for dinner, " he said stillrather sternly, and you went. But when you had gone and after wehad been announced to him, he smiled and added something which Iwill not repeat to you even now. I think it was about what youdid on the Annexation day of which the story had come to him. 

I mention this incident because whenever I think of Shepstone, whom I had known off and on for years in the way that a hunterknows a prominent Government official, it always recurs to mymind, embodying as it does his caution and appreciation of dangerderived from long experience of the country, and the sternness hesometimes affected which could never conceal his love towards hisfriends. Oh! there was greatness in this man, although they didcall him an "African Talleyrand. " If it had not been so wouldevery native from the Cape to the Zambesi have known and reveredhis name, as perhaps that of no other white man has been revered?But I must get on with my tale and leave historical discussionsto others more fitted to deal with them. 

We had a very pleasant dinner that night, although I was soashamed of my clothes with smart uniforms and white ties allabout me, and Anscombe kept fidgeting his feet because he wassuffering agony from his new pumps which were a size too small. Everybody was in the best of spirits, for from all directionscame the news that the Annexation was well received and that thedanger of any trouble had passed away. Ah! if we had only knownwhat the end of it would be!

It was on our way back to the wagon that I chanced to mention toAnscombe that there was still a herd of buffalo within a fewdays' trek of Lydenburg, of which I had shot two not a monthbefore. 

"Are there, by Jove!" he said. "As it happens I never got abuffalo; always I just missed them in one sense or another, and Ican't leave Africa with a pair of bought horns. Let's go thereand shoot some. "

I shook my head and replied that I had been idling long enoughand must try to make some money, news at which he seemed verydisappointed. 

"Look here, " he said, "forgive me for mentioning it, but businessis business. If you'll come you shan't be a loser. "

Again I shook my head, whereat he looked more disappointed thanbefore. 

"Very well, " he exclaimed, "then I must go alone. For kill abuffalo I will; that is unless the buffalo kills me, in whichcase my blood will be on your hands. "

I don't know why, but at that moment there came into my mind aconviction that if he did go alone a buffalo or something wouldkill him and that then I should be sorry all my life. 

"They are dangerous brutes, much worse than lions, " I said. 

"And yet you, who pretend to have a conscience, would expose meto their rage unprotected and alone, " he replied with a twinklein his eye which I could see even by moonlight. "Oh! Quatermain, how I have been mistaken in your character. "

"Look here, Mr. Anscombe, " I said, "it's no use. I cannotpossibly go on a shooting expedition with you just now. Onlyto-day I have heard from Natal that my boy is not well and mustundergo an operation which will lay him up for quite six weeks, and may be dangerous. So I must get down to Durban before ittakes place. After that I have a contract in Matabeleland whenceyou have just come, to take charge of a trading store there for ayear; also perhaps to try to shoot a little ivory for myself. SoI am fully booked up till, let us say, October, 1878, that is forabout eighteen months, by which time I daresay I shall be dead. "

"Eighteen months, " replied this cool young man. "That will suitme very well. I will go on to India as I intended, then home fora bit and will meet you on the 1st of October, 1878, after whichwe will proceed to the Lydenburg district and shoot thosebuffalo, or if they have departed, other buffalo. Is it abargain?"

I stared at him, thinking that the Administrator's champagne hadgot into his head. 

"Nonsense, " I exclaimed. "Who knows where you will be ineighteen months? Why, by that time you will have forgotten allabout me. "

"If I am alive and well, on the 1st of October, 1878, I shall beexactly where I am now, upon this very square in Pretoria, with awagon, or wagons, prepared for a hunting trip. But as notunnaturally you have doubts upon that point, I am prepared to payforfeit if I fail, or even if circumstances cause you to fail. "

Here he took a cheque-book from his letter-case and spread it outon the little table in the tent, on which there were ink and apen, adding--

"Now, Mr. Quatermain, will it meet your views if I fill this upfor #250?"

"No, " I answered; "taking everything into consideration the sumis excessive. But if you do not mind facing the risks of mynon-appearance, to say nothing of your own, you may make it #50. "

"You are very moderate in your demands, " he said as he handed methe cheque which I put in my pocket, reflecting that it wouldjust pay for my son's operation. 

"And you are very foolish in your offers, " I replied. "Tell me, why do you make such crack-brained arrangements?"

"I don't quite know. Something in me seems to say that we_shall_ make this expedition and that it will have a veryimportant effect upon my life. Mind you, it is to be to theLydenburg district and nowhere else. And now I am tired, solet's turn in. "

Next morning we parted and went our separate ways. 

CHAPTER II

MR. MARNHAM

So much for preliminaries, now for the story. 

The eighteen months had gone by, bringing with them to me theirshare of adventure, weal and woe, with all of which at present Ihave no concern. Behold me arriving very hot and tired in thepost-cart from Kimberley, whither I had gone to invest what I hadsaved out of my Matabeleland contract in a very promisingspeculation whereof, today, the promise remains and no more. Ihad been obliged to leave Kimberly in a great hurry, before Iought indeed, because of the silly bargain which I have justrecorded. Of course I was sure that I should never see Mr. Anscombe again, especially as I had heard nothing of him duringall this while, and had no reason to suppose that he was inAfrica. Still I had taken his #50 and he _might_ come. Also Ihave always prided myself upon keeping an appointment. 

The post-cart halted with a jerk in front of the European Hotel, and I crawled, dusty and tired, from its interior, to find myselfface to face with Anscombe, who was smoking a pipe upon thestoep!

"Hullo, Quatermain, " he said in his pleasant, drawling voice, "here you are, up to time. I have been making bets with thesefive gentlemen, " and he nodded at a group of loungers on thestoep, "as to whether you would or would not appear, I puttingten to one on you in drinks. Therefore you must now consume fivewhiskies and sodas, which will save them from consuming fifty anda subsequent appearance at the Police Court. "

I laughed and said I would be their debtor to the extent of one, which was duly produced. 

After it was drunk Anscombe and I had a chat. He said that hehad been to India, shot, or shot at whatever game he meant tokill there, visited his relations in England and thence proceededto keep his appointment with me in Africa. At Durban he hadfitted himself out in a regal way with two wagons, full teams, and some spare oxen, and trekked to Pretoria where he had arriveda few days before. Now he was ready to start for the Lydenburgdistrict and look for those buffalo. 

"But, " I said, "the buffalo probably long ago departed. Alsothere has been a war with Sekukuni, the Basuto chief who rulesall that country, which remains undecided, although I believesome kind of a peace has been patched up. This may make huntingin this neighborhood dangerous. Why not try some other ground, to the north of the Transvaal, for instance?"

"Quatermain, " he answered, "I have come all the way from England, I will not say to kill, but to try to kill buffalo in theLydenburg district, with you if possible, if not, without you, and thither I am going. If you think it unsafe to accompany me, don't come; I will get on as best I can alone, or with some otherskilled person if I can find one. "

"If you put it like that I shall certainly come, " I replied, "with the proviso that should the buffalo prove to benon-existent or the pursuit of them impossible, we either give upthe trip, or go somewhere else, perhaps to the country at theback of Delagoa Bay. "

"Agreed, " he said; after which we discussed terms, he paying memy salary in advance. 

On further consideration we determined, as two were quiteunnecessary for a trip of the sort, to leave one of my wagons andhalf the cattle in charge of a very respectable man, a farmer wholived about five miles from Pretoria just over the pass near tothe famous Wonder-boom tree which is one of the sights of theplace. Should we need this wagon it could always be sent for;or, if we found the Lydenburg hunting-ground, which he was so setupon visiting, unproductive or impossible, we could return toPretoria over the high-veld and pick it up before proceedingelsewhere. 

These arrangements took us a couple of days or so. On the thirdwe started, without seeing you, my friend, or any one else that Iknew, since just at that time every one seemed to be away fromPretoria. You, I remember, had by now become the Master of theHigh Court and were, they informed me at your office, absent oncircuit. 

The morning of our departure was particularly lovely and wetrekked away in the best of spirits, as so often happens topeople who are marching into trouble. Of our journey there islittle to say as everything went smoothly, so that we arrived atthe edge of the high-veld feeling as happy as the country whichhas no history is reported to do. Our road led us past thelittle mining settlement of Pilgrim's Rest where a number ofadventurous spirits, most of them English, were engaged inwashing for gold, a job at which I once took a turn near thisvery place without any startling success. Of the locality I needonly say that the mountainous scenery is among the mostbeautiful, the hills are the steepest and the roads are, or were, the worst that I have ever travelled over in a wagon. 

However, "going softly" as the natives say, we negotiated themwithout accident and, leaving Pilgrim's Rest behind us, began todescend towards the low-veld where I was informed a herd ofbuffalo could still be found, since, owing to the war withSekukuni, no one had shot at them of late. This war had beensuspended for a while, and the Land-drost at Pilgrim's Rest toldme he thought it would be safe to hunt on the borders of thatChief's country, though he should not care to do so himself. 

Game of the smaller sort began to be plentiful about here, so notmore than a dozen miles from Pilgrim's Rest we outspanned earlyin the afternoon to try to get a blue wildebeeste or two, for Ihad seen the spoor of these creatures in a patch of soft ground, or failing them some other buck. Accordingly, leaving the wagonby a charming stream that wound and gurgled over a bed ofgranite, we mounted our salted horses, which were part ofAnscombe's outfit, and set forth rejoicing. Riding through thescattered thorns and following the spoor where I could, withinhalf an hour we came to a little glade. There, not fifty yardsaway, I caught sight of a single blue wildebeeste bull standing in theshadow of the trees on the further side of the glade, and pointedout the ugly beast, for it is the most grotesque of all theantelopes, to Anscombe. 

"Off you get, " I whispered. "It's a lovely shot, you can't missit. "

"Oh, can't I!" replied Anscombe. "Do you shoot. "

I refused, so he dismounted, giving me his horse to hold, andkneeling down solemnly and slowly covered the bull. Bang wenthis rifle, and I saw a bough about a yard above the wildebeestefall on to its back. Off it went like lightning, whereonAnscombe let drive with the left barrel of the Express, almost athazard as it seemed to me, and by some chance hit it above thenear fore-knee, breaking its leg. 

"That was a good shot, " he cried, jumping on to his horse. 

"Excellent, " I answered. "But what are you going to do?"

"Catch it. It is cruel to leave a wounded animal, " and off hestarted. 

Of course I had to follow, but the ensuing ride remains among themore painful of my hunting memories. We tore through thorn treesthat scratched my face and damaged my clothes; we struck a patchof antbear holes, into one of which my horse fell so that mystomach bumped against its head; we slithered down granitekoppies, and this was the worst of it, at the end of eachchapter, so to speak, always caught sight of that accursed bullwhich I fondly hoped would have vanished into space. At lengthafter half an hour or so of this game we reached a stretch ofopen, rolling ground, and there not fifty yards ahead of us wasthe animal still going like a hare, though how it could do so onthree legs I am sure I do not know. We coursed it likegreyhounds, till at last Anscombe, whose horse was the faster, came alongside of the exhausted creature, whereon it turnedsuddenly and charged. 

Anscombe held out his rifle in his right hand and pulled thetrigger, which, as he had forgotten to reload it, was a meretheatrical performance. Next second there was such a mix-up thatfor a while I could not distinguish which was Anscombe, which wasthe wildebeeste, and which the horse. They all seemed to begoing round and round in a cloud of dust. When things settledthemselves a little I discovered the horse rolling on the ground, Anscombe on his back with his hands up in an attitude of prayerand the wildebeeste trying to make up its mind which of them itshould finish first. I settled the poor thing's doubts byshooting it through the heart, which I flatter myself was ratherclever of me under the circumstances. Then I dismounted toexamine Anscombe, who, I presumed, was done for. Not a bit ofit. There he sat upon the ground blowing like a blacksmith'sbellows and panting out--

"What a glorious gallop. I finished it very well, didn't I? Youcouldn't have made a better shot yourself. "

"Yes, " I answered, "you finished it very well as you will findout if you will take the trouble to open your rifle and countyour cartridges. I may add that if we are going to hunt togetherI hope you will never lead me such a fool's chase again. "

He rose, opened the rifle and saw that it was empty, for althoughhe had never re-loaded he had thrown out the two cartridges whichhe had discharged in the glen. 

"By Jingo, " he said, "you must have shot it, though I could havesworn that it was I. Quatermain, has it ever struck you what astrange thing is the human imagination?"

"Drat the human imagination, " I answered, wiping away the bloodthat was trickling into my eye from a thorn scratch. "Let's lookat your horse. If it is lamed you will have to ride Imaginationback to the wagon which must be six miles away, that is if we canfind it before dark. "

Sighing out something about a painfully practical mind, heobeyed, and when the beast was proved to be nothing more thanblown and a little bruised, made remarks as to the inadvisabilityof dwelling on future evil events, which I reminded him hadalready been better summed up in the New Testament. 

After this we contemplated the carcasse of the wildebeeste whichit seemed a pity to leave to rot. Just then Anscombe, who hadmoved a few yards to the right out of the shadow of anobstructing tree, exclaimed--

"I say, Quatermain, come here and tell me if I have been knockedsilly, or if I really see a quite uncommon kind of house built inancient Greek style set in a divine landscape. "

"Temple to Diana, I expect, " I remarked as I joined him on thefurther side of the tree. 

I looked and rubbed my eyes. There, about half a mile away, situated in a bay of the sweeping hills and overlooking themeasureless expanse of bush-veld beneath, was a remarkable house, at least for those days and that part of Africa. To begin withthe situation was superb. It stood on a green and swelling moundbehind which was a wooded kloof where ran a stream that at lastprecipitated itself in a waterfall over a great cliff. Then infront was that glorious view of the bush-veld, at which a manmight look for a lifetime and not grow tired, stretching away tothe Oliphant's river and melting at last into the dim line of thehorizon. 

The house itself also, although not large, was of a kind new tome. It was deep, but narrow fronted, and before it were fourcolumns that carried the roof which projected so as to form awide verandah. Moreover it seemed to be built of marble whichglistened like snow in the setting sun. In short in that lonelywilderness, at any rate from this distance, it did look like thedeserted shrine of some forgotten god. 

"Well, I'm bothered!" I said. 

"So am I, " answered Anscombe, "to know the name of the Lydenburgdistrict architect whom I should like to employ; though I suspectit is the surroundings that make the place look so beautiful. Hullo! here comes somebody, but he doesn't look like anarchitect; he looks like a wicked baronet disguised as a Boer. "

True enough, round a clump of bush appeared an unusual lookingperson, mounted on a very good horse. He was tall, thin and old, at least he had a long white beard which suggested age, althoughhis figure, so far as it could be seen beneath his rough clothes, seemed vigorous. His face was clean cut and handsome, with arather hooked nose, and his eyes were grey, but as I saw when hecame up to us, somewhat bloodshot at the corners. His generalaspect was refined and benevolent, and as soon as he opened hismouth I perceived that he was a person of gentle breeding. 

And yet there was something about him, something in hisatmosphere, so to speak, that I did not like. Before we partedthat evening I felt sure that in one way or another he was awrong-doer, not straight; also that he had a violent temper. 

He rode up to us and asked in a pleasant voice, although themanner of his question, which was put in bad Dutch, was notpleasant, "Who gave you leave to shoot on our land?"

"I did not know that any leave was required; it is not customaryin these parts, " I answered politely in English. "Moreover, thisbuck was wounded miles away. "

"Oh!" he exclaimed in the same tongue, "that makes a difference, though I expect it was still on our land, for we have a lot; itis cheap about here. " Then after studying a little, he addedapologetically, "You mustn't think me strange, but the fact is mydaughter hates things to be killed near the house, which is whythere's so much game about. "

"Then pray make her our apologies, " said Anscombe, "and say thatit shall not happen again. "

He stroked his long beard and looked at us, for by now he haddismounted, then said--

"Might I ask you gentlemen your names?"

"Certainly, " I replied. "I am Allan Quatermain and my friend isthe Hon. Maurice Anscombe. "

He started and said--

"Of Allan Quatermain of course I have heard. The natives told methat you were trekking to those parts; and if you, sir, are oneof Lord Mountford's sons, oddly enough I think I must have knownyour father in my youth. Indeed I served with him in theGuards. "

"How very strange, " said Anscombe. "He's dead now and my brotheris Lord Mountford. Do you like life here better than that in theGuards? I am sure I should. "

"Both of them have their advantages, " he answered evasively, "ofwhich, if, as I think, you are also a soldier, you can judge foryourself. But won't you come up to the house? My daughter Hedais away, and my partner Mr. Rodd" (as he mentioned this name Isaw a blue vein, which showed above his cheek bone, swell asthough under pressure of some secret emotion) "is a retiring sortof a man--indeed some might think him sulky until they came toknow him. Still, we can make you comfortable and even give you adecent bottle of wine. "

"No, thank you very much, " I answered, "we must get back to thewagon or our servants will think that we have come to grief. Perhaps you will accept the wildebeeste if it is of any use toyou. "

"Very well, " he said in a voice that suggested regret strugglingwith relief. To the buck he made no allusion, perhaps because heconsidered that it was already his own property. "Do you knowyour way? I believe your wagon is camped out there to the eastby what we call the Granite stream. If you follow this Kaffirpath, " and he pointed to a track near by, "it will take you quiteclose. "

"Where does the path run to?" I asked. "There are no kraalsabout, are there?"

"Oh! to the Temple, as my daughter calls our house. My partnerand I are labour agents, we recruit natives for the KimberleyMines, " he said in explanation, adding, "Where do you propose toshoot?"

I told him. 

"Isn't that rather a risky district?" he said. "I think thatSekukuni will soon be giving more trouble, although there is atruce between him and the English. Still he might send aregiment to raid that way. "

I wondered how our friend knew so much of Sekukuni's possibleintentions, but only answered that I was accustomed to deal withnatives and did not fear them. 

"Ah!" he said, "well, you know your own business best. But ifyou should get into any difficulty, make straight for this place. The Basutos will not interfere with you here. "

Again I wondered why the Basutos should look upon this particularspot as sacred, but thinking it wisest to ask no questions, Ionly answered--

"Thank you very much. We'll bear your invitation in mind, Mr. --"

"Marnham. "

"Marnham, " I repeated after him. "Good-bye and many thanks foryour kindness. "

"One question, " broke in Anscombe, "if you will not think merude. What is the name of the architect who designed that mostromantic-looking house of yours which seems to be built ofmarble?"

"My daughter designed it, or at least I think she copied it fromsome old drawing of a ruin. Also it _is_ marble; there's a wholehill of the stuff not a hundred yards from the door, so it wascheaper to use than anything else. I hope you will come and seeit on your way back, though it is not as fine as it appears froma distance. It would be very pleasant after all these years totalk to an English gentleman again. "

Then we parted, I rather offended because he did not seem toinclude me in the description, he calling after us--

"Stick close to the path through the patch of big trees, for theground is rather swampy there and it's getting dark. "

Presently we came to the place he mentioned where the timber, although scattered, was quite large for South Africa, of theyellow-wood species, and interspersed wherever the ground was drywith huge euphorbias, of which the tall finger-like growths andsad grey colouring looked unreal and ghostlike in the waninglight. Following the advice given to us, we rode in single filealong the narrow path, fearing lest otherwise we should tumbleinto some bog hole, until we came to higher land covered with thescattered thorns of the country. 

"Did that bush give you any particular impression?" askedAnscombe a minute or two later. 

"Yes, " I answered, "it gave me the impression that we might catchfever there. See the mist that lies over it, " and turning in mysaddle I pointed with the rifle in my hand to what looked like amass of cotton wool over which, without permeating it, hung thelast red glow of sunset, producing a curious and indeed ratherunearthly effect. "I expect that thousands of years ago therewas a lake yonder, which is why trees grow so big in the richsoil. "

"You are curiously mundane, Quatermain, " he answered. "I ask youof spiritual impressions and you dilate to me of geologicalformations and the growth of timber. You felt nothing in thespiritual line?"

"I felt nothing except a chill, " I answered, for I was tired andhungry. "What the devil are you driving at?"

"Have you got that flask of Hollands about you, Quatermain?"

"Oh! those are the spirits you are referring to, " I remarked withsarcasm as I handed it to him. 

He took a good pull and replied--

"Not at all, except in the sense that bad spirits require goodspirits to correct them, as the Bible teaches. To come tofacts, " he added in a changed voice, "I have never been in aplace that depressed me more than that thrice accursed patch ofbush. "

"Why did it depress you?" I asked, studying him as well as Icould in the fading light. To tell the truth I feared lest hehad knocked his head when the wildebeeste upset him, and wassuffering from delayed concussion. 

"Can't tell you, Quatermain. I don't look like a criminal, do I?Well, I entered those trees feeling a fairly honest man, and Icame out of them feeling like a murderer. It was as thoughsomething terrible had happened to me there; it was as though Ihad killed someone there. Ugh!" and he shivered and took anotherpull at the Hollands. 

"What bosh!" I said. "Besides, even if it were to come true, Iam sorry to say I've killed lots of men in the way of businessand they don't bother me overmuch. "

"Did you ever kill one to win a woman?"

"Certainly not. Why, that would be murder. How can you ask mesuch a thing? But I have killed several to win cattle, " Ireflected aloud, remembering my expedition with Saduko againstthe chief Bangu, and some other incidents in my career. 

"I appreciate the difference, Quatermain. If you kill for cows, it is justifiable homicide; if you kill for women, it is murder. "

"Yes, " I replied, "that is how it seems to work out in Africa. You see, women are higher in the scale of creation than cows, therefore crimes committed for their sake are enormously greaterthan those committed for cows, which just makes the differencebetween justifiable homicide and murder. "

"Good lord! what an argument, " he exclaimed and relapsed intosilence. Had he been accustomed to natives and their ways hewould have understood the point much better than he did, though Iadmit it is difficult to explain. 

In due course we reached the wagon without further trouble. While we were shielding our pipes after an excellent supper Iasked Anscombe his impressions of Mr. Marnham. 

"Queer cove, I think, " he answered. "Been a gentleman, too, andstill keeps the manners, which isn't strange if he is one of theMarnhams, for they are a good family. I wonder he mentionedhaving served with my father. "

"It slipped out of him. Men who live a lot alone are apt to besurprised into saying things they regret afterwards, as I noticedhe did. But why do you wonder?"

"Because as it happens, although I have only just recalled it, myfather used to tell some story about a man named Marnham in hisregiment. I can't remember the details, but it had to do withcards when high stakes were being played for, and with thestriking of a superior officer in the quarrel that ensued, as aresult of which the striker was requested to send in his papers. "

"It may not have been the same man. "

"Perhaps not, for I believe that more than one Marnham served inthat regiment. But I remember my father saying, by way of excusefor the person concerned, that he had a most ungovernable temper. I think he added, that he left the country and took service insome army on the Continent. I should rather like to clear thething up. "

"It isn't probable that you will, for even if you should evermeet this Marnham again, I fancy you would find he held histongue about his acquaintance with your father. "

"I wonder what Miss Heda is like, " went on Anscombe after apause. "I am curious to see a girl who designs a house on themodel of an ancient ruin. "

"Well, you won't, for she's away somewhere. Besides we arelooking for buffalo, not girls, which is a good thing as they areless dangerous. "

I spoke thus decisively because I had taken a dislike to Mr. Marnham and everything to do with him, and did not wish toencourage the idea of further meetings. 

"No, never, I suppose. And yet I feel as though I were certainlydestined to see that accursed yellow-wood swamp again. "

"Nonsense, " I replied as I rose to turn in. Ah! if I had butknown!

CHAPTER III

THE HUNTERS HUNTED

While I was taking off my boots I heard a noise of jabbering insome native tongue which I took to be Sisutu, and not wishing togo to the trouble of putting them on again, called to the driverof the wagon to find out what it was. This man was a Cape ColonyKaffir, a Fingo I think, with a touch of Hottentot in him. Hewas an excellent driver, indeed I do not think I have ever seen abetter, and by no means a bad shot. Among Europeans he rejoicedin the name of Footsack, a Boer Dutch term which is generallyaddressed to troublesome dogs and means "Get out. " To tell thetruth, had I been his master he would have got out, as Isuspected him of drinking, and generally did not altogether trusthim. Anscombe, however, was fond of him because he had showncourage in some hunting adventure in Matabeleland, I think it wasat the shooting of that very dark-coloured lion whose skin hadbeen the means of making us acquainted nearly two years before. Indeed he said that on this occasion Footsack had saved his life, though from all that I could gather I do not think this was quitethe case. Also the man, who had been on many hunting trips withsportsmen, could talk Dutch well and English enough to makehimself understood, and therefore was useful. 

He went as I bade him, and coming back presently, told me that aparty of Basutos, about thirty in number, who were returning fromKimberley, where they had been at work in the mines, under theleadership of a Bastard named Karl, asked leave to camp by thewagon for the night, as they were afraid to go on to "Tampel" inthe dark. 

At first I could not make out what "Tampel" was, as it did notsound like a native name. Then I remembered that Mr. Marnham hadspoken of his house as being called the Temple, of which, ofcourse, Tampel was a corruption; also that he said he and hispartner were labour agents. 

"Why are they afraid?" I asked. 

"Because, Baas, they say that they must go through a wood in aswamp, which they think is haunted by spooks, and they muchafraid of spooks;" that is of ghosts. 

"What spooks?" I asked. 

"Don't know, Baas. They say spook of some one who has beenkilled. "

"Rubbish, " I replied. "Tell them to go and catch the spook; wedon't want a lot of noisy fellows howling chanties here allnight. "

Then it was that Anscombe broke in in his humorous, ratherdrawling voice. 

"How can you be so hard-hearted, Quatermain? After thesupernatural terror which, as I told you, I experienced in thatvery place, I wouldn't condemn a kicking mule to go through it inthis darkness. Let the poor devils stay; I daresay they aretired. "

So I gave in, and presently saw their fires beginning to burnthrough the end canvas of the wagon which was unlaced because thenight was hot. Also later on I woke up, about midnight I think, and heard voices talking, one of which I reflected sleepily, sounded very like that of Footsack. 

Waking very early, as is my habit, I peeped out of the wagon, andthrough the morning mist perceived Footsack in converse with aparticularly villainous-looking person. I at once concluded thismust be Karl, evidently a Bastard compounded of about fifteenparts of various native bloods to one of white, who, to add tohis attractions, was deeply scarred with smallpox and possessed areally alarming squint. It seemed to me that Footsack handed tothis man something that looked suspiciously like a bottle ofsquareface gin wrapped up in dried grass, and that the man handedback to Footsack some small object which he put in his mouth. 

Now, I wondered to myself, what is there of value that one whodoes not eat sweets would stow away in his mouth. Gold coinperhaps, or a quid of tobacco, or a stone. Gold was too much topay for a bottle of gin, tobacco was too little, but how aboutthe stone? What stone? Who wanted stones? Then suddenly Iremembered that these people were said to come from Kimberley, and whistled to myself. Still I did nothing, principally becausethe mist was still so dense that although I could see the men'sfaces, I could not clearly see the articles which they passed toeach other about two feet lower, where it still lay very thickly, and to bring any accusation against a native which he can proveto be false is apt to destroy authority. So I held my tongue andwaited my chance. It did not come at once, for before I wasdressed those Basutos had departed together with their leaderKarl, for now that the sun was up they no longer feared thehaunted bush. 

It came later, thus: We were trekking along between the thornsupon a level and easy track which enabled the driver Footsack tosit upon the "voorkisse" or driving box of the wagon, leaving thelad who is called the voorlooper to lead the oxen. Anscombe wasriding parallel to the wagon in the hope of killing someguineafowl for the pot (though a very poor shot with a rifle hewas good with a shot-gun). I, who did not care for this smallgame, was seated smoking by the side of Footsack who, I noted, smelt of gin and generally showed signs of dissipation. SuddenlyI said to him--

"Show me that diamond which the Bastard Karl gave you thismorning in payment for the bottle of your master's drink. "

It was a bow drawn at a venture, but the effect of the shot wasremarkable. Had I not caught it, the long bamboo whip Footsackheld would have fallen to the ground, while he collapsed in hisseat like a man who has received a bullet in his stomach. 

"Baas, " he gasped, "Baas, how did you know?"

"I knew, " I replied grandly, "in the same way that I knoweverything. Show me the diamond. "

"Baas, " he said, "it was not the Baas Anscombe's gin, it was someI bought in Pilgrim's Rest. "

"I have counted the bottles in the case and know very well whosegin it was, " I replied ambiguously, for the reason that I haddone nothing of the sort. "Show me the diamond. "

Footsack fumbled about his person, his hair, his waistcoatpockets and even his moocha, and ultimately from somewhereproduced a stone which he handed to me. I looked at it, and fromthe purity of colour and size, judged it to be a diamond worth#200, or possibly more. After careful examination I put it intomy pocket, saying, "This is the price of your master's gin and therefore belongs tohim as much as it does to anybody. Now if you want to keep outof trouble, tell me--whence came it into the hands of that man, Karl?"

"Baas, " replied Footsack, trembling all over, "how do I know? Heand the rest have been working at the mines; I suppose he foundit there. "

"Indeed! And did he find others of the same sort?"

"I think so, Baas. At least he said that he had been buyingbottles of gin with such stones all the way down from Kimberley. Karl is a great drunkard, Baas, as I am sure, who have known himfor years. "

"That is not all, " I remarked, keeping my eyes fixed on him. "What else did he say?"

"He said, Baas, that he was very much afraid of returning to theBaas Marnham whom the Kaffirs call White-beard, with only a fewstones left. "

"Why was he afraid?"

"Because the Baas Whitebeard, he who dwells at Tampel, is, hesays, a very angry man if he thinks himself cheated, and Karl isafraid lest he should kill him as another was killed, he whosespook haunts the wood through which those silly people feared topass last night. "

"Who was killed and who killed him?" I asked. 

"Baas, I don't know, " replied Footsack, collapsing into sullensilence in a way that Kaffirs have when suddenly they realizethat they have said too much. Nor did I press the matterfurther, having learned enough. 

What had I learned? This: that Messrs. Marnham & Rodd wereillicit diamond buyers, I. D. B. 's as they are called, who hadcunningly situated themselves at a great distance from the sceneof operations practically beyond the reach of civilized law. Probably they were engaged also in other nefarious dealings withKaffirs, such as supplying them with guns wherewith to make warupon the Whites. Sekukuni had been fighting us recently, so thatthere would be a very brisk market for rifles. This, too, wouldaccount for Marnham's apparent knowledge of that Chief's plans. Possibly, however, he had no knowledge and only made a pretenceof it to keep us out of the country. 

Later on I confided the whole story and my suspicions toAnscombe, who was much interested. 

"What picturesque scoundrels!" he exclaimed, "We really ought togo back to the Temple. I have always longed to meet some reallive I. D. B. 's. "

"It is probable that you have done that already without knowingit. For the rest, if you wish to visit that den of iniquity, youmust do so alone. "

"Wouldn't whited sepulchre be a better term, especially as itseems to cover dead men's bones?" he replied in his frivolousmanner. 

Then I asked him what he was going to do about Footsack and thebottle of gin, which he countered by asking me what I was goingto do with that diamond. 

"Give it to you as Footsack's master, " I said, suiting the actionto the word. "I don't wish to be mixed up in doubtfultransactions. "

Then followed a long argument as to who was the real owner of thestone, which ended in its being hidden away be produced if calledfor, and in Footsack, who ought have had a round dozen, receivinga scolding from his master, coupled with the threat that if hestole more gin he would be handed over to a magistrate--when wemet one. 

On the following day we reached the hot, low-lying veld which theherd of buffalo was said to inhabit. Next morning, however, whenwe were making ready to begin hunting, a Basuto Kaffir appearedwho, on being questioned, said that he was one of Sekukuni'speople sent to this district to look for two lost oxen. I didnot believe this story, thinking it more probable that he was aspy, but asked him whether in his hunt for oxen he had comeacross buffalo. 

He replied that he had, a herd of thirty-two of them, countingthe calves, but that they were over the Oliphant's River aboutfive-and-twenty miles away, in a valley between some outlyinghills and the rugged range of mountains, beyond which wassituated Sekukuni's town. Moreover, in proof of his story heshowed me spoor of the beasts heading in that direction which wasquite a week old. 

Now for my part, as I did not think it wise to get too near toSekukuni, I should have given them up and gone to hunt somethingelse. Anscombe, however, was of a different opinion and pleadedhard that we should follow them. They were the only herd withina hundred miles, he said, if indeed there were any others thisside of the Lebombo Mountains. As I still demurred, hesuggested, in the nicest possible manner, that if I thought thebusiness risky, I should camp somewhere with the wagon, while hewent on with Footsack to look for the buffalo. I answered that Iwas well used to risks, which in a sense were my trade, and thatas he was more or less in my charge I was thinking of him, not ofmyself, who was quite prepared to follow the buffalo, not only toSekukuni's Mountains but over them. Then fearing that he hadhurt my feelings, he apologized, and offered to go elsewhere if Iliked. The upshot was that we decided to trek to the Oliphant'sRiver, camp there and explore the bush on the other side onhorseback, never going so far from the wagon that we could notreach it again before nightfall. 

This, then, we did, outspanning that evening by the hot butbeautiful river which was still haunted by a few hippopotamus andmany crocodiles, one of which we shot before turning in. Nextmorning, having breakfasted off cold guineafowl, we mounted, crossed the river by a ford that was quite as deep as I liked, towhich the Kaffir path led us, and, leaving Footsack with the twoother boys in charge of the wagon, began to hunt for the buffaloin the rather swampy bush that stretched from the further bank tothe slope of the first hills, eight or ten miles away. I did notmuch expect to find them, as the Basuto had said that they hadgone over these hills, but either he lied or they had moved backagain. 

Not half a mile from the river bank, just as I was about todismount to stalk a fine waterbuck of which I caught sightstanding among some coarse grass and bushes, my eye fell uponbuffalo spoor that from its appearance I knew could not be morethan a few hours old. Evidently the beasts had been feeding hereduring the night and at dawn had moved away to sleep in the drybush nearer the hills. Beckoning to Anscombe, who fortunatelyhad not seen the waterbuck, at which he would certainly havefired, thereby perhaps frightening the buffalo, I showed him thespoor that we at once started to follow. 

Soon it led us into other spoor, that of a whole herd of thirtyor forty beasts indeed, which made our task quite easy, at leasttill we came to harder ground, for the animals had gone a longway. An hour or more later, when we were about seven miles fromthe river, I perceived ahead of us, for we were now almost at thefoot of the hills, a cool and densely-wooded kloof. 

"That is where they will be, " I said. "Now come on carefully andmake no noise. "

We rode to the wide mouth of the kloof where the signs of thebuffalo were numerous and fresh, dismounted and tied our horsesto a thorn, so as to approach them silently on foot. We had notgone two hundred yards through the bush when suddenly about fiftypaces away, standing broadside on in the shadow between twotrees, I saw a splendid old bull with a tremendous pair of horns. 

"Shoot, " I whispered to Anscombe, "you will never get a betterchance. It is the sentinel of the herd. "

He knelt down, his face quite white with excitement, and coveredthe bull with his Express. 

"Keep cool, " I whispered again, "and aim behind the shoulder, half-way down. "

I don't think he understood me, for at that moment off went therifle. He hit the beast somewhere, as I heard the bullet clap, but not fatally, for it turned and lumbered off up the kloof, apparently unhurt, whereon he sent the second barrel after it, aclean miss this time. Then of a sudden all about us appearedbuffaloes that had, I suppose, been sleeping invisible to us. These, with snorts and bellows, rushed off towards the river, forhaving their senses about them, they had no mind to be trapped inthe kloof. I could only manage a shot at one of them, a largeand long-horned cow which I knocked over quite dead. If I hadfired again it would have been but to wound, a thing I hate. Thewhole business was over in a minute. We went and looked at mydead cow which I had caught through the heart. 

"It's cruel to kill these things, " I said, "for I don't know whatuse we are going to make of them, and they must love life as muchas we do. "

"We'll cut the horns off, " said Anscombe. 

"You may if you like, " I answered, "but you will find it a toughjob with a sheath knife. "

"Yes, I think that shall be the task of the worthy Footsackto-morrow, " he replied. "Meanwhile let us go and finish off mybull, as Footsack & Co. May as well bring home two pair of hornsas one. "

I looked at the dense bush, and knowing something of the habitsof wounded buffaloes, reflected that it would be a nasty job. Still I said nothing, because if I hesitated, I knew he wouldwant to go alone. So we started. Evidently the beast had beenbadly hit, for the blood spoor was easy to follow. Yet it hadbeen able to retreat up to the end of the kloof that terminatedin a cliff over which trickled a stream of water. Here it wasnot more than a hundred paces wide, and on either side of it wereother precipitous cliffs. As we went from one of these awar-horn, such as the Basutos use, was blown. Although I heardit, oddly enough, I paid no attention to it at the time, beingutterly intent upon the business in hand. 

Following a wounded buffalo bull up a tree-clad and stony kloofis no game for children, as these beasts have a habit ofreturning on their tracks and then rushing out to gore you. So Iwent on with every sense alert, keeping Anscombe well behind me. As it happened our bull had either been knocked silly orinherited no guile from his parents. When he found he could gono further he stopped, waited behind a bush, and when he saw ushe charged in a simple and primitive fashion. I let Anscombefire, as I wished him to have the credit of killing it all tohimself, but somehow or other he managed to miss both barrels. Then, trouble being imminent, I let drive as the beast loweredits head, and was lucky enough to break its spine (to shoot atthe head of a buffalo is useless), so that it rolled over quitedead at our feet. 

"You have got a magnificent pair of horns, " I said, contemplatingthe fallen giant. 

"Yes, " answered Anscombe, with a twinkle of his humorous eyes, "and if it hadn't been for you I think that I should have gotthem in more senses than one. "

As the words passed his lips some missile, from its peculiarsound I judged it was the leg off an iron pot, hurtled past myhead, fired evidently from a smoothbore gun with a large chargeof bad powder. Then I remembered the war-horn and all that itmeant. 

"Off you go, " I said, "we are ambushed by Kaffirs. "

We were indeed, for as we tailed down that kloof, from the top ofboth cliffs above us came a continuous but luckily ill-directedfire. Lead-coated stones, pot legs and bullets whirred andwhistled all round us, yet until the last, just when we werereaching the tree to which we had tied our horses, quiteharmlessly. Then suddenly I saw Anscombe begin to limp. Stillhe managed to run on and mount, though I observed that he did notput his right foot into the stirrup. 

"What's the matter?" I asked as we galloped off. 

"Shot through the instep, I think, " he answered with a laugh, "but it doesn't hurt a bit. "

"I expect it will later, " I replied. "Meanwhile, thank God itwasn't at the top of the kloof. They won't catch us on thehorses, which they never thought of killing first. "

"They are going to try though. Look behind you. "

I looked and saw twenty or thirty men emerging from the mouth ofthe kloof in pursuit. 

"No time to stop to get those horns, " he said with a sigh. 

"No, " I answered, "unless you are particularly anxious to saygood-bye to the world pinned over a broken ant-heap in the sun, or something pleasant of the sort. "

Then we rode on in silence, I thinking what a fool I had beenfirst to allow myself to be overruled by Anscombe and cross theriver, and secondly not to have taken warning from that war-horn. We could not go very fast because of the difficult and swampynature of the ground; also the great heat of the day told on thehorses. Thus it came about that when we reached the ford we werenot more than ten minutes ahead of our active pursuers, goodrunners every one of them, and accustomed to the country. Isuppose that they had orders to kill or capture us at any cost, for instead of giving up the chase, as I hoped they would, theystuck to us in surprising fashion. 

We splashed through the river, and luckily on the further bankwere met by Footsack who had seen us coming and guessed thatsomething was wrong. 

"Inspan!" I shouted to him, "and be quick about it if you want tosee tomorrow's light. The Basutos are after us. "

Off he went like a shot, his face quite green with fear. 

"Now, " I said to Anscombe, as we let our horses take a drink forwhich they were mad, "we have got to hold this ford until thewagon is ready, or those devils will get us after all. Dismountand I'll tie up the horses. "

He did so with some difficulty, and at my suggestion, while Imade the beasts fast, cut the lace of his boot which was full ofblood, and soaked his wounded foot, that I had no time toexamine, in the cool water. These things done, I helped him tothe rear of a thorn tree which was thick enough to shield most ofhis body, and took my own stand behind a similar thorn at adistance of a few paces. 

Presently the Basutos appeared, trotting along close togetherwhereon Anscombe, who was seated behind the tree, fired bothbarrels of his Express at them at a range of about two hundredyards. It was a foolish thing to do, first because he missedthem clean, for he had over-estimated the range and the bulletswent above their heads, and secondly because it caused them toscatter and made them careful, whereas had they come on in a lumpwe could have taught them a lesson. However I said nothing, as Iknew that reproaches would only make him nervous. Down wentthose scoundrels on to their hands and knees and, taking coverbehind stones and bushes on the further bank, began to fire atus, for they were all armed with guns of one sort and another, and there was only about a hundred yards of water between us. Asthey effected this manoeuvre I am glad to say I was able to gettwo of them, while Anscombe, I think, wounded another. 

After this our position grew quite warm, for as I have said thethorn trunks were not very broad, and three or four of thenatives, who had probably been hunters, were by no means badshots, though the rest of them fired wildly. Anscombe, in pokinghis head round the tree to shoot, had his hat knocked off by abullet, while a slug went through the lappet of my coat. Then aworse thing happened. Either by chance or design Anscombe'shorse was struck in the neck and fell struggling, whereon mybeast, growing frightened, broke its riem and galloped to thewagon. That is where I ought to have left them at first, only Ithought that we might need them to make a bolt on, or to carryAnscombe if he could not walk. 

Quite a long while went by before, glancing behind me, I sawthat the oxen that had been grazing at a little distance had atlength arrived and were being inspanned in furious haste. TheBasutos saw it also, and fearing lest we should escape, determined to try to end the business. Suddenly they leapt fromtheir cover, and with more courage than I should have expected ofthem, rushed into the river, proposing to storm us, which, tospeak truth, I think they would have done had I not been a fairlyquick shot. 

As it was, finding that they were losing too heavily from ourfire, they retreated in a hurry, leaving their dead behind them, and even a wounded man who was clinging to a rock. He, poorwretch, was in mortal terror lest we should shoot him again, which I had not the heart to do, although as his leg wasshattered above the knee by an Express bullet, it might have beentrue kindness. Again and again he called out for mercy, sayingthat he only attacked us because his chief, who had been warnedof our coming "by the White Man, " ordered him to take our gunsand cattle. 

"What white man?" I shouted. "Speak or I shoot. "

There was no answer, for at this moment he fainted from loss ofblood and vanished beneath the water. Then another Basuto, Isuppose he was their captain, but do not know for he was hiddenin some bushes, called out--

"Do not think that you shall escape, White Men. There are manymore of our people coming, and we will kill you in the night whenyou cannot see to shoot us. "

At this moment, too, Footsack shouted that the wagon wasinspanned and ready. Now I hesitated what to do. If we made forthe wagon, which must be very slowly because of Anscombe'swounded foot, we had to cross seventy or eighty yards of risingground almost devoid of cover. If, on the other hand, we stayedwhere we were till nightfall a shot might catch one of us, orother Basutos might arrive and rush us. There was also a thirdpossibility, that our terrified servants might trek off and leaveus in order to save their own lives, which verily I believe theywould have done, not being of Zulu blood. I put the problem toAnscombe, who shook his head and looked at his foot. Then heproduced a lucky penny which he carried in his pocket and said--

"Let us invoke the Fates. Heads we run like heroes; tails westay here like heroes, " and he spun the penny, while I stared athim open-mouthed and not without admiration. 

Never, I thought to myself, had this primitive method of cuttinga gordian knot been resorted to in such strange and urgentcircumstances. 

"Heads it is!" he said coolly. "Now, my boy, do you run and I'llcrawl after you. If I don't arrive, you know my people'saddress, and I bequeath to you all my African belongings inmemory of a most pleasant trip. "

"Don't play the fool, " I replied sternly. "Come, put your rightarm round my neck and hop on your left leg as you never hoppedbefore. "

Then we started, and really our transit was quite lively, forall those Basutos began what for them was rapid firing. I think, however, that their best shots must have fallen, for not a bullettouched us, although before we got out of their range one or twowent very near. 

"There, " said Anscombe, as a last amazing hop brought him to thewagon rail, "there, you see how wise it is give Providence achance sometimes. "

"In the shape of a lucky penny, " I grumbled as I hoisted him up. 

"Certainly, for why should not Providence inhabit a penny as muchas it does any other mundane thing? Oh, my dear Quatermain, haveyou never been taught to look to the pence and let the rest takecare of itself?"

"Stop talking rubbish and look to your foot, for the wagon isstarting, " I replied. 

Then off we went at a good round trot, for never have I seen oxenmore scientifically driven than they were by Footsack and hisfriends on this occasion, or a greater pace got out of them. Assoon as we reached a fairly level piece of ground I made Anscombelie down on the cartel of the wagon and examined his wound aswell as circumstances would allow. I found that the bullet orwhatever the missile may have been, had gone through his rightinstep just beneath the big sinew, but so far as I could judgewithout injuring any bone. There was nothing to be done exceptrub in some carbolic ointment, which fortunately he had in hismedicine chest, and bind up the wound as best I could with aclean handkerchief, after which I tied a towel, that was _not_clean, over the whole foot. 

By this time evening was coming on, so we ate of such as we hadwith us, which we needed badly enough, without stopping thewagon. I remember that it consisted of cheese and hard biscuits. At dark we were obliged to halt a little by a stream until themoon rose, which fortunately she did very soon, as she was onlyjust past her full. As soon as she was up we started again, andwith a breathing space or two, trekked all that night, which Ispent seated on the after part of the wagon and keeping a sharplook out, while, notwithstanding the roughness of the road andhis hurt, Anscombe slept like a child upon the cartel inside. 

I was very tired, so tired that the fear of surprise was the onlything that kept me awake, and I recall reflecting in a stupidkind of way, that it seemed always to have been my lot in life towatch thus, in one sense or another, while others slept. 

The night passed somehow without anything happening, and at dawnwe halted for a while to water the oxen, which we did withbuckets, and let them eat what grass they could reach from theiryokes, since we did not dare to outspan them. Just as we werestarting on again the voortrekker, whom I had set to watch at alittle distance, ran up with his eyes bulging out of his head, and reported that he had seen a Basuto with an assegai hangingabout in the bush, as though to keep touch with us, after whichwe delayed no more. 

All that day we blundered on, thrashing the weary cattle that atevery halt tried to lie down, and by nightfall came to theoutspan near to the house called the Temple, where we had met theKaffirs returning from the diamond fields. This journey we hadaccomplished in exactly half the time it had taken on the outwardtrip. Here we were obliged to stop, as our team must have restand food. So we outspanned and slept that night without muchfear, since I thought it most improbable that the Basutos wouldattempt to follow us so far, as we were now within a day's trekof Pilgrim's Rest, whither we proposed to proceed on the morrow. But that is just where I made a mistake. 

CHAPTER IV

DOCTOR RODD

I did get a little sleep that night, with one eye open, butbefore dawn I was up again seeing to the feeding of our remaininghorse with some mealies that we carried, and other matters. Theoxen we had been obliged to unyoke that they might fillthemselves with grass and water, since otherwise I feared that weshould never get them on to their feet again. As it was, thepoor brutes were so tired that some of them could scarcely eat, and all lay down at the first opportunity. 

Having awakened Footsack and the other boys that they might beready to take advantage of the light when it came, for I wasanxious to be away, I drank a nip of Hollands and water and ate abiscuit, making Anscombe do the same. Coffee would have beenmore acceptable, but I thought it wiser not to light a fire forfear of showing our whereabouts. 

Now a faint glimmer in the east told me that the dawn was coming. Just by the wagon grew a fair-sized, green-leaved tree, and as itwas quite easy to climb even by starlight, up it I went so as toget above the ground mist and take a look round before wetrekked. Presently the sky grew pearly and light began togather; then the edge of the sun appeared, throwing long levelrays across the world. Everywhere the mist lay dense as cottonwool, except at one spot about a mile behind us where there was alittle hill or rather a wave of the ground, over which we hadtrekked upon the preceding evening. The top of this rise wasabove mist level, and on it no trees grew because the granitecame to the surface. Having discovered nothing, I called to theboys to drive up the oxen, some of which had risen and wereeating again, and prepared to descend from my tree. 

As I did so, out of the corner of my eye I caught sight ofsomething that glittered far away, so far that it would only haveattracted the notice of a trained hunter. Yes, something wasshining on the brow of the rise of which I have spoken. I staredat it through my glasses and saw what I had feared to see. Abody of natives was crossing the rise and the glitter was causedby the rays of dawn striking on their spears and gun-barrels. 

I came down out of that tree like a frightened wild cat and ranto the wagon, thinking hard as I went. The Basutos were afterus, meaning to attack as soon as there was sufficient light. Inten minutes or less they would be here. There was no time toinspan the oxen, and even if there had been, stiff and weary asthe beasts were, we should be overtaken before we had gone ahundred yards on that bad road. What then was to be done? Runfor it? It was impossible, Anscombe could not run. My eye fellupon the horse munching the last of his mealies. 

"Footsack, " I said as quietly as I could, "never mind aboutinspanning yet, but saddle up the horse. Be quick now. "

He looked at me doubtfully, but obeyed, having seen nothing. Ifhe had seen I knew that he would have been off. I nipped roundto the end of the wagon, calling to the other two boys to let theoxen be a while and come to me. 

"Now, Anscombe, " I said, "hand out the rifles and cartridges. Don't stop to ask questions, but do what I tell you. They are onthe rack by your side. So. Now put on your revolver and let mehelp you down. Man, don't forget your hat. "

He obeyed quickly enough, and presently was standing on one legby my side, looking cramped and tottery. 

"The Basutos are on us, " I said. 

He whistled and remarked something about Chapter No. 2. 

"Footsack, " I called, "bring the horse here; the Baas wishes toride a little to ease his leg. "

He did so, stopping a moment to pull the second girth tight. Then we helped Anscombe into the saddle. 

"Which way?" he asked. 

I looked at the long slope in front of us. It was steep and badgoing. Anscombe might get up it on the horse before the Kaffirsovertook us, but it was extremely problematical if we could doso. I might perhaps if I mounted behind him and the horse couldbear us both, which was doubtful, but how about our poorservants? He saw the doubt upon my face and said in his quietway, "You may remember that our white-bearded friend told us to makestraight for his place in case of any difficulty with theBasutos. It seems to have arisen. "

"I know he did, " I answered, "but I cannot make up my mind whichis the more dangerous, Marnham or the Basutos. I rather thinkthat he set them on to us. "

"It is impossible to solve problems at this hour of the morning, Quatermain, and there is no time to toss. So I vote for theTemple. "

"It seems our best chance. At any rate that's your choice, solet's go. "

Then I sang out to the Kaffirs, "The Basutos are on us. We go toTampel for refuge. Run!"

My word! they did run. I never saw athletes make better timeover the first quarter of a mile. We ran, too, or at least thehorse did, I hanging on to the stirrup and Anscombe holding boththe rifles beneath his arm. But the beast was tired, also blownout with that morning feed of mealies, so our progress was notvery fast. When we were about two hundred yards from the wagon Ilooked back and saw the Basutos beginning to arrive. They saw usalso, and uttering a sort of whistling war cry, started inpursuit. 

After this we had quite an interesting time. I scrambled on tothe horse behind Anscombe, whereon that intelligent animal, feeling the double weight, reduced its pace proportionately, to aslow tripple, indeed, out of which it could not be persuaded tomove. So I slipped off again over its tail and we went on asbefore. Meanwhile the Basutos, very active fellows, were comingup. By this time the yellow-wood grove in the swamp, of which Ihave already written, was close to us, and it became quite aquestion which of us would get there first (I may mention thatFootsack & Co. Had already attained its friendly shelter). Anscombe kicked the horse with his sound heel and I thumped itwith my fist, thereby persuading it to a hand gallop. 

As we reached the outlying trees of the wood the first Basuto, alank fellow with a mouth like a rat trap, arrived and threw anassegai at us which passed between Anscombe's back and my nose. Then he closed and tried to stab with another assegai. I coulddo nothing, but Anscombe showed himself cleverer than I expected. Dropping the reins, he drew his pistol and managed to send abullet through that child of nature's head, so that he went downlike a stone. 

"And you tell me I am a bad shot, " he drawled. 

"It was a fluke, " I gasped, for even in these circumstances truthwould prevail. 

"Wait and you'll see, " he replied, re-cocking the revolver. 

As a matter of fact there was no need for more shooting, since atthe verge of the swamp the Basutos pulled up. I do not thinkthat the death of their companion caused them to do this, forthey seemed to take no notice of him. It was as though they hadreached some boundary which they knew it would not be lawful forthem to pass. They simply stopped, took the dead man's assegaiand shield from the body and walked quietly back towards thewagon, leaving him where he lay. The horse stopped also, orrather proceeded at a walk. 

"There!" exclaimed Anscombe. "Did I not tell you I had apresentiment that I should kill a man in this accursed wood?"

"Yes, " I said as soon as I had recovered my breath, "but youmixed up a woman with the matter and I don't see one. "

"That's true, " he replied, "I hope we shan't meet her later. "

Then we went on as quickly as we could, which was not very fast, for I feared lest the Basutos should change their minds andfollow us. As the risk of this became less our spirits rose, since if we had lost the wagon and the oxen, at least we hadsaved our lives, which was almost more than we could haveexpected in the circumstances. At last we came to that gladewhere we had killed the wildebeeste not a week before. There layits skeleton picked clean by the great brown kites that frequentthe bush-veld, some of which still sat about in the trees. 

"Well, I suppose we must go on to Tampel, " said Anscombe ratherfaintly, for I could see that his wound was giving him a gooddeal of pain. 

As he spoke from round the tree whence he had first emerged, appeared Mr. Marnham, riding the same horse and wearing the sameclothes. The only difference between his two entries was thatthe first took place in the late evening and the second in theearly morning. 

"So here you are again, " he said cheerfully. 

"Yes, " I answered, "and it is strange to meet you at the samespot. Were you expecting us?"

"Not more than I expect many things, " he replied with a shrewdglance at me, adding, "I always rise with the sun, and thinkingthat I heard a shot fired in the distance, came to see what washappening. The Basutos attacked you at daybreak, did they not?"

"They did, but how did you know that, Mr. Marnham?"

"Your servants told me. I met them running to the house lookingvery frightened. You are wounded, Mr. Anscombe?"

"Yes, a couple of days ago on the border of Sekukuni's countrywhere the natives tried to murder us. "

"Ah!" he replied without surprise. "I warned you the trip wasdangerous, did I not? Well, come on home where my partner, Rodd, who luckily has had medical experience, will attend to you. Mr. Quatermain can tell me the story as we go. "

So we went on up the long slope, I relating our adventures, towhich Mr. Marnham listened without comment. 

"I expect that the Kaffirs will have looted the wagon and be onthe way home with your oxen by now, " he said when I had finished. 

"Are you not afraid that they will follow us here?" I asked. 

"Oh no, Mr. Quatermain. We do business with these people, alsothey sometimes come to be doctored by Rodd when they are sick, sothis place is sacred ground to them. They stopped hunting youwhen they got to the Yellow-wood swamp where our land begins, didthey not?"

"Yes, but now I want to hunt them. Can you give me any help?Those oxen are tired out and footsore, so we might be able tocatch them up. "

He shook his head. "We have very few people here, and by thetime that you could get assistance from the Camp at Barberton, ifthe Commandant is able and willing to give you any, which Irather doubt, they will be far away. Moreover, " he added, dropping his voice, "let us come to an understanding. You aremost welcome to any help or hospitality that I can offer, but ifyou wish to do more fighting I must ask you to go elsewhere. AsI have told you, we are peaceful men who trade with these people, and do not wish to be involved in a quarrel with them, whichmight expose us to attack or bring us into trouble with theBritish Government which has annexed but not conquered theircountry. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly. While we are with you we will do nothing, butafterwards we hold ourselves at liberty to act as we think best. "

"Quite so. Meanwhile I hope that you and Mr. Anscombe will makeyourselves comfortable with us for as long as you like. "

In my own mind I came to the conclusion that this would be forthe shortest time possible, but I only said--

"It is most kind of you to take in complete strangers thus. No, not complete, " I added, looking towards Anscombe who wasfollowing on the tired horse a few paces behind, "for you knewhis father, did you not?"

"His father?" he said, lifting his eyebrows. "No. Oh! Iremember, I said something to that effect the other night, but itwas a mistake. I mixed up two names, as one often does after alapse of many years. "

"I understand, " I answered, but remembering Anscombe's story Ireflected to myself that our venerable host was an excellentliar. Or more probably he meant to convey that he wished thesubject of his youthful reminiscences to be taboo. 

Just then we reached the house which had a pretty patch ofwell-kept flower-garden in front of it, surrounded by a fencecovered with wire netting to keep out buck. By the gate squattedour three retainers, looking very blown and rather ashamed ofthemselves. 

"Your master wishes to thank you for your help in a dark hour, Footsack, and I wish to congratulate you all upon the swiftnessof your feet, " I said in Dutch. 

"Oh! Baas, the Basutos were many and their spears are sharp, " hebegan apologetically. 

"Be silent, you running dog, " I said, "and go help your master todismount. "

Then we went through the gate, Anscombe leaning on my shoulderand on that of Mr. Marnham, and up the path which was borderedwith fences of the monthly rose, towards the house. Really thiswas almost as charming to look at near at hand as it had beenfrom far away. Of course the whole thing was crude in detail. Rough, half-shaped blocks of marble from the neighbouring quarryhad been built into walls and columns. Nothing was finished, andconsidered bit by bit all was coarse and ugly. Yet the generaleffect was beautiful because it was an effect of design, thepicture of an artist who did not fully understand thetechnicalities of painting, the work of a great writer who had asyet no proper skill in words. Never did I see a small buildingthat struck me more. But then what experience have I ofbuildings, and, as Anscombe reminded me afterwards, it was but acopy of something designed when the world was young, or ratherwhen civilization was young, and man new risen from the infiniteages of savagery, saw beauty in his dreams and tried to symbolizeit in shapes of stone. 

We came to the broad stoep, to which several rough blocks ofmarble served as steps. On it in a long chair made of nativewood and seated with hide rimpis, sat or rather lolled a man in adressing-gown who was reading a book. He raised himself as wecame and the light of the sun, for the verandah faced to theeast, shone full upon his face, so that I saw him well. It wasthat of a man of something under forty years of age, dark, powerful, and weary--not a good face, I thought. Indeed, it gaveme the impression of one who had allowed the evil which exists inthe nature of all of us to become his master, or had evenencouraged it to do so. 

In the Psalms and elsewhere we are always reading of therighteous and the unrighteous until those terms grow wearisome. It is only of late years that I have discovered, or think that Ihave discovered, what they mean. Our lives cannot be judged byour deeds; they must be judged by our desires or rather by ourmoral attitude. It is not what we do so much as what we try todo that counts in the formation of character. All fall short, all fail, but in the end those who seek to climb out of the pit, those who strive, however vainly, to fashion failure to success, are, by comparison, the righteous, while those who are content towallow in our native mire and to glut themselves with the dailybread of vice, are the unrighteous. To turn our backs thereonwilfully and without cause, is the real unforgiveable sin againstthe Spirit. At least that is the best definition of the problemat which I in my simplicity can arrive. 

Such thoughts have often occurred to me in considering thecharacter of Dr. Rodd and some others whom I have known; indeedthe germ of them arose in my mind which, being wearied at thetime and therefore somewhat vacant, was perhaps the more open toexternal impressions, as I looked upon the face of this strangeron the stoep. Moreover, as I am proud to record, I did not judgehim altogether wrongly. He was a blackguard who, under otherinfluences or with a few added grains of self-restraint and ofthe power of recovery, might have become a good or even a saintlyman. But by some malice of Fate or some evil inheritance from anunknown past, those grains were lacking, and therefore he wentnot up but down the hill. 

"Case for you, Rodd, " called out Marnham. 

"Indeed, " he answered, getting to his feet and speaking in a fullvoice, which, like his partner's, was that of an educatedEnglishman. "What's the matter. Horse accident?"

Then we were introduced, and Anscombe began to explain hisinjury. 

"Um!" said the doctor, studying him with dark eyes. "Kaffirbullet through the foot some days ago. Ought to be attended toat once. Also you look pretty done, so don't tire yourself withthe story, which I can get from Mr. Quatermain. Come and liedown and I'll have a look at you while they are cookingbreakfast. "

Then he guided us to a room of which the double French windowsopened on to the stoep, a very pretty room with two beds in it. Making Anscombe lie down on one of these he turned up histrouser, undid my rough bandage and examined the wound. 

"Painful?" he asked. 

"Very, " answered Anscombe, "right up to the thigh. "

After this he drew off the nether garments and made a furtherexamination. 

"Um, " he said again, "I must syringe this out. Stay still whileI get some stuff. "

I followed him from the room, and when we were out of hearing onthe stoep inquired what he thought. I did not like the look ofthat leg. 

"It is very bad, " he answered, "so bad that I am wondering if itwouldn't be best to remove the limb below the knee and make it ajob. You can see for yourself that it is septic and theinflammation is spreading up rapidly. "

"Good Heavens!" I exclaimed, "do you fear mortification?"

He nodded. "Can't say what was on that slug or bit of old ironand he hasn't had the best chance since. Mortification, ortetanus, or both, are more than possible. Is he a temperateman?"

"So far as I know, " I answered, and stared at him while hethought. Then he said with decision, "That makes a difference. To lose a foot is a serious thing;some might think almost as bad as death. I'll give him a chance, but if those symptoms do not abate in twenty-four hours, I mustoperate. You needn't be afraid, I was house surgeon at a LondonHospital--once, and I keep my hand in. Lucky you came straighthere. "

Having made his preparations and washed his hands, he returned, syringed the wound with some antiseptic stuff, and dressed andbandaged the leg up to the knee. After this he gave Anscombe hotmilk to drink, with two eggs broken into it, and told him to resta while as he must not eat anything solid at present. Then hethrew a blanket over him, and, signing to me to come away, letdown a mat over the window. 

"I put a little something into that milk, " he said outside, "which will send him to sleep for a few hours. So we will leavehim quiet. Now you'll want a wash. "

"Where are you going to take Mr. Quatermain?" asked Marnham whowas seated on the stoep. 

"Into my room, " he answered. 

"Why? There's Heda's ready. "

"Heda might return at any moment, " replied the doctor. "Also Mr. Quatermain had better sleep in Mr. Anscombe's room. He will verylikely want some one to look after him at night. "

Marnham opened his mouth to speak again, then changed his mindand was silent, as a servant is silent under rebuke. Theincident was quite trifling, yet it revealed to me the relativeattitude of these two men. Without a doubt Rodd was the masterof his partner, who did not even care to dispute with him aboutthe matter of the use of his daughter's bedroom. They were aqueer couple who, had it not been for my anxiety as to Anscombe'sillness, would have interested me very much, as indeed they weredestined to do. 

Well, I went to tidy up in the doctor's room, and as he left mealone while I washed, had the opportunity of studying it alittle. Like the rest of the house it was lined with native woodwhich was made to serve as the backs of bookshelves and ofcupboards filled with medicines and instruments. The booksformed a queer collection. There were medical works, philosophical works, histories, novels, most of them French, andother volumes of a sort that I imagine are generally kept underlock and key; also some that had to do with occult matters. There was even a Bible. I opened it thoughtlessly, half in idlecuriosity, to see whether it was ever used, only to replace it inhaste. For at the very page that my eye fell on, I remember itwas one of my favourite chapters in Isaiah, was a stamp in violetink marked H. M. 's Prison--well, I won't say where. 

I may state, however, that the clue enabled me in after years tolearn an episode in this man's life which had brought about hisruin. There is no need to repeat it or to say more than thatgambling and an evil use of his medical knowledge to provide themoney to pay his debts, were the cause of his fall. The strangething is that he should have kept the book which had probablybeen given to him by the prison chaplain. Still everybody makesmistakes sometimes. Or it may have had associations for him, andof course he had never seen this stamp upon an unread page, whichhappened to leap to my eye. 

Now I was able to make a shrewd guess at his later career. Afterhis trouble he had emigrated and began to practise in SouthAfrica. Somehow his identity had been discovered; his past wasdragged up against him, possibly by rivals jealous of his skill;his business went and he found it advisable to retire to theTransvaal before the Annexation, at that time the home of sundrypeople of broken repute. Even there he did not stop in a town, but hid himself upon the edge of savagery. Here he foregatheredwith another man of queer character, Marnham, and in his companyentered upon some doubtful but lucrative form of trade whilestill indulging his love of medicine by doctoring and operatingupon natives, over whom he would in this way acquire greatinfluence. Indeed, as I discovered before the day was over, hehad quite a little hospital at the back of the house in whichwere four or five beds occupied by Kaffirs and served by two malenative nurses whom he had trained. Also numbers of out-patientsvisited him, some of whom travelled from great distances, andoccasionally, but not often, he attended white people who chancedto be in the neighbourhood. 

The three of us breakfasted in a really charming room from thewindow of which could be studied a view as beautiful as any Iknow. The Kaffirs who waited were well trained and dressed inneat linen uniforms. The cooking was good; there was real silveron the table, then a strange sight in that part of Africa, andamongst engravings and other pictures upon the walls, hung an oilportrait of a very beautiful young woman with dark hair and eyes. 

"Is that your daughter, Mr. Marnham?" I asked. 

"No, " he replied rather shortly, "it is her mother. "

Immediately afterwards he was called from the room to speak tosome one, whereon the doctor said--

"A foreigner as you see, a Hungarian; the Hungarian women arevery good looking and very charming. "

"So I have understood, " I answered, "but does this lady livehere?"

"Oh, no. She is dead, or I believe that she is dead. I am notsure, because I make it a rule never to pry into people's privateaffairs. All I know about her is that she was a beauty whomMarnham married late in life upon the Continent when she was buteighteen. As is common in such cases he was very jealous of her, but it didn't last long, as she died, or I understand that shedied, within a year of her daughter's birth. The loss affectedhim so much that he emigrated to South Africa with the child andbegan life anew. I do not think that they correspond withHungary, and he never speaks of her even to his daughter, whichsuggests that she is dead. "

I reflected that all these circumstances might equally wellsuggest several other things, but said nothing, thinking itwisest not to pursue the subject. Presently Marnham returned andinformed me that a native had just brought him word that theBasutos had made off homeward with our cattle, but had left thewagon and its contents quite untouched, not even stealing thespare guns and ammunition. 

"That's luck, " I said, astonished, "but extremely strange. Howdo you explain it, Mr. Marnham?"

He shrugged his shoulders and answered--

"As every one knows, you are a much greater expert in nativehabits and customs than I am, Mr. Quatermain. "

"There are only two things that I can think of, " I said. "One isthat for some reason or other they thought the wagon tagati, bewitched you know, and that it would bring evil on them to touchit, though this did not apply to the oxen. The other is thatthey supposed it, but not the oxen, to belong to some friend oftheir own whose property they did not wish to injure. "

He looked at me sharply but said nothing, and I went on to tellthem the details of the attack that had been made upon us, adding--

"The odd part of the affair is that one of those Basutos calledout to us that some infernal scoundrel of a white had warnedSekukuni of our coming and that he had ordered them to take ourguns and cattle. This Basuto, who was wounded and praying formercy, was drowned before he could tell me who the white manwas. "

"A Boer, I expect, " said Marnham quietly. "As you know they arenot particularly well affected towards us English just now. AlsoI happen to be aware that some of them are intriguing withSekukuni against the British through Makurupiji, his 'Mouth' orprime-minister, a very clever old scamp who likes to have twostools to sit on. "

"And doubtless will end by falling between them. Well, you see, now that I think of it, the wounded Kaffir only said that theywere ordered to take our guns and oxen, and incidentally ourlives. The wagon was not mentioned. "

"Quite so, Mr. Quatermain. I will send some of our boys to helpyour servants to bring everything it contains up here. "

"Can't you lend me a team of oxen, " I asked, "to drag it to thehouse?"

"No, we have nothing but young cattle left. Both red-water andlung-sickness have been so bad this season that all the hornedstock have been swept out of the country. I doubt whether youcould beg, borrow or steal a team of oxen this side of Pretoria, except from some of the Dutchmen who won't part. "

"That's awkward. I hoped to be able to trek in a day or two. "

"Your friend won't be able to trek for a good many days at thebest, " broke in the doctor, who had been listening unconcernedly, "but of course you could get away on the horse after it hasrested. "

"You told me you left a span of oxen at Pretoria, " said Marnham. "Why not go and fetch them here, or if you don't like to leaveMr. Anscombe, send your driver and the boys. "

"Thanks for the idea. I will think it over, " I answered. 

That morning after Footsack and the voorlooper had been sent withsome of the servants from the Temple to fetch up the contents ofthe wagon, for I was too tired to accompany them, having foundthat Anscombe was still asleep, I determined to follow hisexample. Finding a long chair on the stoep, I sat down andslumbered in it sweetly for hours. I dreamt of all sorts ofthings, then through my dreams it seemed to me that I heard twovoices talking, those of our Marnham and Rodd, not on the stoep, but at a distance from it. As a matter of fact they weretalking, but so far away that in my ordinary waking state I couldnever have heard them. My own belief is that the senses, and Imay add the semi-spiritual part of us, are much more acute whenwe lie half bound in the bonds of sleep, than when we are what iscalled wide awake. Doubtless when we are quite bound they attainthe limits of their power and, I think, sail at times to theuttermost ends of being. But unhappily of their experiences weremember nothing when we awake. In half sleep it is different;then we do retain some recollection. 

In this curious condition of mind it seemed to me that Rodd saidto Marnham--

"Why have you brought these men here?"

"I did not bring them here, " he answered. "Luck, Fate, Fortune, God or the Devil, call it what you will, brought them here, though if you had your wish, it is true they would never havecome. Still, as they have come, I am glad. It is something tome, living in this hell, to get a chance of talking to Englishgentlemen again before I die. "

"English gentlemen, " remarked Rodd reflectively, "Well, Anscombeis of course, but how about that other hunter? After all, inwhat way is he better than the scores of other hunters and Kaffirtraders and wanderers whom one meets in this strange land?"

"In what way indeed?" thought I to myself, in my dream. 

"If you can't see, I can't explain to you. But as I happen toknow, the man is of blood as good as mine--and a great dealbetter than yours, " he added with a touch of insolence. "Moreover, he has an honest name among white and black, which ismuch in this country. "

"Yes, " replied the doctor in the same reflective voice, "I agreewith you, I let him pass as a gentleman. But I repeat, Why didyou bring them here when with one more word it would have been soeasy--" and he stopped. 

"I have told you, it was not I. What are you driving at?"

"Do you think it is exactly convenient, especially when we areunder the British flag again, to have two people who, we bothadmit, are English gentlemen, that is, clean, clear-eyed men, considering us and our affairs for an indefinite period, justbecause you wish for the pleasure of their society? Would it nothave been better to tell those Basutos to let them trek on toPretoria?"

"I don't know what would have been better. I repeat, what areyou driving at?

"Heda is coming home in a day or two; she might be here anytime, " remarked Rodd as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe. 

"Yes, because you made me write and say that I wanted her. Butwhat of that?"

"Nothing in particular, except that I am not sure that I wish herto associate with 'an English gentleman' like this Anscombe. "

Marnham laughed scornfully. "Ah! I understand, " he said. "Tooclean and straight. Complications might ensue and the rest ofit. Well, I wish to God they would, for I know the Anscombes, orused to, and I know the genus called Rodd. "

"Don't be insulting; you may carry the thing too far one day, andwhatever I have done I have paid for. But you've not paid--yet. "

"The man is very ill. You are a skilled doctor. If you'reafraid of him, why don't you kill him?" asked Marnham with bitterscorn. 

"There you have me, " replied Rodd. "Men may shed much, but mostof them never shed their professional honour. I shall do myhonest best to cure Mr. Anscombe, and I tell you that he willtake some curing. "

Then I woke up, and as no one was in sight, wondered whether orno I had been dreaming. The upshot of it was that I made up mymind to send Footsack to Pretoria for the oxen, not to go myself. 

CHAPTER V

A GAME OF CARDS

I slept in Anscombe's room that night and looked after him. Hewas very feverish and the pain in his leg kept him awake a gooddeal. He told me that he could not bear Dr. Rodd and wished toget away at once. I had to explain to him that this wasimpossible until his spare oxen arrived which I was going to sendfor to Pretoria, but of other matters, including that of thedangerous state of his foot, I said nothing. I was thankful whentowards two in the morning, he fell into a sound sleep andallowed me to do the same. 

Before breakfast time, just as I had finished dressing myself insome of the clean things which had been brought from the wagon, Rodd came and made a thorough and business-like examination ofhis patient, while I awaited the result with anxiety on thestoep. At length he appeared and said--

"Well, I think that we shall be able to save the foot, though Ican't be quite sure for another twenty-four hours. The worstsymptoms have abated and his temperature is down by two degrees. Anyway he will have to stay in bed and live on light food till itis normal, after which he might lie in a long chair on the stoep. On no account must he attempt to stand. "

I thanked him for his information heartily enough and asked himif he knew where Marnham was, as I wanted to speak to him withreference to the despatch of Footsack to fetch the oxen fromPretoria. 

"Not up yet, I think, " he answered. "I fancy that yesterday wasone of his 'wet' nights, excitement of meeting strangers and soon. "

"Wet nights?" I queried, wishing for a clearer explanation. 

"Yes, he is a grand old fellow, one of the best, but like mostother people he has his little weaknesses, and when the fit is onhim he can put away a surprising amount of liquor. I tell you sothat you should not be astonished if you notice anything, or tryto argue with him when he is in that state, as then his temper isapt to be--well, lively. Now I must go and give him a pint ofwarm milk; that is his favourite antidote, and in fact the bestthere is. "

I thought to myself that we had struck a nice establishment inwhich to be tied, literally by the leg, for an indefinite period. I was not particularly flush at the time, but I know I would havepaid a #100 to be out of it; before the end I should have beenglad to throw in everything that I had. But mercifully that washidden from me. 

Rodd and I breakfasted together and discoursed of Kaffir customs, as to which he was singularly well informed. Then I accompaniedhim to see his native patients in the little hospital of which Ihave spoken. Believing the man to be a thorough scamp as I did, it was astonishing to me to note how gentle and forbearing he wasto these people. Of his skill I need say nothing, as that wasevident. He was going to perform an internal operation upon aburly old savage, rather a serious one I believe; at any rate itnecessitated chloroform. He asked me if I would like to assist, but I declined respectfully, having no taste for such things. SoI left him boiling his instruments and putting on what lookedlike a clean nightgown over his clothes, and returned to thestoep. 

Here I found Marnham, whose eyes were rather bloodshot, thoughotherwise, except for a shaky hand, he seemed right enough. Hemurmured something about having overslept himself and inquiredvery politely, for his manners were beautiful, after Anscombe andas to whether we were quite comfortable and so forth. After thisI consulted him as to the best road for our servants to travel byto Pretoria, and later on despatched them, giving Footsackvarious notes to ensure the delivery of the oxen to him. Also Igave him some money to pay for their keep and told him with manythreats to get back with the beasts as quick as he could travel. Then I sent him and the two other boys off, not withoutmisgivings, although he was an experienced man in his way andpromised faithfully to fulfil every injunction to the letter. Tome he seemed so curiously glad to go that I inquired the reason, since after a journey like ours, it would have been more naturalif he had wished to rest. 

"Oh! Baas, " he said, "I don't think this Tampel very healthy forcoloured people. I am told of some who have died here. That manKarl who gave me the diamond, I think he must have died also, atleast I saw his spook last night standing over me and shaking hishead, and the boys saw it too. "

"Oh! be off with your talk of spooks, " I said, "and come backquickly with those oxen, or I promise you that you will die andbe a spook yourself. "

"I will, Baas, I will!" he ejaculated and departed almost at arun, leaving me rather uncomfortable. 

I believed nothing of the tale of the spook of Karl, but I sawthat Footsack believed in it, and was afraid lest he might bethereby prevented from returning. I would much rather have gonemyself, but it was impossible for me to leave Anscombe so ill inthe hands of our strange hosts. And there was no one else whom Icould send. I might perhaps have ridden to Pilgrim's Rest andtried to find a white messenger there; indeed afterwards Iregretted not having done so, although it would have involved atleast a day's absence at a very critical time. But the truth isI never thought of it until too late, and probably if I had, Ishould not have been able to discover anyone whom I could trust. 

As I walked back to the house, having parted from Footsack onthe top of a neighbouring ridge whence I could point out his pathto him, I met Marnham riding away. He pulled up and said that hewas going down to the Granite stream to arrange about settingsome one up to watch the wagon. I expressed sorrow that heshould have the trouble, which should have been mine if I couldhave got away, whereon he answered that he was glad of theopportunity for a ride, as it was something to do. 

"How do you fill in your time here, " I asked carelessly, "as youdon't farm?"

"Oh! by trading, " he replied, and with a nod set his horse to acanter. 

A queer sort of trading, thought I to myself, where there is nostore. Now what exactly does he trade in, I wonder?

As it happened I was destined to find out before I was an hourolder. Having given Anscombe a look and found that he wascomfortable, I thought that I would inspect the quarry whence themarble came of which the house was built, as it had occurred tome that if there was plenty of it, it might be worth exploitingsome time in the future. It had been pointed out to me in themidst of some thorns in a gully that ran at right angles to themain kloof not more than a few hundred yards from the house. Following a path over which the stones had been draggedoriginally, I came to the spot and discovered that a littlecavity had been quarried in what seemed to me to be a positivemountain of pure white marble. I examined the place asthoroughly as I could, climbing among some bushes that grew insurface earth which had been washed down from the top, in orderto do so. 

At the back of these bushes there was a hole large enough for aman to creep through. I crept through with the object ofascertaining whether the marble veins continued. To my surpriseI found a stout yellow-wood door within feet of the mouth of thehole. Reflecting that no doubt it was here that the quarrymenkept, or had kept tools and explosives, I gave it a push. Isuppose it had been left unfastened accidentally, or thatsomething had gone wrong with the lock; at any rate it swungopen. Pursuing my researches as to the depth of the marble Iadvanced boldly and, the place being dark, struck a match. Evidently the marble did continue, as I could see by theglittering roof of a cavern, for such it was. But the floorattracted my attention as well as the roof, for on it werenumerous cases not unlike coffins, bearing the stamp of awell-known Birmingham firm, labelled "fencing iron" andaddressed to Messrs. Marnham & Rodd, Transvaal, _via_ DelagoaBay. 

I knew at once what they were, having seen the like before, butif any doubt remained in my mind it was easy to solve, for as itchanced one of the cases was open and half emptied. I slipped myhand into it. As I thought it contained the ordinary Kaffir gunof commerce, cost delivered in Africa, say 35s. ; cost deliveredto native chief in cash or cattle, say #10, which, when themarket is eager, allows for a decent profit. Contemplating thosecases, survivors probably of a much larger stock, I understoodhow it came about that Sekukuni had dared to show fight againstthe Government. Doubtless it was hence that the guns had comewhich sent a bullet through Anscombe's foot and nearly polishedoff both of us. 

Moreover, as further matches showed me, that cave contained otherstores--item, kegs of gunpowder; item, casks of cheap spirit;item, bars of lead, also a box marked "bullet moulds" and anothermarked "Percussion caps. " I think, too, there were some innocentbags full of beads and a few packages of Birmingham-made assegaiblades. There may have been other things, but if so I did notwait to investigate them. Gathering up the ends of my matchesand, in case there should be any dust in the place that wouldshow footmarks, flapping the stone floor behind me with my pockethandkerchief, I retired and continued my investigations of thatwonderful marble deposit from the bottom of the quarry, to which, having re-arranged the bushes, I descended by another route, leaping like a buck from stone to stone. 

It was just as well that I did so, for a few minutes later Dr. Rodd appeared. 

"Made a good job of your operation?" I asked cheerfully. 

"Pretty fair, thanks, " he answered, "although that Kaffir triedto brain the nurse-man when he was coming out of the anesthetic. But are you interested in geology?"

"A little, " I replied, "that is if there is any chance of makingmoney out of it, which there ought to be here, as this marblelooks almost as good as that of Carrara. But flint instrumentsare more my line, that is in an ignorant and amateur way, as Ithink they are in yours, for I saw some in your room. Tell me, what do you think of this. Is it a scraper?" and I produced astone out of my pocket which I had found a week before in thebush-veld. 

At once he forgot his suspicions, of which I could see he arrivedvery full indeed. This curious man, as it happened, was reallyfond of flint instruments, of which he knew a great deal. 

"Did you find this here?" he asked. 

I led him several yards further from the mouth of the cave andpointed out the exact spot where I said I had picked it upamongst some quarry debris. Then followed a most learneddiscussion, for it appeared that this was a flint instrument ofthe rarest and most valuable type, one that Noah might have used, or Job might have scraped himself with, and the question was howthe dickens had it come among that quarry debris. In the end weleft the problem undecided, and having presented the article toDr. Rodd, a gift for which he thanked me with real warmth, Ireturned to the house filled with the glow that rewards one whohas made a valuable discovery. 

Of the following three days I have nothing particular to say, except that during them I was perhaps more acutely bored thanever I had been in my life before. The house was beautiful inits own fashion; the food was excellent; there was everything Icould want to drink, and Rodd announced that he no longer fearedthe necessity of operation upon Anscombe's leg. His recovery wasnow a mere matter of time, and meanwhile he must not use his footor let the blood run into it more than could be helped, whichmeant that he must keep himself in a recumbent position. Thetrouble was that I had nothing on earth do except study thecharacters of our hosts, which I found disagreeable anddepressing. I might have gone out shooting, but nothing of thesort was allowed upon the property in obedience to the wish ofMiss Heda, a mysterious young person who was always expected andnever appeared, and beyond it I was afraid to travel for fear ofBasutos. I might have gone to Pilgrim's Rest or Lydenburg tomake report of the nefarious deeds of the said Basutos, but atbest it would have taken one or two days, and possibly I shouldhave been detained by officials who never consider any one's timeexcept their own. 

This meant that I should have been obliged to leave Anscombealone, which I did not wish to do, so I just sat still and, as Ihave said, was intensely bored, hanging about the place andsmoking more than was good for me. 

In due course Anscombe emerged on to the stoep, where he lay withhis leg up, and was also bored, especially after he had tried topump old Marnham about his past in the Guards and completelyfailed. It was in this mood of utter dejection that we agreed toplay a game of cards one evening. Not that either of us caredfor cards; indeed, personally, I have always detested thembecause, with various-coloured counters to represent money whichnever passed, they had formed one of the afflictions of my youth. 

It was so annoying if you won, to be handed a number of greencounters and be informed that they represented so many hundredsor thousands of pounds, or vice-versa if you lost, for as it costno one anything, my dear father insisted upon playing forenormous stakes. Never in any aspect of life have I cared forfooling. Anscombe also disliked cards, I think because hisancestors too had played with counters, such as some that I haveseen belonging to the Cocoa-Tree Club and other gambling placesof a past generation, marked as high as a thousand guineas, whichcounters must next morning be redeemed in hard cash, whereby hisfamily had been not a little impoverished. 

"I fancy you will find they are high-fliers, " he said when thepair had left to fetch a suitable table, for the night being veryhot we were going to play on the stoep by the light of thehanging paraffin lamp and some candles. I replied to the effectthat I could not afford to lose large sums of money, especiallyto men who for aught I knew might then be engaged in marking thecards. 

"I understand, " he answered. "Don't you bother about that, oldfellow. This is my affair, arranged for my special amusement. Ishan't grumble if the fun costs something, for I am sure therewill be fun. "

"All right, " I said, "only if we should happen to win money, it'syours, not mine. "

To myself I reflected, however, that with these two opponents wehad about as much chance of winning as a snowflake has ofresisting the atmosphere of the lower regions. 

Presently they returned with the table, which had a green clothover it that hung down half-way to the ground. Also one of thenative boys brought a tray with spirits, from which I judged byvarious signs, old Marnham, who had already drunk his share atdinner, had helped himself freely on the way. Soon we werearranged, Anscombe, who was to be my partner, opposite to me inhis long chair, and the game began. 

I forget what particular variant of cards it was we played, though I know it admitted of high and progressive stakes. Atfirst, however, these were quite moderate and we won, as Isuppose we were meant to do. After half an hour or so Marnhamrose to help himself to brandy and water, a great deal of brandyand very little water, while I took a nip of Hollands, andAnscombe and Rodd filled their pipes. 

"I think this is getting rather slow, " said Rodd to Anscombe. "Ivote we put a bit more on. "

"As much as you like, " answered Anscombe with a little drawl andtwinkle of the eye, which always showed that he was amused. "Both Quatermain and I are born gamblers. Don't look angry, Quatermain, you know you are. Only if we lose you will have totake a cheque, for I have precious little cash. "

"I think that will be good enough, " replied the doctorquietly--"if you lose. "

So the stakes were increased to an amount that made my hair standup stiffer even than usual, and the game went on. Behold! amarvel came to pass. How it happened I do not know, unlessMarnham had brought the wrong cards by mistake or had grown toofuddled to understand his partner's telegraphic signals, which I, being accustomed to observe, saw him make, not once but often, still we won! What is more, with a few set-backs, we went onwinning, till presently the sums written down to our credit, forno actual cash passed, were considerable. And all the while, atthe end of each bout Marnham helped himself to more brandy, whilethe doctor grew more mad in a suppressed-thunder kind of a way. For my part I became alarmed, especially as I perceived thatAnscombe was on the verge of breaking into open merriment, andhis legs being up I could not kick him under the table. 

"My partner ought to go to bed. Don't you think we should stop?"I said. 

"On the whole I do, " replied Rodd, glowering at Marnham, who, somewhat unsteadily, was engaged in wiping drops of brandy fromhis long beard. 

"D----d if I do, " exclaimed that worthy. "When I was young andplayed with gentlemen they always gave losers an opportunity ofrevenge. "

"Then, " replied Anscombe with a flash of his eyes, "let us try tofollow in the footsteps of the gentlemen with whom you played inyour youth. I suggest that we double the stakes. "

"That's right! That's the old form!" said Marnham. 

The doctor half rose from his chair, then sat down again. Watching him, I concluded that he believed his partner, aseasoned vessel, was not so drunk as he pretended to be, andeither in an actual or a figurative sense, had a card up hissleeve. If so, it remained there, for again we won; all the luckwas with us. 

"I am getting tired, " drawled Anscombe. "Lemon and water are notsustaining. Shall we stop?"

"By Heaven! no, " shouted Marnham, to which Anscombe replied thatif it was wished, he would play another hand, but no more. 

"All right, " said Marnham, "but let it be for double or quits. "

He spoke quite quietly and seemed suddenly to have grown sober. Now I think that Rodd made up his mind that he really was actingand that he really had that card up his sleeve. At any rate hedid not object. I, however, was of a different opinion, havingoften seen drunken men succumb to an access of sobriety under thestress of excitement and remarked that it did not last long. 

"Do you really mean that?" I said, speaking for the first timeand addressing myself to the doctor. "I don't quite know whatthe sum involved is, but it must be large. "

"Of course, " he answered. 

Then remembering that at the worst Anscombe stood to losenothing, I shrugged my shoulders and held my tongue. It wasMarnham's deal, and although he was somewhat in the shadow of thehanging lamp and the candles had guttered out, I distinctly sawhim play some hocus-pocus with the cards, but in thecircumstances made no protest. As it chanced he must havehocus-pocused them wrong, for though _his_ hand was full oftrumps, Rodd held nothing at all. The battle that ensued wasquite exciting, but the end of it was that an ace in the hand ofAnscombe, who really was quite a good player, did the business, and we won again. 

In the rather awful silence that followed Anscombe remarked inhis cheerful drawl--

"I'm not sure that my addition is quite right; we'll check thatin the morning, but I make out that you two gentlemen oweQuatermain and myself #749 10s. "

Then the doctor broke out. 

"You accursed old fool, " he hissed--there is no other word forit--at Marnham. "How are you going to pay all this money thatyou have gambled away, drunken beast that you are!"

"Easily enough, you felon, " shouted Marnham. "So, " and thrustinghis hand into his pocket he pulled out a number of diamonds whichhe threw upon the table, adding, "there's what will cover ittwice over, and there are more where they came from, as you knowwell enough, my medical jailbird. "

"You dare to call me that, " gasped the doctor in a voice ladenwith fury, so intense that it had deprived him of his reason, "you--you--murderer! Oh! why don't I kill you as I shall someday?" and lifting his glass, which was half full, he threw thecontents into Marnham's face. 

"That's a nice man for a prospective, son-in-law, isn't he?"exclaimed the old scamp, as, seizing the brandy decanter, hehurled it straight at Rodd's head, only missing him by an inch. 

"Don't you think you had both better go to bed, gentlemen?" Iinquired. "You are saying things you might regret in themorning. "

Apparently they did think it, for without another word they roseand marched off in different directions to their respectiverooms, which I heard both of them lock. For my part I collectedthe I. O. U. 's; also the diamonds which still lay upon the table, while Anscombe examined the cards. 

"Marked, by Jove!" he said. "Oh! my dear Quatermain, never have Ihad such an amusing evening in all my life. "

"Shut up, you silly idiot, " I answered. "There'll be murder doneover this business, and I only hope it won't be on us. "

CHAPTER VI

MISS HEDA

It might be thought that after all this there would have been apainful explanation on the following morning, but nothing of thesort happened. After all the greatest art is the art of ignoringthings, without which the world could scarcely go on, even amongthe savage races. Thus on this occasion the two chief actors inthe scene of the previous night pretended that they had forgottenwhat took place, as I believe, to a large extent truly. Thefierce flame of drink in the one and of passion in the other hadburnt the web of remembrance to ashes. They knew that somethingunpleasant had occurred and its main outlines; the rest hadvanished away; perhaps because they knew also that they were notresponsible for what they said and did, and therefore that whatoccurred had no right to a permanent niche in their memories. Itwas, as it were, something outside of their normal selves. Atleast so I conjectured, and their conduct seemed to give colourto my guess. 

The doctor spoke to me of the matter first. 

"I fear there was a row last night, " he said; "it has happenedhere before over cards, and will no doubt happen again untilmatters clear themselves up somehow. Marnham, as you see, drinks, and when drunk is the biggest liar in the world, and I, Iam sorry to say, am cursed with a violent temper. Don't judgeeither of us too harshly. If you were a doctor you would knowthat all these things come to us with our blood, and we didn'tfashion our own clay, did we? Have some coffee, won't you?"

Subsequently when Rodd wasn't there, Marnham spoke also and withthat fine air of courtesy which was peculiar to him. 

"I owe a deep apology, " he said, "to yourself and Mr. Anscombe. I do not recall much about it, but I know there was a scene lastnight over those cursed cards. A weakness overtakes mesometimes. I will say no more, except that you, who are also aman who perhaps have felt weaknesses of one sort or another, will, I hope, make allowances for me and pay no attention toanything that I may have said or done in the presence of guests;yes, that is what pains me--in the presence of guests. "

Something in his distinguished manner caused me to reflect uponevery peccadillo that I had ever committed, setting it in itsvery worst light. 

"Quite so, " I answered, "quite so. Pray do not mention thematter any more, although--" These words seemed to jerkthemselves out of my throat, "you did call each other by suchvery hard names. "

"I daresay, " he answered with a vacant smile, "but if so theymeant nothing. "

"No, I understand, just like a lovers' quarrel. But look here, you left some diamonds on the table which I took to keep theKaffirs out of temptation. I will fetch them. "

"Did I? Well, probably I left some I. O. U. 's also which mightserve for pipelights. So suppose we set the one against theother. I don't know the value of either the diamonds or thepipelights, it may be less or more, but for God's sake don't letme see the beastly things again. There's no need, I haveplenty. "

"I must speak to Anscombe, " I answered. "The money at stake washis, not mine. "

"Speak to whom you will, " he replied, and I noted that thethrobbing vein upon his forehead indicated a rising temper. "Butnever let me see those diamonds again. Throw them into thegutter if you wish, but never let me see them again, or therewill be trouble. "

Then he flung out of the room, leaving his breakfast almostuntasted. 

Reflecting that this queer old bird probably did not wish to becross-questioned as to his possession of so many uncut diamonds, or that they were worth much less than the sum he had lost, orpossibly that they were not diamonds at all but glass, I went toreport the matter to Anscombe. He only laughed and said that asI had got the things I had better keep them until somethinghappened, for we had both got it into our heads that somethingwould happen before we had done with that establishment. 

So I went to put the stones away as safely as I could. While Iwas doing so I heard the rumble of wheels, and came out just intime to see a Cape cart, drawn by four very good horses anddriven by a Hottentot in a smart hat and a red waistband, pull upat the garden gate. Out of this cart presently emerged a neatlydressed lady, of whom all I could see was that she was young, slender and rather tall; also, as her back was towards me, thatshe had a great deal of auburn hair. 

"There!" said Anscombe. "I knew that something would happen. Heda has happened. Quatermain, as neither her venerated parentnor her loving fiance, for such I gather he is, seems to beabout, you had better go and give her a hand. "

I obeyed with a groan, heartily wishing that Heda hadn'thappened, since some sense warned me that she would only add tothe present complications. At the gate, having given someinstructions to a very stout young coloured woman who, I took it, was her maid, about a basket of flower roots in the cart, sheturned round suddenly and we came face to face with the gatebetween us. For a moment we stared at each other, I reflectingthat she really was very pretty with her delicately-shapedfeatures, her fresh, healthy-looking complexion, her long darkeyelashes and her lithe and charming figure. What she reflectedabout me I don't know, probably nothing half so complimentary. Suddenly, however, her large greyish eyes grew troubled and alook of alarm appeared upon her face. 

"Is anything wrong with my father?" she asked. "I don't seehim. "

"If you mean Mr. Marnham, " I replied, lifting my hat, "I believethat Dr. Rodd and he--"

"Never mind about Dr. Rodd, " she broke in with a contemptuouslittle jerk of her chin, "how is my father?"

"I imagine much as usual. He and Dr. Rodd were here a littlewhile ago, I suppose that they have gone out" (as a matter offact they had, but in different directions). 

"Then that's all right, " she said with a sigh of relief. "Yousee, I heard that he was very ill, which is why I have comeback. "

So, thought I to myself, she loves that old scamp andshe--doesn't love the doctor. There will be more trouble as sureas five and two are seven. All we wanted was a woman to make thepot boil over. 

Then I opened the gate and took a travelling bag from her handwith my politest bow. 

"My name is Quatermain and that of my friend Anscombe. We arestaying here, you know, " I said rather awkwardly. 

"Indeed, " she answered with a delightful smile, "what a verystrange place to choose to stay in. "

"It is a beautiful house, " I remarked. 

"Not bad, although I designed it, more or less. But I wasalluding to its inhabitants. "

This finished me, and I am sure she felt that I could think ofnothing nice to say about those inhabitants, for I heard hersigh. We walked side by side up the rose-fringed path andpresently arrived at the stoep, where Anscombe, whose hair I hadcut very nicely on the previous day, was watching us from hislong chair. They looked at each other, and I saw both of themcolour a little, out of mere foolishness, I suppose. 

"Anscombe, " I said, "this is--" and I paused, not being quitecertain whether she also was called Marnham. "Heda Marnham, " sheinterrupted. 

"Yes--Miss Heda Marnham, and this is the Honourable MauriceAnscombe. "

"Forgive me for not rising, Miss Marnham, " said Anscombe in hispleasant voice (by the way hers was pleasant too, full and ratherlow, with just a suggestion of something foreign about it). "Ashot through the foot prevents me at present. "

"Who shot you?" she asked quickly. 

"Oh! only a Kaffir. "

"I am so sorry, I hope you will get well soon. Forgive me now, Imust go to look for my father. "

"She is uncommonly pretty, " remarked Anscombe, "and a lady intothe bargain. In reflecting on old Marnham's sins we must put itto his credit that he has produced a charming daughter. "

"Too pretty and charming by half, " I grunted. 

"Perhaps Dr. Rodd is of the same way of thinking. Great shamethat such a girl should be handed over to a medical scoundrellike Dr. Rodd. I wonder if she cares for him?"

"Just about as much as a canary cares for a tom-cat. I havefound that out already. "

"Really, Quatermain, you are admirable. I never knew anyone whocould make a better use of the briefest opportunity. "

Then we were silent, waiting, not without a certain impatience, for the return of Miss Heda. She did return with surprisingquickness considering that she had found time to search for herparent, to change into a clean white dress, and to pin a singlehibiscus flower on to her bodice which gave just the touch ofcolour that was necessary to complete her costume. 

"I can't find my father, " she said, "but the boys say he has goneout riding. I can't find anybody. When you have been summonedfrom a long way off and travelled post-haste, rather to your owninconvenience, it is amusing, isn't it?"

"Wagons and carts in South Africa don't arrive like expresstrains, Miss Marnham, " said Anscombe, "so you shouldn't beoffended. "

"I am not at all offended, Mr. Anscombe. Now that I know thereis nothing the matter with my father I'm--But, tell me, how didyou get your wound?"

So he told her with much amusing detail after his fashion. Shelistened quietly with a puckered up brow and only made onecomment. It was, --

"I wonder what white man told those Sekukuni Kaffirs that youwere coming. "

"I don't know, " he answered, "but he deserves a bullet throughhim somewhere above the ankle. "

"Yes, though few people get what they deserve in this wickedworld. "

"So I have often thought. Had it been otherwise, for example, Ishould have been--"

"What would you have been?" she asked, considering him curiously. 

"Oh! a better shot than Mr. Allan Quatermain, and as beautiful asa lady I once saw in my youth. "

"Don't talk rubbish before luncheon, " I remarked sternly, and weall laughed, the first wholesome laughter that I had heard at theTemple. For this young lady seemed to bring happiness andmerriment with her. I remember wondering what it was of whichher coming reminded me, and concluding that it was like the sightand smell of a peach orchard in full bloom stumbled on suddenlyin the black desert of the burnt winter veld. 

After this we became quite friendly. She dilated on her skill inhaving produced the Temple from an old engraving, which shefetched and showed to us, at no greater an expense than it wouldhave cost to build an ordinary house. 

"That is because the marble was at hand, " said Anscombe. 

"Quite so, " she replied demurely. "Speaking in a general senseone can do many things in life--if the marble is at hand. Onlymost of us when we look for marble find sandstone or mud. "

"Bravo!" said Anscombe, "I have generally lit upon thesandstone. "

"And I on the mud, " she mused. 

"And I on all three, for the earth contains marble and mud andsandstone, to say nothing of gold and jewels, " I broke in, beingtired of silence. 

But neither of them paid much attention to me. Anscombe did say, out of politeness, I suppose, that pitch and subterranean firesshould be added, or some such nonsense. 

Then she began to tell him of her infantile memories of Hungary, which were extremely faint; of how they came this place and livedfirst of all in two large Kaffir huts, until suddenly they beganto grow rich; of her school days at Maritzburg; of the friendswith whom she had been staying, and I know not what, until atlast I got up and went out for a walk. 

When I returned an hour or so later they were still talking, andso continued to do until Dr. Rodd arrived upon the scene. Atfirst they did not see him, for he stood at an angle to them, butI saw him and watched his face with a great deal of interest. It, or rather its expression, was not pleasant; before now I haveseen something like it on that of a wild beast which thinks thatit is about to be robbed of its prey by a stronger wild beast, inshort, a mixture of hate, fear and jealousy--especially jealousy. At the last I did not wonder, for these two seemed to be gettingon uncommonly well. 

They were, so to speak, well matched. She, of course, was thebetter looking of the two, a really pretty and attractive youngwoman indeed, but the vivacity of Anscombe's face, the twinkle ofhis merry blue eyes and its general refinement made up for whathe lacked--regularity of feature. I think he had just told herone of his good stories which he always managed to make sohumorous by a trick of pleasing and harmless exaggeration, andthey were both laughing merrily. Then she caught sight of thedoctor and her merriment evaporated like a drop of water on a hotshovel. Distinctly I saw her pull herself together and preparefor something. 

"How do you do?" she said rapidly, rising and holding out herslim sun-browned hand. "But I need not ask, you look so well. "

"How do you do, my dear, " with a heavy emphasis on the "dear" heanswered slowly. "But I needn't ask, for I see that you are inperfect health and spirits, " and he bent forward as though tokiss her. 

Somehow or other she avoided that endearment or seal ofpossession. I don't quite know how, as I turned my head away, not wishing to witness what I felt to be unpleasant. When Ilooked up again, however, I saw that she had avoided it, thescowl on his face the demureness of hers and Anscombe's evidentamusement assured me of this. She was asking about her father;he answered that he also seemed quite well. 

"Then why did you write to tell me that I ought to come as he wasnot at all well?" she inquired, with a lifting of her delicateeyebrows. 

The question was never answered, for at that moment Marnhamhimself appeared. 

"Oh! father, " she said, and rushed into his arms, while he kissedher tenderly on both cheeks. 

So I was not mistaken, thought I to myself, she does really lovethis moral wreck, and what is more, he loves her, which showsthat there must be good in him. Is anyone truly bad, I wondered, or for the matter of that, truly good either? Is it not all aquestion of circumstance and blood?

Neither then or at any other time have I found an answer to theproblem. At any rate to me there seemed something beautifulabout the meeting of these two. 

The influence of Miss Heda in the house was felt at once. Theboys became smarter and put on clean clothes. Vases of flowersappeared in the various rooms; ours was turned out and cleaned, adisagreeable process so far as we were concerned. Moreover, atdinner both Marnham and Rodd wore dress clothes with shortjackets, a circumstance that put Anscombe and myself to shamesince we had none. It was curious to see how with those dressclothes, which doubtless awoke old associations within him, Marnham changed his colour like a chameleon. Really he mighthave been the colonel of a cavalry regiment rising to toast theQueen after he had sent round the wine, so polite and polishedwas his talk. Who could have identified the man with the dry oldruffian of twenty-four hours before, he who was drinking claret(and very good claret too) mixed with water and listening with apolite interest to all the details of his daughter's journey?Even the doctor looked a gentleman, which doubtless he was onceupon a time, in evening dress. Moreover, some kind of truce hadbeen arranged. He no longer called Miss Heda "My dear" orattempted any familiarities, while she on more than one occasionvery distinctly called him Dr. Rodd. 

So much for that night and for several others that followed. Asfor the days they went by pleasantly and idly. Heda walked abouton her father's arm, conversed in friendly fashion with thedoctor, always watching him, I noticed, as a cat watches a dogthat she knows is waiting an opportunity to spring, and for therest associated with us as much as she could. Particularly didshe seem to take refuge behind my own insignificance, having, Isuppose, come to the conclusion that I was a harmless person whomight possibly prove useful. But all the while I felt that thestorm was banking up. Indeed Marnham himself, at any rate to agreat extent, played the part of the cloud-compelling Jove, forsoon it became evident to me, and without doubt to Dr. Rodd also, that he was encouraging the intimacy between his daughter andAnscombe by every means in his power. 

In one way and another he had fully informed himself as toAnscombe's prospects in life, which were brilliant enough. Moreover he liked the man who, as the remnant of the betterperceptions of his youth told him, was one of the best class ofEnglishmen, and what is more, he saw that Heda liked him also, asmuch indeed as she disliked Rodd. He even spoke to me of thematter in a round-about kind of fashion, saying that the youngwoman who married Anscombe would be lucky and that the father whohad him for a son-in-law might go to his grave confident of hischild's happiness. I answered that I agreed with him, unless thelady's affections had already caused her to form other ties. 

"Affections!" he exclaimed, dropping all pretence, "there arenone involved in this accursed business, as you are quite sharpenough to have seen for yourself. "

"I understood that an engagement was involved, " I remarked. 

"On my part, perhaps, not on hers, " he answered. "Oh! can't youunderstand, Quatermain, that sometimes men find themselves forcedinto strange situations against their will?"

Remembering the very ugly name that I had heard Rodd call Marnhamon the night of the card party, I reflected that I couldunderstand well enough, but I only said--

"After all marriage is a matter that concerns a woman even morethan it does her father, one, in short, of which she must be thejudge. "

"Quite so, Quatermain, but there are some daughters who areprepared to make great sacrifices for their fathers. Well, shewill be of age ere long, if only I can stave it off till then. But how, how?" and with a groan he turned and left me. 

That old gentleman's neck is in some kind of a noose, thought Ito myself, and his difficulty is to prevent the rope from beingdrawn tight. Meanwhile this poor girl's happiness and future areat stake. 

"Allan, " said Anscombe to me a little later, for by now he calledme by my Christian name, "I suppose you haven't heard anythingabout those oxen, have you?"

"No, I could scarcely expect to yet, but why do you ask?"

He smiled in his droll fashion and replied, "Because, interestingas this household is in sundry ways, I think it is about timethat we, or at any rate that I, got out of it. "

"Your leg isn't fit to travel yet, Anscombe, although Rodd saysthat all the symptoms are very satisfactory. "

"Yes, but to tell you the truth I am experiencing other symptomsquite unknown to that beloved physician and so unfamiliar tomyself that I attribute them to the influences of the locality. Altitude affects the heart, does it not, and this house standshigh. "

"Don't play off your jokes on me, " I said sternly. "What do youmean?"

"I wonder if you find Miss Heda attractive, Allan, or if you aretoo old. I believe there comes an age when the only beautiesthat can move a man are those of architecture, or scenery, orproperly cooked food. "

"Hang it all! I am not Methusaleh, " I replied; "but if you meanthat you are falling in love with Heda, why the deuce don't yousay so, instead of wasting my time and your own?"

"Because time was given to us to waste. Properly considered itis the best use to which it can be put, or at any rate the onethat does least mischief. Also because I wished to make you sayit for me that I might judge from the effect of your wordswhether it is or is not true. I may add that I fear the formerto be the case. "

"Well, if you are in love with the girl you can't expect one soancient as myself, who is quite out of touch with such follies, to teach you how to act. "

"No, Allan. Unfortunately there are occasions when one mustrely upon one's own wisdom, and mine, what there is of it, tellsme I had better get out of this. But I can't ride even if I tookthe horse and you ran behind, and the oxen haven't come. "

"Perhaps you could borrow Miss Marnham's cart in which to runaway from her, " I suggested sarcastically. 

"Perhaps, though I believe it would be fatal to my foot to sit upin a cart for the next few days, and the horses seem to have beensent off somewhere. Look here, old fellow, " he went on, droppinghis bantering tone, "it's rather awkward to make a fool ofoneself over a lady who is engaged to some one else, especiallyif one suspects that with a little encouragement she might beginto walk the same road. The truth is I have taken the feverpretty bad, worse than ever I did before, and if it isn't stoppedsoon it will become chronic. "

"Oh no, Anscombe, only intermittent at the worst, and Africanmalaria nearly always yields to a change of climate. "

"How can I expect a cynic and a misogynist to understand thesimple fervour of an inexperienced soul--Oh! drat it all, Quatermain, stop your acid chaff and tell me what is to be done. Really I am in a tight place. "

"Very; so tight that I rejoice to think, as you were kind enoughto point out, that my years protect me from anything of the sort. I have no advice to give; I think you had better ask it of thelady. "

"Well, we did have a little conversation, hypothetical of course, about some friends of ours who found themselves similarlysituated, and I regret to say without result. "

"Indeed. I did not know you had any mutual acquaintances. Whatdid she say and do?"

"She said nothing, only sighed and looked as though she weregoing to burst into tears, and all she did was to walk away. I'dhave followed her if I could, but as my crutch wasn't there itwas impossible. It seemed to me that suddenly I had come upagainst a brick wall, that there was something on her mind whichshe could not or would not let out. "

"Yes, and if you want to know, I will tell you what it is. Roddhas got a hold over Marnham of a sort that would bring himsomewhere near the gallows. As the price of his silence Marnhamhas promised him his daughter. The daughter knows that herfather is in this man's power, though I think she does not knowin what way, and being a good girl--"

"An angel you mean--do call her by her right name, especially ina place where angels are so much wanted. "

"Well, an angel if you like--she has promised on her part tomarry a man she loathes in order to save her parent's bacon. "

"Just what I concluded, from what we heard in the row. I wonderwhich of that pair is the bigger blackguard. Well, Allan, thatsettles it. You and I are on the side of the angel. You willhave to get her out of this scrape and--if she'll have me, I'llmarry her; and if she won't, why it can't be helped. Now that'sa fair division of labour. How are you going to do it? I haven'tan idea, and if I had, I should not presume to interfere with oneso much older and wiser than myself. "

"I suppose that by the time you appeared in it, the game of headsI win and tails you lose had died out of the world, " I repliedwith an indignant snort. "I think the best thing I can do willbe to take the horse and look for those oxen. Meanwhile you cansettle your business by the light of your native genius, and Ionly hope you'll finish it without murder and sudden death. "

"I say, old fellow, " said Anscombe earnestly, "you don't reallymean to go off and leave me in this hideousness? I haven'tbothered much up to the present because I was sure that you wouldfind a way out, which would be nothing to a man of your intellectand experience. I mean it honestly, I do indeed. "

"Do you? Well, I can only say that my mind is a perfect blank, but if you will stop talking I will try to think the matter over. There's Miss Heda in the garden cutting flowers. I will go tohelp her, which will be a very pleasant change. "

And I went, leaving him to stare after me jealously. 

CHAPTER VII

THE STOEP

When I reached Miss Heda she was collecting half-opened monthlyroses from the hedge, and not quite knowing what to say I madethe appropriate quotation. At least it was appropriate to mythought, and, from her answer, to hers also. 

"Yes, " she said, "I am gathering them while I may, " and shesighed and, as I thought, glanced towards the verandah, though ofthis I could not be sure because of the wide brim of the hat shewas wearing. 

Then we talked a little on indifferent matters, while I prickedmy fingers helping to pluck the roses. She asked me if I thoughtthat Anscombe was getting on well, and how long it would bebefore he could travel. I replied that Dr. Rodd could tell herbetter than myself, but that I hoped in about a week. 

"In a week!" she said, and although she tried to speak lightlythere was dismay in her voice. 

"I hope you don't think it too long, " I answered; "but even if heis fit to go, the oxen have not come yet, and I don't quite knowwhen they will. "

"Too long!" she exclaimed. "Too long! Oh! if you only knew whatit is to me to have such guests as you are in this place, " andher dark eyes filled with tears. 

By now we had passed to the side of the house in search of someother flower that grew in the shade, I think it was mignonette, and were out of sight of the verandah and quite alone. 

"Mr. Quatermain, " she said hurriedly, "I am wondering whether toask your advice about something, if you would give it. I have noone to consult here, " she added rather piteously. 

"That is for you to decide. If you wish to do so I am old enoughto be your father, and will do my best to help. "

We walked on to an orange grove that stood about forty yardsaway, ostensibly to pick some fruit, but really because we knewthat there we should be out of hearing and could see any one whoapproached. 

"Mr. Quatermain, " she said presently in a low voice, "I am ingreat trouble, almost the greatest a woman can have. I amengaged to be married to a man whom I do not care for. "

"Then why not break it off? It may be unpleasant, but it isgenerally best to face unpleasant things, and nothing can be sobad as marrying a man whom you do not--care for. "

"Because I cannot--I dare not. I have to obey. "

"How old are you, Miss Marnham?"

"I shall be of age in three months' time. You may guess that Idid not intend to return here until they were over, but I was, well--trapped. He wrote to me that my father was ill and Icame. "

"At any rate when they are over you will not have to obey anyone. It is not long to wait. "

"It is an eternity. Besides this is not so much a question ofobedience as of duty and of love. I love my father who, whateverhis faults, has always been very kind to me. "

"And I am sure he loves you. Why not go to him and tell him yourtrouble?"

"He knows it already, Mr. Quatermain, and hates this marriageeven more than I do, if that is possible. But he is driven toit, as I am. Oh! I must tell the truth. The doctor has somehold over him. My father has done something dreadful; I don'tknow what and I don't want to know, but if it came out it wouldruin my father, or worse, worse. I am the price of his silence. On the day of our marriage he will destroy the proofs. If Irefuse to marry him, they will be produced and then--"

"It is difficult, " I said. 

"It is more than difficult, it is terrible. If you could see allthere is in my heart, you would know how terrible. "

"I think I can see, Miss Heda. Don't say any more now. Give metime to consider. In case of necessity come to me again, and besure that I will protect you. "

"But you are going in a week. "

"Many things happen in a week. Sufficient to the day is itsevil. At the end of the week we will come to some decisionunless everything is already decided. "

For the next twenty-four hours I reflected on this pretty problemas hard as ever I did on anything in all my life. Here was ayoung woman who must somehow be protected from a scoundrel, but whocould not be protected because she herself had to protect anotherscoundrel--to wit, her own father. Could the thing be faced out?Impossible, for I was sure that Marnham had committed a murder, or murders, of which Rodd possessed evidence that would hang him. Could Heda be married to Anscombe at once? Yes, if both werewilling, but then Marnham would still be hung. Could they elope?Possibly, but with the same result. Could I take her away andput her under the protection of the Court at Pretoria? Yes, butwith the same result. I wondered what my Hottentot retainer, Hans, would have advised, he who was named Light-in-Darkness, andin his own savage way was the cleverest and most cunning man thatI have met. Alas! I could not raise him from the grave to tellme, and yet I knew well what he would have answered. 

"Baas, " he would have said, "this is a rope which only the paleold man (i. E. , death) can cut. Let this doctor die or let thefather die, and the maiden will be free. Surely heaven islonging for one or both of them, and if necessary, Baas, Ibelieve that I can point out a path to heaven!"

I laughed to myself at the thought, which was one that a whiteman could not entertain even as a thought. And I felt that thehypothetical Hans was right, death alone could cut this knot, andthe reflection made me shiver. 

That night I slept uneasily and dreamed. I dreamed that oncemore I was in the Black Kloof in Zululand, seated in front of thehuts at the end of the kloof. Before me squatted the old wizard, Zikali, wrapped up in his kaross--Zikali, the"Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born, " whom I had not seen foryears. Near him were the ashes of a fire, by the help of which Iknew he had been practising divination. He looked up and laughedone of his terrible laughs. 

"So you are here again, Macumazahn, " he said, "grown older, butstill the same; here at the appointed hour. What do you come toseek from the Opener of Roads? Not Mameena as I think this time. No, no, it is she who seeks you this time, Macumazahn. She foundyou once, did she not? Far away to the north among a strangepeople who worshipped an Ivory Child, a people of whom I knew inmy youth, and afterwards, for was not their prophet, Harut, afriend of mine and one of our brotherhood? She found you beneaththe tusks of the elephant, Jana, whom Macumazahn the skilfulcould not hit. Oh! do not look astonished. "

"How do you know?" I asked in my dream. 

"Very simply, Macumazahn. A little yellow man named Hans hasbeen with me and told me all the story not an hour ago, afterwhich I sent for Mameena to learn if it were true. She will beglad to meet you, Macumazahn, she who has a hungry heart thatdoes not forget. Oh! don't be afraid. I mean here beneath thesun, in the land beyond there will be no need for her to meet yousince she will dwell ever at your side. "

"Why do you lie to me, Zikali?" I seemed to ask. "How can a deadman speak to you and how can I meet a woman who is dead?"

"Seek the answer to that question in the hour of the battle whenthe white men, your brothers, fall beneath assegai as weeds fallbefore the hoe--or perhaps before it. But have done withMameena, since she who never grows more old can well afford towait. It is not of Mameena that you came to speak to me; it isof a fair white woman named Heddana you would speak, and of theman she loves, you, who will ever be mixing yourself up inaffairs of others, and therefore must bear their burdens with nopay save that of honour. Hearken, for the time is short. Whenthe storm bursts upon them bring hither the fair maiden, Heddana, and the white lord, Mauriti, and I will shelter them for yoursake. Take them nowhere else. Bring them hither if they wouldescape trouble. I shall be glad to see you, Macumazahn, for atlast I am about to smite the Zulu House of Senzangacona, my foes, with a bladder full of blood, and oh! it stains their doorpostsred. "

Then I woke up, feeling afraid, as one does after a nightmare, and was comforted to hear Anscombe sleeping quietly on the otherside of the room. 

"Mauriti. Why did Zikali call him Mauriti?" I wondered drowsilyto myself. "Oh! of course his name is Maurice, and it was a Zulucorruption of a common sort as was Heddana of Heda. " Then Idozed off again, and by the morning had forgotten all about mydream until it was brought back to me by subsequent events. Still it was this and nothing else that put it into my head tofly to Zululand on an emergency that was to arise ere long. *

[*--For the history of Zikali and Mameena see the book called_Child of Storm_ by H. Rider Haggard. ]

That evening Rodd was absent from dinner, and on inquiring wherehe might be, I was informed that he had ridden to visit a Kaffirheadman, a patient of his who lived at a distance, and would veryprobably sleep at the kraal, returning early next day. One ofthe topics of conversation during dinner was as to where theexact boundary line used to run between the Transvaal and thecountry over which the Basuto chief, Sekukuni, claimed ownershipand jurisdiction. Marnham said that it passed within a couple ofmiles of his house, and when we rose, the moon being very bright, offered to show me where the beacons had been placed years beforeby a Boer Commission. I accepted, as the night was lovely for astroll after the hot day. Also I was half conscious of anotherundefined purpose in my mind, which perhaps may have spread tothat of Marnham. Those two young people looked very happytogether there on the stoep, and as they must part so soon itwould, I thought, be kind to give them the opportunity of a quietchat. 

So off we went to the brow of the hill on which the Temple stood, whence old Marnham pointed out to me a beacon, which I could notsee in the dim, silvery bush-veld below, and how the line ranfrom it to another beacon somewhere else. 

"You know the Yellow-wood swamp, " he said. "It passes straightthrough that. That is why those Basutos who were following youpulled up upon the edge of the swamp, though as a matter of fact, according to their ideas, they had a perfect right to kill you ontheir side of the line which cuts through the middle. "

I made some remark to the effect that I presumed that the linehad in fact ceased to exist at all, as the Basuto territory hadpractically become British; after which we strolled back to thehouse. Walking quietly between the tall rose hedges and withoutspeaking, for each of us was preoccupied with his own thoughts, suddenly we came upon a very pretty scene. 

We had left Anscombe and Heda seated side by side on the stoep. They were still there, but much closer together. In fact hisarms were round her, and they were kissing each other in aremarkably whole-hearted way. About this there could be nomistake, since the rimpi-strung couch on which they sat wasimmediately under the hanging lamp--a somewhat unfortunatesituation for such endearments. But what did they think ofhanging lamps or any other lights, save those of their own eyes, they who were content to kiss and murmur words of passion asthough they were as much alone as Adam and Eve in Eden? What didthey think either of the serpent coiled about the bole of thistree of knowledge whereof they had just plucked the ripe andmaddening fruit?

By a mutual instinct Marnham and I withdrew ourselves, verygently indeed, purposing to skirt round the house and enter itfrom behind, or to be seized with a fit of coughing at the gate, or to do something to announce our presence at a convenientdistance. When we had gone a little way we heard a crash in thebushes. 

"Another of those cursed baboons robbing the garden, " remarkedMarnham reflectively. 

"I think he is going to rob the house also, " I replied, turningto point to something dark that seemed to be leaping up on to theverandah. 

Next moment we heard Heda utter a little cry of alarm, and a mansay in a low fierce voice--

"So I have caught you at last, have I!"

"The doctor has returned from his business rounds sooner than wasexpected, and I think that we had better join the party, " Iremarked, and made a bee line for the stoep, Marnham followingme. 

I think that I arrived just in time to prevent mischief. There, with a revolver in his hand, stood Rodd, tall and formidable, hisdark face looking like that of Satan himself, a very monument ofrage and jealousy. There in front of him on the couch sat Heda, grasping its edge with her fingers, her cheeks as pale as a sheetand her eyes shining. By her side was Anscombe, cool andcollected as usual, I noticed, but evidently perplexed. 

"If there is any shooting to be done, " he was saying, "I thinkyou had better begin with me. "

His calmness seemed to exasperate Rodd, who lifted the revolver. But I too was prepared, for in that house I always went armed. There was no time to get at the man, who was perhaps fifteen feetaway, and I did not want to hurt him. So I did the best I could;that is, I fired at the pistol in his hand, and the light beinggood, struck it near the hilt and knocked it off the barrelbefore the he could press the trigger, if he really meant toshoot. 

"That's a good shot, " remarked Anscombe who had seen me, whileRodd stared at the hilt which he still held. 

"A lucky one, " I answered, walking forward. "And now, Dr. Rodd, will you be so good as to tell me what you mean by flourishing arevolver, presumably loaded, in the faces of a lady and anunarmed man?"

"What the devil is that to you, " he asked furiously, "and what doyou mean by firing at me?"

"A great deal, " I answered, "seeing that a young woman and myfriend are concerned. As for firing at you, had I done so youwould not be asking questions now. I fired at the pistol in yourhand, but if there is more trouble next time it shall be at theholder, " and I glanced at my revolver. 

Seeing that I meant business he made no reply, but turned uponMarnham who had followed me. 

"This is your work, you old villain, " he said in a low voice thatwas heavy with hate. "You promised your daughter to me. She isengaged to me, and now I find her in this wanderer's arms. "

"What have I to do with it?" said Marnham. "Perhaps she haschanged her mind. You had better ask her. "

"There is no need to ask me, " interrupted Heda, who now seemed tohave got her nerve again. "I _have_ changed my mind. I neverloved you, Dr. Rodd, and I will not marry you. I love Mr. Anscombe here, and as he has asked me to be his wife I mean tomarry him. "

"I see, " he sneered, "you want to be a peeress one day, no doubt. Well, you never shall if I can help it. Perhaps, too, this finegentleman of yours will not be so particularly anxious to marryyou when he learns that you are the daughter of a murderer. "

That word was like a bombshell bursting among us. We looked ateach other as people, yet dazed with the shock, might on abattlefield when the noise of the explosion has died and thesmoke cleared away, to see who is still alive. Anscombe spokethe first. 

"I don't know what you mean or to what you refer, " he saidquietly. "But at any rate this lady who has promised to marry meis innocent, and therefore if all her ancestors had beenmurderers it would not in the slightest turn me from my purposeof marrying her. "

She looked at him, and all the gratitude in the world shone inher frightened eyes. Marnham stepped, or rather staggeredforward, the blue vein throbbing on forehead. 

"He lies, " he said hoarsely, tugging at his long beard. "Listennow and I will tell you the truth. Once, more than a year ago, Iwas drunk and in a rage. In this state I fired at a Kaffir tofrighten him, and by some devil's chance shot him dead. That'swhat he calls being a murderer. "

"I have another tale, " said Rodd, "with which I will not troublethis company just now. Look here, Heda, either you fulfil yourpromise and marry me, or your father swings. "

She gasped and sank together on the seat as though she had beenshot. Then I took up my parable. 

"Are you the man, " I asked, "to accuse others of crime? Let ussee. You have spent several months in an English prison (I gavethe name) for a crime I won't mention. "

"How do you know--" he began. 

"Never mind, I do know and the prison books will show it. Further, your business is that of selling guns and ammunition tothe Basutos of Sekukuni's tribe, who, although the expeditionagainst them has been temporarily recalled, are still the Queen'senemies. Don't deny it, for I have the proofs. Further, it wasyou who advised Sekukuni to kill us when we went down to hiscountry to shoot the other day, because you were afraid that weshould discover whence he got his guns. " (This was a bow drawnat a venture, but the arrow went home, for I saw his jaw drop. )"Further, I believe you to be an illicit diamond buyer, and Ibelieve also that you have again been arranging with the Basutosto make an end of us, though of these last two items at present Ilack positive proof. Now, Dr. Rodd, I ask you for the secondtime whether you are a person to accuse others of crimes andwhether, should you do so, you will be considered a crediblewitness when your own are brought to light?"

"If I had been guilty of any of these things, which I am not, it isobvious that my partner must have shared in all of them, exceptthe first. So if you inform against me, you inform against him, and the father of Heda, whom your friend wishes to marry, will, according to your showing, be proved a gun-runner, a thief and awould-be murderer of his guests. I should advise you to leavethat business alone, Mr. Quatermain. "

The reply was bold and clever, so much so that I regarded thisblackguard with a certain amount of admiration, as I answered--

"I shall take your advice if you take mine to leave anotherbusiness alone, that of this young lady and her father, but nototherwise. "

"Then spare your breath and do your worst; only careful, sharp asyou think yourself, that your meddling does not recoil on yourown head. Listen, Heda, either you make up your mind to marry meat once and arrange that this young gentleman, who as a doctor Iassure you is now quite fit to travel without injury to hishealth, leaves this house to-morrow with the spy Quatermain--youmight lend him the Cape cart to go in--or I start with the proofsto lay a charge of murder against your father. I give you tillto-morrow morning to have a family council to think it over. Good-night. "

"Good-night, " I answered as he passed me, "and please be carefulthat none of us see your face again before to-morrow morning. Asyou may happen to have heard, my native name meansWatcher-by-Night, " and I looked at the revolver in my hand. 

When he had vanished I remarked in as cheerful voice as I couldcommand, that I thought it was bedtime, and as nobody stirred, added, "Don't be afraid, young lady. If you feel lonely, youmust tell that stout maid of yours to sleep in your room. Also, as the night is so hot I shall take my nap on the stoep, there, just opposite your window. No, don't let us talk any more now. There will be plenty of time for that to-morrow. "

She rose, looked at Anscombe, looked at me, looked at her fathervery pitifully; then with a little exclamation of despair passedinto her room by the French window, where presently I heard hercall the native maid and tell her that she was to sleep with her. 

Marnham watched her depart. Then he too went with his head bowedand staggering a little in his walk. Next Anscombe rose andlimped off into his room, I following him. 

"Well, young man, " I said, "you have put us all in the soup nowand no mistake. "

"Yes, Allan, I am afraid I have. But on the whole don't youthink it rather interesting soup--so many unexpected ingredients, you see!"

"Interesting soup! Unexpected ingredients!" I repeated afterhim, adding, "Why not call it hell's broth at once?"

Then he became serious, dreadfully serious. 

"Look here, " he said, "I love Heda, and whatever her familyhistory may be I mean to marry her and face the row at home. "

"You could scarcely do less in all the circumstances, and as forrows, that young lady would soon fit herself into any place thatyou can give her. But the question is, how can you marry her?"

"Oh! something will happen, " he replied optimistically. 

"You are quite right there. Something will certainly happen, butthe point is--what? Something was very near happening when Iturned up on that stoep, so near that I think it was lucky foryou, or for Miss Heda, or both, that I have learned how to handlea pistol. Now let me see your foot, and don't speak another wordto me about all this business to-night. I'd rather tackle itwhen I am clear-headed in the morning. "

Well, I examined his instep and leg very carefully and foundthat Rodd was right. Although it still hurt him to walk, thewound was quite healed and all inflammation had gone from thelimb. Now it was only a question of time for the sinews to rightthemselves. While I was thus engaged he held forth on thevirtues and charms of Heda, I making no comment. 

"Lie down and get to sleep, if you can, " I said when I hadfinished. "The door is locked and I am going on to the stoep, soyou needn't be afraid of the windows. Good-night. "

I went out and sat myself down in such a position that by thelight of the hanging lamp, which still burned, I could make surethat no one could approach either Heda's or my room without myseeing him. For the rest, all my life I have been accustomed tonight vigils, and the loaded revolver hung from my wrist by aloop of hide. Moreover, never had I felt less sleepy. There Isat hour after hour, thinking. 

The substance of my thoughts does not matter, since the eventsthat followed make them superfluous to the story. I will merelyrecord, therefore, that towards dawn a great horror took hold ofme. I did not know of what I was afraid, but I was much afraidof something. Nothing was passing in either Heda's or our room, of that I made sure by personal examination. Therefore it wouldseem that my terrors were unnecessary, and yet they grew andgrew. I felt sure that something was happening somewhere, adread occurrence which it was beyond my power to prevent, thoughwhether it were in this house or at the other end of Africa I didnot know. 

The mental depression increased and culminated. Then of a suddenit passed completely away, and as I mopped the sweat from off mybrow I noticed that dawn was breaking. It was a tender andbeautiful dawn, and in a dim way I took it as a good omen. Ofcourse it was nothing but the daily resurrection of the sun, andyet it brought to me comfort and hope. The night was past withall its fears; the light had come with all its joys. From thatmoment I was certain that we should triumph over thesedifficulties and that the end of them would be peace. 

So sure was I that I ventured to take a nap, knowing that theslightest movement or sound would wake me. I suppose I sleptuntil six o'clock, when I was aroused by a footfall. I sprangup, and saw before me one of our native servants. He wastrembling and his face was ashen beneath the black. Moreover hecould not speak. All he did was to put his head on one side, like a dead man, and keep on pointing downwards. Then with hismouth open and starting eyes he beckoned to me to follow him. 

I followed. 

CHAPTER VIII

RODD'S LAST CARD

The man led me to Marnham's room, which I had never enteredbefore. All I could see at first, for the shutters were closed, was that the place seemed large, as bedchambers go in SouthAfrica. When my eyes grew accustomed to the light, I made outthe figure of a man seated in a chair with his head bent forwardover a table that was placed at the foot of the bed almost in thecentre of the room. I threw open the shutters and the morninglight poured in. The man was Marnham. On the table were writingmaterials, also a brandy bottle with only a dreg of spirit in it. I looked for the glass and found it by his side on the floor, shattered, not merely broken. 

"Drunk, " I said aloud, whereon the servant, who understood me, spoke for the first time, saying in a frightened voice in Dutch--

"No, Baas, dead, half cold. I found him so just now. "

I bent down and examined Marnham, also felt his face. Sureenough, he was dead, for his jaw had fallen; also his flesh waschill, and from him came a horrible smell of brandy. I thoughtfor a moment, then bade the boy fetch Dr. Rodd and say nothingto any one else, He went, and now for the first time I noticed alarge envelope addressed "Allan Quatermain, Esq. " in a somewhatshaky hand. This I picked up and slipped into my pocket. 

Rodd arrived half dressed. 

"What's the matter now?" he growled. 

I pointed to Marnham, saying--

"That is a question for you to answer. 

"Oh! drunk again, I suppose, " he said. Then he did as I haddone, bent down and examined him. A few seconds later he steppedor reeled back, looking as frightened as a man could be, andexclaiming--

"Dead as a stone, by God! Dead these three hours or more. "

"Quite so, " I answered, "but what killed him?"

"How should I know?" he asked savagely. "Do you suspect me ofpoisoning him?"

"My mind is open, " I replied; "but as you quarrelled so bitterlylast night, others might. "

The bolt went home; he saw his danger. 

"Probably the old sot died in a fit, or of too much brandy. Howcan one know without a post-mortem? But that mustn't be made byme. I'm off to inform the magistrate and get hold of anotherdoctor. Let the body remain as it is until I return. "

I reflected quickly. Ought I to let him go or not? If he hadany hand in this business, doubtless he intended to escape. Well, supposing this were so and he did escapee, that would be agood thing for Heda, and really it was no affair of mine to bringthe fellow to justice. Moreover there was nothing to show thathe was guilty; his whole manner seemed to point another way, though of course he might be acting. 

"Very well, " I replied, "but return as quickly as possible. "

He stood for a few seconds like a man who is dazed. It occurredto me that it might have come into his mind with Marnham's deaththat he had lost his hold over Heda. But if so he said nothingof it, but only asked--

"Will you go instead of me?"

"On the whole I think not, " I replied, "and if I did, the story Ishould have to tell might not tend to your advantage. "

"That's true, damn you!" he exclaimed and left the room. 

Ten minutes later he was galloping towards Pilgrim's Rest. Before I departed from the death chamber I examined the placecarefully to see if I could find any poison or other deadlything, but without success. One thing I did discover, however. Turning the leaf of a blotting-book that was by Marnham's elbow, I came upon a sheet of paper on which were written these words inhis hand, "Greater love hath no man than this--" that was all. 

Either he had forgotten the end of the quotation or changed hismind, or was unable through weakness to finish the sentence. This paper also I put in my pocket. Bolting the shutters andlocking the door I returned to the stoep, where I was alone, foras yet no one else was stirring. Then I remembered the letter inmy pocket and opened it. It ran--

"Dear Mr. Quatermain, --

"I have remembered that those who quarrel with Dr. Rodd are aptto die soon and suddenly; at any rate life at my age is alwaysuncertain. Therefore, as I know you to be an honest man, I amenclosing my will that it may be in safe keeping and purpose tosend it to your room to-morrow morning. Perhaps when you returnto Pretoria you will deposit it in the Standard Bank there, andif I am still alive, forward me the receipt. You will see that Ileave everything to my daughter whom I dearly love, and thatthere is enough to keep the wolf from her door, besides my sharein this property, if it is ever realized. 

"After all that has passed to-night I do not feel up to writing along letter, so

"Remain sincerely yours, "H. A. Marnham. "

"PS. --I should like to state clearly upon paper that my earnesthope and wish are that Heda may get clear of that black-hearted, murderous, scoundrel Rodd and marry Mr. Anscombe, whom I like andwho, I am sure, would make her a good husband. "

Thinking to myself this did not look very like the letter of asuicide, I glanced through the will, as the testator seemed tohave wished that I should do so. It was short, but properlydrawn, signed, and witnessed, and bequeathed a sum of #9, 000, which was on deposit at the Standard Bank, together with all hisother property, real and personal, to Heda for her own sole use, free from the debts and engagements of her husband, should shemarry. Also she was forbidden to spend more than #1, 000 of thecapital. In short the money was strictly tied up. With the willwere some other papers that apparently referred to certainproperty in Hungary to which Heda might become entitled, butabout these I did not trouble. 

Replacing these documents in a safe inner pocket in the lining ofmy waistcoat, I went into our room and woke up Anscombe who wassleeping soundly, a fact that caused an unreasonable irritationin my mind. When at length he was thoroughly aroused I said tohim--

"You are in luck's way, my friend. Marnham is dead. "

"Oh! poor Heda, " he exclaimed, "she loved him. It will halfbreak her heart. "

"If it breaks half of her heart, " I replied, "it will mend theother half, for now her filial affection can't force her to marryRodd, and that is where you are in luck's way. "

Then I told him all the story. 

"Was he murdered or did he commit suicide?" he asked when I hadfinished. 

"I don't know, and to tell you the truth I don't want to know;nor will you if you are wise, unless knowledge is forced uponyou. It is enough that he is dead, and for his daughter's sakethe less the circumstances of his end are examined into thebetter. "

"Poor Heda!" he said again, "who will tell her? I can't. _You_found him, Allan. "

"I expected that job would be my share of the business, Anscombe. Well, the sooner it is over the better. Now dress yourself andcome on to the stoep. "

Then I left him and next minute met Heda's fat, half-breed maid, a stupid but good sort of a woman who was called Kaatje, emergingfrom her mistress's room with a jug, to fetch hot water, Isuppose. 

"Kaatje, " I said, "go back and tell the Missie Heda that I wantto speak to her as soon as I can. Never mind the hot water, butstop and help her to dress. "

She began to grumble a little in a good-natured way, butsomething in my eye stopped her and she went back into the room. Ten minutes later Heda was by my side. 

"What is it, Mr. Quatermain?" she asked. "I feel sure thatsomething dreadful has happened. "

"It has, my dear, " I answered, "that is, if death is dreadful. Your father died last night. "

"Oh!" she said, "oh!" and sank back on to the seat. 

"Bear up, " I went on, "we must all die one day, and he hadreached the full age of man. "

"But I loved him, " she moaned. "He had many faults I know, stillI loved him. "

"It is the lot of life, Heda, that we should lose what we love. Be thankful, therefore, that you have some one left to love. "

"Yes, thank God! that's true. If it had been him--no, it'swicked to say that. "

Then I told her the story, and while I was doing so, Anscombejoined us, walking by aid of his stick. Also I showed them bothMarnham's letter to me and the will, but the other bit of paper Idid not speak of or show. 

She sat very pale and quiet and listened till I had done. Thenshe said--

"I should like to see him. "

"Perhaps it is as well, " I answered. "If you can bear it, comeat once, and do you come also, Anscombe. "

We went to the room, Anscombe and Heda holding each other by thehand. I unlocked the door and, entering, threw open a shutter. There sat the dead man as I had left him, only his head hadfallen over a little. She gazed at him, trembling, then advancedand kissed his cold forehead, muttering, "Good-bye, father. Oh! good-bye, father. "

A thought struck me, and I asked--

"Is there any place here where your father locked up things? As Ihave shown you, you are his heiress, and if so it might be aswell in this house that you should possess yourself of hisproperty. "

"There is a safe in the corner, " she answered, "of which healways kept the key in his trouser pocket. "

"Then with your leave I will open it in your presence. "

Going to the dead man I searched his pocket and found in it abunch of keys. These I withdrew and went to the safe over whicha skin rug was thrown. I unlocked it easily enough. Within weretwo bags of gold, each marked #100; also another larger bagmarked "My wife's jewelry. For Heda"; also some papers and aminiature of the lady whose portrait hung in the sitting-room;also some loose gold. 

"Now who will take charge of these?" I asked. "I do not think itsafe to leave them here. "

"You, of course, " said Anscombe, while Heda nodded. 

So with a groan I consigned all these valuables to my capaciouspockets. Then I locked up the empty safe, replaced the keyswhere I had found them on Marnham, fastened the shutter and leftthe room with Anscombe, waiting for a while outside till Hedajoined us, sobbing a little. After this we got something to eat, insisting on Heda doing the same. 

On leaving the table I saw a curious sight, namely, the patientswhom Rodd was attending in the little hospital of which I havespoken, departing towards the bush-veld, those of them who couldwalk well and the attendants assisting the others. They werealready some distance away, too far indeed for me to follow, as Idid not wish to leave the house. The incident filled me withsuspicion, and I went round to the back to make inquiries, butcould find no one. As I passed the hospital door, however, Iheard a voice calling in Sisutu--

"Do not leave me behind, my brothers. "

I entered and saw the man on whom Rodd had operated the day ofour arrival, lying in bed and quite alone. I asked him where theothers had gone. At first he would not answer, but when Ipretended to leave him, called out that it was back to their owncountry. Finally, to cut the story short, I extracted from himthat they had left because they had news that the Temple wasgoing to be attacked by Sekukuni and did not wish to be here whenI and Anscombe were killed. How the news reached him he refused, or could not, say; nor did he seem to know anything of the deathof Marnham. When I pressed him on the former point, he onlygroaned and cried for water, for he was in pain and thirsty. Iasked him who had told Sekukuni's people to kill us, but herefused to speak. 

"Very well, " I said, "then you shall lie here alone and die ofthirst, " and again I turned towards the door. 

At this he cried out--

"I will tell you. It was the white medicine-man who lives here;he who cut me open. He arranged it all a few days ago because hehates you. Last night he rode to tell the impi when to come. "

"When is it to come?" I asked, holding the jug of water towardshim. 

"To-night at the rising of the moon, so that it may get far awaybefore the dawn. My people are thirsty for your blood and forthat of the other white chief, because you killed so many of themby the river. The others they will not harm. "

"How did you learn all this?" I asked him again, but withoutresult, for he became incoherent and only muttered somethingabout being left alone because the others could not carry him. So I gave him some water, after which he fell asleep, orpretended to do so, and I left him, wondering whether he wasdelirious, or spoke truth. As I passed the stables I saw that myown horse was there, for in this district horses are always shutup at night to keep them from catching sickness, but that thefour beasts that had brought Heda from Natal in the Cape cartwere gone, though it was evident that they had been kraaled heretill within an hour or two. I threw my horse a bundle of forageand returned to the house by the back entrance. The kitchen wasempty, but crouched by the door of Marnham's room sat the boy whohad found him dead. He had been attached to his master andseemed half dazed. I asked him where the other servants were, towhich he replied that they had all run away. Then I asked himwhere the horses were. He answered that the Baas Rodd hadordered them to be turned out before he rode off that morning. Ibade him accompany me to the stoep, as I dared not let him out ofmy sight, which he did unwillingly enough. 

There I found Anscombe and Heda. They were seated side by sideupon the couch. Tears were running down her face and he, lookingvery troubled, held her by the hand. Somehow that picture ofHeda has always remained fixed in my mind. Sorrow becomes somewomen and she was one of them. Her beautiful dark grey eyes didnot grow red with weeping; the tears just welled up in them andfell like dewdrops from the heart of a flower. 

She sat very upright and very still, as he did, looking straightin front of her, while a ray of sunshine, falling on her head, showed the chestnut-hued lights in her waving hair, of which shehad a great abundance. 

Indeed the pair of them, thus seated side by side, reminded me ofan engraving I had seen somewhere of the statues of a husband andwife in an old Egyptian tomb. With just such a look did thewoman of thousands of years ago sit gazing in patient hope intothe darkness of the future. Death had made her sad, but it wasgone by, and the little wistful smile about her lips seemed tosuggest that in this darkness her sorrowful eyes already saw thestirring of the new life to be. Moreover, was not the man sheloved the companion of her hopes as he had been of her woes. Such was the fanciful thought that sprang up in my mind, even inthe midst of those great anxieties, like a single flower in astony wilderness of thorns or one star on the blackness of thenight. 

In a moment it had gone and I was telling them of what I hadlearned. They listened till I had finished. Then Anscombe saidslowly--

"Two of us can't hold this house against an impi. We must getout of it. "

"Both your conclusions seem quite sound, " I remarked, "that is ifyonder old Kaffir is telling the truth. But the questionis--how? We can't all three of us ride on one nag, as you arestill a cripple. "

"There is the Cape cart, " suggested Heda. 

"Yes, but the horses have been turned out, and I don't know whereto look for them. Nor dare I send that boy alone, for probablyhe would bolt like the others. I think that you had better geton my horse and ride for it, leaving us to take our chance. Idaresay the whole thing is a lie and that we shall be in nodanger, " I added by way of softening the suggestion. 

"That I will never do, " she replied with so much quiet convictionthat I saw it was useless to pursue the argument. 

I thought for a moment, as the position was very difficult. Theboy was not to be trusted, and if I went with him I should beleaving these two alone and, in Anscombe's state, almostdefenceless. Still it seemed as though I must. Just then Ilooked up, and there at the garden gate saw Anscombe's driver, Footsack, the man whom I had despatched to Pretoria to fetch hisoxen. I noted that he looked frightened and was breathless, forhis eyes started out of his head. Also his hat was gone and hebled a little from his face. 

Seeing us he ran up the path and sat down as though he weretired. 

"Where are the oxen?" I asked. 

"Oh! Baas, " he answered, "the Basutos have got them. We heardfrom an old black woman that Sekukuni had an impi out, so wewaited on the top of that hill about an hour's ride away to seeif it was true. Then suddenly the doctor Baas appeared riding, and I ran out and asked him if it were safe to go on. He knew meagain and answered--

"'Yes, quite safe, for have I not just ridden this road withoutmeeting so much as a black child. Go on, man; your masters willbe glad to have their oxen, as they wish to trek, or will bynightfall. ' Then he laughed and rode away. 

"So we went on, driving the oxen. But when we came to the beltof thorns at the bottom of the hill, we found that the doctorBaas had either lied to us or he had not seen. For theresuddenly the tall grass on either side of the path grew spears;yes, everywhere were spears. In a minute the two voorlooperswere assegaied. As for me, I ran forward, not back, since theKaffirs were behind me, across the path, Baas, driving off theoxen. They sprang at me, but I jumped this way and that way andavoided them. Then they threw assegais--see, one of them cut mycheek, but the rest missed. They had guns in their hands also, but none shot. I think they did not wish to make a noise. Onlyone of them shouted after me--

"'Tell Macumazahn that we are going to call on him tonight whenhe cannot see to shoot. We have a message for him from ourbrothers whom he killed at the drift of the Oliphant's River. '

"Then I ran on here without stopping, but I saw no more Kaffirs. That is all, Baas. "

Now I did not delay to cross-examine the man or to sift the truefrom the false in his story, since it was clear to me that he hadrun into a company of Basutos, or rather been beguiled thereto byRodd, and lost our cattle, also his companions, who were eitherkilled as he said, or had escaped some other way. 

"Listen, man, " I said. "I am going to fetch some horses. Do youstay here and help the Missie to pack the cart and make theharness ready. If you disobey me or run away, then I will findyou and you will never run again. Do you understand?"

He vowed that he did and went to get some water, while Iexplained everything to Anscombe and Heda, pointing out that allthe information we could gather seemed to show that no attack wasto be made upon the house before nightfall, and that therefore wehad the day before us. As this was so I proposed to go to lookfor the horses myself, since otherwise I was sure we should neverfind them. Meanwhile Heda must pack and make ready the cart withthe help of Footsack, Anscombe superintending everything, as hecould very well do since he was now able to walk leaning on astick. 

Of course neither of them liked my leaving them, but in view ofour necessities they raised no objection. So off I went, takingthe boy with me. He did not want to go, being, as I have said, half dazed with grief or fear, or both, but when I had pointedout to him clearly that I was quite prepared to shoot him if heplayed tricks, he changed his mind. Having saddled my mare thatwas now fresh and fat, we started, the boy guiding me to acertain kloof at the foot of which there was a small plain ofgood grass where he said the horses were accustomed to graze. 

Here sure enough we found two of them, and as they had beenturned out with their headstalls on, were able to tie them totrees with the riems which were attached to the headstalls. Butthe others were not there, and as two horses could not drag aheavy Cape cart, I was obliged to continue the search. Oh! whata hunt those beasts gave me. Finding themselves free, for asRodd's object was that they should stray, he had ordered thestable-boy not to kneel-halter them, after filling themselveswith grass they had started off for the farm where they werebred, which, it seemed, was about fifty miles away, grazing asthey went. Of course I did not know this at the time, so forseveral hours I rode up and down the neighbouring kloofs, as theground was too hard for me to hope to follow them by their spoor. 

It occurred to me to ask the boy where the horses came from, aquestion that he happened to be able to answer, as he had broughtthem home when they were bought the year before. Having learnedin what direction the place lay I rode for it at an angle, orrather for the path that led to it, making the boy run alongside, holding to my stirrup leather. About three o'clock in theafternoon I struck this path, or rather track, at a point ten ortwelve miles away from the Temple, and there, just mounting arise, met the two horses quietly walking towards me. Had I beena quarter of an hour later they would have passed and vanishedinto a sea of thorn-veld. We caught them without trouble andonce more headed homewards, leading them by their riems. 

Reaching the glade where the other two were tied up, we collectedthem also and returned to the house, where we arrived at fiveo'clock. As everything seemed quiet I put my mare into thestable, slipped its bit and gave it some forage. Then I wentround the house, and to my great joy found Anscombe and Hedawaiting anxiously, but with nothing to report, and with themFootsack. Very hastily I swallowed some food, while Footsackinspanned the horses. In a quarter of an hour all was ready. Then suddenly, in an inconsequent female fashion, Heda developeda dislike to leaving her father unburied. 

"My dear young lady, " I said, "it seems that you must choosebetween that and our all stopping to be buried with him. "

She saw the point and compromised upon paying him a visit offarewell, which I left her to do in Anscombe's company, while Ifetched my mare. To tell the truth I felt as though I had seenenough of the unhappy Marnham, and not for #50 would I haveentered that room again. As I passed the door of the hospital, leading my horse, I heard the old Kaffir screaming within andsent the boy who was with me to find out what was the matter withhim. That was the last I saw of either of them, or ever shallsee this side of kingdom come. I wonder what became of them?

When I got back to the front of the house I found the cartstanding ready at the gate, Footsack at the head of the horsesand Heda with Anscombe at her side. It had been neatly packedduring the day by Heda with such of her and our belongings as itwould hold, including our arms and ammunition. The rest, ofcourse, we were obliged to abandon. Also there were two basketsfull of food, some bottles of brandy and a good supply ofovercoats and wraps. I told Footsack to take the reins, as Iknew him to be a good driver, and helped Anscombe to a seat athis side, while Heda and the maid Kaatje got in behind in orderto balance the vehicle. I determined to ride, at any rate forthe present. 

"Which way, Baas?" asked Footsack. 

"Down to the Granite Stream where the wagon stands, " I answered. 

"That will be through the Yellow-wood Swamp. Can't we take theother road to Pilgrim's Rest and Lydenburg, or to Barberton?"asked Anscombe in a vague way, and as I thought, rathernervously. 

"No, " I answered, "that is unless you wish to meet those Basutoswho stole the oxen and Dr. Rodd returning, if he means toreturn. "

"Oh! let us go through the Yellow-wood, " exclaimed Heda, who, Ithink, would rather have met the devil than Dr. Rodd. 

Ah! if I had but known that we were heading straight for thatperson, sooner would I have faced the Basutos twice over. But Idid what seemed wisest, thinking that he would be sure to returnwith another doctor or a magistrate by the shorter and easierpath which he had followed in the morning. It just shows oncemore how useless are all our care and foresight, or how strong isFate, have it which way you will. 

So we started down the slope, and I, riding behind, noted poorHeda staring at the marble house, which grew ever more beautifulas it receded and the roughness of its building disappeared, especially at that part of it which hid the body of her old scampof a father whom still she loved. We came down to the glen andonce more saw the bones of the blue wildebeeste that we hadshot--oh! years and years ago, or so it seemed. Then we struckout for the Granite Stream. 

Before we reached the patch of Yellow-wood forest where I knewthat the cart must travel very slowly because of the trees andthe swampy nature of the ground, I pushed on ahead toreconnoitre, fearing lest there might be Basutos hidden in thiscover. Riding straight through it I went as far as the desertedwagon at a sharp canter, seeing nothing and no one. Once indeed, towards the end of the wood where it was more dense, I thoughtthat I heard a man cough and peered about me through the gloom, for here the rays of the sun, which was getting low in theheavens, scarcely penetrated. As I could perceive no one I cameto the conclusion that I must have been deceived by my fancy. Orperhaps it was some baboon that coughed, though it was strangethat a baboon should have come to such a low-lying spot wherethere was nothing for it to eat. 

The place was eerie, so much so that I bethought me of tales ofthe ghosts whereby it was supposed to be haunted. Also, oddlyenough, of Anscombe's presentiment which he had fulfilled bykilling a Basuto. Look! There lay his grinning skull with somepatches of hair still on it, dragged away from the rest of thebones by a hyena. I cantered on down the slope beyond the woodand through the scattered thorns to the stream on the banks ofwhich the wagon should be. It had gone, and by the freshness ofthe trail, within an hour or two. A moment's reflection told mewhat had happened. Having stolen our oxen the Basutos drove themto the wagon, inspanned them and departed with their loot. Onthe whole I was glad to see this, since it suggested that theyhad retired towards their own country, leaving our road open. 

Turning my horse I rode back again to meet the cart. As Ireached the edge of the wood at the top of the slope I heard awhistle blown, a very shrill whistle, of which the sound wouldtravel for a mile or two on that still air. Also I heard thesound of men's voices in altercation and caught words, suchas--"Let go, or by Heaven--!" then a furious laugh and otherwords which seemed to be--"In five minutes the Kaffirs will behere. In ten you will be dead. Can I help it if they kill youafter I have warned you to turn back?" Then a woman's scream. 

Rodd's voice, Anscombe's voice and Kaatje's scream--not Heda'sbut Kaatje's!

Then as I rode furiously round the last patch of interveningtrees the sound of a pistol shot. I was out of them now and saweverything. There was the cart on the further side of a swamp. The horses were standing still and snorting. Holding the rein ofone of the leaders was Rodd, whose horse also stood close by. Hewas rocking on his feet and as I leapt from my mare and ran up, Isaw his face. It was horrible, full of pain and devilish rage. With his disengaged hand he pointed to Anscombe sitting in thecart and grasping a pistol that still smoked. 

"You've killed me, " he said in a hoarse, choking voice, for hewas shot through the lung, "to get her, " and he waved his handtowards Heda who was peering at him between the heads of the twomen. "You are a murderer, as her father was, and as David wasbefore you. Well, I hope you won't keep her long. I hope you'lldie as I do and break her false heart, you damned thief. "

All of this he said in a slow voice, pausing between the wordsand speaking ever more thickly as the blood from his wound chokedhim. Then of a sudden it burst in a stream from his lips, andstill pointing with an accusing finger at Anscombe, he fellbackwards into the slimy pool behind him and there vanishedwithout a struggle. 

So horrible was the sight that the driver, Footsack, leapt fromthe cart, uttering a kind of low howl, ran to Rodd's horse, scrambled into the saddle and galloped off, striking it with hisfist, where to I do not know. Anscombe put his hand before hiseyes, Heda sank down on the seat in a heap, and the colouredwoman, Kaatje, beat her breast and said something in Dutch aboutbeing accursed or bewitched. Luckily I kept my wits and went tothe horses' heads, fearing lest they should start and drag thetrap into the pool. "Wake up, " I said. "That fellow has onlygot what he deserved, and you were quite right to shoot him. "

"I am glad you think so, " answered Anscombe absently. "It was solike murder. Don't you remember I told you I should kill a manin this place and about a woman?"

"I remember nothing, " I answered boldly, "except that if we stophere much longer we shall have those Basutos on us. That brutewas whistling to them and holding the horses till they came tokill us. Pull yourself together, take the reins and follow me. "

He obeyed, being a skilful whip enough who, as he informed meafterwards, had been accustomed to drive a four-in-hand at home. Mounting my horse, which stood by, I guided the cart out of thewood and down the slope beyond, till at length we came to our oldoutspan where I proposed to turn on to the wagon track which ranto Pilgrim's Rest. I say proposed, for when I looked up it Iperceived about five hundred yards away a number of armed Basutosrunning towards us, the red light of the sunset shining on theirspears. Evidently the scout or spy to whom Rodd whistled, hadcalled them out of their ambush which they had set for us on thePilgrim's Rest road in order that they might catch us if we triedto escape that way. 

Now there was only one thing to be done. At this spot a nativetrack ran across the little stream and up a steepish slopebeyond. On the first occasion of our outspanning here I had thecuriosity to mount this slope, reflecting as I did so thatalthough rough it would be quite practicable for a wagon. At thetop of it I found a wide flat plain, almost high-veld, for thebushes were very few, across which the track ran on. Onsubsequent inquiry I discovered that it was one used by theSwazis and other natives when they made their raids upon theBasutos, or when bodies of them went to work in the mines. 

"Follow me, " I shouted and crossed the stream which was shallowbetween the little pools, then led the way up the stony slope. The four horses negotiated it very well and the Cape cart, beingsplendidly built, took no harm. At the top I looked back and sawthat the Basutos were following us. 

"Flog the horses!" I cried to Anscombe, and off we went at a handgallop along the native track, the cart swaying and bumping uponthe rough veld. The sun was setting now, in half an hour itwould be quite dark. 

Could we keep ahead of them for that half hour?

CHAPTER IX

FLIGHT

The sun sank in a blaze of glory. Looking back by the light ofits last rays I saw a single native silhouetted against the redsky. He was standing on a mound that we had passed a mile ormore behind us, doubtless waiting for his companions whom he hadoutrun. So they had not given up the chase. What was to bedone? Once it was completely dark we could not go on. We shouldlose our way; the horses would get into ant-bear holes and breaktheir legs. Perhaps we might become bogged in some hollow, therefore we must wait till the moon rose, which would not be fora couple of hours. 

Meanwhile those accursed Basutos would be following us even inthe dark. This would hamper them, no doubt, but they would keepthe path, with which they were probably familiar, beneath theirfeet, and what is more, the ground being soft with recent rain, they could feel the wheel spoor with their fingers. I lookedabout me. Just here another track started off in a nor'-westerlydirection from that which we were following. Perhaps it ran toLydenburg; I do not know. To our left, not more than a hundredyards or so away, the higher veld came to an end and sloped in aneasterly direction down to bush-land below. 

Should I take the westerly road which ran over a great plain?No, for then we might be seen for miles and cut off. Moreover, even if we escaped the natives, was it desirable we should plungeinto civilization just now and tell all our story, as in thatcase we must do. Rodd's death was quite justified, but it hadhappened on Transvaal territory and would require a deal ofexplanation. Fortunately there was no witness of it, exceptourselves. Yes, there was though--the driver Footsack, if he hadgot away, which, being mounted, would seem probable, a man who, for my part, I would not trust for a moment. It would be an uglything to see Anscombe in the dock charged with murder andpossibly myself, with Footsack giving evidence against us beforea Boer jury who might be hard on Englishmen. Also there was thebody with a bullet in it. 

Suddenly there came into my mind a recollection of the very vividdream of Zikali which had visited me, and I reflected that inZululand there would be little need to trouble about the death ofRodd. But Zululand was a long way off, and if we were to avoidthe Transvaal, there was only one way of going there, namelythrough Swaziland. Well, among the Swazis we should be quitesafe from the Basutos, since the two peoples were at fierceenmity. Moreover I knew the Swazi chiefs and king very well, having traded there, and could explain that I came to collectdebts owing to me. 

There was another difficulty. I had heard that the troublebetween the English Government and Cetewayo, the Zulu king, wascoming to a head, and that the High Commissioner, Sir BartleFrere, talked of presenting him with an ultimatum. It would beawkward if this arrived while we were in the country, though evenso, being on such friendly terms with the Zulus of all classes, Idid not think that I, or any with me, would run great risks. 

All these thoughts rushed through my brain while I consideredwhat to do. At the moment it was useless to ask the opinion ofthe others who were but children in native matters. I and Ialone must take the responsibility and act, praying that I mightdo so aright. Another moment and I had made up my mind. 

Signing to Anscombe to follow me, I rode about a hundred yards ormore down the nor'-westerly path. Then I turned sharply along arather stony ridge of ground, the cart following me all the time, and came back across our own track, my object being of courseto puzzle any Kaffirs who might spoor us. Now we were on theedge of the gentle slope that led down to the bush-veld. Overthis I rode towards a deserted cattle kraal built of stones, inthe rich soil of which grew sundry trees; doubtless one of thosewhich had been abandoned when Mosilikatze swept all this countryon his way north about the year 1838. The way to it was easy, since the surrounding stones had been collected to build thekraal generations before. As we passed over the edge of theslope in the gathering gloom, Heda cried--

"Look!" and pointed in the direction whence we came. Far away asheet of flame shot upwards. 

"The house is burning, " she exclaimed. 

"Yes, " I said, "it can be nothing else;" adding to myself, "agood job too, for now there will be no postmortem on oldMarnham. "

Who fired the place I never learnt. It may have been theBasutos, or Marnham's body-servant, or Footsack, or a spark fromthe kitchen fire. At any rate it blazed merrily enoughnotwithstanding the marble walls, as a wood-lined and thatchedbuilding of course would do. On the whole I suspected the boy, who may very well have feared lest he should be accused of havinghad a hand in his master's death. At least it was gone, andwatching the distant flames I bethought me that with it went allHeda's past. Twenty-four hours before her father was alive, thebondservant of Rodd and a criminal. Now he was ashes and Roddwas dead, while she and the man she loved were free, with all theworld before them. I wished that I could have added that theywere safe. Afterwards she told me that much the same ideaspassed through her own mind. 

Dismounting I led the horses into the old kraal through the gapin the wall which once had been the gateway. It was a largekraal that probably in bygone days had held the cattle of someforgotten head chief whose town would have stood on the brow ofthe rise; so large that notwithstanding the trees I havementioned, there was plenty of room for the cart and horses inits centre. Moreover, on such soil the grass grew so richly thatafter we had slipped their bits, the horses were able to fillthemselves without being unharnessed. Also a little stream froma spring on the brow ran within a few yards whence, with the helpof Kaatje, a strong woman, I watered them with the bucket whichhung underneath the cart. Next we drank ourselves and ate somefood in the darkness that was now complete. Then leaving Kaatjeto stand at the head of the horses in case they should attemptany sudden movement, I climbed into the cart, and we discussedthings in low whispers. 

It was a curious debate in that intense gloom which, close as ourfaces were together, prevented us from seeing anything of eachother, except once when a sudden flare of summer lightningrevealed them, white and unnatural as those of ghosts. On ourpresent dangers I did not dwell, putting them aside lightly, though I knew they were not light. But of the alternative as towhether we should try to escape to Lydenburg and civilization, orto Zululand and savagery, I felt it to be my duty to speak. 

"To put it plainly, " said Anscombe in his slow way when I hadfinished, "you mean that in the Transvaal I might be tried as amurderer and perhaps convicted, whereas if we vanish intoZululand the probability is that this would not happen. "

"I mean, " I whispered back, "that we might both be tried and, ifFootsack should chance to appear and give evidence, findourselves in an awkward position. Also there is anotherwitness--Kaatje, and for the matter of that, Heda herself. Ofcourse her evidence would be in our favour, but to make itunderstood by a jury she would have to explain a great deal ofwhich she might prefer not to speak. Further, at the best, thewhole business would get into the English papers, which you andyour relatives might think disagreeable, especially in view ofthe fact that, as I understand, you and Heda intend to marry. "

"Still I think that I would rather face it out, " he said in hisoutspoken way, "even if it should mean that I could never returnto England. After all, of what have I to be afraid? I shot thisscoundrel because I was obliged to do so. "

"Yes, but it is of this that you may have to convince a jury whomight possibly find a motive in Rodd's past, and your present, relationship to the same lady. But what has she to say?"

"I have to say, " whispered Heda, "that for myself I care nothing, but that I could never bear to see all these stories about mypoor father raked up. Also there is Maurice to be considered. It would be terrible if they put him in prison--or worse. Let usgo to Zululand, Mr. Quatermain, and afterwards get out of Africa. Don't you agree, Maurice?"

"What does Mr. Quatermain think himself?" he answered. "He isthe oldest and by far the wisest of us and I will be guided byhim. "

Now I considered and said--

"There is such a thing as flying from present troubles to othersthat may be worse, the 'ills we know not of. ' Zululand isdisturbed. If war broke out there we might all be killed. Onthe other hand we might not, and it ought to be possible for youto work up to Delagoa Bay and there get some ship home, that isif you wish to keep clear of British law. I cannot do so, as Imust stay in Africa. Nor can I take the responsibility ofsettling what you are to do, since if things went wrong, it wouldbe on my head. However, if you decide for the Transvaal or Nataland we escape, I must tell you that I shall go to the firstmagistrate we find and make a full deposition of all that hashappened. It is not possible for me to live with the charge ofhaving been concerned in the shooting of a white man hanging overme that might be brought up at any time, perhaps when no one wasleft in the country to give evidence on my behalf, for then, evenif I were acquitted my name would always be tarnished. InZululand, on the other hand, there are no magistrates before whomI could depose, and if this business should come out, I canalways say that we went there to escape from the Basutos. Now Iam going to get down to see if the horses are all right. Do youtwo talk the thing over and make up your minds. Whatever youagree on, I shall accept and do my best to carry through. " Then, without waiting for an answer, I slipped from the cart. 

Having examined the horses, who were cropping all the grasswithin reach of them, I crept to the wall of the kraal so as tobe quite out of earshot. The night was now pitch dark, dark asit only knows how to be in Africa. More, a thunderstorm wascoming up of which that flash of sheet lightning had been apresage. The air was electric. From the vast bush-clad valleybeneath us came a wild, moaning sound caused, I suppose, by windamong the trees, though here I felt none; far away a sudden spearof lightning stabbed the sky. The brooding trouble of naturespread to my own heart. I was afraid, and not of our presentdangers, though these were real enough, so real that in a fewhours we might all be dead. 

To dangers I was accustomed; for years they had been my dailyfood by day and by night, and, as I think I have said elsewhere, I am a fatalist, one who knows full well that when God wants meHe will take me; that is if He can want such a poor, erringcreature. Nothing that I did or left undone could postpone orhasten His summons for a moment, though of course I knew it to bemy duty to fight against death and to avoid it for as long as Imight, because that I should do so was a portion of His plan. For we are all part of a great pattern, and the continuance orcessation of our lives re-acts upon other lives, and thereforelife is a trust. 

No, it was of greater things that I felt afraid, things terribleand imminent which I could not grasp and much less understand. Iunderstand them now, but who would have guessed that on the issueof that whispered colloquy in the cart behind me, depended thefate of a people and many thousands of lives? As I was to learnin days to come, if Anscombe and Heda had determined upon headingfor the Transvaal, there would, as I believe, have been no Zuluwar, which in its turn meant that there would have been no BoerRebellion and that the mysterious course of history would havebeen changed. 

I shook myself together and returned to the cart. 

"Well, " I whispered, but there was no answer. A moment laterthere came another flash of lightning. 

"There, " said Heda, "how many do you make it?

"Ninety-eight, " he answered. 

"I counted ninety-nine, " she said, "but anyway it was within thehundred. Mr. Quatermain, we will go to Zululand, if you please, if you will show us the way there. "

"Right, " I answered, "but might I ask what that has to do withyour both counting a hundred?"

"Only this, " she said, "we could not make up our minds. Mauricewas for the Transvaal, I was for Zululand. So you see we agreedthat if another flash came before we counted a hundred, we wouldgo to Zululand, and if it didn't, to Pretoria. A very good wayof settling, wasn't it?"

"Excellent!" I replied, "quite excellent for those who couldthink of such a thing. "

As a matter of fact I don't know which of them thought of itbecause I never inquired. But I did remember afterwards howAnscombe had tossed with a lucky penny when it was a questionwhether we should or should not run for the wagon during ourdifficulty by the Oliphant's River; also when I asked him thereason for this strange proceeding he answered that Providencemight inhabit a penny as well as anything else, and that hewished to give it--I mean Providence--a chance. How much morethen, he may have argued, could it inhabit a flash of lightningwhich has always been considered a divine manifestation from thetime of the Roman Jove, and no doubt far before him. 

Forty or fifty generations ago, which is not long, our ancestorsset great store by the behaviour of lightning and thunder, anddoubtless the instinct is still in our blood, in the same waythat all our existing superstitions about the moon come down tous from the time when our forefathers worshipped her. They didthis for tens of hundreds or thousands of years, and can weexpect a few coatings of the veneer that we politely callcivilization, which after all is only one of our conventions thatvanish in any human stress such as war, to kill out the humanimpulse it seems to hide? I do not know, though I have my ownopinion, and probably these young people never reasoned thematter out. They just acted on an intuition as ancient as thatwhich had attracted them to each other, namely a desire toconsult the ruling fates by omens or symbols. Or perhapsAnscombe thought that as his experience with the penny had provedso successful, he would give Providence another "chance. " If soit took it and no mistake. Confound it! I don't know what hethought; I only dwell on the matter because of the great resultswhich followed this consultation of the Sybilline books ofheaven. 

As it happened my speculations, if I really indulged in any atthat time, were suddenly extinguished by the bursting of thestorm. It was of the usual character, short but very violent. Of a sudden the sky became alive with lightnings and theatmosphere with the roar of winds. One flash struck a tree quitenear the kraal, and I saw that tree seem to melt in its fieryembrace, while about where it had been, rose a column of dustfrom the ground beneath. The horses were so frightened thatluckily they stood quite quiet, as I have often known animals todo in such circumstances. Then came the rain, a torrential rainas I, who was out in it holding the horses, became painfullyaware. It thinned after a while, however, as the storm rolledaway. 

Suddenly in a silence between the tremendous echoes of thepassing thunder I thought that I heard voices somewhere on thebrow of the slope, and as the horses were now quite calm, I creptthrough the trees to that part of the enclosure which I judged tobe nearest to them. 

Voices they were sure enough, and of the Basutos who werepursuing us. What was more, they were coming down the slope. The top of the old wall reached almost to my chin. Taking off myhat I thrust my head forward between two loose stones, that Imight hear the better. 

The men were talking together in Sisutu. One, whom I took to betheir captain, said to the others--

"That white-headed old jackal, Macumazahn, has given us the slipagain. He doubled on his tracks and drove the horses down thehillside to the lower path in the valley. I could feel where thewheels went over the edge. "

"It is so, Father, " answered another voice, "but we shall catchhim and the others at the bottom if we get there before the moonrises, since they cannot have moved far in this rain anddarkness. Let me go first and guide you who know every tree andstone upon this slope where I used to herd cattle when I was achild. "

"Do so, " said the captain. "I can see nothing now the lightninghas gone, and were it not that I have sworn to dip my spear inthe blood of Macumazahn who has fooled us again, I would give upthe hunt. "

"I think it would be better to give it up in any case, " said athird voice, "since it is known throughout the land that no luckhas ever come to those who tried to trap the Watcher-by-Night. Oh! he is a leopard who springs and is gone again. How many arethe throats in which his fangs have met. Leave him alone, I say, lest our fate should be that of the white doctor in theYellow-wood Swamp, he who set us on this hunt. We have his wagonand his cattle; let us be satisfied. "

"I will leave him alone when he sleeps for the last time, and notbefore, " answered the captain, "he who shot my brother in thedrift the other day. What would Sekukuni say if we let himescape to bring the Swazis on us? Moreover, we want that whitemaiden for a hostage in case the English should attack us again. Come, you who know the road, and lead us. "

There was some disturbance as this man passed to the front. ThenI heard the line move forward. Presently they were going by thewall within a foot or two of me. Indeed by ill-luck just as wewere opposite to each other the captain stumbled and fell againstthe wall. 

"There is an old cattle kraal here, " he said. "What if thosewhite rats have hidden in it?"

I trembled as I heard the words. If a horse should neigh or makeany noise that could be heard above the hiss of the rain! I didnot dare to move for fear lest I should betray myself. There Istood so close to the Kaffirs that I could smell them and hearthe rain pattering on their bodies. Only very stealthily I drewmy hunting knife with my right hand. At that moment thelightning, which I thought had quite gone by, flashed again forthe last time, revealing the fat face of the Basuto captainwithin a foot of my own, for he was turned towards the wall onwhich one of his hands rested. Moreover, the blue and ghastlylight revealed mine to him thrust forward between the two stones, my eyes glaring at him. 

"The head of a dead man is set upon the wall!" he cried interror. "It is the ghost of--"

He got no further, for as the last word passed his lips I drovethe knife at him with all my strength deep into his throat. Hefell back into the arms of his followers, and next instant Iheard the sound of many feet rushing in terror down the hill. What became of him I do not know, but if he still lives, probablyhe agrees with his tribesman that Macumazahn--Watcher-by-Night, or his ghost "is a leopard who springs and kills and is goneagain"; also, that those who try to trap him meet with no luck. I say, or his ghost--because I am sure he thought that I was aspirit of the dead; doubtless I must have looked like one with mywhite, rain-drowned face appearing there between the stones andmade ghastly and livid by the lightning. 

Well, they had gone, the whole band of them, not less than thirtyor forty men, so I went also, back to the cart where I found theothers very comfortable indeed beneath the rainproof tilt. Saying nothing of what had happened, of which they were asinnocent as babes, I took a stiff tot of brandy, for I waschilled through by the wet, and while waiting for the moon torise, busied myself with getting the bits back into the horses'mouths--an awkward job in the dark. At length it appeared in aclear sky, for the storm had quite departed and the rain ceased. As soon as there was light enough I took the near leader by thebridle and led the cart to the brow of the hill, which was noteasy under the conditions, making Kaatje follow with my horse. 

Then, as there were no signs of any Basutos, we started on again, I riding about a hundred yards ahead, keeping a sharp look-outfor a possible ambush. Fortunately, however, the veld was bareand open, consisting of long waves of ground. One start I didget, thinking that I saw men's heads just on the crest of a wave, which turned out to be only a herd of springbuck feeding amongthe tussocks of grass. I was very glad to see them, since theirpresence assured me that no human being had recently passed thatway. 

All night long we trekked, following the Kaffir path for as longas I could see it, and after that going by my compass. I knewwhereabouts the drift of the Crocodile River should be, as I hadcrossed it twice before in my life, and kept my eyes open for acertain tall koppie which stood within half a mile it on the Swaziside of the river. Ultimately to my joy I caught sight of this hillfaintly outlined against the sky and headed for it. Half a milefurther on I struck a wagon-track made by Boers trekking intoSwazi-Land to trade or shoot. Then I knew that the drift wasstraight ahead of us, and called to Anscombe to flog up theweary horses. 

We reached the river just before the dawn. To my horror it wasvery full, so full that the drift looked dangerous, for it hadbeen swollen by the thunder-rain of the previous night. Indeedsome wandering Swazis on the further bank shouted to us that weshould be drowned if we tried to cross. 

"Which means that the only thing to do is to stay until the waterruns down, " I said to Anscombe, for the two women, tired out, were asleep. 

"I suppose so, " he answered, "unless those Basutos--"

I looked back up the long slope down which we had come and saw noone. Then I raised myself in my stirrups and looked alonganother track that joined the road just here, leading from thebush-veld, as ours led from the high-veld. The sun was risingnow, dispersing the mist that hung about the trees after the wet. Searching among these with my eyes, presently I perceived thelight gleaming upon what I knew must be the points of spearsprojecting above the level of the ground vapour. 

"Those devils are after us by the lower road, " I said toAnscombe, adding, "I heard them pass the old cattle kraal lastnight. They followed our spoor over the edge of the hill, but inthe dark lost it among the stones. "

He whistled and asked what was to be done. 

"That is for you to decide, " I answered. "For my part I'd ratherrisk the river than the Basutos, " and I looked at the slumberingHeda. 

"Can we bolt back the way we came, Allan?"

"The horses are very spent and we might meet more Basutos, " andagain I looked at Heda. 

"A hard choice, Allan. It is wonderful how women complicateeverything in life, because they are life, I suppose. " Hethought a moment and went on, "Let's try the river. If we fail, it will be soon over, and it is better to drown than be speared. "

"Or be kept alive by savages who hate us, " I exclaimed, with myeyes still fixed upon Heda. 

Then I got to business. There were hide riems on the bridles ofthe leaders. I undid these and knotted their loose ends firmlytogether. To them I made fast the riem of my own mare, slippinga loop I tied in it, over my right hand and saying--

"Now I will go first, leading the horses. Do you drive after mefor all you are worth, even if they are swept off their feet. Ican trust my beast to swim straight, and being a mare, I hopethat the horses will follow her as they have done all night. Wake up Heda and Kaatje. "

He nodded, and looking very pale, said--

"Heda my dear, I am sorry to disturb you, but we have to get overa river with a rough bottom, so you and Kaatje must hang on andsit tight. Don't be frightened, you are as safe as a church. "

"God forgive him for that lie, " thought I to myself as, havingtightened the girths, I mounted my mare. Then gripping the riemI kicked the beast to a canter, Anscombe flogging up the team aswe swung down the bank to the edge of the foaming torrent, on thefurther side of which the Swazis shouted and gesticulated to usto go back. 

We were in it now, for, as I had hoped, the horses followed themare without hesitation. For the first twenty yards or so allwent well, I heading up the stream. Then suddenly I felt thatthe mare was swimming. 

"Flog the horses and don't let them turn, " I shouted to Anscombe. 

Ten more yards and I glanced over my shoulder. The team wasswimming also, and behind them the cart rocked and bobbed like aboat swinging in a heavy sea. There came a strain on the riem;the leaders were trying to turn! I pulled hard and encouragedthem with my voice, while Anscombe, who drove splendidly, kepttheir heads as straight as he could. Mercifully they came roundagain and struck out for the further shore, the water-logged cartfloating after them. Would it turn over? That was the questionin my mind. Five seconds; ten seconds and it was still upright. Oh! it was going. No, a fierce back eddy caught it and set itstraight again. My mare touched bottom and there was hope. Itstruggled forward, being swept down the stream all the time. Nowthe horses in the cart also found their footing and we weresaved. 

No, the wet had caused the knot of one of the riems to slipbeneath the strain, or perhaps it broke--I don't know. Feelingthe pull slacken the leaders whipped round on to the wheelers. There they all stood in a heap, their heads and part of theirnecks above water, while the cart floated behind them on itsside. Kaatje screamed and Anscombe flogged. I leapt from mymare and struggled to the leaders, the water up to my chin. Grasping their bits I managed to keep them from turning further. But I could do no more and death came very near to us. Had itnot been for some of those brave Swazis on the bank it would havefound us, every one. But they plunged in, eight of them, holdingeach other's hands, and half-swimming, half-wading, reached us. They got the horses by the head and straightened them out, whileAnscombe plied his whip. A dash forward and the wheels were onthe bottom again. 

Three minutes later we were safe on the further bank, which mymare had already reached, where I lay gasping on my face, ejaculating prayers of thankfulness and spitting out muddy water. 

CHAPTER X

NOMBE

The Swazis, shivering, for all these people hate cold, andshaking themselves like a dog when he comes to shore, gatheredround, examining me. 

"Why!" said one of them, an elderly man who seemed to be theirleader, "this is none other than Macumazahn, Watcher-by-Night, the old friend of all us black people. Surely the spirits of ourfathers have been with us who might have risked our lives to savea Boer or a half-breed. " (The Swazis, I may explain, did not likethe Boers for reasons they considered sound. )

"Yes, " I said, sitting up, "it is I, Macumazahn. "

"Then why, " asked the man, "did you, whom all know to be wise, show yourself to have suddenly become a fool?" and he pointed tothe raging river. 

"And why, " I asked, "do you show yourself a fool by supposingthat I, whom you know to be none, am a fool? Look across thewater for your answer. "

He looked and saw the Basutos, fifty or more of them, arriving, just too late. 

"Who are these?" he asked. 

"They are the people of Sekukuni whom you should know wellenough. They have hunted us all night, yes, and before, seekingto murder us; also they have stolen our oxen, thirty-two fineoxen which I give to your king if he can take them back. Nowperhaps you understand why we dared the Crocodile River in itsrage. "

At the name of Sekukuni the man, who it seemed was the captain ofsome border guards, stiffened all over like a terrier whichperceives a rat. "What!" he exclaimed, "do these dirty Basutodogs dare to carry spears so near our country? Have they not yetlearned their lesson?"

Then he rushed into the water, shaking an assegai he had snatchedup, and shouted, "Bide a while, you fleas from the kaross of Sekukuni, till I cancome across and crack you between my thumb and finger. Or at theleast wait until Macumazahn has time to get his rifle. No, putdown those guns of yours; for every shot you fire I swear that Iwill cut ten Basuto throats when we come to storm your koppies, as we shall do ere long. "

"Be silent, " I said, "and let me speak. "

Then I, too, called across the river, asking where was that fatcaptain of theirs, as I would talk with him. One of the menshouted back that he had stopped behind, very sick, because of aghost that he had seen. 

"Ah!" I answered, "a ghost who pricked him in the throat. Well, I was that ghost, and such are the things that happen to thosewho would harm Macumazahn and his friends. Did you not say lastnight that he is a leopard who leaps out in the dark, bites andis gone again?"

"Yes, " the man shouted back, "and it is true, though had weknown, O Macumazahn, that you were the ghost hiding in thosestones, you should never have leapt again. Oh! that whitemedicine-man who is dead has sent us on a mad errand. "

"So you will think when I come to visit you among your koppies. Go home and take a message from Macumazahn to Sekukuni, whobelieves that the English have run away from him. Tell him thatthey will return again and these Swazis with them, and that thenhe will cease to live and his town will be burnt and his tribewill no more be a tribe. Away now, more swiftly than you came, since the water by which you thought to trap us is falling, and aSwazi impi gathers to make an end of every one of you. "

The man attempted no answer, nor did his people so much as fireon us. They turned tail and crept off like a pack of frightenedjackals--pursued by the mocking of the Swazis. 

Still in a way they had the laugh of us, seeing that they gave usa terrible fright and stole our wagon and thirty-two oxen. Well, a year or two later I helped to pay them back for that fright andeven recovered some of the oxen. 

When they had gone the Swazis led us to a kraal about two milesfrom the river, sending on a runner with orders to make huts andfood ready for us. It was just as much as we could do to reachit, for we were all utterly worn out, as were the horses. Stillwe did get there at last, the hot sun warming us as we went. Arrived at the kraal I helped Heda and Kaatje from the cart--theformer could scarcely walk, poor dear--and into the guest hutwhich seemed clean, where food of a sort and fur karosses werebrought to them in which to wrap themselves while their clothesdried. 

Leaving them in charge of two old women, I went to see toAnscombe, who as yet could not do much for himself, also to theoutspanning of the horses which were put into a cattle kraal, where they lay down at once without attempting to eat the greenforage which was given to them. After this I gave our goods intothe charge of the kraal-head, a nice old fellow whom I had nevermet before, and he led Anscombe to another hut close to thatwhere the women were. Here we drank some maas, that is curdledmilk, ate a little mutton, though we were too fatigued to be veryhungry, and stripping off our wet clothes, threw them out intothe sun to dry. 

"That was a close shave, " said Anscombe as he wrapped up in thekaross. 

"Very, " I answered. "So close that I think you must have beenstarted in life with an extra strong guardian angel wellaccustomed to native ways. "

"Yes, " he replied, "and, old fellow, I believe that on earth hegoes by the name of Allan Quatermain. "

After this I remember no more, for I went to sleep, and soremained for about twenty-four hours. This was not wonderful, seeing that for two days and nights practically I had not rested, during which time I went through much fatigue and many emotions. 

When at length I did wake up, the first thing I saw was Anscombealready dressed, engaged in cleaning my clothes with a brush fromhis toilet case. I remember thinking how smart and incongruousthat dressing-bag, made appropriately enough of crocodile hide, looked in this Kaffir hut with its silver-topped bottles and itsivory-handled razors. 

"Time to get up, Sir. Bath ready, Sir, " he said in his jolly, drawling voice, pointing to a calabash full of hot water. "Hopeyou slept as well as I did, Sir. "

"You appear to have recovered your spirits, " I remarked as I roseand began to wash myself. 

"Yes, Sir, and why not? Heda is quite well, for I have seen her. These Swazis are very good people, and as Kaatje understandstheir language, bring us all we want. Our troubles seem to bedone with. Old Marnham is dead, and doubtless cremated; Rodd isdead and, let us hope, in heaven; the Basutos have melted away, the morning is fine and warm and a whole kid is cooking forbreakfast. "

"I wish there were two, for I am ravenous, " I remarked. 

"The horses are getting rested and feeding well, though some oftheir legs have filled, and the trap is little the worse, for Ihave walked to look at them, or rather hopped, leaning on theshoulder of a very sniffy Swazi boy. Do you know, old fellow, Ibelieve there never were any Basutos; also that the venerableMarnham and the lurid Rodd had no real existence, that they werebut illusions, a prolonged nightmare--no more. Here is yourshirt. I am sorry that I have not had time to wash it, but ithas cooked well in the sun, which, being flannel, is almost asgood. "

"At any rate Heda remains, " I remarked, cutting his nonsenseshort, "and I suppose she is not a nightmare or a delusion. "

"Yes, thank God! she remains, " he replied with earnestness. "Oh!Allan, I thought she must drown in that river, and if I had losther, I think I should have gone mad. Indeed, at the moment Ifelt myself going mad while I dragged and flogged at thosehorses. "

"Well, you didn't lose her, and if she had drowned, you wouldhave drowned also. So don't talk any more about it. She issafe, and now we have got to keep her so, for you are not marriedyet, my boy, and there are generally more trees in a wood thanone can see. Still we are alive and well, which is more than wehad any right to expect, and, as you say, let us thank God forthat. "

Then I put on my coat and my boots which Anscombe had greased ashe had no blacking, and crept from the hut. 

There, only a few yards away, engaged in setting the breakfast inthe shadow of another hut on a tanned hide that served for atablecloth while Kaatje saw to the cooking close by, I foundHeda, still a little pale and sorrowful but otherwise quite welland rested. Moreover, she had managed to dress herself verynicely, I suppose by help of spare clothes in the cart, andtherefore looked as charming as she always did. I think that herperfect manners were one of her greatest attractions. Thus onthis morning her first thought was to thank me very sweetly forall she was good enough to say I had done for her and Anscombe, thereby, as she put it, saving their lives several times over. 

"My dear young lady, " I answered as roughly as I could, "don'tflatter yourself on that point; it was my own life of which I wasthinking. "

But she only smiled and, shaking her head in a fascinating waythat was peculiar to her, remarked that I could not deceive heras I did the Kaffirs. After this the solid Kaatje brought thefood and we breakfasted very heartily, or at least I did. 

Now I am not going to set out all the details of our journeythrough Swazi-Land, for though in some ways it was interestingenough, also as comfortable as a stay among savages can be, foreverywhere we were kindly received, to do so would be too long, and I must get on with my story. At the king's kraal, which wedid not reach for some days as the absence of roads and theflooded state of the rivers, also the need of sparing our horses, caused us to travel very slowly, I met a Boer who I think wasconcession hunting. 

He told me that things were really serious in Zululand, soserious that he thought there was a probability of immediate warbetween the English and the Zulus. He said also that Cetewayo, the Zulu king, had sent messengers to stir up the Basutos andother tribes against the white men, with the result that Sekukunihad already made a raid towards Pilgrim's Rest and Lydenburg. 

I expressed surprise and asked innocently if he had done anyharm. The Boer replied he understood that they had stolen somecattle, killed two white men, if not more, and burnt their house. He added, however, that he was not sure whether the white men hadbeen killed by the Kaffirs or by other white men with whom theyhad quarrelled. There was a rumour to this effect, and heunderstood that the magistrate of Barberton had gone with somemounted police and armed natives to investigate the matter. 

Then we parted, as, having got his concession to which the kingUmbandine had put his mark when he was drunk on brandy that theBoer himself had brought with him as a present, he was anxious tobe gone before he grew sober and revoked it. Indeed, he was inso great a hurry that he never stopped to inquire what I wasdoing in Swazi-Land, nor do I think he realized that I was notalone. Certainly he was quite unaware that I had been mixed upin these Basuto troubles. Still his story as to theinvestigation concerning the deaths of Marnham and Rodd made meuneasy, since I feared lest he should hear something on hisjourney and put two and two together, though as a matter of factI don't think he ever did either of these things. 

The Swazis told me much the same story as to the brewing Zulustorm. In fact an old Induna or councillor, whom I knew, informed me that Cetewayo had sent messengers to them, asking fortheir help if it should come to fighting with the white men, butthat the king and councillors answered that they had always beenthe Queen's children (which was not strictly true, as they werenever under English rule) and did not wish to "bite her feet ifshe should have to fight with her hands. " I replied that I hopedthey would always act up to these fine words, and changed thesubject. 

Now once more the question arose as to whether we should make forNatal or press on to Zululand. The rumour of coming warsuggested that the first would be our better course, while theBoer's story as to the investigation of Rodd's death pointed theother way. Really I did not know which to do, and as usualAnscombe and Heda seemed inclined to leave the decision to me. Ithink that after all Natal would have gained the day had it notbeen for a singular circumstance, not a flash of lightning thistime. Indeed, I had almost made up my mind to risk trouble andinquiry as to Rodd's death, remembering that in Natal these twoyoung people could get married, which, being in loco parentis, Ithought it desirable they should do as soon as possible, if onlyto ease me of my responsibilities. Also thence I could attend tothe matter of Heda's inheritance and rid myself of her father'swill that already had been somewhat damaged in the CrocodileRiver, though not as much as it might have been since I had takenthe precaution to enclose it in Anscombe's sponge bag before weleft the house. 

The circumstance was this: On emerging from the cart one morning, where I slept to keep an eye upon the valuables, for it will beremembered that we had a considerable sum in gold with us, alsoHeda's jewels, a Swazi informed me that a messenger wished to seeme. I asked what messenger and whence did he come. He repliedthat the messenger was a witch-doctoress named Nombe, and thatshe came from Zululand and said that I knew her father. 

I bade the man bring her to me, wondering who on earth she couldbe, for it is not usual for the Zulus to send women asmessengers, and from whom she came. However, I knew exactly whatshe would be like, some hideous old hag smelling horribly ofgrease and other abominations, with a worn snake skin and somehuman bones tied about her. 

Presently she came, escorted by the Swazi who was grinning, for Ithink he guessed what I expected to see. I stared and rubbed myeyes, thinking that I must still be asleep, for instead of a fatold Isanusi there appeared a tall and graceful young woman, rather light-coloured, with deep and quiet eyes and a by no meansill-favoured face, remarkable for a fixed and somewhat mysterioussmile. She was a witch-doctoress sure enough, for she wore inher hair the regulation bladders and about her neck the circletof baboon's teeth, also round her middle a girdle from which hunglittle bags of medicines. 

She contemplated me gravely and I contemplated her, waiting tillshe should choose to speak. At length, having examined me inchby inch, she saluted by raising her rounded arm and taperinghand, and remarked in a soft, full voice--

"All is as the picture told. I perceive before me the lordMacumazahn. "

I thought this a strange saying, seeing that I could notrecollect having given my photograph to any one in Zululand. 

"You need no magic to tell you that, doctoress, " I remarked, "butwhere did you see my picture?"

"In the dust far away, " she replied. 

"And who showed it to you?"

"One who knew you, O Macumazahn, in the years before I came outof the Darkness, one named Opener of Roads, and with him anotherwho also knew you in those years, one who has gone down to theDarkness. "

Now for some occult reason I shrank from asking the name of this"one who had gone down to the Darkness, " although I was sure thatshe was waiting for the question. So I merely remarked, withoutshowing surprise--

"So Zikali still lives, does he? He should have been dead longago. "

"You know well that he lives, Macumazahn, for how could he dietill his work was accomplished? Moreover, you will remember thathe spoke to you when last moon was but just past her full--in adream, Macumazahn. I brought that dream, although you did notsee me. "

"Pish!" I exclaimed. "Have done with your talk of dreams. Whothinks anything of dreams?"

"You do, " she replied even more placidly than before, "you whomthat dream has brought hither--with others. "

"You lie, " I said rudely. "The Basutos brought me here. "

"The Watcher-by-Night is pleased to say that I lie, so doubtlessI do lie, " she answered, her fixed smile deepening a little. Then she folded her arms across her breast and remained silent. 

"You are a messenger, O seer of pictures in the dust and bearerof the cup of dreams, " I said with sarcasm. "Who sends a messageby your lips for me, and what are the words of the message?"

"My Lords the Spirits spoke the message by the mouth of themaster Zikali. He sends it on to you by the lips of yourservant, the doctoress Nombe. "

"Are you indeed a doctoress, being so young?" I asked, forsomehow I wished to postpone the hearing of that message. 

"O Macumazahn, I have heard the call, I have felt the pain in myback, I have drunk of the black medicine and of the whitemedicine, yes, for a whole year. I have been visited by themultitude of Spirits and seen the shades of those who live and ofthose who are dead. I have dived into the river and drawn mysnake from its mud; see, its skin is about me now, " and openingthe mantle she wore she showed what looked like the skin of ablack mamba, fastened round her slender body. "I have dwelt inthe wilderness alone and listened to its voices. I have sat atthe feet of my master, the Opener of Roads, and looked down theroad and drunk of his wisdom. Yes, I am in truth a doctoress. "

"Well, after all this, you should be as wise as you are pretty. "

"Once before, Macumazahn, you told a maid of my people that shewas pretty and she came to no good end; though to one that wasgreat. Therefore do not say to me that I am pretty, though I amglad that you should think so who can compare me with so manywhom you have known, " and she dropped her eyes, looking a littleshy. 

It was the first human touch I had seen about her, and I was gladto have found a weak spot in her armour. Moreover, from thatmoment she was always my friend. 

"As you will, Nombe. Now for your message. "

"My Lords the Spirits, speaking through Zikali as one who makesmusic speak through a pipe of reeds, say--"

"Never mind what the spirits say. Tell me what Zikali says, " Iinterrupted. 

"So be it, Macumazahn. These are the words of Zikali: 'OWatcher-by-Night, the time draws on when theThing-who-should-never-have-been-born will be as though he neverhad been born, whereat he rejoices. But first there is much forhim to do, and as he told you nearly three hundred moons ago, inwhat must be done you will have your part. Of that he will speakto you afterwards. Macumazahn, you dreamed a dream, did you not, lying asleep in the house that was built of white stone which nowis black with fire? I, Zikali, sent you that dream through thearts of a child of mine who is named Nombe, she to whom I havegiven a Spirit to guide her feet. You did well to follow it, Macumazahn, for had you tried the other path, which would haveled you back to the towns of the white men, you and those withyou must have been killed, how it does not matter. Now by themouth of Nombe I say to you, do not follow the thought that is inyour mind as she speaks to you and go to Natal, since if you doso, you and those with you will come to much shame and troublethat to you would be worse than death, over the matter of thekilling of a certain white doctor in a swamp where growyellow-wood trees. For there in Natal you will be taken, all ofyou, and sent back to the Transvaal to be tried before a man whowears upon his head horse's hair stained white. But if you cometo Zululand this shadow shall pass away from you, since greatthings are about to happen which will cause so small a matter tobe forgot. Moreover, I Zikali, who do not lie, promise this:That however great may be their dangers here in Zululand, thosehalf-fledged ones whom you, the old night-hawk, cover with yourwings, shall in the end suffer no harm; those of whom I spoke toyou in your dream, the white lord, Mauriti, and the white lady, Heddana, who stretch out their arms one to another. I wait towelcome you, here at the Black Kloof, whither my daughter Nombewill guide you. Cetewayo, the king, also will welcome you, andso will another whose name I do not utter. Now choose. I havespoken. '"

Having delivered her message Nombe stood quite still, smiling asbefore, and apparently indifferent as to its effect. 

"How do I know that you come from Zikali?" I asked. "You may bebut the bait set upon a trap. "

From somewhere within her robe she produced a knife and handed itto me, remarking--

"The Master says you will remember this, and by it know that themessage comes from him. He bade me add that with it was carved acertain image that once he gave to you at Panda's kraal, wrappedround with a woman's hair, which image you still have. "

I looked at the knife and did remember it, for it was one ofthose of Swedish make with a wooden handle, the first that I hadever seen in Africa. I had made a present of it to Zikali when Ireturned to Zululand before the war between the Princes. Theimage, too, I still possessed. It was that of the woman calledMameena who brought about the war, and the wrapping which coveredit was of the hair that once grew upon her head. 

"The words are Zikali's, " I said, returning her the knife, "butwhy do you call yourself the child of one who is too old to be afather?"

"The Master says that my great-grandmother was his daughter andthat therefore I am his child. Now, Macumazahn, I go to eat withmy people, for I have servants with me. Then I must speak withthe Swazi king, for whom I also have a message, which I cannot doat present because he is still drunk with the white man's liquor. After that I shall be ready to return with you to Zululand. "

"I never said that I was going to Zululand, Nombe. "

"Yet your heart has gone there already, Macumazahn, and you mustfollow your heart. Does not the image which was carved with theknife you gave, hold a white heart in its hand, and although itseems to be but a bit of Umzimbeete wood, is it not alive andbewitched, which perhaps is why you could never make up your mindto burn it, Macumazahn?"

"I wish I had, " I replied angrily; but having thrown this lastspear, with a flash of her unholy eyes Nombe had turned and gone. 

A clever woman and thoroughly coached, thought I. Well, Zikaliwas never one to suffer fools, and doubtless she is another ofthe pawns whom he uses on his board of policy. Oh! she, orrather he was right; my heart was in Zululand, though not in theway he thought, and I longed to see the end of that great gameplayed by a wizard against a despot and his hosts. 

So we went to Zululand because after talking it over we all cameto the conclusion that this was the best thing to do, especiallyas there we seemed to be sure of a welcome. For later in the dayNombe repeated to Anscombe and Heda the invitation which she haddelivered to me, assuring them also that in Zululand they wouldcome to no harm. 

It was curious to watch the meeting between Heda and Nombe. Thedoctoress appeared just as we had risen from breakfast, and Heda, turning round, came face to face with her. 

"Is this your witch, Mr. Quatermain?" she asked me in hervivacious way. "Why, she is different from what I expected, quite good-looking and, yes, impressive. I am not sure that shedoes not frighten me a little. "

"What does the Inkosikaasi (i. E. , the chieftainess) sayconcerning me, Macumazahn?" asked Nombe. 

"Only what I said, that you are young who she thought would beold, and pretty who she thought would be ugly. "

"To grow old we must first be young, Macumazahn, and in dueseason all of us will become ugly, even the Inkosikaasi. But Ithought she said also that she feared me. "

"Do you know English, Nombe?"

"Nay, but I know how to read eyes, and the Inkosikaasi has eyesthat talk. Tell her that she has no reason to fear me who wouldbe her friend, though I think that she will bring me littleluck. "

It was scarcely necessary, so far as Heda was concerned, but Itranslated, leaving out the last sentence. 

"Say to her that I am grateful who have few friends, and that Iwill fear her no more, " said Heda. 

Again I translated, whereon Nombe stretched out her hand, saying--

"Let her not scorn to take it, it is clean. It has brought noman to his death--" Here she looked at Heda meaningly. "Moreover, though she is white and I am black, I like herself amof high blood and come of a race of warriors who did nothingsmall, and lastly, we are of an age, and if she is beautiful, Iam wise and have gifts great as her own. "

Once more I interpreted for the benefit of Anscombe, for Hedaunderstood Zulu well enough, although she had pretended not to doso, after which the two shook hands, to Anscombe's amusement andmy wonder. For I felt this scene to be strained and one thathid, or presaged, something I did not comprehend. 

"This is the Chief she loves?" said Nombe to me, studyingAnscombe with her steady eyes after Heda had gone. "Well, he isno common man and brave, if idle; one, too, who may grow tall inthe world, should he live, when he has learned to think. But, Macumazahn, if she met you both at the same time why did she notchoose you?"

"Just now you said you were wise, Nombe, " I replied laughing, "but now I see that, like most of your trade, you are but a vainboaster. Is there a hat upon my head that you cannot see thecolour of my hair, and is it natural that youth should turn toage?"

"Sometimes if the mind is old, Macumazahn, which is why I lovethe Spirits only who are more ancient than the mountains, andwith them Zikali their servant, who was young before the Zuluswere a people, or so he says, and still year by year gatherswisdom as the bee gathers honey. Inspan your horses, Macumazahn, for I have done my business and am ready to start. "

CHAPTER XI

ZIKALI

Ten days had gone by when once more I found myself drawing nearto the mouth of the Black Kloof where dwelt Zikali the Wizard. Our journey in Zululand had been tedious and uneventful. Itseemed to me that we met extraordinarily few people; it was asthough the place had suddenly become depopulated, and I evenpassed great kraals where there was no one to be seen. I askedNombe what was the meaning of this, for she and three silent menshe had with her were acting as our guides. Once she answeredthat the people had moved because of lack of food, as the seasonhad been one of great scarcity owing to drought, and once thatthey had been summoned to a gathering at the king's kraal nearUlundi. At any rate they were not there, and the few who didappear stared at us strangely. 

Moreover, I noticed that they were not allowed to speak to us. Also Heda was kept in the cart and Nombe insisted that the rearcanvas curtain should be closed and a blanket fastened behindAnscombe who drove, evidently with the object that she should notbe seen. Further, on the plea of weariness, from the time thatwe entered Zulu territory Nombe asked to be allowed to ride inthe cart with Kaatje and Heda, her real reason, as I was sure, being that she might keep a watch on them. Lastly we travelledby little-frequented tracks, halting at night in out-of-the-wayplaces, where, however, we always found food awaiting us, doubtless by arrangement. 

With one man whom I had known in past days and who recognized me, I did manage to have a short talk. He asked me what I was doingin Zululand at that time. I replied that I was on a visit toZikali, whereon he said I should be safer with him than with anyone else. 

Our conversation went no further, for just then one of Nombe'sservants appeared and made some remark to the man of which Icould not catch the meaning, whereon he promptly turned anddeported, leaving me wondering and uneasy. 

Evidently we were being isolated, but when I remonstrated withNombe she only answered with her most unfathomable smile--

"O Macumazahn, you must ask Zikali of all these things. I am noone and know nothing, who only do what the Master tells me is foryour good. "

"I am minded to turn and depart from Zululand, " I said angrily, "for in this low veld whither you have led us there is fever andthe horses will catch sickness or be bitten by the tsetse fly andperish. "

"I cannot say, Macumazahn, who only travel by the road the Masterpointed out. Yet if you will be guided by me, you will not tryto leave Zululand. "

"You mean that I am in a trap, Nombe. "

"I mean that the country is full of soldiers and that all whitemen have fled from it. Therefore, even if you were allowed topass because the Zulus love you, Macumazahn, it might well happenthat those with you would stay behind, sound asleep, Macumazahn, for which, like you, I should be sorry. "

After this I said no more, for I knew that she meant to warn me. We had entered on this business and must see it through to itsend, sweet or bitter. 

As for Anscombe and Heda their happiness seemed to be complete. The novelty of the life charmed them, and of its dangers theytook no thought, being content to leave me, in whom they had ablind faith, to manage everything. Moreover, Heda, who in thejoy of her love was beginning to forget the sorrow of herfather's death and the other tragic events through which she hadjust passed, took a great fancy to the young witch-doctoress whoconversed with her in Zulu, a language of which, having lived solong in Natal, Heda knew much already. Indeed, when I suggestedto her that to be over-trusting was not wise, she fired up andreplied that she had been accustomed to natives all her life andcould judge them, adding that she had every confidence in Nombe. 

After this I held my tongue and said no more of my doubts. Whatwas the use since Heda would not listen to them, and at that timeAnscombe was nothing but her echo?

So this, for me, very dull journey continued, till at length, after being held up for a couple of days by a flooded river wherethere was nothing to do but sit and smoke, as Nombe requested menot to make a noise by shooting at the big game that abounded, webegan to emerge from the bush-veld on to the lovely uplands inthe neighbourhood of Nongoma. Leaving these on our right weheaded for a place called Ceza, a natural stronghold consistingof a flat plain on the top of a mountain, which plain issurrounded by bush. It is at the foot of this stronghold thatthe Black Kloof lies, being one of the ravines that run up intothe mountain. 

So thither we came at last. It was drawing towards sunset, atremendous and stormy sunset, as we approached the place, and lo!it looked exactly as it had done when first I saw it more than ascore of years before, forbidding as the mouth of hell, vast andlonesome. There stood the columns of boulders fantasticallypiled one upon another; there grew the sparse trees upon itssteep sides, mingled with aloes that looked like the shapes ofmen; there was the granite bottom swept almost clean by floods insome dim age, and the little stream that flowed along it. There, too, was the spot where once I had outspanned my wagons on thenight when my servants swore that they saw the Imikovu, orwizard-raised spectres, floating past them on the air in theshapes of the Princes and others who were soon to fall at thebattle of the Tugela. Up it we went, I riding and Nombe, who haddescended from the cart that followed, walking by my side andwatching me. 

"You seem sad, Macumazahn, " she said at length. 

"Yes, Nombe, I am sad. This place makes me so. "

"Is it the place, Macumazahn, or is it the thought of one whomonce you met in the place, one who is dead?"

I looked at her, pretending not to understand, and she went on--

"I have the gift of vision, Macumazahn, which comes at times tothose of my trade, and now and again, amongst others, I haveseemed to see the spirit of a certain woman haunting this kloofas though she were waiting for some one. "

"Indeed, and what may that woman be like?" I inquired carelessly. 

"As it chances I can see her now gliding backwards in front of youjust there, and therefore am able to answer your question, Macumazahn. She is tall and slender, beautifully made, andlight-coloured for one of us black people. She has large eyeslike a buck, and those eyes are full of fire that does not comefrom the sun but from within. Her face is tender yet proud, oh!so proud that she makes me afraid. She wears a cloak of greyfur, and about her neck there is a circlet of big blue beads withwhich her fingers play. A thought comes from her to me. Theseare the words of the thought: 'I have waited long in this darkplace, watching by day and night till you, the Watcher-by-Night, return to meet me here. At length you have come, and in thisenchanted place my hungry spirit can feed upon your spirit for awhile. I thank you for coming, who now am no more lonely. Fearnothing, Macumazahn, for by a certain kiss I swear to you thattill the appointed hour when you become as I am, I will be ashield upon your arm and a spear in your hand. ' Such are thewords of her thought, Macumazahn, but she has gone away and Ihear no more. It was as though your horse rode over her and shepassed through you. "

Then, like one who wished to answer no questions, Nombe turnedand went back to the cart, where she began to talk indifferentlywith Heda, for as soon as we entered the kloof her servants haddrawn back the curtains and let fall the blanket. As for me, Igroaned, for of course I knew that Zikali, who was wellacquainted with the appearance of Mameena, had instructed Nombeto say all this to me in order to impress my mind for some reasonof his own. Yet he had done it cleverly, for such words as thoseMameena might well have uttered could her great spirit have needto walk the earth again. Was such a thing possible, I wondered?No, it was not possible, yet it was true that her atmosphereseemed to cling about this place and that my imagination, excitedby memory and Nombe's suggestions, seemed to apprehend herpresence. 

As I reflected the horse advanced round the little bend in theever-narrowing cliffs, and there in front of me, under thegigantic mass of overhanging rock, appeared the kraal of Zikalisurrounded by its reed fence. The gate of the fence was open, andbeyond it, on his stool in front of the large hut, sat Zikali. Even at that distance it was impossible to mistake his figure, which was like no other that I had known in the world. Abroad-shouldered dwarf with a huge head, deep, sunken eyes andsnowy hair that hung upon his shoulders; the whole frame and facepervaded with an air of great antiquity, and yet owing to theplumpness of the flesh and that freshness of skin which issometimes seen in the aged, comparatively young-looking. 

Such was the great wizard Zikali, known throughout the land forlonger than any living man could remember as "Opener of Roads, " atitle that referred to his powers of spiritual vision, also asthe "Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born, " a name given to himby Chaka, the first and greatest of the Zulu kings, because ofhis deformity. 

There he sat silent, impassive, staring open-eyed at the red ballof the setting sun, looking more like some unshapely statue thana man. His silent, fierce-faced servants appeared. To me theylooked like the same men whom I had seen here three and twentyyears before, only grown older. Indeed, I think they were, forthey greeted me by name and saluted by raising their broadspears. I dismounted and waited while Anscombe, whose foot wasnow quite well again, helped Heda from the cart which was ledaway by the servants. Anscombe, who seemed a little oppressed, remarked that this was a strange place. 

"Yes, " said Heda, "but it is magnificent. I like it. "

Then her eye fell upon Zikali seated before the hut and sheturned pale. 

"Oh! what a terrible-looking man, " she murmured, "if he is aman. "

The maid Kaatje saw him also and uttered a little cry. 

"Don't be frightened, dear, " said Anscombe, "he is only an olddwarf. "

"I suppose so, " she exclaimed doubtfully, "but to me he is likethe devil. "

Nombe slid past us. She threw off the kaross she wore and forthe first time appeared naked except for the mucha about hermiddle and her ornaments. Down she went on her hands and kneesand in this humble posture crept towards Zikali. Arriving infront of him she touched the ground with her forehead, thenlifting her right arm, gave the salute of Makosi, to which as agreat wizard he was entitled, being supposed to be the home ofmany spirits. So far as I could see he took no notice of her. Presently she moved and squatted herself down on his right hand, while two of his attendants appeared from behind the hut and tooktheir stand between him and its doorway, holding their spearsraised. About a minute later Nombe beckoned to us to approach, and we went forward across the courtyard, I a little ahead of theothers. As we drew near Zikali opened his mouth and uttered aloud and terrifying laugh. How well I remembered that laughwhich I had first heard at Dingaan's kraal as a boy after themurder of Retief and the Boers. *

[*--See the book called _Marie, _ by H. Rider Haggard. ]

"I begin to think that you are right and that this old gentlemanmust be the devil, " said Anscombe to Heda, then lapsed intosilence. 

As I was determined not to speak first I took the opportunity tofill my pipe. Zikali, who was watching me, although all thewhile he seemed to be staring at the setting sun, made a sign. One of the servants dashed away and immediately returned, bearinga flaming brand which he proffered to me as a pipe-lighter. Then hedeparted again to bring three carved stools of red wood which heplaced for us. I looked at mine and knew it again by thecarvings. It was the same on which I had sat when first I metZikali. At length he spoke in his deep, slow voice. 

"Many years have gone by, Macumazahn, since you made use of thatstool. They are cut in notches upon the leg you hold and you maycount them if you will. "

I examined the leg. There were the notches, twenty-two or threeof them. On the other legs were more notches too numerous toreckon. 

"Do not look at those, Macumazahn, for they have nothing to dowith you. They tell the years since the first of the House ofSenzangacona sat upon that stool, since Chaka sat upon it, sinceDingaan and others sat upon it, one Mameena among them. Well, much has happened since it served you for a rest. You havewandered far and seen strange things and lived where others wouldhave died because it was your lot to live, of all of which wewill talk afterwards. And now when you are grey you have comeback here, as the Opener of Roads told you you would do, bringingwith you new companions, you who have the art of making friendseven when you are old, which is one given to few men. Where arethose with whom you used to company, Macumazahn? Where areSaduko and Mameena and the rest? All gone except theThing-who-should-never-have-been-born, " and again he laughedloudly. 

"And who it seems has never learned when to die, " I remarked, speaking for the first time. 

"Just so, Macumazahn, because I cannot die until my work isfinished. But thanks be to the spirits of my fathers and to myown that I live on to glut with vengeance, the end draws near atlast, and as I promised you in the dead days, you shall have yourshare in it, Macumazahn. "

He paused, then continued, still staring at the sinking sun, which made his remarks about us, whom he did not seem to see, uncanny--

"That white man with you is brave and well-born, one who lovesfighting, I think, and the maiden is fair and sweet, with a highspirit. She is thinking to herself that I am an old wizard whom, if she were not afraid of me, she would ask to tell her herfortune. See, she understands and starts. Well, perhaps I willone day. Meanwhile, here is a little bit of it. She will havefive children, of whom two will die and one will give her so muchtrouble that she will wish it had died also. But who theirfather will be I do not say. Nombe my child, lead away thisWhite One and her woman to the hut that has been made ready forher, for she is weary and would rest. See, too, that she lacksfor nothing which we can give her who is our guest. Let thewhite lord, Mauriti, accompany her to the hut and be shown thatnext to it in which he and Macumazahn will sleep, so that he maybe sure that she is safe, and attend to the horses if he wills. There is a place to tether them behind the huts, and the men whotravelled with you will help him. Afterwards, when I have spokenwith him, Macumazahn can join them that they may eat before theysleep. "

These directions I translated to Anscombe, who went gladly enoughwith Heda, for I think they were both afraid of the terrible olddwarf and did not desire his company in the gathering gloom. 

"The sun sinks once more, Macumazahn, " he said when they weregone, "and the air grows chill. Come with me now into my hutwhere the fire burns, for I am aged and the cold strikes throughme. Also there we can be alone. "

So speaking he turned and crawled into the hut, looking like agigantic white-headed beetle as he did so, a creature, Iremembered, to which I had once compared him in the past. Ifollowed, carrying the historic stool, and when he had seatedhimself on his kaross on the further side of the fire, took up myposition opposite to him. This fire was fed with some kind ofroot or wood that gave a thin clear flame with little or nosmoke. Over it he crouched, so closely that his great headseemed to be almost in the flame at which he stared withunblinking eyes as he had done at the sun, circumstances whichadded to his terrifying appearance and made me think of a certainregion and its inhabitants. 

"Why do you come here, Macumazahn?" he asked after studying mefor a while through that window of fire. 

"Because you brought me, Zikali, partly through your messenger, Nombe, and partly by means of a dream which she says you sent. "

"Did I, Macumazahn? If so, I have forgotten it. Dreams are asmany as gnats by the water; they bite us while we sleep, but whenwe wake up we forget them. Also it is foolishness to say thatone man can send a dream to another. "

"Then your messenger lied, Zikali, especially as she added thatshe brought it. "

"Of course she lied, Macumazahn. Is she not my pupil whom I havetrained from a child? Moreover, she lied well, it would seem, who guessed what sort of a dream you would have when you thoughtof turning your steps to Zululand. "

"Why do you play at sticks (i. E. , fence) with me, Zikali, seeingthat neither of us are children?"

"O Macumazahn, that is where you are mistaken, seeing that bothof us, old though we be and cunning though we think ourselves, are nothing but babes in the arms of Fate. Well, well, I willtell you the truth, since it would be foolish to try to throwdust into such eyes as yours. I knew that you were down inSekukuni's country and I was watching you--through my spies. Youhave been nowhere during all these years that I was not watchingyou--through my spies. For instance, that Arab-looking man namedHarut, whom first you met at a big kraal in a far country, was aspy of mine. He has visited me lately and told me much of yourdoings. No, don't ask me of him now who would talk to you ofother matters--"

"Does Harut still live then, and has he found a new god in placeof the Ivory Child?" I interrupted. 

"Macumazahn, if he did not live, how could he visit and speakwith me? Well, I watched you there by the Oliphant's River whereyou fought Sekukuni's people, and afterwards in the marble hutwhere you found the old white man dead in his chair and got thewritings that you have in your pocket which concern the maidenHeddana; also afterwards when the white man, your friend, killedthe doctor who fell into a mud hole and the Basutos stole hiscattle and wagon. "

"How do you know all these things, Zikali?"

"Have I not told you--through my spies. Was there not ahalf-breed driver called Footsack, and do not the Basutos comeand go between the Black Kloof and Sekukuni's town, bearing metidings?"

"Yes, Zikali, and so does the wind and so do the birds. "

"True! O Macumazahn, I see that you are one who has watchedNature and its ways as closely as my spies watch you. So Ilearned these matters and knew that you were in trouble over thedeath of these white men, and your friends likewise, and as youwere always dear to me, I sent that child Nombe to bring you tome, thinking from what I knew of you that you would be morelikely to follow a woman who is both wise and good to look at, than a man who might be neither. I told her to say to you thatyou and the others would be safer here than in Natal at present. It seems that you hearkened and came. That is all. "

"Yes, I hearkened and came. But, Zikali, that is not all, foryou know well that you sent for me for your own sake, not formine. "

"O Macumazahn, who can prevent a needle from piercing cloth whenit is pushed by a finger like yours? Your wits are too sharp forme, Macumazahn; your eyes read through the blanket of cunningwith which I would hide my thought. You speak truly. I did sendfor you for my own sake as well as for yours. I sent for youbecause I wanted your counsel, Macumazahn, and because Cetewayothe king also wants your counsel, and I wished to see you beforeyou saw Cetewayo. Now you have the whole truth. "

"What do you want my counsel about, Zikali?"

He leaned forward till his white locks almost seemed to minglewith the thin flame, through which he glared at me with eyes thatwere fiercer than the fire. 

"Macumazahn, you remember the story that I told you long ago, doyou not?"

"Very well, Zikali. It was that you hate the House ofSenzangacona which has given all its kings to Zululand. First, because you are one of the Dwandwe tribe whom the Zulus crushedand mocked at. Secondly, because Chaka the Lion named you the'Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born' and killed your wives, for which crime you brought about the death of Chaka. Thirdly, because you have matched your single wit for many years againstall the power of the royal House and yet kept your life in you, notably when Panda threatened you in my presence at the trial ofone who has 'gone down, ' and you told him to kill you if hedared. Now you would prove that you were right by causing yourcunning to triumph over the royal House. "

"True, quite true, O Macumazahn. You have a good memory, Macumazahn, especially for anything that has to do with thatwoman who has 'gone down. ' I sent her down, but how was shenamed, Macumazahn? I forget, I forget, whose mind being old, falls suddenly into black pits of darkness--like her who wentdown. "

He paused and we stared at each other through the veil of fire. Then as I made no answer, he went on--

"Oh! I remember now, she was called Mameena, was she not, a nametaken from the wailing of the wind? Hark! It is wailing now. "

I listened; it was, and I shivered to hear it, since but a minutebefore the night had been quite still. Yes, the wind moaned andwailed about the rocks of the Black Kloof. 

"Well, enough of her. Why trouble about the dead when there areso many to be sent to join them? Macumazahn, the hour is athand. The fool Cetewayo has quarrelled with your people, theEnglish, and on my counsel. He has sent and killed women, orallowed others to do so, across the river in Natal. Hismessengers came to me asking what he should do. I answered, 'Shall a king of the blood of Chaka fear to allow his own wickedones to be slain because they have stepped across a strip ofwater, and still call himself king of the Zulus?' So those womenwere dragged back across the water and killed; and now theQueen's man from the Cape asks many things, great fines ofcattle, the giving up of the slayers, and that an end should bemade of the Zulu army, which is to lay down its spears and set tohoeing like the old women in the kraals. "

"And if the king refuses, what then, Zikali?"

"Then, Macumazahn, the Queen's man will declare war on the Zulus;already he gathers his soldiers for the war. "

"Will Cetewayo refuse, Zikali?"

"I do not know. His mind swings this way and that, like a polebalanced on a rock. The ends of the pole are weighted with muchcounsel, and it hangs so even that if a grasshopper lit on oneend or the other, it would turn the scale. "

"And do you wish me to be that grasshopper, Zikali?"

"Who else? That is why I brought you to Zululand. "

"So you wish me to counsel Cetewayo to lie down in the bed thatthe English have made for him. If he seeks my advice I will doso gladly, for so I am sure he will sleep well. "

"Why do you mock me, Macumazahn? I wish you to counsel Cetewayoto throw back his word into the teeth of the Queen's man and tofight the English. "

"And thus bring destruction on the Zulus and death to thousandsof them and of my own people, and in return gain nothing butremorse. Do you think me mad or wicked, or both, that I shoulddo this thing?"

"Nay, Macumazahn, you would gain much. I could show you wherethe king's cattle are hidden. The English will never find them, and after the war you might take as many as you chose. But itwould be useless, for knowing you well, I am sure that you wouldonly hand them over to the British Government, as once you handedover the cattle of Bangu, being fashioned that way by theGreat-Great, Macumazahn. "

"Perhaps I might, but then what should I gain, Zikali?"

"This: you would so bring things about that, being broken by war, the Zulu power could never again menace the white men, whichwould be a great and good deed, Macumazahn. "

"Mayhap--I am not sure. But of this I am sure, that I will notthrust my face into your nest of wasps, that the English hornetsmay steal the honey when they are disturbed. I leave suchmatters to the Queen and those who rule under her. So have donewith such talk, for you do but waste your breath, Zikali. "

"It is as I guessed it would be, " he answered, shaking his greathead. "You are too honest to prosper in the world, Macumazahn. Well, I must find other means to bring the House of Cetewayo tothe end that he deserves, who has been an evil and a cruel king. "

All this he said, showing neither surprise nor resentment, whichconvinced me of what I had suspected throughout, that never foran instant did he believe that I should fall in with hissuggestions and try to influence the Zulus to declare war. No, this talk of his was but a blind; there was some deeper scheme atwork in his cunning old brain which he was hiding from me. Whyexactly had he beguiled me to Zululand? I could not divine, andto ask him would be worse than useless, but then and there I madeup my mind that I would get away from the Black Kloof early onthe following morning, if that were possible. 

He began to speak of other matters in a low, droning voice, likea man who converses with himself. Sad, all of them, such as thehaunted death of Saduko who had betrayed his lord, the PrinceUmbelazi, because of a woman, every circumstance of which seemedto be familiar to him. 

I made no answer, who was waiting for an opportunity to leave thehut, and did not care to dwell on these events. He ceased andbrooded for a while, then said suddenly--

"You are hungry and would eat, Macumazahn, and I who eat littlewould sleep, for in sleep the multitudes of Spirits visit me, bringing tidings from afar. Well, we have spoken together and ofthat I am glad, for who knows when the chance will come again, though I think that soon we shall meet at Ulundi, Ulundi whereFate spreads its net. What was it I had to say to you? Ah! Iremember. There is one who is always in your thoughts and whomyou wish to see, one too who wishes to see you. You shall, youshall in payment for the trouble you have taken in coming so farto visit a poor old Zulu doctor whom, as you told me long ago, you know to be nothing but a cheat. "

He paused and, why I could not tell, I grew weak with fear of Iknew not what, and bethought me of flight. 

"It is cold in this hut, is it not?" he went on. "Burn up, fire, burn up!" and plunging his hand into a catskin bag of medicineswhich he wore, he drew out some powder which he threw upon theembers that instantly burst into bright flame. 

"Look now, Macumazahn, " he said, "look to your right. "

I looked and oh Heaven! there before me with outstretched armsand infinite yearning on her face, stood Mameena, Mameena as Ihad last seen her after I gave her the promised kiss that sheused to cover her taking of the poison. For five seconds, mayhap, she stood thus, living, wonderful, but still as death, the fierce light showing all. Then the flame died down again andshe was gone. 

I turned and next instant was out of the hut, pursued by theterrible laughter of Zikali. 

CHAPTER XII

TRAPPED

Outside in the cool night air I recovered myself, sufficiently atany rate to be able to think, and saw at once that the thing wasan illusion for which Zikali had prepared my mind very carefullyby means of the young witch-doctoress, Nombe. He knew wellenough that this remarkable woman, Mameena, had made a deepimpression on me nearly a quarter of a century before, as she haddone upon other men with whom she had been associated. Thereforeit was probable that she would always be present to my thought, since whatever a man forgets, he remembers the women who haveshown him favour, true or false, for Nature has decreed it thus. 

Moreover, this was one to be remembered for herself, since shewas beautiful and most attractive in her wild way. Also she hadbrought about a great war, causing the death of thousands, andlastly her end might fairly be called majestic. All theseimpressions Zikali had instructed Nombe to revivify by hercontinual allusions to Mameena, and lastly by her pretence thatshe saw her walking in front of me. Then when I was tired andhungry, in that place which for me was so closely connected withthis woman, and in his own uncanny company, either by mesmerismor through the action of the drug he threw upon the fire, he hadsucceeded in calling up the illusion of her presence to mycharmed sight. All this was clear enough, what remained obscurewas his object. 

Possibly he had none beyond an impish desire to frighten me, which is common enough among practitioners of magic in all lands. Well, for a little while he had succeeded, although to speaktruth I remained uncertain whether in a sense I was not morethrilled and rejoiced than frightened. Mameena had never been soill to look upon, and I knew that dead or living I had nothing tofear from her who would have walked through hell fire for mysake, would have done anything, except perhaps sacrifice herambition. No, even if this were her ghost I should have beenglad to see her again. 

But it was not a ghost; it was only a fancy reproduced exactly asmy mind had photographed her, almost as my eyes last saw her, when her kiss was still warm upon my lips. 

Such were my thoughts as I stood outside that hut with the coldperspiration running down my face, for to tell the truth mynerves were upset, although without reason. So upset were theythat when suddenly a silent-footed man appeared out of thedarkness I jumped as high as though I had set my foot on apuff-adder, and until I recognized him by his voice as one ofNombe's servants who had accompanied us from Swazi-Land, feltquite alarmed. As a matter of fact he had only come to tell methat our meal was ready and that the other "high White Ones" werewaiting for me. 

He led me round the fence that encircled Zikali's dwelling-place, to two huts that stood nearly behind it, almost against the faceof the rock which, overhanging in a curve, formed a kind ofnatural roof above them. I thought they must have been builtsince I visited the place, as I, who have a good memory for suchthings, did not remember them. Indeed, on subsequent examinationI found that they were quite new, for the poles that formed theiruprights were still green and the grass of the thatch wasscarcely dry. It looked to me as if they had been speciallyconstructed for our accommodation. 

In one of these huts, that to the right which was allotted toAnscombe and myself, I found the others waiting for me, also thefood. It was good of its sort and well cooked, and we ate it bythe light of some candles that we had with us, Kaatje serving us. Yet, although a little while before I had been desperatelyhungry, now my appetite seemed to have left me and I made but apoor meal. Heda and Anscombe also seemed oppressed and atesparingly. We did not talk much until Kaatje had taken away thetin plates and gone to eat her own supper by a fire that burnedoutside the hut. Then Heda broke out, saying that she wasterrified of this place and especially of its master, the olddwarf, and felt sure that something terrible was going to happento her. Anscombe did his best to calm her, and I also told hershe had nothing to fear. 

"If there is nothing to fear, Mr. Quatermain, " she answered, turning on me, "why do you look so frightened yourself? By yourface you might have seen a ghost. "

This sudden and singularly accurate thrust, for after all I hadseen something that looked very like a ghost, startled me, andbefore I could invent any soothing and appropriate fib, Nombeappeared, saying that she had come to lead Heda to hersleeping-place. After this further conversation was impossiblesince, although Nombe knew but few words of English, she was agreat thought-reader and I feared to speak of anything secret inher presence. So we all went out of the hut, Nombe and I drawingback a little to the fire while the lovers said good-night toeach other. 

"Nombe, " I said, "the Inkosikazi Heddana is afraid. The rocks ofthis kloof lie heavy on her heart; the face of the Opener ofRoads is fearful to her and his laughter grates upon her ears. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Macumazahn, and it is as I expected. When youyourself are frightened it is natural that she, an untriedmaiden, should be frightened also in this home of spirits. "

"It is men we fear, not spirits, now when all Zululand is boilinglike a pot, " I replied angrily. 

"Have it as you will, Macumazahn, " she said, and at that momenther quiet, searching eyes and fixed smile were hateful to me. "At least you admit that you do fear. Well, for the lady Heddanafear nothing. I sleep across the door of her hut, and while Iwho have learned to love her, live, I say--for her fear nothing, whatever may chance or whatever you may see or hear. "

"I believe you, but, Nombe, you might die. "

"Yes, I may die, but be sure of this, that when I die she will besafe, and he who loves her also. Sleep well, Macumazahn, and donot dream too much of what you heard and saw in Zikali's house. "

Then before I could speak she turned and left me. 

I did _not_ sleep well; I slept very badly. To begin with, Maurice Anscombe, generally the most cheerful and nonchalant ofmortals with a jest for every woe, was in a most depressedcondition, and informed me of it several times, while I wasgetting ready to turn in. He said he thought the place hatefuland felt as if people he could not see were looking at him (I hadthe same sensation but did not mention the fact to him). When Itold him he was talking stuff, he only replied that he could nothelp it, and pointed out that it was not his general habit to bedowncast in any danger, which was quite true. Now, he added, hewas enjoying much the same sensations as he did when first he sawthe Yellow-wood Swamp and got the idea into his head that hewould kill some one there, which happened in due course. 

"Do you mean that you think you are going to kill somebody else?"I asked anxiously. 

"No, " he answered, "I think I am going to be killed, or somethinglike it, probably by that accursed old villain of a witch-doctor, who I don't believe is altogether human. "

"Others have thought that before now, Anscombe, and to be plain, I don't know that he is. He lives too much with the dead to belike other people. "

"And with Satan, to whom I expect he makes sacrifices. The truthis I'm afraid of his playing some of his tricks with Heda. It isfor her I fear, not for myself, Allan. Oh! why on earth did youcome here?"

"Because you wished it and it seemed the safest thing to do. Look here, my boy, as usual the trouble comes through a woman. When a man's single--you know the rest. You used to be able tolaugh at anything, but now that you are practically double youcan't laugh any more. Well, that's the common lot of man andyou've got to put up with it. Adam was pretty jolly in hisgarden until Eve was started, but you know what happenedafterwards. The rest of his life was a compound of temptation, anxiety, family troubles, remorse, hard labour with primitiveinstruments, and a flaming sword behind him. If you had leftyour Eve alone you would have escaped all this. But you see youdidn't, and as a matter of fact, nobody ever does who is worthhis salt, for Nature has arranged it so. "

"You appear to talk with experience, Allan, " he retorted blandly. "By the way, that girl Nombe, when she isn't star-gazing ormuttering incantations, is always trying to explain to Heda sometale about you and a lady called Mameena. I gather that you wereintroduced to her in this neighbourhood where, Nombe says, youwere in the habit of kissing her in public, which sounds an oddkind of a thing to do; all of which happened before she, Nombe, was born. She adds, according to Kaatje's interpretation, thatyou met her again this afternoon, which, as I understand theyoung woman has been long dead, seems so incomprehensible that Iwish you would explain. "

"With reference to Heda, " I said, ignoring the rest as unworthyof notice, "I think you may make your mind easy. Zikali knowsthat she is in my charge and I don't believe that he wants toquarrel with me. Still, as you are uncomfortable here, the bestthing to do will be to get away as early as possible to-morrowmorning, where to we can decide afterwards. And now I am goingto sleep, so please stop arguing. "

As I have already hinted, my attempts in the sleep line proved afailure, for whenever I did drop off I was pursued by bad dreams, which resulted from lying down so soon after supper. I heard thecries of desperate men in their mortal agony. I saw arain-swollen river; its waters were red with blood. I beheld avision of one who I knew by his dress to be a Zulu king, althoughI could not see his face. He was flying and staggering withweariness as he fled. A great hound followed him. It lifted itshead from the spoor; it was that of Zikali set upon the hound'sbody, Zikali who laughed instead of baying. Then one whosecopper ornaments tinkled as she walked, entered beside me, whispering into my ear. "A quarter of a hundred years have goneby since we talked together in this haunted kloof, " she seemed towhisper, "and before we talk again face to face there remain topass of years"--

Here she ceased, though naturally I should have liked to hear thenumber. But that is just where dreams break down. They tell usonly of what we know, or can evolve therefrom. Of what it isimpossible for us to know they tell us nothing--at least as ageneral rule. 

I woke up with a start, and feeling stifled in that hot place andaggravated by the sound of Anscombe's peaceful breathing, threw acoat about me and, removing the door-board, crept into the air. The night was still, the stars shone, and at a little distancethe embers of the fire still glowed. By it was seated a figurewrapped in a kaross. The end of a piece of wood that the firehad eaten through fell on to the red ashes and flamed upbrightly. By its light I saw that the figure was Nombe's. Theeternal smile was still upon her face, the smile which suggesteda knowledge of hidden things that from moment to moment amusedher soul. Her lips moved as though she were talking to aninvisible companion, and from time to time, like one who actsupon directions, she took a pinch of ashes and blew them, eithertowards Heda's hut or ours. Yes, she did this when all decentyoung women should have been asleep, like one who keeps someunholy, midnight assignation. 

Talking with her master, Zikali, or trying to cast spells uponus, confound her! thought I to myself, and very silently creptback into the hut. Afterwards it occurred to me that she mighthave had another motive, namely of watching to see that none ofus left the huts. 

The rest of the night went by somehow. Once, listening with allmy ears, I thought that I caught the sound of a number of mentramping and of some low word of command, but as I heard no more, concluded that fancy had deceived me. There I lay, puzzling overthe situation till my head ached, and wondering how we were toget clear of the Black Kloof and Zikali, and out of Zululandwhich I gathered was no place for white people at the moment. 

It seemed to me that the only thing was to make start for Dundeeon the Natal border, and for the rest to trust to fortune. If wegot into trouble over the death of Rodd, unpleasant as this wouldbe, the matter must be faced out, that was all. For even if anywitness appeared against us, the man had been killed inself-defence whilst trying to bring about our deaths at the handsof Basutos. I could see now that I was foolish not to have takenthis line from the first, but as I think I have alreadyexplained, what weighed with me was the terror of involving theseyoung people in a scandal which might shadow all their futurelives. Also some fate inch by inch had dragged me into Zululand. Fortunately in life there are few mistakes, and even worse thanmistakes that cannot be repaired, if the wish towards reparationis real and earnest. Were it otherwise not many of us wouldescape destruction in one form or another. 

Thus I reflected until at length light flowing faintly throughthe smoke-hole of the hut told me that dawn was at hand. Seeingit I rose quietly, for I did not wish to wake Anscombe, dressedand left the hut. My object was to find Nombe, who I hoped wouldbe still sitting by the fire, and send her to Zikali with amessage that I wished to speak with him at once. Glancing roundme in the grey dawn I saw that she was gone and that as yet noone seemed to be stirring. Hearing a horse snort at a littledistance, I made my way towards the sound and in a little bay ofthe overhanging cliff discovered the cart and near by our beaststied up with a plentiful supply of forage. Since so far as Icould judge in that uncertain light, nothing seemed to be wrongwith them except weariness, for three of them were still lyingdown, I walked on to the gate of the fence which surroundedZikali's big hut, proposing to wait there until some one appearedby whom I could send my message. 

I reached the gate which I tried and found to be fastened on itsinner side. Then I sat down, lit my pipe and waited. It wasextraordinarily lonesome in that place; at least this was thefeeling that came over me. No doubt the sun was up behind theCeza Stronghold that I have mentioned, which towered high behindme, for the sky above grew light with the red rays of its rising. But all the vast Black Kloof with its huge fantastic rocks wasstill plunged in gloom, whereof the shadows seemed to oppress myheart, weary as I was with my wakeful night and many anxieties. I was horribly nervous also and, as it proved, not withoutreason. Presently I heard rustlings on the further side of thefence as of people creeping about cautiously, and the sound ofwhispering. Then of a sudden the gate was thrown open andthrough it emerged about a dozen Zulu warriors, all of themringed men, who instantly surrounded me, seated there upon theground. 

I looked at them and they looked at me for quite a long while, since following my usual rule, I determined not to be the firstto speak. Moreover, if they meant to kill me there was no use inspeaking. At length their leader, an elderly man with thin legs, a large stomach and a rather pleasant countenance, salutedpolitely, saying--

"Good morning, O Macumazahn. "

"Good morning, O Captain, whose name and business I do not know, "I answered. 

"The winds know the mountain on which they blow, but the mountaindoes not know the winds which it cannot see, " he remarked withpoetical courtesy; a Zulu way of saying that more people areacquainted with Tom Fool than Tom Fool is aware of. 

"Perhaps, Captain; yet the mountain can feel the winds, " and Imight have added, smell them, for the Kloof was close and theseKaffirs had not recently bathed. 

"I am named Goza and come on an errand from the king, OMacumazahn. "

"Indeed, Goza, and is your errand to cut my throat?"

"Not at present, Macumazahn, that is, unless you refuse to dowhat the king wishes. "

"And what does the king wish, Goza?"

"He wishes, Macumazahn, that you, his friend, should visit him. "

"Which is just what I was on my way to do, Goza. " (This was nottrue, but it didn't matter, for, if a lie, in the words of theschoolgirl's definition, is an abomination to the Lord, it is avery present help in time of trouble. ) "After we have eaten Iand my friends will accompany you to the king's kraal at Ulundi. "

"Not so, Macumazahn. The king said nothing about your friends, of whom I do not think he has ever heard any more than we have. Moreover, if your friends are white, you will do well not tomention them, since the order is that all white people inZululand who have not come here by the king's desire, are to bekilled at once, except yourself, Macumazahn. "

"Is it so, Goza? Well, as you will have understood, I am quitealone here and have no friends. Only I did not wish to travel soearly. "

"Of course we understand that you are quite alone and have nofriends, is it not so, my brothers?"

"Yes, yes, we understand, " they exclaimed in chorus, one of themadding, "and shall so report to the King. "

"What kind of blankets do you like; the plain grey ones or thewhite ones with the blue stripes?" I asked, desiring to confirmthem in this determination. 

"The grey ones are warmer, Macumazahn, and do not show dirt somuch, " answered Goza thoughtfully. 

"Good, I will remember when I have the chance. "

"The promise of Macumazahn is known from of old to be as a treethat elephants cannot pull down and white ants will not eat, "said the sententious Goza, thereby intimating his belief thatsome time or other they would receive those blankets. As amatter of fact the survivors of the party and the families of theothers did receive them after the war, for in dealing withnatives I have always made a point of trying to fulfil anypromise or engagement made for value received. 

"And now, " went on Goza, "will the Inkosi be pleased to start, aswe have to travel far to-day?"

"Impossible, " I replied. "Before I leave I must eat, for who canjourney upon yesterday's food? Also I must saddle my horse, collect what belongs to me, and bid farewell to my host, Zikali. "

"Of meat we have plenty with us, Macumazahn, and therefore youwill not hunger on the way. Your horse and everything that isyours shall be brought after you; since were you mounted on thatswift beast and minded to escape, how could we catch you with ourfeet, and did you please to shoot us with your rifle, how couldwe who have only spears, save ourselves from dying? As for theOpener of Roads, his servants have told us that he means to sleepall to-day that he may talk with spirits in his dreams, andtherefore it is useless for you to wait to bid him farewell. Moreover, the orders of the king are that we should bring you tohim at once. "

After this for a time there was silence, while I sat immovablerevolving the situation, and the Zulus regarded me with abenignant interest. Goza took his snuff-box from his ear, shookout some into the palm of his hand and, after offering it to mein vain, inhaled it himself. 

"The orders of the king are (sneeze) that we should bring you tohim alive if possible, and if not (sneeze) dead. Choose whichyou will, Macumazahn. Perhaps you may prefer to go to Ulundidead, which would--ah! how strong is this snuff, it makes me weeplike a woman--save you the trouble of walking. But if you preferthat we should carry you, be so good, Macumazahn, first to writethe words which will cause the grey blankets to be delivered tous, for we know well that even your bones would desire to keepyour promise. Is it not a proverb in the land from the time ofthe slaying of Bangu when you gave the cattle you had earned toSaduko's wanderers?"

I listened and an idea occurred to me, as perhaps it had to Goza. 

"I hear you, Goza, " I said, "and I will start for Ulundi on myfeet--to save _you_ the trouble of carrying me. But as the timesare rough and accidents may always happen; as, too, I wish tomake sure that you should get those blankets, and it may chancethat I shall arrive there on my back, first I will write wordswhich, if they are delivered to the witch-doctoress Nombe, will, sooner or later, turn into blankets. "

"Write the words quickly, Macumazahn, and they will bedelivered, " said Goza. 

So I drew out my pocket-book and wrote--

"DEAR ANSCOMBE, --

"There is treachery afoot and I think that Zikali is at thebottom of it. I am being carried off to Cetewayo at Ulundi, by aparty of armed Zulus who will not allow me to communicate withyou, probably by Zikali's orders. You must do the best you canfor Heda and yourself. Escape to Natal if you are able. Ofcourse I will help if I get the chance, but if war is about tobreak out Cetewayo may kill me. I think that you can trustNombe; also that Zikali does not wish to work you any ill unlesshe is obliged, though I have no doubt that he has trapped us herefor some dark purpose of his own. Tell him through Nombe that ifharm comes to you I will kill him if I live, and that if I die, Iwill settle the score with him afterwards. God save and blessyou both. Keep up your courage and use your wits. 

"Your friend, "A. Q. "

I tore out the sheet, folded, addressed it and presented it toGoza, remarking that although it seemed to be but paper, itreally was fourteen blankets--if given at once to Nombe. 

He nodded and handed it to one of his men, who departed in thedirection of our huts. So, thought I to myself, Nombe knows allabout this business, which means that it is being worked byZikali. That is why she spoke to me as she did last night. 

"It is time to start, Macumazahn, and I think you told us thatyou would prefer to do so on your feet, " said Goza, lookingsuggestively at his spear. 

"I am ready, " I said, rising because I must. For a moment Icontemplated the door in the kraal fence, wondering whether itwould be safe to bolt through it and take refuge with Zikali. No, it was not safe, since Zikali sat there in his hut pullingthe strings and probably might refuse to see me. Moreover, itwas likely enough that before I could find him one of those broadspears would find my heart. There was nothing to be done exceptsubmit. Still I did call out in a loud voice--

"Farewell, Zikali. I leave you without a present against my willwho am being taken by soldiers to visit the king at Ulundi. Whenwe meet again I will talk all this matter over with you. "

There was no answer, and as Goza took the opportunity to say thathe disliked the noise of shouting extremely, which sometimes madehim do things that he afterwards regretted, I became silent. Then we departed, I in the exact centre of that guard of Zulus, heavy-hearted and filled with fears both for myself and those Ileft behind me. 

Down the Black Kloof we tramped, emerging on the sunlit plainbeyond without meeting any one. A couple of miles further on wecame to a small stream where Goza announced we would halt to eat. So we ate of cold toasted meat which one of the men produced froma basket he carried, unpalatable food but better than nothing. Just as we had finished I looked up and saw the soldier to whommy note had been given. He was leading my mare that had beensaddled. On it were my large saddle-bags packed with mybelongings, also my thick overcoat, mackintosh, waterbottle, andother articles down to a bag of tobacco, a spare pipe and a boxof wax matches. Moreover, the man carried my double-barrelledExpress rifle and a shot-gun that could be used for ball, together with two bags of cartridges. Practically nothingbelonging to me had been forgotten. 

I asked him who had collected the things. He replied thedoctress Nombe had done so and had brought him the horse saddledto carry them. He did not know who saddled the horse as he hadseen no one but Nombe to whom he had given the writing which shehid away. In answer to further questions, he said that Nombe hadsent me a message. It was--

"I bid farewell to Macumazahn for a little while and wish himgood fortune till we meet again. Let him not be afraid in thebattle, for even if he is hurt it will not be to death, sincethose go with him whom he cannot see, and protect him with theirshields. Say to Macumazahn that I, Nombe, remember in themorning what I said in the night and that what seems to be quitelost is ofttimes found again. Wish him good fortune and tell himI am sorry that I had not time to cause his spare garments to becleansed with water, but that I have been careful to find hislittle box with the white man's medicines. "

I could extract nothing more from this soldier, who was eithervery stupid, or chose to appear so; nor indeed did I dare to putdirect questions about the cart and those who travelled in it. 

Soon we marched again, for Goza would not allow me to ride thehorse, fearing that I should escape on it. Nor would he let mecarry either of the guns lest I should make use of them. All daywe travelled, reaching the Nongoma heights in the late afternoon. On this beautiful spot we found a kraal situated where afterwardsa magistracy was built when we conquered the country, whencethere is one of the finest views in Zululand. There was no onein the kraal except two old women who appeared to be deaf anddumb for all I could get out of them. These aged dames, however, or others who were hidden, had made ready for our arrival, sincea calf lay skinned and prepared for cooking, and by it big gourdsfilled with Kaffir beer and "maas" or curdled milk. 

In due course we ate of these provisions, and after we hadfinished I gave Goza a stiff tot of brandy, of which Nombe, orperhaps Anscombe, had thoughtfully sent a bottle with my otherbaggage. The strong liquor made the old fellow talkative andenabled me to get a good deal of information out of him. Thus Ilearned that certain demands, as to which he was rather vague, had been made upon Cetewayo by the English Government, and thatthe King was now considering whether he should accede to them orfight. The Great Council of the nation was summoned to attend atUlundi within a few days, when the matter would be decided. Meanwhile all the regiments were being gathered, or, as we shouldsay, mobilized; an army, said Goza, greater than any that Chakahad ever led. 

I asked him what I had to do with this business, that I, apeaceful traveller and an old friend of the Zulus, should be madeprisoner and dragged off to Ulundi. He replied he did not knowwho was not in the council of the High Ones, but he thought thatCetewayo the king wished to see me because I was their friend, perhaps that he might send me as a messenger to the white people. I asked him how the king knew that I was in the country, to whichhe replied that Zikali had told him I was coming, he did not knowhow, whereon he, Goza, was sent at once to fetch me. I could getno more out of him. 

I wondered if it would be worth while to make him quite drunk andthen attempt to escape on the horse, but gave up the idea. Tobegin with, his men were at hand and there was not enough brandyto make them all drunk. Also even if I succeeded in winning awayhere in the heart of Zululand, it would not help Anscombe or Hedaand I should probably be cut off and killed before I could getout of the country. So I abandoned the plan and went to sleepinstead. 

Next morning we left Nongoma early in the hope of reaching Ulundithat evening if the Ivuna and Black Umfolozi Rivers provedfordable. As it chanced, although they were high, we were ableto cross them, I seated on the horse which two of the Zulus led. Next we tramped for miles through the terrible Bekameezi Valley, a hot and desolate place which the Zulus swear is haunted. Sounhealthy is this valley, which is the home of large game, thatwhole kraals full of people who have tried to cultivate the richland, have died in it of fever, or fled away leaving their cropsunreaped. Now no man dwells there. After this we climbed aterrible mount to the high land of Mahlabatini, and having eaten, pushed on once more. 

At length we sighted the great hill-encircled plain of Ulundiwhich may be called the cradle of the Zulu race as, politicallyspeaking, it was destined to be its coffin. On the ridge to thewest once stood the Nobamba kraal where dwelt Senzangacona, thefather of Chaka the Lion. Nearer to the White Umfolozi wasPanda's dwelling-place, Nodwengu, which once I knew so well, while on the slope of the hills of the north-east stood the townof Ulundi in which Cetewayo dwelt, bathed in the lights ofsunset. 

Indeed it and all the vast plain were red as though with blood, red as they were destined to be on the coming day of the lastbattle of the Zulus. 

CHAPTER XIII

CETEWAYO

It was dark when at last we reached the Ulundi kraal, for thegrowing moon was obscured by clouds. Therefore I could seenothing and was only aware, by the sound of voices and thecontinual challenging, that we were passing through great numbersof men. At length we were admitted at the eastern gate and I wastaken to a hut where I at once flung myself down to sleep, beingso weary that I could not attempt to eat. Next morning as I wasfinishing my breakfast in the little fenced courtyard of thisguest-hut, Goza appeared and said that the king commanded me tobe brought to him at once, adding that I must "speak softly" tohim, as he was "very angry. "

So off we went across the great cattle kraal where a regiment ofyoung men, two thousand strong or so, were drilling with a fierceintensity which showed they knew that they were out for more thanexercise. About the sides of the kraal also stood hundreds ofsoldiers, all of them talking and, it seemed to me, excited, forthey stamped upon the ground and even jumped into the air to givepoint to their arguments. Suddenly some of them caught sight ofme, whereon a tall, truculent fellow called out--

"What does a white man at Ulundi at such a time, when even JohnDunn dare not come? Let us kill him and send his head as apresent to the English general across the Tugela. That willsettle this long talk about peace or war. "

Others of a like mind echoed this kind proposal, with the resultthat presently a score or so of them made a rush at me, brandishing their sticks, since they might not carry arms in theroyal kraal. Goza did his best to keep them off, but was sweptaside like a feather, or rather knocked over, for I saw him onhis back with his thin legs in the air. 

"You must climb out of this pit by yourself, " he began, addressing me in his pompous and figurative way. Then somebodystamped on his face, and fixing his teeth in his assailant'sheel, he grew silent for a while. 

The truculent blackguard, who was about six feet three high andhad a mouth like a wolf's throat, arrived in front of me and, bending down, roared out--

"We are going to kill you, White Man. "

I had a pistol in my pocket and could perfectly well have killedhim, as I was much tempted to do. A second's reflection showedme, however, that this would be useless, and in a sense put me inthe wrong, though when the matter came on for argument it wouldinterest me no more. So I just folded my arms and, looking up athim, said--

"Why, Black Man?"

"Because your face is white, " he roared. 

"No, " I answered, "because your heart is black and your eyes areso full of blood that you do not know Macumazahn when you seehim. "

"Wow!" said one, "it is Watcher-by-Night whom our fathers knewbefore us. Leave him alone. "

"No, " shouted the great fellow, "I will send him to watch whereit is always night, I who keep a club for white rats, " and hebrandished his stick over me. 

Now my temper rose. Watching my opportunity, I stretched out myright foot and hooked him round the ankle, at the same timestriking up with all my force. My fist caught him beneath thechin and over he went backwards sprawling on the ground. 

"Son of a dog!" I said, "if a single stick touches me, at leastyou shall go first, " and whipping out my revolver, I pointed itat him. 

He lay quiet enough, but how the matter would have ended I do notknow, for passion was running high, had not Goza at this momentrisen with a bleeding nose and called out--

"O Fools, would you kill the king's guest to whom the kinghimself has given safe-conduct. Surely you are pots full ofbeer, not men. "

"Why not?" answered one. "This is the Place of Soldiers. Theking's house is yonder. Give the old jackal a start of a lengthof ten assegais. If he reaches it first, he can shake hands withhis friend, the king. If not we will make him into medicine. "

"Yes, yes, run for it, Jackal, " clamoured the others, knockingtheir shields with their sticks, as men do who would frighten abuck, and opening out to make a road for me. 

Now while all this was going on, with some kind of sixth sense Ihad noted a big man whose face was shrouded by a blanket thrownover his head, who very quietly had joined these drunken rioters, and vaguely wondered who he might be. 

"I will not run, " I said slowly, "that I may be saved by theking. Nay, I will die here, though some of you shall die first. Go to the king, Goza, and tell him how his servants have servedhis guest, " and I lifted my pistol, waiting till the first sticktouched me to put a bullet through the bully on the ground. 

"There is no need, " said a deep voice that proceeded from thedraped man of whom I have spoken, "for the king has come to seefor himself. "

Then the blanket was thrown back, revealing Cetewayo grown fatand much aged since last I saw him, but undoubtedly Cetewayo. 

"Bayete!" roared the mob in salute, while some of those who hadbeen most active in the tumult tried to slip away. 

"Let no man stir, " said Cetewayo, and they stood as though theywere rooted to the ground, while I slipped my pistol back into mypocket. 

"Who are you, White Man?" he asked, looking at me, "and what doyou here?"

"The King should know Macumazahn, " I answered, lifting my hat, "whom Dingaan knew, whom Panda knew well, and whom the King knewbefore he was a king. "

"Yes, I know you, " he answered, "although since we spoke togetheryou have shrunk like an oxhide in the sun, and time has stainedyour beard white. "

"And the King has grown fat like the ox on summer grass. As forwhat I do here, did not the King send for me by Goza, and was Inot brought like a baby in a blanket. "

"The last time we met, " he went on, taking no heed of my words, "was yonder at Nodwengu when the witch Mameena was tried forsorcery, she who made my brother mad and brought about the greatbattle, in which you fought for him with the Amawombe regiment. Do you not remember how she kissed you, Macumazahn, and tookpoison between the kisses, and how before she grew silent shespoke evil words to me, saying that I was doomed to pull down myown House and to die as she died, words that have haunted me eversince and now haunt me most of all? I wish to speak to youconcerning them, Macumazahn, for it is said in the land that thisbeautiful witch loved you alone and that you only knew her mind. "

I made no reply, who was heartily tired of this subject ofMameena whom no one seemed able to forget. 

"Well, " he went on, "we will talk of that matter alone, since itis not natural that you should wish to speak of your deaddarlings before the world, " and with a wave of the hand he putthe matter aside. Then suddenly his attitude changed. His face, that had been thoughtful and almost soft, became fierce, his formseemed to swell and he grew terrible. 

"What was that dog doing?" he asked of Goza, pointing to thebrute whom I had knocked down and who still lay prostrate on hisback, afraid to stir. 

"O King, " answered Goza, "he was trying to kill Macumazahnbecause he is a white man, although I told him that he was yourguest, being brought to you by the royal command. He was tryingto kill him by giving him a start of ten spears' length andmaking him run to the isigodhlo (the king's house) and beatinghim to death with the sticks of these men if they caught him, which, as he is old and they are young, they must have done. Only the Watcher-by-Night would not run; no, although he is sosmall he knocked him to the earth with his fist, and there helies. That is all, O King. "

"Rise, dog, " said Cetewayo, and the man rose trembling with fear, and, being bidden, gave his name, which I forget. 

"Listen, dog, " went on the king in the same cold voice. "WhatGoza says is true, for I saw and heard it all with my eyes andears. You would have made yourself as the king. You dared totry to kill the king's guest to whom he had given safe-conduct, and to stain the king's doorposts with his blood, therebydefiling his house and showing him to the white people as amurderer of one of them whom he had promised to protect. Macumazahn, do _you_ say how he shall die, and I will have itdone. "

"I do not wish him to die, " I answered, "I think that he andthose with him were drunk. Let him go, O King. "

"Aye, Macumazahn, I will let him go. See now, we are in thecentre of the cattle-kraal, and to the eastern gate is as far asto the isigodhlo. Let this man have a start of ten spears'length and run to the eastern gate, as he would have madeMacumazahn run to the king's house, and let his companions, thosewho would have hunted Macumazahn, hunt him. 

"If he wins through to the gate he can go on to the Government inNatal and tell them of the cruelty of the Zulus. Only then, letthose who hunted him be brought before me for trial and perhapswe shall see how _they_ can run. "

Now the poor wretch caught hold of my hand, begging me tointercede for him, but soldiers who had come up dragged him awayand, having measured the distance allowed him, set him on a markmade upon the ground. Presently at a word off he sped like anarrow, and after him went his friends, ten or more of them. Ithink they caught him just by the gate doubling like a hare, orso the shouts of laughter from the watching regiment told me, formyself I would not look. 

"That dog ate his own stomach, " said Cetewayo grimly, therebyindicating in native fashion that the biter had been bit or theengineer hoist with his petard. "It is long since there has beena war in the land, and some of these young soldiers who havenever used an assegai save to skin an ox or cut the head from achicken, shout too loud and leap too high. Now they will bequieter, and while you stay here you may walk where you will insafety, Macumazahn, " he added thoughtfully. 

Then dismissing the matter from his mind, as we white peopledismiss any trivial incident in a morning stroll, he talked for afew minutes to the commanding officer of the regiment that wasdrilling, who ran up to make some report to him, and walked backtowards the isigodhlo, beckoning me to follow with Goza. 

After waiting for a little while outside the gate in thesurrounding fence, a body-servant ordered us to enter, which wedid to find the king seated on the shady side of his big hutquite alone. At a sign I also sat myself down upon a stool thathad been set for me, while Goza, whose nose was still bleeding, squatted at my side. 

"Your manners are not so good as they were once, Macumazahn, "said Cetewayo presently, "or perhaps you have been so long awayfrom the royal kraal that you have forgotten its customs. "

I stared at him, wondering what he could mean, whereon he addedwith a laugh--

"What is that in your pocket? Is it not a loaded pistol, and doyou not remember that it is death to appear before the kingarmed? Now I might kill you and have no blame, although you aremy guest, for who knows that you are not sent by the EnglishQueen to shoot me?"

"I ask the King's pardon, " I said humbly enough. "I did notthink about the pistol. Let your servants take it away. "

"Perhaps it is safer in your pocket, where I saw you place it inthe cattle-kraal, Macumazahn, than in their hands, which do notknow how to hold such things. Moreover, I know that you are notone who stabs in the dark, even when our peoples growl round eachother like two dogs about to fight, and if you were, in thisplace your life would have to pay for mine. There is beer byyour side; drink and fear nothing. Did you see the Opener ofRoads, Goza, and if so, what is his answer to my message?"

"O King, I saw him, " answered Goza. "The Father of the doctors, the friend and master of the Spirits, says he has heard theKing's word, yes, that he heard it as it passed the King's lips, and that although he is very old, he will travel to Ulundi and bepresent at the Great Council of the nation which is to besummoned on the eighth day from this, that of the full moon. Yethe makes a prayer of the King. It is that a place may beprepared for him, for his people and for his servants who carryhim, away from this town of Ulundi, where he may sojourn quitealone, a decree of death being pronounced against any who attemptto break in upon his privacy, either where he dwells or upon hisjourney. These are his very words, O King:

"'I, who am the most ancient man in Zululand, dwell with thespirits of my fathers, who will not suffer strangers to come nighthem and who, if they are offended, will bring great woes uponthe land. Moreover, I have sworn that while there is a king inZululand and I draw the breath of life, never again will I setfoot in a royal kraal, because when last I did so at the slayingof the witch, Mameena, the king who is dead thought it well toutter threats against me, and never more will I, the Opener ofRoads, be threatened by a mortal. Therefore if the King and hisCouncil seek to drink of the water of my wisdom, it must be inthe place and hour of my own choosing. If this cannot be, let meabide here in my house and let the King seek light from otherdoctors, since mine shall remain as a lamp to my own heart. '"

Now I saw that these words greatly disturbed Cetewayo who fearedZikali, as indeed did all the land. 

"What does the old wizard mean?" he asked angrily. "He livesalone like a bat in a cave and for years has been seen of none. Yet as a bat flies forth at night, ranging far and wide in searchof prey, so does his spirit seem to fly through Zululand. Everywhere I hear the same word. It is--'What says the Opener ofRoads?' It is--'How can aught be done unless the Opener of Roadshas declared that it shall be done, he who was here before theBlack One (Chaka) was born, he who it is said was the friend ofInkosi Umkulu, the father of the Zulus who died before ourgreat-grandfathers could remember; he who has all knowledge andis almost a spirit, if indeed he be not a spirit?' I ask you, Macumazahn, who are his friend, what does he mean, and why shouldI not kill him and be done?"

"O King, " I answered, "in the days of your uncle Dingaan, whenDingaan slew the Boers who were his guests, and thus began thewar between the White and the Black, I, who was a lad, heard thelaughter of Zikali for the first time yonder at the kraalUngungundhlovu, I who rode with Retief and escaped the slaughter, but his face I did not see. Many years later, in the days ofPanda your father, I saw his face and therefore you name me hisfriend. Yet this friend who drew me to visit him, perhaps byyour will, O King, has now caused me to be brought here to Ulundidoubtless by your will, O King, but against my own, for whowishes to come to a town where he is well-nigh slain by the firstbrawler he meets in the cattle kraal?"

"Yet you were not slain, Macumazahn, and perhaps you do not knowall the story of that brawler, " replied Cetewayo almost humbly, like one who begs pardon, though the rest of what I had said heignored. "But still you are Zikali's friend, for between you andhim there is a rope which enabled him to draw you to Zululand, which rope I have heard called by a woman's name. Therefore bythe spirit of that woman, which still can draw you like a rope, Icharge you, tell me--what does this old wizard mean, and whyshould I not kill him and be rid of one who haunts my heart likean evil vision of the night and, as I sometimes think, is anumtakati, an evil-doer, who would work ill to me and all myHouse, yes, and to all my people?"

"How should I know what he means, O King?" I answered withindignation, though in fact I could guess well enough. "As forkilling him, cannot the King kill whom he will? Yet I rememberthat once I heard you father ask much the same question and ofZikali himself, saying that he was minded to find out whether orno he were mortal like other men. I remember also Zikalianswered that there was a saying that when the Opener of Roadscame to the end of his road, there would be no more a king ofZululand, as there was none when first he set foot upon his road. Now I have spoken, who am a white man and do not understand yoursayings. "

"I remember it also, Macumazahn, who was present at the time, " hereplied heavily. "My father feared this Zikali and his fatherfeared him, and I have heard that the Black One himself, whofeared nothing, feared him also. And I, too, fear him, so muchthat I dare not make up my mind upon a great matter without hiscounsel, lest he should bewitch me and the nation and bring us tonothing. "

He paused, then turning to Goza, asked, "Did the Opener of Roadstell you where he wished to dwell when he comes to visit me hereat Ulundi?"

"O King, " answered Goza, "yonder in the hills, not further awaythan an aged man can walk in the half of an hour, is a placecalled the Valley of Bones, because there in the days of thosewho went before the King, and even in the King's day, manyevildoers have been led to die. Zikali would dwell in thisValley of Bones, and there and nowhere else would meet the Kingand the Great Council, not in the daylight but after sunset whenthe moon has risen. "

"Why, " said Cetewayo, starting, "the place is ill-omened and, they say, haunted, one that no man dares to approach after thefall of darkness for fear lest the ghosts of the dead should leapupon him gibbering. "

"Such were the words of the Opener of Roads, O King, " repliedGoza. "There and nowhere else will he meet the King, and therehe demands that three huts should be built to shelter him and hisfolk and stored with all things needful. If this be not grantedto him, then he refuses to visit the King or to give counsel tothe nation. "

"So be it then, " said Cetewayo. "Send messengers to the Openerof Roads, Goza, saying that what he desires shall be done. Letmy command go out that under pain of death none spy upon himwhile he journeys hither or returns. Let the huts be builtforthwith, and when it is known that he is coming, let food inplenty be placed in them and afterwards morning by morning takento the mouth of the valley. Bid him announce his arrival and thehour he chooses for our meeting by messenger. Begone. "

Goza leapt up, gave the royal salute, and retreated backwardsfrom the presence of the king, leaving us alone. I also rose todepart, but Cetewayo motioned to me to be seated. 

"Macumazahn, " he said, "the Great Queen's man who has come toNatal (Sir Bartle Frere) threatens me with war because twoevil-doing women were taken on the Natal side of the Tugela andbrought back to Zululand and killed by Mehlokazulu, being thewives of his father, Sirayo, which was done without my knowledge. Also two white men were driven away from an island in the TugelaRiver by some of my soldiers. "

"Is that all, O King?" I asked. 

"No. The Queen's man says I kill my people without trial, whichis a lie told him by the missionaries, and that girls have beenkilled also who refused to marry those to whom they were givenand ran away with other men. Also that wizards are smelt out andslain, which happens but rarely now; all of this contrary to thepromises I made to Sompseu when he came to recognize me as kingupon my father's death, and some other such small matters. "

"What is demanded if you would avoid war, O King?"

"Nothing less than this, Macumazahn: That the Zulu army should beabolished and the soldiers allowed to marry whom and when theyplease, because, says the Queen's man, he fears lest it should beused to attack the English, as though I who love the English, asthose have done who went before me, desire to lay a finger onthem. Also that another Queen's man should be sent to dwell herein my country, to be the eyes and ears of the English Governmentand have power with me in the land; yes, and more demands whichwould destroy the Zulus as a people and make me, their king, buta petty kraal-head. "

"And what will the King answer?" I asked. 

"I know not what to answer. The fine of two thousand cattle Iwill pay for the killing of the women. If it may be, I wish noquarrel with the English, though gladly I would have fought theDutch had not Sompseu stretched out his arm over their land. Buthow can I disband the army and make an end of the regiments thathave conquered in so many wars? Macumazahn, I tell you that if Idid this, in a moon I should be dead. Oh! you white people thinkthere is but one will in Zululand, that of the king. But it isnot so, for he is but a single man among ten thousand thousand, who lives to work the people's wish. If he beats them with toothick a stick, or if he brings them to shame or does what themost of them do not wish, then where is the king? Then, I say, he goes a road that was trodden by Chaka and Dingaan who werebefore me, yes, the red road of the assegai. Therefore today, Istand like a man between two falling cliffs. If I run towardsthe English the Zulu cliff falls upon me. If I run towards myown people, the English cliff falls upon me, and in either case Iam crushed and no more seen. Tell me then, Macumazahn, you whoseheart is honest, what must I do?"

So he spoke, wringing his hands, with tears starting to his eyes, and upon my word, although I never liked Cetewayo as I had likedhis father, Panda, perhaps because I loved his brother, Umbelazi, whom he killed, and had known him do many cruel deeds, my heartbled for him. 

"I cannot tell you, King, " I answered, thinking that I must saysomething, "but I pray you do not make war against the queen, forshe is the most mighty One in the whole earth, and though herfoot, of which you see but the little toe here in Africa, seemssmall to you, yet if she is angered, it will stamp the Zulusflat, so that they cease to be. "

"Many have told me this, Macumazahn. Yes, even Uhamu, the son ofmy uncle Unzibe, or, as some say, the son of his spirit, to whichhis mother was married after Unzibe was dead, and othersthroughout the land, and in truth I think it myself. But who canhold the army which shouts for war? Ow! the Council must decide, which, means perhaps that Zikali will decide, for now all hangupon his lips. "

"Then I am sorry, " I exclaimed. 

He looked at me shrewdly. 

"Are you? So am I. Yet his counsel must be asked, and betterthat it should be here in my presence than yonder secretly at theBlack Kloof. I would kill him if I dared, but I dare not, who amsure--why I may not say--that the same sun will see his death andmine. "

He waved his hand to show that the talk on this matter was ended, then added--

"Macumazahn, you are my prisoner for a while, but give me yourword that you will not try to escape and you may go where youwill within an hour's ride of Ulundi. I would pay you well tostop here with me, but this I know you would never do shouldthere be trouble between us and your people. Therefore I promiseyou that if war breaks out I will send you safely to Natal, orperhaps sooner, as my messenger, whence doubtless you will returnto fight against me. Know that I have given orders that everyother white man or woman who is found in Zululand shall be killedas a spy. Even John Dunn has fled or is flying, or so I hear, John Dunn who has fed out of my hand and grown rich on my gifts. You yourself would have been killed as you came from Swazi-Landin your cart, had not command been sent to those chiefs throughwhose lands you passed that neither they nor their people were somuch as to look at you. "

Now for one intense moment I thought, as hard as ever I had donein my life. It was evident--unless he dealing very cunninglywith me, which I did not believe--that Cetewayo knew nothing ofAnscombe and Heda, but thought that I had come into Zululandalone. Should I or should I not tell him and beg his protectionfor them? If I did so he might refuse or be unable to give it tothem far away in the midst of a savage population aflame with thelust of war. As the incident of the morning showed, it was asmuch as he could do to protect myself, although the Zulus knew mefor their friend. On the other hand no one who dwelt underZikali's blanket, to use the Kaffir idiom, would be touched, because he was looked on as half divine and therefore everythingunder it down to the rat in his thatch was sacred. Now Zikali byimplication and Nombe with emphasis, had promised to safeguardthese two. Surely, therefore, they would run less risk in theBlack Kloof than here at Ulundi, if ever they got so far. 

All this went through my brain in an instant, with the resultthat I made up my mind to say nothing. As the issue proved, thiswas a terrible mistake, but who can always judge rightly? Had Ispoken out it seems to me probable that Cetewayo would havegranted my prayer and ordered that these two should be escortedout of Zululand before hostilities began, although of course theymight have been murdered on the way. Also, for a reason thatwill become evident later, it is possible that there would neverhave been any hostilities. All I can plead is, that I acted forthe best and Fate would have it so. Another moment and thechance was gone. 

The gate opened and a body-servant appeared announcing that oneof the great captains with some of his officers waited to see theking. Cetewayo made a sign, whereon the servant called outsomething, and they entered, three or four of them, salutingloudly. Seeing me they stopped and stared, whereon Cetewayoshortly, but with much clearness, repeated to them and to aninduna who accompanied them, what he had already said to me, namely that I was his guest, sent for by him that he might use meas a messenger if he thought fit. He added that the man whodared to speak a word against me, or even to look at me askance, should pay the price with his life, however high his station, andhe commanded that the heralds should proclaim this his decreethroughout Ulundi and the neighbouring kraals. Then he held outhis hand to me in token of friendship, bidding me to "go softly"and come to see him whenever I wished, and dismissed me in chargeof the induna, one of the captains and some soldiers. 

Within five minutes of reaching my hut I heard a loud-voicedcrier proclaiming the order of the king and knew that I had nomore to fear. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE VALLEY OF BONES

The week that followed my interview with Cetewayo was indeed amiserable time for me. For myself, as I have said, I had nofear, for the king's orders were strictly obeyed. Moreover, thetale of what had happened to the brute who wished to hunt me downin the cattle-kraal had travelled far and wide and none sought toshare his fate. My hut was inviolate and well supplied withnecessary food, as was my mare, and I could wander where I likedand talk with whom I would. I could even ride to exercise thehorse, though this I did very sparingly and only in the immediateneighbourhood of the town for fear of exciting suspicion ormeeting Zulus whom the king's word had not reached. Indeed onthese occasions I was always accompanied by a guard ofswift-footed and armed soldiers sent "to protect me, " or moreprobably to kill me if I did anything that seemed suspicious. 

In the course of my rambles I met sundry natives whom I had knownin the old days, some of them a long while ago. They all seemedglad to see me and were quite ready to talk of past times, but ofthe present they would say little or nothing, except that theywere certain there would be war. Of Anscombe and Heda I couldhear nothing, and indeed did not dare to make any directinquiries concerning them, but several reliable men assured methat the last missionaries and traders having departed, there wasnot a white man, woman or child left in Zululand except myself. It was "all black" they said, referring to the colour of theirpeople, as it had been before the time of Chaka. So I was forcedto eat out my heart with anxiety in silence, hoping and prayingthat Zikali had played an honest part and sent them away safely. 

Why should he not have done so, seeing that it was my presence hehad desired, not theirs? They were only taken, or rather snared, because they were with me and could not be separated, or so Ibelieved at the time. 

One ray of comfort I did get. About the fifth day after myinterview I saw Goza, who told me that the king's messengers wereback from the Black Kloof and had brought "a word" for me fromZikali himself. The word was--

"Bid Goza say to Macumazahn that I was sorry not to see him tosay good-bye, because that morning I slept heavily. Bid him saythat I am glad he has seen the king, since for this purpose Isought his presence in Zululand. Bid him say that he is to fearnothing, and that if his heart is heavy about others whom heloves, he should make it light again, since the Spirits have themin their keeping as they have him, and never were they or he moresafe than they are to-day. "

Now I looked at Goza and asked if I could see this messenger. Hereplied, No, as he had already been despatched upon anothererrand. Then I asked him if the messenger had said anythingelse. He answered, Yes, one thing that he had forgotten, namelythat the writing about blankets should now be in Natal. Thensuddenly he changed the subject and asked me if I would like toaccompany him to the Valley of Bones where he was ordered toinspect the huts which were being built for Zikali and hispeople. Of course I said I should, hoping, quite without result, that I might get something more out of him on the road. 

Now this town of Cetewayo's stands, or rather stood, for it haslong been burnt, on the slope of the hills to the north-east ofthe plains of Ulundi. Above it these hills grow steeper, anddeep in the recesses of one of them is the Valley of Bones. There is nothing particularly imposing about the place; notowering cliffs or pillars of piled granite, as at the BlackKloof. It is just a vale cut out by water, bordered by steepslopes on either side, and a still steeper slope strown withlarge rocks at its end. Dotted here and there on these slopesgrew tall aloes that from a little distance looked like scatteredmen, whereof the lower leaves were shrivelled and blackened byveld fires. Also there were a few euphorbias, grey, naked-looking things that end in points like fingers on a hand, and among them some sparse thorn trees, struggling to live in aninhospitable soil. 

The place has one peculiarity. Jutting into it from the hillsideis a ridge or spur, sixty or seventy yards in length by perhapstwenty broad, that ends in a flat point of rock which standsabout forty feet above the level of the rest of the littlevalley. On this ridge also grew tall aloes until near itsextremity the soil ceased, or had been washed away from thewater-worn core of rock. 

It was, and no doubt still is, a desolate-looking spot, at anyrate for most of the day when owing to the shadow of thesurrounding hills, it receives but little sun. Everything aboutit, especially when I was there in a time of rain, seemed dankand miserable, although the flat floor of the kloof was clothedwith a growth of tall, coarse grass, and weeds that bore anevil-smelling flower. Perhaps some sense of appropriateness hadcaused the Zulu kings to choose this lonesome, deathly-lookinggorge as one of their execution grounds. At any rate many hadbeen slain here, for skulls and the larger human bones, some ofthem black with age, lay all about among the grass, as they hadbeen scattered by hyenas and jackals. They were particularlythick beneath and around the table-like rock that I havementioned. 

Goza told me that this was because the King's Slayers made acustom of dragging the victim along the projecting tongue to theedge of this rock and hurling him, either dead or living, to theground beneath; or, in the case of witches; driving them overafter they had been blinded. 

Such was the spot that Zikali had selected to abide in during hisvisit to Ulundi. Certainly where privacy was an object it waswell chosen, for, as Cetewayo had said and as Goza emphasized tome, it had the repute of being the most thoroughly haunted placein all Zululand, with the sole exception, perhaps, of the ridgeopposite to Dingaan's old kraal where once I shot the vulturesfor my life and those of my companions. * Even in the daytimepeople gave it a wide berth, and at night nothing would inducethem to approach it, at any rate alone. 

[*--See the book called _Marie, _ by H. Rider Haggard. ]

Here to one side of and near the root of the tongue of land ofwhich I have spoken, the huts that Zikali had demanded forhimself and his company were being rapidly built, close to aspring of water, by a large body of men who laboured as thoughthey wished to be done with their task. Also about half way upthe donga, for really it was nothing more, at a distance ofperhaps five and twenty paces from its flat point whence thecondemned were hurled, a circular space of ground had beencleared and levelled which was large enough to accommodate fiftyor sixty men. On this space, Goza told me, the King and theCouncil were to sit when they came to seek light from Zikali. 

In my heart I reflected that the light they were likely to getfrom him would be such as may be supposed to be thrown by hellfire. For be it remembered I knew what these people never seemedto understand, that Zikali was the most bitter of their enemies. To begin with, he was of Undwandwe blood, one of the people whomthe great king Chaka had destroyed. Then this same Chaka hadrobbed him of his wives and murdered his children, in revenge forwhich he had plotted the slaying of Chaka, as he did that of hisbrothers, Umhlangana and Dingaan, the latter of whom he involvedin a quarrel with the Boers. Subsequently he brought about thewar between the princes Cetewayo and Umbelazi, in which I playeda part. 

Now I was certain that he intended to bring about another warbetween the English and the Zulus, knowing well that in the endthe latter would be destroyed, and with them the royal House ofSenzangacona which he had sworn to level with the dust. Had henot told me as much years ago, and was he one to go back upon hisword? Had he not used Mameena with her beauty and ambitions ashis tool, and when she was of no further service to him, givenher to death, as he had used scores of others and in due seasongiven them to death? Was I not myself perhaps one of those toolsdestined to be thrown into the pit of doom when my turn came, though in what way I could help his plots was more than I couldsee, since he knew well that I should do my best to oppose him?Oh! I had half a mind to go to Cetewayo and tell him all I knewabout Zikali, even if it involved the breaking of confidences. 

But stay! Even if I were believed, this far-seeing wizard heldhostages for my good behaviour, and if I betrayed him what wouldhappen to those hostages? He sent me messages saying that theywere safe, suggesting that they had escaped to Natal. How was Ito know that these were true? I was utterly bewildered; I couldnot guess why I had been beguiled into Zululand, and I dared notstep either this way or that for fear lest I should fall intosome pit dug by his cunning hands and, what was worse, drag downothers with me. 

Moreover, was this man quite human, or perhaps an emissary ofSatan upon earth who had knowledge denied to other men and acertain mastery over the Powers of Ill? Again I could not say. His term of life seemed to be extraordinarily prolonged, thoughnone knew how old exactly he might be. Also he had a wonderfulknowledge of what was passing in the minds of others, and by hisarts, as I had experienced only the other day, could summon upapparitions or illusions before their eyes. Further, he wasaware of events which had happened at a distance and could sendor read dreams, since otherwise how did Nombe know what I haddreamt at Marnham's house? Lastly he could foretell the future, as once he had done in my own case, prophecying that I should beinjured by a buffalo with a split horn. 

Yet all of this might be nothing more than a mixture of keenobservation, clever spying, trickery and mesmerism. I could notsay which it was, nor can I with certainty to this hour. 

Such were the thoughts that passed through my mind as I walkedback from the Vale of Bones by the side of the big-paunched Goza, whom I caught eyeing me from time to time as a curious crow eyesany object that has attracted his attention. 

"Goza, " I said at last, "do the Zulus really mean to fight theEnglish?"

He turned and pointed to a spot where the hills ran down into thegreat plain. Here two regiments were manoeuvring. One of theseheld the slopes of the hill and the other was attacking them fromthe plain, so fiercely that at a distance their onslaught lookedlike that of actual warfare. 

"That looks like fighting, does it not, Macumazahn?" he replied. 

"Yes, Goza, yet it may be but play. "

"Quite so, Macumazahn. It may be fighting or it may be but play. Am I a prophet that I should be able to say which it is? Of thatthere is but one man in Zululand who knows the truth. It is hefor whom the new huts are being built up yonder. "

"You think he really knows, Goza?"

"No, Macumazahn, I do not think, I am sure. He is the greatestof all wizards, as he was when my father held on to his mother'sapron. He pulls the strings and the Great-ones of the countrydance. If he wishes war, there will be war. If he wishes peace, there will be peace. "

"And which does he wish, Goza?"

"I thought perhaps you could tell me that, Macumazahn, who, hesays, are such an old friend of his; also why he chooses tosojourn in a dark hole among the dead instead of in the sunshineamong the living, here at Ulundi. "

"Well, I cannot, Goza, since the Opener of Roads does not openhis heart to me but keeps his secrets to himself. For the rest, those who talk with the dead may prefer to dwell among the dead. "

"Now as always you speak truth, Macumazahn, " said Goza, lookingat me in a way which suggested to me that he believed I spokeanything but the truth. 

Indeed I am convinced he thought that I was in the council ofZikali and acquainted with his plans. Also I am sure he knewthat I had not come to Zululand alone, the incident of theblankets, which I had promised to him a bribe to keep silence, showed it, and suspected that my companions were parties to someplot together with myself. And yet at the time I could not bequite sure, and therefore dared not ask anything concerning themlest thus I should reveal their existence and bring them todeath. 

As a matter of fact I need not have been anxious on this point, since if Goza, who I may state, was a kind of secret serviceofficer as well as a head messenger, knew, as I think probable, he had been commanded by Zikali to hold his tongue under penaltyof a curse. Perhaps the same was true of the soldiers who hadcome with him to take me to Ulundi. The hint of Zikali was aspowerful as the word of the king, since they, like thousands ofothers, believed that whereas Cetewayo could kill them, Zikali, like Satan, could blast their spirits as well as their bodies. But how was I to guess all these things at that time?

During the next two days nothing happened, though I heard thatthere had been one if not two meetings of the Council at theKing's House during which the position of affairs was discussed. Cetewayo I did not see, although twice he sent messengers to mebringing gifts of food, who were charged to inquire whether I waswell and happy and if any had offered me hurt or insult. Tothese I answered that I was well and unmolested but not happy, who grew lonesome, being but a solitary white man among so manythousands of the Zulus. 

On the third morning, that of the day of the full moon, Goza cameand informed me that Zikali had arrived at the Valley of Bonesbefore dawn. I asked him how he, who was so old and feeble, hadwalked so far. He answered that he had not walked, or so heunderstood, but had been carried in a litter, or rather in twolitters, one for himself and one for his "spirit. " This staggeredme even where Zikali was concerned, and I inquired what on earthGoza meant. 

"Macumazahn, how can I tell you who only know what I myself amtold?" he exclaimed. "Such is the report that the Opener ofRoads has made himself by messengers to the king. None have seenhim, for he journeys only in the night. Moreover, when Zikalipasses all men are blind and even women's tongues grow dumb. Perchance by 'his spirit' he means his medicine or thewitch-doctoress, Nombe, whom folks say he created, since nonehave seen her father or her mother, or heard who begat her; orperchance his snake is hid behind the mats of the second litter, if in truth there was one. "

"It may be so, " I said, feeling that it was useless to pursue thematter. "Now, Goza, I would see Zikali and at once. "

"That cannot be, Macumazahn, since he has given out that he willsee no one, who rests after his journey, and the king has issuedorders that any who attempt to approach the Valley of Bones shalldie, even if they be of the royal blood. Yes, if so much as adog dares to draw near that place, it must die. The soldiers whoring it round have killed one already, so strict are the orders, also a boy who went towards it searching for a calf, which Ithink a bad omen. "

"Then I will send a message to him, " I persisted. 

"Do so, " mocked Goza. "Look, yonder sails a vulture. Ask it totake your message, for nothing else will. Be not foolish, Macumazahn, but have patience, for to-night you shall see theOpener of Roads when he attends the Council of the king in theValley of Bones. This is the order of the king--that at therising of the moon I lead you thither, so that you may be presentat the Council in case he wishes to ask you any questions aboutthe White People or to give you any message to the Government inNatal. Therefore at sunset I will come for you. Till then, farewell. I have business that cannot wait. "

"Can I see the king?" I cried. 

"Not so, Macumazahn. All to-day he makes sacrifice to thespirits of his ancestors and must not be approached, " Goza calledback as he departed. 

Availing myself of the permission of the king to go where Iwould, a little later in the day I walked out of the town towardsthe Valley of Bones in order to ascertain for myself whether whatGoza had told me was true. So it proved, for about three hundredyards from the mouth of the valley, which at that distance lookedlike a black hole in the hills, I found soldiers stationed aboutten paces apart in a great circle which ran right up the hillsideand vanished over the crest. Strolling up to one of these, whoseface I thought I knew, I asked him if he would let me pass to seemy friend, the Opener of Roads. 

The man, who was something of a humourist replied--

"Certainly if you wish, Macumazahn. That is to say, I will letyour spirit pass, but to do this, if you come one step nearer Imust first make a hole in you with my spear out of which it canfly. "

I thanked him for his information and gave him some snuff, whichhe took gratefully, being bored by his long vigil. Then I askedhim how many people the great witch-doctor had with him. He saidhe did not know, but he had seen a number of tall men come to themouth of the donga to fetch food that had been placed there. Again I inquired if he had seen any women, whereon he repliednone, Zikali being, he understood, too old to trouble himselfabout the other sex. Just then an officer, making his rounds, came up and looked at me so sternly that I thought it well toretreat. Evidently there was no chance of getting through thatline. 

On my way back I walked as near the fence of the King's House asI dared, and saw witch-doctors passing in and out in theirhideous official panoply. This told me that here also Goza hadspoken the truth--the king was performing magical ceremonies, which meant that it would be impossible to approach him. Inevery direction I met with failure. The Fates were against me;it lay over me like a spell. Indeed I grew superstitious andbegan to think that Zikali had bewitched me, as he was said tohave the power to do. Well, perhaps he had, for the mere fact offinding myself opposed by this persistent wall of difficultiesand silence convinced me that there was something behind it to belearned. 

I went back very dejected to my hut and talked to my mare whichwhinnied and rubbed its nose against me, for although it was wellfed and looked after, the poor beast seemed as lonely as I wasmyself. No wonder, since like myself it was separated from allits kind and weary of inaction. After this I ate and smoked andfinally dozed, no more, for whenever I tried to go to sleep Ithought that I heard Zikali laughing at me, as mayhap he wasdoing yonder in his hut. 

At length that wearisome day drew towards its end. The sun beganto sink, a huge red ball of fire, now and again veiled by clouds, for the sky was stormy. Its fierce rays, striking upon otherclouds, peopled the enormous heavens with fantastic shapes oflight which were thickest over the hills wherein was the Valleyof Bones. To my strained mind these clouds looked like battlingarmies, figures of flame warring against figures of darkness. The darkness won; no, the light broke out again and conquered it. And see, there above them both squatted a strange black presencecrowned with fire. It might have been that of Zikali magnifiedten thousand times, and hark! it laughed with the lowreverberating voice of distant thunder. 

Suddenly I felt that I was no longer alone and looking round, sawGoza at my side. 

"What do you see up there, Macumazahn, that you stare so hard?"he asked, pointing at the sky with his stick. 

"Impis fighting, " I answered briefly. 

"Then you must be a 'heaven-doctor, ' Macumazahn, for I only seeblack and red clouds. Well, it is time to go to learn whether orno the impis will fight, for Zikali awaits us and the Council hasstarted already. By the way, the king says that you will do wellto put your pistol in your pocket in case any should seek to harmyou in the dark. "

"It is there. But, Goza, I pray you to protect me, since in thedark bullets fly wide, and if I began to shoot, one might hityou, Goza. "

He smiled, making no answer, but I noticed that during the restof that night he was careful to keep behind me as much aspossible. 

Our way led us through the town where everybody seemed to bestanding about doing nothing and speaking very little. There wasa curious air of expectancy upon their faces. They knew that thecrisis was at hand, that their nation's fate hung upon thescales, and they watched my every look and movement as though inthem they expected to read an omen. I too watched them out ofthe corners of my eyes, wondering whether I should escape fromtheir savage company alive. If once the blood lust broke outamong them, it seemed to me that I should have about as muchchance as a chopped fox among a pack of hungry hounds. 

Once out of the town we saw no one until we came to the circle ofguards which I have already mentioned, who stood there like anendless line of black statues. In answer to their challenge Gozagave some complicated password in which my name occurred, whereonthey opened out and let us through. Then we marched on to themouth of the kloof. The place was very dark, for now the sun wasdown in the west and the moon in the east was cut off from us bythe hills and would not be visible here for half an hour or more. Presently I saw a spot of light. It was a small fire burningnear the tongue of rock which I have described. 

At a distance, in front of the fire on the patch of preparedground, squatted a number of men, between twenty and thirty ofthem, in a semicircle. They were wrapped up in karosses andblankets, and in their centre sat a large figure on a chair ofwood. 

"The King and the Great Council, " whispered Goza. 

One of them looked round and saw us. At some sign from the kinghe rose, and against the fire I saw that he was the PrimeMinister, Umnyamana. He came to me and, with a nod ofrecognition, conducted me some paces to the right where aeuphorbia tree grew among the rank herbage. Here I found a stoolplaced ready on which I sat down, Goza, who of course was not ofthe Council, squatting at my side in the grass. 

Now I found that I was so situated that I could not well be seenfrom the fire, or even from the rock above it, while I, by movingmy head a little, could see both quite clearly. After this asthe last reflection from the sunk sun faded, the darknessincreased until nothing remained visible except the fire and themassive outline of the rock behind. The silence was complete, for none of the Council spoke. They were so still that theymight have been dead, so still that a beetle suddenly boomingpast me made me start as though it had been a bullet. Thegeneral impression was almost mesmeric. I felt as though I weregoing to sleep and yet my mind remained painfully awake, so thatI was able to think things out. 

I understood clearly that the body of men to my left had cometogether to decide whether there should be peace or war; thatthere were divisions of opinion among them; that the king wasready to follow the party which should prove itself thestrongest, but that the real voice of decision would speak frombehind that fire. It was the case of the Delphic Oracle overagain with a priest instead of a priestess, and what a priest!

It was evident to me also that Zikali, who knew human nature, andespecially savage human nature, had arranged all this with a viewto scenic and indeed supernatural effect. Moreover, he had doneit very well, since I knew myself that in this place and hourwords and occurrences would affect me deeply at which I shouldhave laughed in the sunlight and open plain. Already the Zuluswere affected, for I could hear the teeth of some of themchattering, and Goza began to shiver at my side. He mutteredthat it was cold, and lied for the donga was extremely hot andstuffy. 

At length the silver radiance of the moon spread itself on thehigh curtain of the dark. Then the edge of her orb appearedabove the hill and an arrow of white light fell into the littlevalley. It struck upon and about the jutting rock, revealing amisshapen, white-headed figure squatted between its base and thefire, the figure of Zikali. 

CHAPTER XV

THE GREAT COUNCIL

None had seen or heard him come, and though doubtless he had butcrept round the rock and taken his place in the darkness, thereappeared to be something mysterious about this sudden appearanceof Zikali. So the Zulu nobles thought at any rate, for theyuttered a low "Ow!" of fear and wonder. 

There he sat like a huge ape staring at the sky, for thefirelight shone on his deep and burning eyes. The moonlightincreased, but now and again it was broken by little clouds whichcaused strange shadows to appear about the rock. Some of theseshadows looked as though veiled figures were approaching thewizard, bending over him and departing again, after giving himtheir message or counsel. 

"His Spirits visit him, " whispered Goza, but I made no answer. 

This went on for quite a long time, until the full round of themoon appeared above the hill indeed, and, for the while, theclouds had cleared away. Still Zikali sat silent and I, who wasacquainted with the habits of this people, knew that I waswitnessing a conflict between two they considered to berespectively a spiritual and an earthly king. It is my beliefthat unless he were first addressed, Zikali would have sat allnight without opening his lips. Possibly Cetewayo would havedone the same if the impatience of public opinion had allowedhim. At any was rate it was he who gave way. 

"Makosi, master of many Spirits, on behalf of the Council and thePeople of the Zulus I, the King, greet you here in the place thatyou have chosen, " said Cetewayo. 

Zikali made no answer. 

The silence went on as before, till at length, after a pause andsome whispering, Cetewayo repeated his salutation, adding--

"Has age made you deaf, O Opener of Roads, that you cannot hearthe voice of the King?"

Then at last Zikali answered in his low voice that yet seemed tofill all the kloof--

"Nay, Child of Senzangacona, age has not made me deaf, but myspirit in these latter days floats far from my body. It is likea bladder filled with air that a child holds by a string, andbefore I can speak I must draw it from the heavens to earthagain. What did you say about the place that I have chosen?Well, what better place could I choose, seeing that it was herein this very Vale of Bones that I met the first king of theZulus, Chaka the Wild Beast, who was your uncle? Why then shouldI not choose it to meet the last king of the Zulus?"

Now I, listening, knew at once that this saying might beunderstood in two ways, namely that Cetewayo was the reigningking, or that he was the last king who would ever reign. But theCouncil interpreted it in the latter and worse sense, for I saw aquiver of fear go through them. 

"Why should I not choose it, " went on Zikali, "seeing also thatthis place is holy to me? Here it was, O Son of Panda, thatChaka brought my children to be killed and forced me, sittingwhere you sit, to watch their deaths. There on the rock above methey were killed, four of them, three sons and a daughter, andthe slayers--they came to an evil end, those slayers, as didChaka--laughed and cast them down from the rock before me. Yes, and Chaka laughed, and I too laughed, for had not the king theright to kill my children and to steal their mothers, and was Inot glad that they should be taken from the world and gatheredto that of Spirits whence they always talk to me, yes, even now?That is why I did not hear you at first, King, because they weretalking to me. "

He paused, turning one ear upwards, then continued in a new andtender voice, "What is it you say to me, Noma, my dear littleNoma? Oh! I hear you, I hear you. "

Now he shifted himself along the ground on his haunches somepaces to the right, and began to search about, groping with hislong fingers. "Where, where?" he muttered. "Oh, I understand, further under the root, a jackal buried it, did it? Pah! howhard is this soil. Ah! I have it, but look, Noma, a stone hascut my finger. I have it, I have it, " and from beneath the rootof some fallen tree he drew out the skull of a child and, holdingit in his right hand, softly rubbed the mould off it with hisleft. 

"Yes, Noma, it might be yours, it is of the right size, but howcan I be sure? What is it you say? The teeth? Ah! now Iremember. Only the day before you were taken I pulled out thatfront tooth, did I not, and beneath it was another that wasstrangely split in two. If this skull was yours, it will bethere. Come to the fire, Noma, and let us look; the moonlight isfaint, is it not?"

Back to the fire he shifted himself, and bending towards theblaze, made an examination. 

"True, Noma, true! Here is the split tooth, white as when I sawit all those years ago. Oh! dear child of my body, dear child ofmy spirit, for we do not beget with the body alone, Noma, as youknow better than I do to-day, I greet you, " and pressing theskull to his lips, he kissed it, then set it down in front of himbetween himself and the fire with the face part pointing to theking, and burst into one of his eerie and terrible laughs. 

A low moan went up from his audience, and I felt the skin ofGoza, who had shrunk against me, break into a profuse sweat. Then suddenly Zikali's voice changed one more and became hard andbusinesslike, if I may call it so, similar to that of otherprofessional doctors. 

"You have sent for me, O King, as those who went before you havesent when great things were about to happen. What is the matteron which you would speak to me?"

"You know well, Opener of Roads, " answered Cetewayo, rathershakily I thought. "The matter is one of peace or war. TheEnglish threaten me and my people and make great demands on me;amongst others that the army should be disbanded. I can set themall out if you will. If I refuse to do as they bid me, thenwithin a few days they will invade Zululand; indeed theirsoldiers are already gathered at the drifts. "

"It is not needful, King, " answered Zikali, "since I know whatall know, neither more nor less. The winds whisper the demandsof the white men, the birds sing them, the hyenas howl them atnight. Let us see how the matter stands. When your father diedSompseu (Sir T. Shepstone), the great white chief, came from theEnglish Government to name you king. This he could not doaccording to our law, since how can a stranger name the King ofthe Zulus? Therefore the Council of the Nation and the doctors--Iwas not among them, King--moved the spirit of Chaka the Lion intothe body of Sompseu and made him as Chaka was and gave him powerto name you to rule over the Zulus. So it came about that to theEnglish Queen through the spirit of Chaka you swore certainthings; that slaying for witchcraft should be abolished; that noman should die without fair and open trial, and other matters. "

He paused a while, then went on, "These oaths you have broken, OKing, as being of the blood you are and what you are, you mustdo. "

Here there was disturbance among the Council and Cetewayo halfrose from his seat, then sat down again. Zikali, gazing at thesky, waited till it had died away, then went on--

"Do any question my words? If so, then let them ask of the whitemen whether they be true or no. Let them ask also of the spiritsof those who have died for witchcraft, and of the spirits of thewomen who have been slain and whose bodies were laid at thecross-roads because they married the men they chose and not thesoldiers to whom the king gave them. "

"How can I ask the white men who are far away?" broke outCetewayo, ignoring the rest. 

"Are the white men so far away, King? It is true that I see noneand hear none, yet I seem to smell one of them close at hand. "Here he took up the skull which he had laid down and whispered toit. "Ah! I thank you, my child. It seems, King, that there is awhite man here hidden in this kloof, he who is named Macumazahn, a good man and a truthful, known to many of us from of old, whocan tell you what his people think, though he is not one of theirindunas. If you question my words, ask him. "

"We know what the white men think, " said Cetewayo, "so there isno need to ask Macumazahn to sing us an old song. The questionis--what must the Zulus do? Must they swallow their spears and, ceasing to be a nation, become servants, or must they strike withthem and drive the English into the sea, and after them theBoers?"

"Tell me first, King, who dwell far away and alone, knowinglittle of what passes in the land of Life, what the Zulus desireto do. Before me sits the Great Council of the Nation. Let itspeak. "

Then one by one the members of the Council uttered their opinionsin order of rank or seniority. I do not remember the names ofall who were present, or what each of them said. I recall, however, that Sigananda, a very old chief--he must have been overninety--spoke the first. He told them that he had been friend ofChaka and one of his captains, and had fought in most of hisbattles. That afterwards he had been a general of Dingaan'suntil that king killed the Boers under Retief, when he left himand finally sided with Panda in the civil war in which Dingaanwas killed with the help of the Boers. That he had been presentat the battle of the Tugela, though he took no actual part in thefighting, and afterwards became a councillor of Panda's and thenof Cetewayo his son. It was a long and interesting historicalrecital covering the whole period of the Zulu monarchy whichended suddenly with these words--

"I have noted, O King and Councillors, that whenever the blackvulture of the Zulus was content to attack birds of his ownfeather, he has conquered. But when it has met the grey eaglesof the white men, which come from over the sea, he has beenconquered, and my heart tells me that as it was in the past, soit shall be in the future. Chaka was a friend of the English, sowas Panda, and so has Cetewayo been until this hour. I say, therefore, let not the King tear the hand which fed him becauseit seems weak, lest it should grow strong and clutch him by thethroat and choke him. "

Next spoke Undabuko, Dabulamanzi and Magwenga, brothers of theking, who all favoured war, though the two last were guarded intheir speech. After these came Uhamu, the king's uncle--he whowas said to be the son of a Spirit--who was strong for peace, urging that the king should submit to the demands of the English, making the best terms he could, that he "should bend like a reedbefore the storm, so that after the storm had swept by, he mightstand up straight again, and with him all the other reeds of thepeople of the Zulus. "

So, too, said Seketwayo, chief of the Umdhlalosi, and more whom Icannot recall, six or seven of them. But Usibebu and the indunaUntshingwayo, who afterwards commanded at Isandhlwana, were forfighting, as were Sirayo, the husband of the two women who hadbeen taken on English territory and killed, and Umbilini, thechief of Swazi blood whose surrender was demanded by Sir BartleFrere and who afterwards commanded the Zulus in the battle atIhlobane. Last of all spoke the Prime Minister, Umnyamana, whodeclared fiercely that if the Zulu buffalo hid itself in theswamp like a timid calf when the white bull challenged it on thehills, the spirits of Chaka and all his forefathers would thrustits head into the mud and choke it. 

When all had finished Cetewayo spoke, saying--

"That is a bad council which has two voices, for to which of themmust the Captain listen when the impis of the foe gather in frontof him? Here I have sat while the moon climbs high and counted, and what do I find? That one half of you, men of wisdom andrenown, say Yes, and that the other half of you, men of wisdomand renown, say No. Which then is it to be, Yes or No? Are weto fight the English, or are we to sit still?"

"That is for the king to decide, " said a voice. 

"See what it is to be a king, " went on Cetewayo with passion. "If I declare for war and we win, shall I be greater than I am?If victory gives me more land, more subjects, more wives and morecattle, what is the use of these things to me who already haveenough of all of them? And if defeat should take everything fromme, even my life perhaps, then what shall I have gained? I willtell you--the curse of the Zulus upon my name from father to sonfor ever. They will say, 'Cetewayo, son of Panda, pulled down aHouse that once was great. Because of some small matter hequarrelled with the English who were always the friends of ourpeople, and brought the Zulus to the dust. ' Sintwangu, mymessenger, who brought heavy words from the Queen's induna whichwe must answer with other words or with spears, says that theEnglish soldiers in Natal are few, so few that we Zulus canswallow them like bits of meat and still be hungry. But arethese all the soldiers of the English? I am not sure. You areone of that people, Macumazahn, " he added, turning his massiveshape towards me, "tell us now, how many soldiers has yourQueen?"

"King, " I answered, "I do not know for certain. But if the Zuluscan muster fifty thousand spears, the Queen, if there be need, can send against them ten times fifty thousand, and if she growsangry, another ten times fifty, every one armed with a rifle thatwill fire five bullets a minute, and to accompany the soldiers, hundreds of cannon whereof a single shot would give Ulundi to theflames. Out of the sea they will come, shipload after shipload, white men from where the sun sets and black men from where thesun rises, so many that Zululand would not hold them. "

Now at these words, which I delivered as grandly as I could, something like a groan burst from the Council, though one mancried--

"Do not listen to the white traitor, O King, who is sent here toturn our hearts to water with his lies. "

"Macumazahn may lie to us, " went on Cetewayo, "though in the pastnone in the land have ever known him to lie, but he was not sentto do so, for I brought him here. For my part I do not believethat he lies. I believe that these English are as many as thepebbles in a river bed, and that to them Natal, yes, and all theCape is but as a single, outlying cattle kraal, one cattle kraalout of a hundred. Did not Sompseu once tell us that they werecountless, on that day when he came many years ago after thebattle of the Tugela to name me to succeed my father Panda, theday when my faction, the Usutu, roared round him for hours like ariver in flood, and he sat still like a rock in the centre of ariver? Also I am minded of the words that Chaka said whenDingaan and Umbopa had stabbed him and he lay dying at the kraalDuguza, that although the dogs of his own House whom his handfed, had eaten him up, he heard the sound of the running of thefeet of a great white people that should stamp them and the Zulusflat. "

He paused; and the silence was so intense that the crackling ofZikali's fire, which kept on burning brightly although I saw nofuel added to it, sounded quite loud. Presently it was broken, first by a dog near at hand, howling horribly at the moon, andnext by the hooting of a great owl that flitted across the donga, the shadow of its wide wings falling for a moment on the king. 

"Listen!" exclaimed Cetewayo, "a dog that howls! Methinks thatit stands upon the roof of the House of Senzangacona. And an owlthat hoots. Methinks that owl has its nest in the world ofSpirits! Are these good omens, Councillors? I trow not. I saythat I will not decide this matter of peace or war. If there isone of my own blood here who will do so, come, let him take myplace and let me go away to my own lordship of Gikazi that I hadwhen I was a prince before the witch Mameena who played with allmen and loved but one"--here everybody turned and stared towardsme, yes, even Zikali whom nothing else had seemed to move, till Iwished that the ground would swallow me up--"caused the warbetween me and my brother Umbelazi whose blood earth will notswallow nor suns dry--"

"How can that be, O King?" broke in Umnyamana the Prime Minister. "How can any of your race sit in your seat while you still live?Then indeed there would be war, war between tribe and tribe andZulu and Zulu till none were left, and the white hyenas fromNatal would come and chew our bones and with them the Boers thathave passed the Vaal. See now. Why is this Nyanga (i. E. Witch-doctor) here?" and he pointed to Zikali beyond the fire. "Why has the Opener of Roads been brought from the Black Kloofwhich he has not left for years? Is it not that he may give uscounsel in our need and show us a sign that his counsel is good, whether it be for war or peace? Then when he has made divinationand given the counsel and shown the sign, then, O King, do youspeak the word of war or peace, and send it to the Queen byyonder white man, and by that word we, the people, will abide. "

At this suggestion, which I had no doubt was made by some secretagreement between Umnyamana and Zikali, Cetewayo seemed to grasp. Perhaps this was because it postponed for a little while thedreadful moment of decision, or perhaps because he hoped that inthe eyes of the nation it would shift the responsibility from hisshoulders to those of the Spirits speaking through the lips oftheir prophet. At any rate he nodded and answered--

"It is so. Let the Opener of Roads open us a road through theforests and the swamps and the rocks of doubt, danger and fear. Let him give us a sign that it is a good road on which we maysafely travel, and let him tell us whether I shall live to walkthat road and what I shall meet thereon. I promise him in returnthe greatest fee that ever yet was paid to a doctor in Zululand. "

Now Zikali lifted his big head, shook his grey locks, and openinghis wide mouth as though he expected manna to fall into it fromthe sky, he laughed out loud. 

"O-ho-ho, " he laughed, "Oho-ho-ho-o, it is worth while to havelived so long when life has brought me to such an hour as this. What is it that my ears hear? That I, the Indwande dwarf, I whomChaka named 'The-Thing-that-never-should-have-been-born, ' I, oneof the race conquered and despised by the Zulus, am here to speaka word which the Zulus dare not utter, which the King of theZulus dares not utter. O-ho-ho-ho! And what does the King offerto me? A fee, a great fee for the word that shall paint theZulus red with blood or white with the slime of shame. Nay, Itake no fee that is the price of blood or shame. Before I speakthat word unknown--for as yet my heart has not heard it, and whatthe heart has not heard the lips cannot shape--I ask but onething. It is an oath that whatever follows on the word, whilethere is a Zulu left living in the world, I, the Voice of theSpirits, shall be safe from hurt or from reproach, I and those ofmy House and those over whom I throw my blanket, be they black orbe they white. That is my fee, without which I am silent. "

"Izwa! We hear you. We swear it on behalf of the people, " saidevery councillor in the semi-circle in front of him; yes, and theking said it also, stretching out his hand. 

"Good, " said Zikali, "it is an oath, it is an oath, sworn hereupon the bones of the dead. Evil-doers you call them, but I sayto you that many of those who sit before me have more evil intheir hearts than had those dead. Well, let it be proclaimed, OKing, and with it this--that ill shall it go with him who breaksthe oath, with his family, with his kraal and all with whom hehas to do. 

"Now what is it you ask of me? First of all, counsel as towhether you should fight the English Queen, a matter on whichyou, the Great Ones, are evenly divided in opinion, as is thenation behind you. O King, Indunas, and Captains, who am I thatI should judge of such a matter which is beyond my trade, amatter of the world above and of men's bodies, not of the worldbelow and of men's spirits? Yet there was one who made the Zulupeople out of nothing, as a potter fashions a vessel from clay, as a smith fashions an assegai out of the ore of the hills, yes, and tempers it with human blood. * Chaka the Lion, the WildBeast, the King among Kings, the Conqueror. I knew Chaka as Iknew his father, yes, and _his_ father. Others still living knewhim also, say you, Sigananda there for instance, " and he pointedto the old chief who had spoken first. "Yes, Sigananda knew himas a boy knows a great man, as a soldier knows a general. But Iknew his heart, aye, I shaped his heart, I was its thought. Hadit not been for me he would never have been great. Then hewronged me"--here Zikali took up the skull which he said was thatof his daughter, and stroked it--"and I left him. 

[*--The old Zulu smiths dipped their choicest blades in the bloodof men. --A. Q. ]

"He was not wise, he should have killed one whom he had wronged, but perhaps he knew that I could not be killed; perhaps he hadtried and found that he was but throwing spears at the moon whichfell back on his own head. I forget. It is so long ago, andwhat does it matter? At least I took away from him the prop ofmy wisdom, and he fell--to rise no more. And so it has been withothers. So it has been with others. Yet while he was great Iknew his heart who lived in his heart, and therefore I askmyself, had he been sitting where the King sits to-day, whatwould Chaka have done? I will tell you. If not only the Englishbut the Boers also and with them the Pondos, the Basutos and allthe tribes of Africa had threatened him, he would have foughtthem--yes, and set his heel upon their necks. Therefore, although I give no counsel upon such a matter, I say to you thatthe counsel of Chaka is--fight--and conquer. Hearken to it orpass it by--I care not which. "

He paused and a loud "Ow" of wonder and admiration rose from hisaudience. Myself I nearly joined in it, for I thought this oneof the cleverest bits of statecraft that ever I had heard of orseen. The old wizard had taken no responsibility and given noanswer to the demand for advice. All this he had thrust on tothe shoulders of a dead man, and that man one whose name wasmagical to every Zulu, the king whose memory they adored, thegreat General who had gorged them with victory and power. Speaking as Chaka, after a long period of peace, he urged themonce more to lift their spears and know the joys of triumph, thereby making themselves the greatest nation in Southern Africa. From the moment I heard this cunning appeal, I know what the endwould be; all the rest was but of minor and semi-personalinterest. I knew also for the first time how truly great wasZikali and wondered what he might have become had Fortune set himin different circumstances among a civilized people. 

Now he was speaking again, and quickly before the impression diedaway. 

"Such is the word of Chaka spoken by me who was his secretcouncillor, the Councillor who was seldom seen, and never heard. Does not Sigananda yonder know the voice which amongst all thosepresent echoes in his ears alone?"

"I know it, " cried the old chief. Then with his eyes startingalmost from his head, Sigananda leapt up and raising his hand, gave the royal salute, the Bayete, to the spirit of Chaka, asthough the dead king stood before him. 

I think that most of those there thought that it did stand beforehim, for some of them also gave the Bayete and even Cetewayoraised his arm. 

Sigananda squatted down again and Zikali went on. 

"You have heard. This captain of the Lion knows his voice. So, that is done with. Now you ask of me something else--that I whoam a doctor, the oldest of all the doctors and, it is thought--Iknow not--the wisest, should be able to answer. You ask ofme--How shall this war prosper, if it is made--and what shallchance to the King during and after the war, and lastly you askof me a sign. What I tell to you is true, is it not so?"

"It is true, " answered the Council. 

"Asking is easy, " continued Zikali in a grumbling voice, "butanswering is another matter. How can I answer withoutpreparation, without the needful medicines also that I have notwith me, who did not know what would be sought of me, who thoughtthat my opinion was desired and no more? Go away now and returnon the sixth night and I will tell you what I can do. "

"Not so, " cried the king. "We refuse to go, for the matter isimmediate. Speak at once, Opener of Roads, lest it should besaid in the land that after all you are but an ancient cheat, astick that snaps in two when it is leant on. "

"Ancient cheat! I remember that is what Macumazahn yonder oncetold me I am, though afterwards--Perhaps he was right, for who inhis heart knows whether or not he be a cheat, a cheat whodeceives himself and through himself others. A stick that snapsin two when it is leant on! Some have thought me so and somehave thought otherwise. Well, you would have answers which Iknow not how to give, being without medicine and in face of thosewho are quite ignorant and therefore cannot lend me theirthoughts, as it sometimes happens that men do when workers ofevil are sought out in the common fashion. For then, as you mayhave guessed, it is the evil-doer who himself tells the doctor ofhis crime, though he may not know that he is telling it. Yetthere is another stone that I alone can throw, another plan thatI alone can practise, and that not always. But of this I wouldnot make use since it is terrible and might frighten you or evensend you back to your huts raving so that your wives, yes, andthe very dogs fled, from you. "

He stopped and for the first time did something to his fire, forI saw his hands going backwards and forwards, as though he warmedthem at the flames. 

At length an awed voice, I think it was that of Dabulamanzi, asked--

"What is this plan, Inyanga? Let us hear that we may judge. "

"The plan of calling one from the dead and hearkening to thevoice of the dead. Is it your desire that I should draw waterfrom this fount of wisdom, O King and Councillors?"

CHAPTER XVI

WAR

Now men began to whisper together and Goza groaned at my side. 

"Rather would I look down a live lion's throat than see thedead, " he murmured. But I, who was anxious to learn how farZikali would carry his tricks, contemptuously told him to besilent. 

Presently the king called me to him and said--

"Macumazahn, you white men are reported to know all things. Tellme now, is it possible for the dead to appear?"

"I am not sure, " I answered doubtfully; "some say that it is andsome say that it is not possible. "

"Well, " said the king. "Have you ever seen one you knew in lifeafter death?"

"No, " I replied, "that is--yes. That is--I do not know. Whenyou will tell me, King, where waking ends and sleep begins, thenI will answer. "

"Macumazahn, " he exclaimed, "just now I announced that you wereno liar, who perceive that after all you are a liar, for how canyou both have seen, and not seen, the dead? Indeed I rememberthat you lied long ago, when you gave it out that the witchMameena was not your lover, and afterwards showed that she was bykissing her before all men, for who kisses a woman who is not hislover, or his mother? Return, since you will not tell me thetruth. "

So I went back to my stool, feeling very small and yet indignant, for how was it possible to be definite about ghosts, or toexplain the exact facts of the Mameena myth which clung to melike a Wait-a-bit thorn. 

Then after a little consultation Cetewayo said--

"It is our desire, O Opener of Roads, that you should draw wisdomfrom the fount of Death, if indeed you can do so. Now let anywho are afraid depart and wait for us who are not afraid, aloneand in silence at the mouth of the kloof. "

At this some of the audience rose, but after hesitating a little, sat down again. Only Goza actually took a step forward, but onmy remarking that he would probably meet the dead coming up thatway, collapsed, muttering something about my pistol, for the foolseemed to think I could shoot a spirit. 

"If indeed I can do so, " repeated Zikali in a careless fashion. "That is to be proved, is it not? Perhaps, too, it may be betterfor every one of you if I fail than if I succeed. Of one thing Iwarn you, should the dead appear stir not, and above all touchnot, for he who does either of these things will, I think, neverlive to look upon the sun again. But first let me try an easierfashion. "

Then once again he took up the skull that he said had been hisdaughter's, and whispered to it, only to lay it down presently. 

"It will not serve, " he said with a sigh and shaking his locks. "Noma tells me that she died a child, one who had no knowledge ofwar or matters of policy, and that in all these things of theworld she still remains a child. She says that I must seek someone who thought much of them; one, too who still lives in theheart of a man who is present here, if that be possible, sincefrom such a heart alone can the strength be drawn to enable thedead to appear and speak. Now let there be silence--Let there besilence, and woe to him that breaks it. "

Silence there was indeed, and in it Zikali crouched himself downtill his head almost rested on his knee, and seemed to go tosleep. He awoke again and chanted for half a minute or so insome language I could not understand. Then voices began toanswer him, as it seemed to me from all over the kloof, also fromthe sky or rock above. Whether the effect was produced byventriloquism or whether he had confederates posted at variouspoints, I do not know. 

At any rate this lord of "multitudes of spirits" seemed to beengaged in conversation with some of them. What is more, thething was extremely well done, since each voice differed from theother; also I seemed to recognize some of them, Dingaan's forinstance, and Panda's, yes, and that of Umbelazi the Handsome, the brother of the king whose death I witnessed down by theTugela. 

You will ask me what they said. I do not know. Either the wordswere confused or the events that followed have blotted them frommy brain. All I remember is that each of them seemed to bespeaking of the Zulus and their fate and to be very anxious torefer further discussion of the matter to some one else. Inshort they seemed to talk under protest, or that was myimpression, although Goza, the only person with whom I had anysubsequent debate upon the subject, appeared to have gathered onethat was different, though what it was I do not recall. The onlywords that remained clear to me must, I thought, have come fromthe spirit of Chaka, or rather from Zikali or one of hismyrmidons assuming that character. They were uttered in a deepfull voice, spiced with mockery, and received by the wizard with"Sibonga, " or titles of praise, which I who am versed in Zuluhistory and idiom knew had only been given to the great king, andindeed since his death had become unlawful, not to be used. Thewords were--

"What, Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born, do you thinkyourself a Thing-that-should-never-die, that you still sitbeneath the moon and weave witchcrafts as of old? Often have Ihunted for you in the Under-world who have an account to settlewith you, as you have an account to settle with me. So, so, whatdoes it matter since we must meet at last, even if you hideyourself at the back of the furthest star? Why do you bring meup to this place where I see some whom I would forget? Yes, theybuild bone on bone and taking the red earth, mould it into fleshand stand before me as last I saw them newly dead. Oh! yourmagic is good, Spell-weaver, and your hate is deep and yourvengeance is keen. No, I have nothing to tell you to-day, whorule a greater people than the Zulus in another land. Who arethese little men who sit before you? One of them has a look ofDingaan, my brother who slew me, yes, and wears his armlet. Ishe the king? Answer not, for I do not care to know. Surelyyonder withered thing is Sigananda. I know his eye and the Iziquon his breast. Yes, I gave it to him after the great battle withZweede in which he killed five men. Does he remember it, Iwonder? Greeting, Sigananda; old as you are you have stilltwenty and one years to live, and then we will talk of the battlewith Zweede. Let me begone, this place burns my spirit, and init there is a stench of mortal blood. Farewell, O Conqueror!"

These were the words that I thought I heard Chaka say, though Idaresay that I dreamt them. Indeed had it been otherwise, I meanhad they really been spoken by Zikali, there would surely havebeen more in them, something that might have served his purpose, not mere talk which had all the inconsequence of a dream. Alsono one else seemed to pay any particular attention to them, though this may have been because so many voices were soundingfrom different places at once, for as I have said, Zikaliarranged his performance very well, as well as any medium couldhave done on a prepared stage in London. 

In a moment, as though at a signal, the voices died away. Thenother things happened. To begin with I felt very faint, asthough all the strength were being taken out of me. Some queerfancy got a hold of me. I don't quite know what it was, but ithad to do with the Bible story of Adam when he fell asleep and arib was removed from him and made into a woman. I reflected thatI felt as Adam must have done when he came out of his tranceafter this terrific operation, very weak and empty. Also, as itchanced, presently I saw Eve--or rather a woman. Looking at thefire in a kind of disembodied way, I perceived that dense smokewas rising from it, which smoke spread itself out like a fan. Itthinned by degrees, and through the veil of smoke I perceivedsomething else, namely, a woman very like one whom once I hadknown. There she stood, lightly clad enough, her fingers playingwith the blue beads of her necklace, an inscrutable smile uponher face and her large eyes fixed on nothingness. 

Oh! Heaven, I knew her, or rather thought I did at the moment, for now I am almost sure that it was Nombe dressed, or undressed, for the part. That knowledge came with reflection, but then Icould have sworn, being deceived by the uncertain light, that thelong dead Mameena stood before us as she had seemed to standbefore me in the hut of Zikali, radiating a kind of supernaturallife and beauty. 

A little wind arose, shaking the dry leaves of the aloes in thekloof; I thought it whispered--_Hail, Mameena!_ Some of theolder men, too, among them a few who had seen her die, intrembling voices murmured, "It is Mameena!" whereon Zikaliscowled at them and they grew silent. 

As for the figure it stood there patient and unmoved, like onewho has all time at its disposal, playing with the blue beads. Iheard them tinkle against each other, which proves that it washuman, for how could a wraith cause beads to tinkle, although itis true that Christmas-story ghosts are said to clank theirchains. Her eyes roved idly and without interest over thesemi-circle of terrified men before her. Then by degrees theyfixed themselves upon the tree behind which I was crouching, whereon Goza sank paralyzed to the ground. She contemplated thistree for a while that seemed to me interminable; it reminded meof a setter pointing game it winded but could not see, for herwhole frame grew intent and alert. She ceased playing with thebeads and stretched out her slender hand towards me. Her lipsmoved. She spoke in a sweet, slow voice, saying--

"O Watcher-by-Night, is it thus you greet her to whom you havegiven strength to stand once more beneath the moon? Come hitherand tell me, have you no kiss for one from whom you parted with akiss?"

I heard. Without doubt the voice was the very voice of Mameena(so well had Nombe been instructed). Still I determined not toobey it, who would not be made a public laughing-stock for asecond time in my life. Also I confess this jesting with thedead seemed to me somewhat unholy, and not on any account would Itake a part in it. 

All the company turned and stared at me, even Goza lifted hishead and stared, but I sat still and contemplated the beauties ofthe night. 

"If it is the spirit of Mameena, he will come, " whisperedCetewayo to Umnyamana. 

"Yes, yes, " answered the Prime Minister, "for the rope of hislove will draw him. He who has once kissed Mameena, _must_ kissher again when she asks. "

Hearing this I grew furiously indignant and was about to breakinto explanations, when to my horror I found myself rising fromthat stool. I tried to cling to it, but, as it only came intothe air with me, let it go. 

"Hold me, Goza, " I muttered, and he like a good fellow clutchedme by the ankle, whereon I promptly kicked him in the mouth, atleast my foot kicked him, not my will. Now I was walking towardsthat Shape--shadow or woman--like a man in his sleep, and as Icame she stretched out her arms and smiled oh! as sweetly as anangel, though I felt quite sure that she was nothing of the sort. 

Now I stood opposite to her alongside the fire of which the smokesmelt like roses at the dawn, and she seemed to bend towards me. With shame and humiliation I perceived that in another momentthose arms would be about me. But somehow they never touched me;I lost sight of them in the rose-scented smoke, only the sweet, slow voice which I could have sworn was that of Mameena, murmuredin my ear--well, words known to her and me alone that I had neverbreathed to any living being, though of course I am aware nowthat they must also have been known to somebody else. 

"Do you doubt me any longer?" went on the murmuring. "Say, am INombe now? Or--or am I in truth that Mameena, whose kiss thrillsyour lips and soul? Hearken, Macumazahn, for the time is short. In the rout of the great battle that shall be, do not fly withthe white men, but set your face towards Ulundi. One who wasyour friend will guard you, and whoever dies, no harm shall cometo you now that the fire which burns in my heart has set allZululand aflame. Hearken once more. Hans, the little yellow manwho was named Light-in-Darkness, he who died among the Kendahpeople, sends you salutations and gives you praise. He bids metell you that now of his own accord he renders to me, Mameena, the royal salute, because royal I must ever be; because also heand I who are so far apart are yet one in the love that is ourlife. "

The smoke blew into my face, causing me to reel back. Cetewayocaught me by the arm, saying--

"Tell us, are the lips of the dead witch warm or cold?"

"I do not know, " I groaned, "for I never touched her. "

"How he lies! Oh! how he lies even about what our eyes saw, "said Cetewayo reflectively as I blundered past him back to myseat, on which I sank half swooning. When I got my wits againthe figure that pretended to be Mameena was speaking, I supposein answer to some question of Zikali's which I had not heard. Itsaid--

"O Lord of the Spirits, you have called me from the land ofSpirits to make reply as to two matters which have not yethappened upon the earth. These replies I will give but noothers, since the mortal strength that I have borrowed returnswhence it came. The first matter is, if there be war between theWhite and Black, what will happen in that war? I see a plainringed round with hills and on it a strange-shaped mount. I seea great battle; I see the white men go down like corn before atempest; I see the spears of the impis redden; I see the whitesoldiers lie like leaves cut from a tree by frost. They aredead, all dead, save a handful that have fled away. I hear theingoma of victory sung here at Ulundi. It is finished. 

"The second matter is--what shall chance to the king? I see himtossed on the Black Water; I see him in a land full of houses, talking with a royal woman and her councillors. There, too, heconquers, for they offer him tribute of many gifts. I see himhere, back here in Zululand, and hear him greeted with the royalsalute. Last of all I see him dead, as men must die, and hearthe voice of Zikali and the mourning of the women of his house. It is finished. Farewell, King Cetewayo, I pass to tell Panda, your father, how it fares with you. When last we parted did Inot prophesy to you that we should meet again at the bottom of agulf? Was it this gulf, think you, or another? One day youshall learn. Farewell, or fare ill, as it may happen!"

Once more the smoke spread out like a fan. When it thinned anddrew together again, the Shape was gone. 

Now I thought that the Zulus would be so impressed by this veryqueer exhibition, that they would seek no more supernaturalguidance, but make up their minds for war at once. This, however, was just what they did not do. As it happened, amongthe assembled chiefs, was one who himself had a great repute as awitch-doctor, and therefore burned with jealousy of Zikali whoappeared to be able to do things that he had never evenattempted. This man leapt up and declared that all which theyhad seemed to hear and see was but cunning trickery, carried outafter long preparation by Zikali and his confederates. Thevoices, he said, came from persons placed in certain spots, orsometimes were produced by Zikali himself. As for the vision, itwas not that of a spirit but of a real woman, in proof of whichhe called attention to certain anatomical details of the figure. Finally, with much sense, he pointed out that the Council wouldbe mad to come to any decision upon such evidence, or to givefaith to prophecies, whereof the truth or falsity could only beknown in the future. 

Now a fierce debate broke out, the war party maintaining that themanifestations were genuine, the peace party that they were afraud. In the end, as neither side would give way and as Zikali, when appealed to, sat silent as a stone, refusing anyexplanation, the king said--

"Must we sit here talking, talking, till daylight? There is butone man who can know the truth, that is Macumazahn. Let him denyit as he will, he was the lover of this Mameena while she wasalive, for with my own eyes I saw him kiss her before she killedherself. It is certain, therefore, that he knows if the woman weseemed to see was Mameena or another, since there are thingswhich a man never forgets. I propose, therefore, that we shouldquestion him and form our own judgment of his answer. "

This advice, which seemed to promise a road out of a blind ally, met with instant acceptance. 

"Let it be so, " they cried with one voice, and in another minuteI was once more conducted from behind my tree and set down uponthe stool in front of the Council, with my back to the fire andZikali, "that his eyes might not charm me. "

"Now, Watcher-by-Night, " said Cetewayo, "although you have liedto us in a certain matter, of this we do not think much, since itis one upon which both men and women always lie, as every judgewill know. Therefore we still believe you to be an honest man, as your dealings have proved for many years. As an honest man, therefore, we beg you to give us a true answer to a plainquestion. Was the Shape we saw before us just now a woman or aspirit, and if a spirit, was it the ghost of Mameena, thebeautiful witch who died near this place nearly the quarter of ahundred years ago, she whom you loved, or who loved you, which isjust the same thing, since a man always loves a woman who loveshim, or thinks that he does?"

Now after reflection I replied in these words and asconscientiously as I could--

"King and Councillors, I do not know if what we all saw was aghost or a living person, but, as I do not believe in ghosts, orat any rate that they come back to the world on such errands, Iconclude that it was a living person. Still it may have beenneither, but only a mere picture produced before us by the artsof Zikali. So much for the first question. Your second is--wasthis spirit or woman or shadow, that of her whom I remembermeeting in Zululand many years ago? King and Councillors, I canonly say that it was very like her. Still one handsome youngwoman often greatly resembles another of the same age andcolouring. Further, the moon gives an uncertain light, especially when it is tempered by smoke from a fire. Lastly, memory plays strange tricks with all of us, as you will know ifyou try to think of the face of any one who has been dead formore than twenty years. For the rest, the voice seemed similar, the beads and ornaments seemed similar, and the figure repeatedto me certain words which I thought I alone had heard come fromthe lips of her who is dead. Also she gave me a strange messagefrom another who is dead, referring to a matter which I believedwas known only to me and that other. Yet Zikali is very cleverand may have learned these things in some way unguessed by me, and what he has learned, others may have learned also. King andCouncillors, I do not think that what we saw was the spirit ofMameena. I think it a woman not unlike to her who had beentaught her lesson. I have nothing more to say, and therefore Ipray you not to ask me any further questions about Mameena ofwhose name I grow weary. "

At this point Zikali seemed to wake out of his indifference, orhis torpor, for he looked up and said darkly--

"It is strange that the cleverest are always those who first fallinto the trap. They go along, gazing at the stars at night, andforget the pit which they themselves have dug in the morning. O-ho-ho! Oho-ho!"

Now the wrangling broke out afresh. The peace party pointedtriumphantly to the fact that I, the white man who ought to know, put no faith in this apparition, which was therefore withoutdoubt a fraud. The war party on the other hand declared that Iwas deceiving them for reasons of my own, one of which would bethat I did not wish to see the Zulus eat up my people. So fiercegrew the debate that I thought it would end in blows and perhapsin an attack on myself or Zikali who all the while sat quitecareless and unmoved, staring at the moon. At length Cetewayoshouted for silence, spitting, as was his habit when angry. 

"Make an end, " he cried, "lest I cause some of you to grow quietfor ever, " whereon the recriminations ceased. "Opener of Roads, "he went on, "many of those who are present think like Macumazahnhere, that you are but an old cheat, though whether or no I beone of these I will not say. They demand a sign of you that nonecan dispute, and I demand it also before I speak the word ofpeace or war. Give us then that sign or begone to whence youcame and show your face no more at Ulundi. "

"What sign does the Council require, Son of Panda?" asked Zikaliquietly. "Let them agree on one together and tell me now atonce, for I who am old grow weary and would sleep. Then if itcan be given I will give it; and if I cannot give it, I will getme back to my own house and show my face no more at Ulundi, whodo not desire to listen again to fools who babble like contendingwaters round a stone and yet never stir the stone because theyrun two ways at once. "

Now the Councillors stared at each other, for none knew what signto ask. At length old Sigananda said--

"O King, it is well known that the Black One who went before youhad a certain little assegai handled with the royal red wood, which drank the blood of many. It was with this assegai thatMopo his servant, who vanished from the land after the death ofDingaan, let out the life of the Black One at the kraal Duguza, but what became of it afterwards none have heard for certain. Some say that it was buried with the Black One, some that Mopostole it. Others that Dingaan and Umhlagana burned it. Still asaying rose like a wind in the land that when that spear shallfall from heaven at the feet of the king who reigns in the placeof the Black One, then the Zulus shall make their last great warand win a victory of which all the world shall hear. Now let theOpener of Roads give us this sign of the falling of the BlackOne's spear and I shall be content. "

"Would you know the spear if it fell?" asked Cetewayo. 

"I should know it, O King, who have often held it in my hand. The end of the haft is gnawed, for when he was angry the BlackOne used to bite it. Also a thumb's length from the blade is ablack mark made with hot iron. Once the Black One made a betwith one of his captains that at a distance of ten paces he wouldthrow the spear deeper into the body of a chief whom he wished tokill, than the captain could. The captain threw first, for I sawhim with my eyes, and the spear sank to that place on the shaftwhere the mark is, for the Black One burned it there. Then theBlack One threw and the spear went through the body of the chiefwho, as he died, called to him that he too should know the feelof it in his heart, as indeed he did. "

I think that Cetewayo was about to assent to this suggestion, since he who desired peace believed it impossible that Zikalishould suddenly cause this identical spear to fall from heaven. But Umnyamana, the Prime Induna, interposed hurriedly--

"It is not enough, O King. Zikali may have stolen the spear, forhe was living and at the kraal Duguza at that time. Also he mayhave put about the prophecy whereof Sigananda speaks, or at leastso men would say. Let him give us a greater sign than this thatall may be content, so that whether we make war or peace it maybe with a single mind. Now it is known that we Zulus have aguardian spirit who watches over us from the skies, she who iscalled Nomkubulwana, or by some the Inkosazana-y-Zulu, thePrincess of Heaven. It is known also that this Princess, who iswhite of skin and ruddy-haired, appears always before greatthings happen in our land. Thus she appeared before the BlackOne died. Also she appeared to a number of children before thebattle of the Tugela. It is said, too, that but lately sheappeared to a woman near the coast and warned her to cross theTugela because there would be war, though this woman cannot nowbe found. Let the Opener of Roads call down Nomkubulwana beforeour eyes from heaven and we will admit, every man of us, thatthis is a sign which cannot be questioned. "

"And if he does this thing, which I hold no doctor in the worldcan do, what shall it signify?" asked Cetewayo. 

"O King, " answered Umnyamana, "if he does so, it shall signifywar and victory. If he does not do so, it shall signify peace, and we will bow our heads before the Amalungwana basi bodwe"(i. E. , "the little English, " used as a term of derision). 

"Do all agree?" asked Cetewayo. 

"We agree, " answered every man, stretching out his hand. 

"Then, Opener of Roads, it stands thus: If you can callNomkubulwana, should there be such a spirit, to appear before oureyes, the Council will take it as a sign that the Heavens directus to fight the English. "

So spoke Cetewayo, and I noted a tone of triumph in his voice, for his heart shrank from this war, and he was certain thatZikali could do nothing of the sort. Still the opinion of thenation, or rather of the army, was so strong in favour of it thathe feared lest his refusal might bring about his deposition, ifnot his death. From this dilemma the supernatural test suggestedby the Prime Minister and approved by the Council thatrepresented the various tribes of people, seemed to offer a pathof escape. So I read the situation, as I think rightly. 

Upon hearing these words for the first time that night Zikaliseemed to grow disturbed. 

"What do my ears hear?" he exclaimed excitedly. "Am I theUmkulukulu, the Great-Great (i. E. , God) himself, that it shouldbe asked of me to draw the Princess of Heaven from beyond thestars, she who comes and goes like the wind, but like the windcannot be commanded? Do they hear that if she will not come tomy beckoning, then the great Zulu people must put a yoke upontheir shoulders and be as slaves? Surely the King must have beenlistening to the doctrines of those English teachers who wear awhite ribbon tied about their necks, and tell us of a god whosuffered himself to be nailed to a cross of wood, rather thanmake war upon his foes, one whom they call the Prince of Peace. Times have changed indeed since the days of the Black One. Yes, generals have become like women; the captains of the impis areset to milk the cows. Well, what have I to do with all this?What does it matter to me who am so very old that only my headremains above the level of the earth, the rest of me being buriedin the grave, who am not even a Zulu to boot, but a Dwandwe, oneof the despised Dwandwe whom the Zulus mocked and conquered?

"Hearken to me, Spirits of the House of Senzangacona"--here headdressed about a dozen of Cetewayo's ancestors by name, goingback for many generations. "Hearken to me, O Princess of Heaven, appointed by the Great-Great to be the guardian of the Zulu race. It is asked that you should appear, should it be your wish tosignify to these your children that they must stand upon theirfeet and resist the white men who already gather upon theirborders. And should it be your wish that they should lay downtheir spears and go home to sleep with their wives and hoe thegardens while the white men count the cattle and set each to hiswork upon the roads, then that you should not appear. Do whatyou will, O Spirits of the House of Senzangacona, do what youwill, O Princess of Heaven. What does it matter to theThing-that-never-should-have-been-born, who soon will be asthough he never had been born, whether the House of Senzangaconaand the Zulu people stand or fall?

"I, the old doctor, was summoned here to give counsel. I gavecounsel, but it passed over the heads of these wise ones like ashadow of which none took note. I was asked to prophesy of whatwould chance if war came. I called the dead from their graves;they came in voices, and one of them put on the flesh again andspoke from the lips of flesh. The white man to whom she spokedenied her who had been his love, and the wise ones said that shewas a cheat, yes, a doll that I had dressed up to deceive them. This spirit that had put on flesh, told of what would chance inthe war, if war there were, and what would chance to the King, but they mock at the prophecy and now they demand a sign. Comethen, Nomkubulwana, and give them the sign if you will and letthere be war. Or stay away and give them no sign if you will, and let there be peace. It is nought to me, nought to theThing-that-should-never-have-been-born. "

Thus he rambled on, as it occurred to me who watched andlistened, talking against time. For I observed that while hespoke a cloud was passing over the face of the moon, and thatwhen he ceased speaking it was quite obscured by this cloud, sothat the Vale of Bones was plunged in a deep twilight that wasalmost darkness. Further, in a nervous kind of way, he didsomething more to his wizard's fire which again caused it tothrow out a fan of smoke that hid him and the execution rock infront of which he sat. 

The cloud floated by and the moon came out as though from aneclipse; the smoke of the fire, too, thinned by degrees. As itmelted and the light grew again, I became aware that somethingwas materializing, or had appeared on the point of the rock aboveus. A few seconds later, to my wonder and amazement, I perceivedthat this something was the spirit-like form of a white womanwhich stood quite still upon the very point of the rock. She wasclad in some garment of gleaming white cut low upon her breast, that may have been of linen, but from the way it shone, suggestedthat it was of glittering feathers, egrets' for instance. Herruddy hair was outspread, and in it, too, something glittered, like mica or jewels. Her feet and milk-hued arms were bare andpoised in her right hand was a little spear. 

Nor did I see alone, since a moan of fear and worship went upfrom the Councillors. Then they grew silent stared and stared. 

Suddenly Zikali lifted his head and looked at them through thethin flame of the fire which made his eyes shine like those of atiger or of a cornered baboon. 

"At what do you gaze so hard, King and Councillors?" he asked. "I see nothing. At what then do you gaze so hard?"

"On the rock above you stands a white spirit in her glory. It isthe Inkosazana herself, " muttered Cetewayo. 

"Has she come then?" mocked the old wizard. "Nay, surely it isbut a dream, or another of my tricks; some black woman paintedwhite that I have smuggled here in my medicine bag, or rolled upin the blanket on my back. How can I prove to you that this isnot another cheat like to that of the spirit of Mameena whom thewhite man, her lover, did not know again? Go near to her youmust not, even if you could, seeing that if by chance she should_not_ be a cheat, you would die, every man of you, for woe to himwhom Nomkubulwana touches. How then, how? Ah! I have it. Doubtless in his pocket Macumazahn yonder hides a little gun, Macumazahn who with such a gun can cut a reed in two at thirtypaces, or shave the hair from the chin of a man, as is well knownin the land. Let him then take his little gun and shoot at thatwhich you say stands upon the rock. If it be a black womanpainted white, doubtless she will fall down dead, as so many havefallen from that rock. But if it be the Princess of Heaven, thenthe bullet will pass through her or turn aside and she will takeno harm, though whether Macumazahn will take any harm is morethan I can say. "

Now when they heard this many remained silent, but some of thepeace party began to clamour that I should be ordered to shoot atthe apparition. At length Cetewayo seemed to give way to thispressure. I say seemed, because I think he wished to give way. Whether or not a spirit stood before him, he knew no more thanthe rest, but he did know that unless the vision were proved tobe mortal he would be driven into war with the English. Therefore he took the only chance that remained to him. 

"Macumazahn, " he said, "I know you have your pistol on you, foronly the other day you brought it into my presence, and throughlight and darkness you nurse it as a mother does her firstborn. Now since the Opener of Roads desires it, I command you to fireat that which seems to stand above us. If it be a mortal woman, she is a cheat and deserves to die. If it be a spirit fromheaven it can take no harm. Nor can you take harm who only dothat which you must. "

"Woman or spirit, I will not shoot, King, " I answered. 

"Is it so? What! do you defy me, White Man? Do so if you will, but learn that then your bones shall whiten here in this Vale ofBones. Yes, you shall be the first of the English to go below, "and turning, he whispered something to two of the Councillors. 

Now I saw that I must either obey or die. For a moment my mindgrew confused in face of this awful alternative. I did notbelieve that I saw a spirit. I believed that what stood above mewas Nombe cunningly tricked out with some native pigments whichat that distance and in that light made her look like a whitewoman. For oddly enough at that time the truth did not occur tome, perhaps because I was too surprised. Well, if it were Nombe, she deserved to be shot for playing such a trick, and what ismore her death, by revealing the fraud of Zikali, would perhapsavert a great war. But then why did he make the suggestion thatI should be commanded to fire at this figure? Slowly I drew outmy pistol and brought it to the full cock, for it was loaded. 

"I will obey, King, " I said, "to save myself from being murdered. But on your head be all that may follow from this deed. "

Then it was for the first time that a new idea struck me soclearly that I believe it was conveyed direct from Zikali's brainto my own. _I might shoot, but there was no need for me to hit. _After that everything grew plain. 

"King, " I said, "if yonder be a mortal, she is about to die. Only aspirit can escape my aim. Watch now the centre of her forehead, for there the bullet will strike!"

I lifted the pistol and appeared to cover the figure with muchcare. As I did so, even from that distance I thought I saw alook of terror in its eyes. Then I fired, with a little jerk ofthe wrist sending the ball a good yard above her head. 

"She is unharmed, " cried a voice. "Macumazahn missed her. "

"Macumazahn does not miss, " I replied loftily. "If that at whichhe aimed is unharmed, it is because it cannot be hit. "

"O-ho-o!" laughed Zikali, "the White Man who does not know thetaste of his own love's lips, says that he has fired at thatwhich cannot be hit. Let him try again. No, let him chooseanother target. The Spirit is the Spirit, but he who summonedher may still be a cheat. There is another bullet in your littlegun, White Man; see if it can pierce the heart of Zikali, thatthe King and Council may learn whether he be a true prophet, thegreatest of all the prophets that ever was, or whether he be buta common cheat. "

Now a sudden rage filled me against this old rascal. Iremembered how he had brought Mameena to her death, when hethought that it would serve him, and since then filled the landwith stories concerning her and me, which met me whatever way Iturned. I remembered that for years he had plotted to bringabout the destruction of the Zulus, and to further his dark ends, was now engaged in causing a fearful war which would cost thelives of thousands. I remembered that he had trapped me intoZululand and then handed me over to Cetewayo, separating me frommy friends who were in my charge, and for aught I knew, givingthem to death. Surely the world would be well rid of him. 

"Have your will, " I shouted and covered him with the pistol. 

Then there came into my mind a certain saying--"Judge not that yebe not judged. " Who and what was I that I should dare to arraignand pass sentence upon this man who after all had suffered manywrongs? As I was about to fire I caught sight of some brightobject flashing towards the king from above, and instantaneouslyshifted my aim and pressed the trigger. The thing, whatever itmight be, flew in two. One part of it fell upon Zikali, theother part travelled on and struck Cetewayo upon the knee. 

There followed a great confusion and a cry of "The king isstabbed!" I ran forward to look and saw the blade of a littleassegai lying on the ground and on Cetewayo's knee a slight cutfrom which blood trickled. 

"It is nothing, " I said, "a scratch, no more, though had not thespear been stopped in its course it might have been otherwise. "

"Yes, " cried Zikali, "but what was it that caused the cut? Takethis, Sigananda, and tell me what it may be, " and he threwtowards him a piece of red wood. 

Sigananda looked at it. "It is the haft of the Black One'sspear, " he exclaimed, "which the bullet of Macumazahn has severedfrom the blade. "

"Aye, " said Zikali, "and the blade has drawn the blood of theBlack One's child. Read me this omen, Sigananda; or ask it ofher who stands above you. "

Now all looked to the rock, but it was empty. The figure hadvanished. 

"Your word, King, " said Zikali. "Is it for peace or war?"

Cetewayo looked at the assegai, looked at the blood tricklingfrom his knee, looked at the faces of the councillors. 

"Blood calls for blood, " he moaned. "My word is--_War!_"

CHAPTER XVII

KAATJE BRINGS NEWS

Zikali burst into one of his peals of laughter, so unholy thatit caused the blood in me to run cold. 

"The King's word is _war_, " he cried. "Let Nomkubulwana takethat word back to heaven. Let Macumazahn take it to the WhiteMen. Let the captains cry it to the regiments and let the worldgrow red. The King has chosen, though mayhap, had I been he, Ishould have chosen otherwise; yet what am I but a hollow reedstuck in the ground up which the spirits speak to men? It isfinished, and I, too, am finished for a while. Farewell, O King!Where shall we meet again, I wonder? On the earth or under it?Farewell, Macumazahn, I know where we shall meet, though you donot. O King, I return to my own place, I pray you to commandthat none come near me or trouble me with words, for I am spent. "

"It is commanded, " said Cetewayo. 

As he spoke the fire went out mysteriously, and the wizard roseand hobbled off at a surprising pace round the corner of theprojecting rock. 

"Stay!" I called, "I would speak with you;" but although I amsure he heard me, he did not stop or look round. 

I sprang up to follow him, but at some sign from Cetewayo twoindunas barred my way. 

"Did you not hear the King's command, White Man?" one of themasked coldly, and the tone of his question told me that warhaving been declared, I was now looked upon as a foe. I wasabout to answer sharply when Cetewayo himself addressed me. 

"Macumazahn, " he said, "you are now my enemy, like all yourpeople, and from sunrise to-morrow morning your safe-conduct hereends, for if you are found at Ulundi two hours after that time, it will be lawful for any man to kill you. Yet as you are stillmy guest, I will give you an escort to the borders of the land. Moreover, you shall take a message from me to the Queen'sofficers and captains. It is--that I will send an answer totheir demands upon the point of an assegai. Yet add this, thatnot I but the English, to whom I have always been a friend, sought this war. If Sompseu had suffered me to fight the Boersas I wished to do, it would never have come about. But he threwthe Queen's blanket over the Transvaal and stood upon it, and nowhe declares that lands which were always the property of theZulus, belong to the Boers. Therefore I take back all thepromises which I made to him when he came hither to call me Kingin the Queen's name, and no more do I call him my father. As forthe disbanding of my impis, let the English disband them if theycan. I have spoken. "

"And I have heard, " I answered, "and will deliver your wordsfaithfully, though I hold, King, that they come from the lips ofone whom the Heavens have made mad. "

At this bold speech some of the Councillors started up withthreatening gestures. Cetewayo waved them back and answeredquietly, "Perhaps it was the Queen of Heaven who stood on yonderrock who made me mad. Or perhaps she made me wise, as being theSpirit of our people she should surely do. That is a questionwhich the future will decide, and if ever we should meet after itis decided, we will talk it over. Now, hamba gachle! (go inpeace). "

"I hear the king and I will go, but first I would speak withZikali. "

"Then, White Man, you must wait till this war is finished or tillyou meet him in the Land of Spirits. Goza, lead Macumazahn backto his hut and set a guard about it. At the dawn a company ofsoldiers will be waiting with orders to take him to the border. You will go with him and answer for his safety with your life. Let him be well treated on the road as my messenger. "

Then Cetewayo rose and stood while all present gave him the royalsalute, after which he walked away down the kloof. I remainedfor a moment, making pretence to examine the blade of the littleassegai that had been thrown by the figure on the rock, which Ihad picked from the ground. This historical piece of iron whichI have no doubt is the same that Chaka always carried, wherewith, too, he is said to have killed his mother, Nandie, by the way Istill possess, for I slipped it into my pocket and none tried totake it from me. 

Really, however, I was wondering whether I could in any way gainaccess to Zikali, a problem that was settled for me by a sharprequest to move on, uttered in a tone which admitted of nofurther argument. 

Well, I trudged back to my hut in the company of Goza, who was soovercome by all the wonders he had seen that he could scarcelyspeak. Indeed, when I asked him what he thought of the figurethat had appeared upon the rock, he replied petulantly that itwas not given to him to know whence spirits came or of what stuffthey were made, which showed me that he at any rate believed inits supernatural origin and that it had appeared to direct theZulus to make war. This was all I wanted to find out, so I saidnothing more, but gave up my mind to thought of my own positionand difficulties. 

Here I was, ordered on pain of death to depart from Ulundi at thedawn. And yet how could I obey without seeing Zikali andlearning from him what had happened to Anscombe and Heda, or atany rate without communicating with him? Once more only did Ibreak silence, offering to give Goza a gun if he would take amessage from me to the great wizard. But with a shake of his bighead, he answered that to do so would mean death, and guns wereof no good to a dead man since, as I had shown myself that night, they had no power to shoot a spirit. 

This closed the business on which I need not have troubled toenter, since an answer to all my questionings was at hand. 

We reached the hut where Goza gave me over to the guard ofsoldiers, telling their officer that none were to be permitted toenter it save myself and that I was not to be to permitted tocome out of it until he, Goza, came to fetch me a little beforethe dawn. 

The officer asked if any one else was to be permitted to comeout, a question that surprised me, though vaguely, for I wasthinking of other things. Then Goza departed, remarking that hehoped I should sleep better than he would, who "felt spirits inhis bones and did not wish to kiss them as I seemed to like todo. " I replied facetiously, thinking of the bottle of brandy, that ere long I meant to feel them in my stomach, whereat heshook his head again with the air of one whom nothing connectedwith me could surprise, and vanished. 

I crawled into the hut and put the board over the bee-hole-likeentrance behind me. Then I began to hunt for the matches in mypocket and pricked my finger with the point of Chaka's historicalassegai. While I was sucking it to my amazement I heard thesound of some one breathing on the further side of the hut. Atfirst I thought of calling the guard, but on reflection found thematches and lit the candle, which stood by the blankets thatserved me as a bed. As soon as it burned up I looked towards thesound, and to my horror perceived the figure of a sleeping woman, which frightened me so much that I nearly dropped the candle. 

To tell the truth, so obsessed was I with Zikali and his ghoststhat for a few moments it occurred to me that this might be theShape with which I had talked an hour or two before. I mean thatwhich had seemed to resemble the long-dead lady Mameena, orrather the person made up to her likeness, come here to continueour conversation. At any rate I was sure, and rightly, that herewas more of the handiwork of Zikali who wished to put me in somedreadful position for reasons of his own. 

Pulling myself together I advanced upon the lady, only to findmyself no wiser, since she was totally covered by a kaross. Nowwhat was to be done? To escape, of which of course I had thoughtat once, was impossible since it meant an assegai in my ribs. Tocall to the guard for help seemed indiscreet, for who knew whatthose fools might say? To kick or shake her would undoubtedly berude and, if it chanced to be the person who had played Mameena, would certainly provoke remarks that I should not care to face. There seemed to be only one resource, to sit down and wait tillshe woke up. 

This I did for quite a long time, till at last the absurdity ofthe position and, I will admit, my own curiosity overcame me, especially as I was very tired and wanted to go to sleep. Soadvancing most gingerly, I turned down the kaross from over thehead of the sleeping woman, much wondering whom I should see, forwhat man is there that a veiled woman does not interest? Indeed, does not half the interest of woman lie in the fact that hernature is veiled from man, in short a mystery which he is alwaysseeking to solve at his peril, and I might add, never succeeds insolving?

Well, I turned down that kaross and next instant stepped backamazed and, to tell the truth, somewhat disappointed, for there, with her mouth open, lay no wondrous and spiritual Mameena, butthe stout, earthly and most prosaic--Kaatje!

"Confound the woman!" thought I to myself. "What is she doinghere?"

Then I remembered how wrong it was to give way to a sense ofromantic disappointment at such a time, though as a matter offact it is always in a moment of crisis or of strained nervesthat we are most open to the insidious advances of romance. Alsothat there was no one on earth, or beyond it, whom I ought moregreatly to have rejoiced to see. I had left Kaatje with Anscombeand Heda; therefore Kaatje could tell me what had become of them. And at this thought my heart sank--why was she here in this mostinappropriate meeting-place, alone? Feeling that these werequestions which must be answered at once, I prodded Kaatje in theribs with my toe until, after a good deal of prodding, she awoke, sat up and yawned, revealing an excellent set of teeth in hercavernous, quarter-cast mouth. Then perceiving a man she openedthat mouth even wider, as I thought with the idea of screamingfor help. But here I was first with her, for before a soundcould issue I had filled it full with the corner of the kaross, exclaiming in Dutch as I did so--

"Idiot of a woman, do you not know the Heer Quatermain when yousee him?"

"Oh! Baas, " she answered, "I thought you were some wicked Zulucome to do me a mischief. " Then she burst into tears and sobswhich I could not stop for at least three minutes. 

"Be quiet, you fat fool!" I cried exasperated, "and tell me, where are your mistress and the Heer Anscombe?"

"I don't know, Baas, but I hope in heaven" (Kaatje was some kindof a Christian), she replied between her sobs. 

"In heaven! What do you mean?" I asked, horrified. 

"I mean, Baas, that I hope they are in heaven, because when lastI saw them they were both dead, and dead people must be either inheaven or hell, and heaven, they say, is better than hell. "

"_Dead!_ Where did you see them dead?"

"In that Black Kloof, Baas, some days after you left us and wentaway. The old baboon man who is called Zikali gave us leavethrough the witch-girl, Nombe, to go also. So the Baas Anscombeset to work to inspan the horses, the Missie Heda helping him, while I packed the things. When I had nearly finished Nombecame, smiling like a cat that has caught two mice, and beckonedto me to follow her. I went and saw the cart inspanned with thefour horses all looking as though they were asleep, for theirheads hung down. Then after she had stared at me for a longwhile Nombe led me past the horses into the shadow of theoverhanging cliff. There I saw my mistress and the Baas Anscombelying side by side quite dead. "

"How do you know that they were dead?" I gasped. "What hadkilled them?"

"I know that they were dead because they _were_ dead, Baas. Their mouths and eyes were open and they lay upon their backswith their arms stretched out. The witch-girl, Nombe, said someKaffirs had come and strangled them and then gone away again, orso I understood who cannot speak Zulu so very well. Who theKaffirs were or why they came she did not say. "

"Then what did you do?" I asked. 

I ran back to the hut, Baas, fearing lest I should be strangledalso, and wept there till I grew hungry. When I came out of itagain they were gone. Nombe showed me a place under a tree wherethe earth was disturbed. She said that they were buried there byorder of her master, Zikali. I don't know what became of thehorses or the cart. "

"And what happened to you afterwards?"

"Baas, I was kept for several days, I cannot remember how many, and only allowed out within the fence round the huts. Nombe cameto see me once, bringing this, " and she produced a package sewnup in a skin. "She said that I was to give it to you with amessage that those whom you loved were quite safe with One who isgreater than any in the land, and therefore that you must notgrieve for them whose troubles were over. I think it was twonights after this that four Zulus came, two men and two women, and led me away, as I thought to kill me. But they did not killme; indeed they were very kind to me, although when I spoke tothem they pretended not to understand. They took me a longjourney, travelling for the most part in the dark and sleeping inthe day. This evening when the sun set they brought me through aKaffir town and thrust me into the hut where I am withoutspeaking to any one. Here, being very tired, I went to sleep, and that is all. "

And quite enough too, thought I to myself. Then I put herthrough a cross-examination, but Kaatje was a stupid womanalthough a good and faithful servant, and all her terribleexperiences had not sharpened her intelligence. Indeed, when Ipressed her she grew utterly confused, began to cry, therebytaking refuge in the last impregnable female fortification, andsnivelled out that she could not bear to talk of her dearmistress any more. So I gave it up, and two minutes later shewas literally snoring, being very tired, poor thing. 

Now I tried to think matters out as well as this disturbancewould allow, for nothing hinders thought so much as snores. Butwhat was the use of thinking? There was her story to take or toleave, and evidently the honest creature believed what she said. Further, how could she be deceived on such a point? She sworethat she had seen Anscombe and Heda dead and afterwards had seentheir graves. 

Moreover, there was confirmation in Nombe's message which couldnot well have been invented, that spoke of their being well inthe charge of a "Great One, " a term by which the Zulus designateGod, with all their troubles finished. The reason and manner oftheir end were left unrevealed. Zikali might have murdered themfor his own purposes, or the Zulus might have killed them inobedience to the king's order that no white people in the landwere to be allowed to live. Or perhaps the Basutos fromSekukuni's country, with whom the Zulus had some understanding, had followed and done them to death; indeed the stranglingsounded more Basuto than Zulu--if they were really strangled. 

Almost overcome though I was, I bethought me of the package andopened it, only to find another apparent proof of their end, forit contained Heda's jewels as I had found them in the bag in thesafe; also a spare gold watch belonging to Anscombe with hiscoat-of-arms engraved upon it. That which he wore was of silverand no doubt was buried with him, since for superstitious reasonsthe natives would not have touched anything on his person afterdeath. This seemed to me to settle the matter, presumptively atany rate, since to show that robbery was not the cause of theirmurder, their most valuable possessions which were not upon theirpersons had been sent to me, their friend. 

So this was the end of all my efforts to secure the safety andwell-being of that most unlucky pair. I wept when I thought ofit there in the darkness of the hut, for the candle had burnedout, and going on to my knees, put up an earnest prayer for thewelfare of their souls; also that I might be forgiven my folly inleading them into such danger. And yet I did it for the best, trying to judge wisely in the light of such experience of theworld as I possessed. 

Now alas! when I am old I have come to the conclusion that thosethings which one tries to do for the best one generally doeswrong, because nearly always there is some tricky fate at hand tomar them, which in this instance was named Zikali. The fact is, I suppose, that man who thinks himself a free agent, can scarcelybe thus called, at any rate so far as immediate results areconcerned. But that is a dangerous doctrine about which I willsay no more, for I daresay that he is engaged in weaving a greatlife-pattern of which he only sees the tiniest piece. 

One thing comforted me a little. If these two were dead I couldnow leave Zululand without qualms. Of course I was obliged toleave in any case, or die, but somehow that fact would not haveeased my conscience. Indeed I think that had I believed theystill lived, in this way or in that I should have tried not toleave, because I should have thought it for the best to stay tohelp them, whereby in all human probability I should have broughtabout my own death without helping them at all. Well, it hadfallen out otherwise and there was an end. Now I could only hopethat they had gone to some place where there are no moretroubles, even if, at the worst, it were a place of rest too deepfor dreams. 

Musing thus at last I dozed off, for I was so tired that I thinkI should have slept although execution awaited me at the dawninstead of another journey. I did not sleep well because of thatsnoring female on the other side of the hut whose presenceoutraged my sense of propriety and caused me to be invaded byprophetic dreams of the talk that would ensue among thosescandalmongering Zulus. Yes, it was of this I dreamed, not ofthe great dangers that threatened me or of the terrible loss ofmy friends, perhaps because to many men, of whom I suppose I amone, the fear of scandal or of being the object of public notice, is more than the fear of danger or the smart of sorrow. 

So the night wore away, till at length I woke to see the gleam ofdawn penetrating the smoke-hole and dimly illuminating therecumbent form of Kaatje, which to me looked most unattractive. Presently I heard a discreet tapping on the doorboard of the hutwhich I at once removed, wriggling swiftly through the hole, careless in my misery as to whether I met an assegai the otherside of it or not. Without a guard of eight soldiers wasstanding, and with them Goza, who asked me if I were ready tostart. 

"Quite, " I answered, "as soon as I have saddled my horse, " whichby the way had been led up to the hut. 

Very soon this was done, for I brought out most of my fewbelongings with me and the bag of jewels was in my pocket. Thenit was that the officer of the guard, a thin andmelancholy-looking person, said in a hollow voice, addressinghimself to Goza--

"The orders are that the White Man's wife is to go with him. Where is she?"

"Where a man's wife should be, in his hut I suppose, " answeredGoza sleepily. 

Rage filled me at the words. Seldom do I remember being soangry. 

"Yes, " I said, "if you mean that Half-cast whom someone hasthrust upon me, she is in there. So if she is to come with us, perhaps you will get her out. "

Thus adjured the melancholy-looking captain, who was namedIndudu, perhaps because he or his father had longed to the Duduregiment, crawled into the hut, whence presently emerged soundsnot unlike those which once I heard when a ringhals cobrafollowed a hare that I had wounded into a hole, a muffled soundof struggling and terror. These ended in the sudden and violentappearance of Kaatje's fat and dishevelled form, followed by thatof the snakelike Indudu. 

Seeing me standing there before a bevy of armed Zulus, shepromptly fell upon my neck with a cry for help, for the sillywoman thought she was going to be killed by them. Gripping me asan octopus grips its prey, she proceeded to faint, dragging me tomy knees beneath the weight of eleven stone of solid flesh. 

"Ah!" said one of the Zulus not unkindly, "she is much afraid forher husband whom she loves. "

Well, I disentangled myself somehow, and seizing what I took tobe a gourd of water in that dim light, poured it over her head, only to discover too late that it was not water but clotted milk. However the result was the same, for presently she sat up, made adreadful-looking object by this liberal application of curds andwhey, whereon I explained matters to her to the best of my power. The end of it was that after Indudu and Goza had wiped her downwith tufts of thatch dragged from the hut and I had collected hergear with the rest of my own, we set her on the horsestraddlewise, and started, the objects of much interest amongsuch Zulus as were already abroad. 

At the gate of the town there was a delay which made me nervous, since in such a case as mine delay might always mean adeath-warrant. I knew that it was quite possible Cetewayo hadchanged, or been persuaded to change his mind and issue a commandthat I should be killed as one who had seen and knew too much. Indeed this fear was my constant companion during all the longjourney to the Drift of the Tugela, causing me to look askance atevery man we met or who overtook us, lest he should prove to be amessenger of doom. 

Nor were these doubts groundless, for as I learned in the afterdays, the Prime Minister, Umnyamana, and others had urgedCetewayo strongly to kill me, and what we were waiting for at thegate were his final orders on the subject. However, in thismatter, as in more that I could mention, the king played the partof a man of honour, and although he seemed to hesitate forreasons of policy, never had any intention of allowing me to beharmed. On the contrary the command brought was that any one whoharmed Macumazahn, the king's guest and messenger, should diewith all his House. 

Whilst we tarried a number of women gathered round us whoseconversation I could not help overhearing. One of them said toanother--

"Look at the white man, Watcher-by-Night, who can knock a fly offan ox's horn with a bullet from further away than we could seeit. He it was who loved and was loved by the witch Mameena, whose beauty is still famous in the land. They say she killedherself for his sake, because she declared that she would neverlive to grow old and ugly, so that he turned away from her. Mymother told me all about it only last night. "

Then you have a liar for a mother, thought I to myself, for tocontradict such a one openly would have been undignified. 

"Is it so?" asked one of her friends, deeply interested. "Thenthe lady Mameena must have had a strange taste in men, for thisone is an ugly little fellow with hair like the grey ash ofstubble and a wrinkled face of the colour of a flayed skin thathas lain unstretched in the sun. However, I have been told thatwitches always love those who look unnatural. "

"Yes, " said Number one, "but you see now that he is old he has tobe satisfied with a different sort of wife. She is notbeautiful, is she, although she has dipped her head in milk tomake herself look white?"

So it went on till at length a runner arrived and whisperedsomething to Indudu who saluted, showing me that it was a royalmessage, and ordered us to move. Of this I was glad, for had Istopped there much longer, I think I should have personallyassaulted those gossiping female idiots. 

Of our journey through Zululand there is nothing particular tosay. We saw but few people, since most of the men had beencalled up to the army, and many of the kraals seemed to bedeserted by the women and children who perhaps were hidden awaywith the cattle. Once, however, we met an impi about fivethousand strong, that seemed to cover the hillside like a herd ofgame. It consisted of the Nodwengu and the Nokenke regiments, both of which afterwards fought at Isandhlwana. Some of theircaptains with a small guard came to see who we were, fine, fierce-looking men. They stared at me curiously, and with one ofthem, whom I knew, I had a little talk. He said that I was thelast white man in Zululand and that I was lucky to be alive, forsoon these, and he pointed to the hordes of warriors who werestreaming past, would eat up the English to "the last bone. " Ianswered that this remained to be seen, as the English were alsogreat eaters, whereat he laughed, replying, that it was true thatthe white men had already taken the first bite--a very littleone, from which I gathered that some small engagement hadhappened. 

"Well, farewell, Macumazahn, " he said, as he turned to go, "Ihope that we shall meet in the battle, for I want to see if youcan run as well as you can shoot. "

This roused my temper and I answered him--

"I hope for your sake that we shall not meet, for if we do Ipromise that before I run I will show you what you never sawbefore, the gateway of the world of Spirits. "

I mention this conversation because by some strange chance ithappened at Isandhlwana that I killed this man, who was namedSimpofu. 

During all those days of trudging through hot suns andthunderstorms, for I had to give up the mare to Kaatje who wastoo fat to walk, or said she was, I was literally haunted bythoughts of my murdered friends. Heaven knows how bitterly Ireproached myself for having brought them into Zululand. Itseemed so terribly sad that these young people who loved eachother and had so bright a future before them, should have escapedfrom a tragic past merely to be overwhelmed by such a fate. Again and again I questioned that lump Kaatje as to the detailsof their end and of all that went before and followed after themurder. 

But it was quite useless; indeed, as time went on she seemed tobecome more nebulous on the point as though a picture were fadingfrom her mind. But as to one thing she was always quite clear, that she had seen them dead and had seen their new-made grave. This she swore "by God in Heaven, " completing the oath with anoutburst of tears in a way that would have carried conviction toany jury, as it did to me. 

And after all, what was more likely in the circumstances? Zikalihad killed them, or caused them to be killed; or possibly theywere killed in spite of him in obedience to the express, orgeneral, order of the king, if the deed was not done by theBasutos. And yet an idea occurred to me. How about the woman onthe rock that the Zulus thought was their Princess of theHeavens? Obviously this must be nonsense, since no such deityexisted, therefore the person must either have been a white womanor one painted up to resemble a white woman; seen from a distancein moonlight it was impossible to say which. Now, if it were awhite woman, she might, from her shape and height and the colourof her hair, be Heda herself. Yet it seemed incredible thatHeda, whom Kaatje had seen dead some days before, could bemasquerading in such a part and make no sign of recognition tome, even when I covered her with my pistol, whereas that Nombewould play it was likely enough. 

Only then Nombe must be something of a quick-change artist sincebut a little while before she was beyond doubt personating thedead Mameena. If it were not so I must have been suffering fromillusions, for certainly I seemed to see some one who looked likeMameena, and only Zikali, and through him Nombe, had sufficientknowledge to enable her to fill that role with such success. Perhaps the whole business was an illusion, though if so Zikali'spowers must be great indeed. But then how about the assegai thatNomkubulwana, or rather her effigy, had seemed to hold and throw, whereof the blade was at present in my saddle-bag. That at anyrate was tangible and real, though of course there was nothing toprove that it had really been Chaka's famous weapon. 

Another thing that tormented me was my failure to see Zikali. Ifelt as though I had committed a crime in leaving Zululandwithout doing this and hearing from his own lips--well, whateverhe chose to tell me. I forget if I said that while we werewaiting at the gate where those silly women talked so muchnonsense about Mameena and Kaatje, that I made another effortthrough Goza to get into touch with the wizard, but quite withoutavail. Goza only answered what he said before, that if I wishedto die at once I had better take ten steps towards the Valley ofBones, whence, he added parenthetically, the Opener of Roads hadalready departed on his homeward journey. This might or mightnot be true; at any rate I could find no possible way of comingface to face with him, or even of getting a message to his ear. No, I was not to blame; I had done all I could, and yet in myheart I felt guilty. But then, as cynics would, say, failure isguilt. 

At length we came to the ford of the Tugela, and as fortunatelythe water was just low enough, bade farewell to our escort beforecrossing to the Natal side. My parting with Goza was quitetouching, for we felt that it partook of the nature of a deathbedadieu, which indeed it did. I told him and the others that Ihoped their ends be easy, and that whether they met them bybullets or by bayonet thrusts, the wounds would prove quicklymortal so that they might not linger in discomfort or pain. Recognizing my kind thought for their true welfare they thankedme for it, though with no enthusiasm. Indudu, however, filledwith the spirit of repartee, or rather of "tu quoque", said inhis melancholy fashion that if he and I came face to face in war, he would be sure to remember my words and to cut me up in thebest style, since he could not bear to think of me languishing ona bed of sickness without my wife Kaatje to nurse me (they knew Iwas touchy about Kaatje). Then we shook hands and parted. Kaatje, hung round with paraphernalia like the White Knight in"Alice through the Looking-glass, " clinging to a cooking-pot andweeping tears of terror, faced the foaming flood upon the mare, while I grasped its tail. 

When we were as I judged out of assegai shot, I turned, with thewater up to my armpits, and shouted some valedictory words. 

"Tell your king, " I said, "that he is the greatest fool in theworld to fight the English, since it will bring his country todestruction and himself to disgrace and death, as at last, in thewords of your proverb, 'the swimmer goes down with the stream. '"

Here, as it happened, I slipped off the stone on which I wasstanding and nearly went down with the stream myself. 

Emerging with my mouth full of muddy water I waited till they haddone laughing and continued--

"Tell that old rogue, Zikali, that I know he has murdered myfriends and that when we meet again he and all who were in theplot shall pay for it with their lives. "

Now an irritated Zulu flung an assegai, and as the range provedto be shorter than I thought, for it went through Kaatje's dress, causing her to scream with alarm, I ceased from eloquence, and westruggled on to the further bank, where at length we were safe. 

Thus ended this unlucky trip of mine to Zululand. 

CHAPTER XVIII

ISANDHLWANA

We had crossed the Tugela by what is known as the Middle Drift. A mile or so on the further side of it I was challenged by ayoung fellow in charge of some mounted natives, and found that Ihad stumbled into what was known as No. 2 Column, which consistedof a rocket battery, three battalions of the Native Contingentand some troops of mounted natives, all under the command ofColonel Durnford, R. E. 

After explanations I was taken to this officer's head-quartertent. He was a tall, nervous-looking man with a fair, handsomeface and long side-whiskers. One of his arms, I remember, wassupported by a sling, I think it had been injured in some Kaffirfighting. When I was introduced to him he was very busy, having, I understood from some one on his staff, just received orders to"operate against Matshana. "

Learning that I had come from Zululand and was acquainted withthe Zulus, he at once began to cross-examine me about Matshana, achief of whom he seemed to know very little indeed. I told himwhat I could, which was not much, and before I could give him anyinformation of real importance, was shown out and most hospitablyentertained at luncheon, a meal of which I partook with gratitudein some garments that I had borrowed from one of the officers, while my own were set in the sun to dry. Well can I recall howmuch I enjoyed the first whisky and soda that I had tasted sinceI left "the Temple, " and the good English food by which it wasaccompanied. 

Presently I remembered Kaatje, whom I had left outside with somenative women, and went to see what had happened to her. I foundher finishing a hearty meal and engaged in conversation with ayoung gentleman who was writing in a notebook. Afterwards Idiscovered that he was a newspaper correspondent. What she toldhim and what he imagined, I do not know, but I may as well statethe results at once. Within a few days there appeared in one ofthe Natal papers and, for aught I know, all over the earth, anannouncement that Mr. Allan Quatermain, a well-known hunter inZululand, after many adventures, had escaped from that country, "together with his favourite native wife, the only survivor ofhis extensive domestic establishment. " Then followed some wilddetails as to the murder of my other wives by a Zulu wizardcalled "Road Mender, or Sick Ass" (i. E. , Opener of Roads, orZikali), and so on. 

I was furious and interviewed the editor, a mild and apologeticlittle man, who assured me that the despatch was printed exactlyas it had been received, as though that bettered the case. Afterthis I commenced an action for libel, but as I was absent throughcircumstances over which I had no control when it came on fortrial, the case was dismissed. I suppose the truth was that theymixed me up with a certain well-known white man in Zululand, whohad a large "domestic establishment, " but however this may be, itwas a long while before I heard the last of that "favouritenative wife. "

Later in the day I and Kaatje, who stuck to me like a burr, departed from the camp. 

The rest of our journey was uneventful, except for moremisunderstandings about Kaatje, one of which, wherein a clergymanwas concerned, was too painful to relate. At last we reachedMaritzburg, where I deposited Kaatje in a boarding-house kept byanother half-cast, and with a sigh of relief betook myself to thePlough Hotel, which was a long way off her. 

Subsequently she obtained a place as a cook at Howick, and for awhile I saw her no more. 

At Maritzburg, as in duty bound, I called upon various persons inauthority and delivered Cetewayo's message, leaving out allZikali's witchcraft which would have sounded absurd. It did notproduce much impression as, hostilities having already occurred, it was superfluous. Also no one was inclined to pay attention tothe words of one who was neither an official nor a militaryofficer, but a mere hunter supposed to have brought a native wifeout of Zululand. 

I did, however, report the murder of Anscombe and Heda, though insuch times this caused no excitement, especially as they were notknown to the officials concerned with such matters. Indeed theoccurrence never so much as got into the papers, any more thandid the deaths of Rodd and Marnham on the borders of Sekukuni'scountry. When people are expecting to be massacred themselves, they do not trouble about the past killing of others far away. Lastly, I posted Marnham's will to the Pretoria bank, advisingthem that they had better keep it safely until some claim arose, and deposited Heda's jewels and valuables in another branch ofthe same bank in Maritzburg with a sealed statement as to howthey came into my possession. 

These things done, I found it necessary to turn myself to theeternal problem of earning my living. I am a very rich man nowas I write these reminiscences here in Yorkshire--King Solomon'smines made me that--but up to the time of my journey to KukuanaLand with my friends, Curtis and Good, although plenty of moneypassed through my hands on one occasion and another, little of itever seemed to stick. In this way or that it was lost or melted;also I was not born one to make the best of his opportunities inthe way of acquiring wealth. Perhaps this was good for me, sinceif I had gained the cash early I should not have met with theexperiences, and during our few transitory years, experience isof more real value than cash. It may prepare us for other thingsbeyond, whereas the mere possession of a bank balance can prepareus for nothing in a land where gold ceases to be an object ofworship as it is here. Yet wealth is our god, not knowledge orwisdom, a fact which shows that the real essence of Christianityhas not yet permeated human morals. It just runs over theirsurface, no more, and for every eye that is turned towards thedivine Vision, a thousand are fixed night and day upon Mammon'sglittering image. 

Now I owned certain wagons and oxen, and just then the demand forthese was keen. So I hired them out to the military authoritiesfor service in the war, and incidentally myself with them. Idrove what I considered a splendid bargain with an officer whowrote as many letters after his name as a Governor-General, butwas really something quite humble. At least I thought itsplendid until outside his tent I met a certain transport riderof my acquaintance whom I had always looked upon as a perfectfool, who told me that not half an hour before he had got twentyper cent. More for unsalted oxen and very rickety wagons. However, it did not matter much in the end as the whole outfitwas lost at Isandhlwana, and owing to the lack of some formalitywhich I had overlooked, I never recovered more than a tithe oftheir value. I think it was that I neglected to claim within acertain specified time. 

At last my wagons were laden with ammunition and other Governmentgoods and I trekked over awful roads to Helpmakaar, a place onthe Highlands not far from Rorke's Drift where No. 3 Column wasstationed. Here we were delayed awhile, I and my wagons havingmoved to a ford of the Buffalo, together with many others. Itwas during this time that I ventured to make very urgentrepresentations to certain highly placed officers, I will notmention which, as to the necessity of laagering, that is, formingfortified camps, as soon as Zululand was entered, since from myintimate knowledge of its people I was sure that they wouldattack in force. These warnings of mine were received with themost perfect politeness and offers of gin to drink, which alltransport riders were supposed to love, but in effect weretreated with the contempt that they were held to deserve. Thesubject is painful and one on which I will not dwell. Why shouldI complain when I know that cautions from notable persons such asSir Melmoth Osborn, and J. J. Uys, a member of one the old Dutchfighting families, met with a like fate. 

By the way it was while I was waiting on the banks of the riverthat I came across an old friend of mine, a Zulu named Magepa, with whom I had fought at the battle of the Tugela. A few dayslater this man performed an extraordinary feat in saving hisgrandchild from death by his great swiftness in running, whereofI have preserved a note somewhere or other. 

Ultimately on January 11 we received our marching orders andcrossed the river by the drift, the general scheme of thecampaign being that the various columns were to converge uponUlundi. The roads, if so they can be called, were in such afearful state that it took us ten days to cover as many miles. At length we trekked over a stony nek about five hundred yards inwidth. To the right of us was a stony eminence and to our left, its sheer brown cliffs of rock rising like the walls of somecyclopean fortress, the strange, abrupt mount of Isandhlwana, which reminded me of a huge lion crouching above thehill-encircled plain beyond. At the foot of this isolated mount, whereof the aspect somehow filled me with alarm, we camped on thenight of January 21, taking no precautions against attack by wayof laagering the wagons. Indeed the last thing that seemed tooccur to those in command was that there would be seriousfighting; men marched forward to their deaths as though they weregoing on a shooting-party, or to a picnic. I even saw cricketingbats and wickets occupying some of the scanty space upon thewagons. 

Now I am not going to set out all the military details thatpreceded the massacre of Isandhlwana, for these are written inhistory. It is enough to say that on the night of January 21, Major Dartnell, who was in command of the Natal Mounted Policeand had been sent out to reconnoitre the country beyondIsandhlwana, reported a strong force of Zulus in front of us. Thereon Lord Chelmsford, the General-in-Chief, moved out from thecamp at dawn to his support, taking with him six companies of the24th regiment, together with four guns and the mounted infantry. There were left in the camp two guns and about eight hundredwhite and nine hundred native troops, also some transport riderssuch as myself and a number of miscellaneous camp-followers. Isaw him go from between the curtains of one of my wagons where Ihad made my bed on the top of a pile of baggage. Indeed I hadalready dressed myself at the time, for that night I slept veryill because I knew our danger, and my heart was heavy with fear. 

About ten o'clock in the morning Colonel Durnford, whom I havementioned already, rode up with five hundred Natal Zulus, abouthalf of whom were mounted, and two rocket tubes which, of course, were worked by white men. This was after a patrol had reportedthat they had come into touch with some Zulus on the left front, who retired before them. As a matter of fact these Zulus wereforaging in the mealie fields, since owing to the drought foodwas very scarce in Zululand that year and the regiments werehungry. I happened to see the meeting between Colonel Pulleine, a short, stout man who was then in command of the camp, andColonel Durnford who, as his senior officer, took it over fromhim, and heard Colonel Pulleine say that his orders were "todefend the camp, " but what else passed between them I do notknow. 

Presently Colonel Durnford saw and recognized me. 

"Do you think the Zulus will attack us, Mr. Quatermain?" he said. 

"I don't think so, Sir, " I answered, "as it is the day of the newmoon which they hold unlucky. But to-morrow it may bedifferent. "

Then he gave certain orders, dispatching Captain George Shepstonewith a body of mounted natives along the ridge to the left, wherepresently they came in contact with the Zulus about three milesaway, and making other dispositions. A little later he moved outto the front with a strong escort, followed by the rocketbattery, which ultimately advanced to a small conical hill on theleft front, round which it passed, never to return again. 

Just before he started Colonel Durnford, seeing me still standingthere, asked me if I would like to accompany him, adding that asI knew the Zulus so well I might be useful. I answered, Certainly, and called to my head driver, a man named Jan, tobring me my mare, the same that I had ridden out of Zululand, while I slipped into the wagon and, in addition to the beltfulthat I wore, filled all my available pockets with cartridges formy double-barrelled Express rifle. 

As I mounted I gave Jan certain directions about the wagon andoxen, to which he listened, and then to my astonishment held outhis hand to me, saying--

"Good-bye, Baas. You have been a kind master to me and I thankyou. "

"Why do you say that?" I asked. 

"Because, Baas, all the Kaffirs declare that the great Zulu impiwill be on to us in an hour or two and eat up every man. I can'ttell how they know it, but so they swear. "

"Nonsense, " I answered, "it is the day of new moon when the Zulusdon't fight. Still if anything of the sort should happen, youand the other boys had better slip away to Natal, since theGovernment must pay for the wagons and oxen. "

This I said half joking, but it was a lucky jest for Jan and therest of my servants, since they interpreted it in earnest andwith the exception of one of them who went back to get a gun, gotoff before the Zulu horn closed round the camp, and crossed theriver in safety. 

Next moment I was cantering away after Colonel Durnford, whom Icaught up about a quarter of a mile from the camp. 

Now of course I did not see all of the terrible battle thatfollowed and can only tell of that part of it in which I had ashare. Colonel Durnford rode out about three and a half miles tothe left front, I really don't quite know why, for already wewere hearing firing on the top of the Nqutu Hills almost behindus, where Captain Shepstone was engaging the Zulus, or so Ibelieve. Suddenly we met a trooper of the Natal Carabineerswhose name was Whitelaw, who had been out scouting. He reportedthat an enormous impi was just ahead of us seated in an umkumbi, or semi-circle, as is the fashion of the Zulus before theycharge. At least some of them, he said, were so seated, butothers were already advancing. 

Presently these appeared over the crest of the hill, ten thousandof them I should say, and amongst them I recognized the shieldsof the Nodwengu, the Dududu, the Nokenke and the Ingoba-makosiregiments. Now there was nothing to be done except retreat, forthe impi was attacking in earnest. The General Untshingwayo, together with Undabuko, Cetewayo's brother, and the chief Usibebuwho commanded the scouts, had agreed not to fight this day forthe reason I have given, because it was that of the new moon, butcircumstances had forced their hand and the regiments could nolonger be restrained. So to the number of twenty thousand ormore, say one-third of the total Zulu army, they hurledthemselves upon the little English force that, owing to lack ofgeneralship, was scattered here and there over a wide front andhad no fortified base upon which to withdraw. 

We fell back to a donga which we held for a little while, andthen as we saw that there we should presently be overwhelmed, withdrew gradually for another two miles or so, keeping off theZulus by our fire. In so doing we came upon the remains of therocket battery near the foot of the conical hill I havementioned, which had been destroyed by some regiment that passedbehind us in its rush on the camp. There lay all the soldiersdead, assegaied through and through, and I noticed that one youngfellow who had been shot through the head, still held a rocket inhis hands. 

Now somewhat behind and perhaps half a mile to the right of thishill a long, shallow donga runs across the Isandhlwana plain. This we gained, and being there reinforced by about fifty of theNatal Carabineers under Captain Bradstreet, held it for a longwhile, keeping off the Zulus by our terrible fire which cut downscores of them every time they attempted to advance. At thisspot I alone killed from twelve to fifteen of them, for if thebig bullet from my Express rifle struck a man, he did not live. Messengers were sent back to the camp for more ammunition, butnone arrived, Heaven knows why. My own belief is that thereserve cartridges were packed away in boxes and could not be gotat. At last our supply began to run short, so there was nothingto be done except retreat upon the camp which was perhaps half amile behind us. 

Taking advantage of a pause in the Zulu advance which had laindown while waiting for reserves, Colonel Durnford ordered aretirement that was carried out very well. Up to that time wehad lost only quite a few men, for the Zulu fire was wild andhigh and they had not been able to get at us with the assegai. As we rode towards the mount I observed that firing was going onin all directions, especially on the nek that connected it withthe Nqutu range where Captain Shepstone and his mounted Basutoswere wiped out while trying to hold back the Zulu right horn. The guns, too, were firing heavily and doing great execution. 

After this all grew confused. Colonel Durnford gave orders tocertain officers who came up to him, Captain Essex was one andLieutenant Cochrane another. Then his force made for theirwagons to get more ammunition. I kept near to the Colonel and awhile later found myself with him and a large, mixed body of mena little to the right of the nek which we had crossed in ouradvance from the river. Not long afterwards there was a cry of"The Zulus are getting round us!" and looking to the left I sawthem pouring in hundreds across the ridge that joins IsandhlwanaMountain to the Nqutu Range. Also they were advancing straighton to the camp. 

Then the rout began. Already the native auxiliaries wereslipping away and now the others followed. Of course this battlewas but a small affair, yet I think that few have been moreterrible, at any rate in modern times. The aspect of thoseplumed and shielded Zulus as they charged, shouting theirwar-cries and waving their spears, was awesome. They were mowndown in hundreds by the Martini fire, but still they came on, andI knew that the game was up. A maddened horde of fugitives, mostly natives, began to flow past us over the nek, making forwhat was afterwards called Fugitives' Drift, nine miles away, andwith them went white soldiers, some mounted, some on foot. Mingled with all these people, following them, on either side ofthem, rushed Zulus, stabbing as they ran. Other groups ofsoldiers formed themselves into rough squares, on which thesavage warriors broke like water on a rock. By degrees ammunitionran out; only the bayonet remained. Still the Zulus could notbreak those squares. So they took another counsel. Withdrawinga few paces beyond the reach of the bayonets, they overwhelmedthe soldiers by throwing assegais, then rushed in and finishedthem. 

This was what happened to us, among whom were men of the 24th, Natal Carabineers and Mounted Police. Some had dismounted, but Isat on my horse, which stood quite still, I think from fright, and fired away so long as I had any ammunition. With my verylast cartridge I killed the Captain Indudu who had been in chargeof the escort that conducted me to the Tugela. He had caughtsight of me and called out--

"Now, Macumazahn, I will cut you up nicely as I promised. "

He got no further in his speech, for at that moment I sent anExpress bullet through him and his tall, melancholy figuredoubled up and collapsed. 

All this while Colonel Durnford had been behaving as a Britishofficer should do. Scorning to attempt flight, whenever I lookedround I caught sight of his tall form, easy to recognize by thelong fair moustaches and his arm in a sling, moving to and froencouraging us to stand firm and die like men. Then suddenly Isaw a Kaffir, who carried a big old smooth-bore gun, aim at himfrom a distance of about twenty yards, and fire. He went down, as I believe dead, and that was the end of a very gallant officerand gentleman whose military memory has in my opinion been mostunjustly attacked. The real blame for that disaster does notrest upon the shoulders of either Colonel Durnford or ColonelPulleine. 

After this things grew very awful. Some fled, but the most stoodand died where they were. Oddly enough during all this time Iwas never touched. Men fell to my right and left and in front ofme; bullets and assegais whizzed past me, yet I remained quiteunhurt. It was as though some Power protected me, which no doubtit did. 

At length when nearly all had fallen and I had nothing left todefend myself with except my revolver, I made up my mind that itwas time to go. My first impulse was to ride for the river ninemiles away. Looking behind me I saw that the rough road was fullof Zulus hunting down those who tried to escape. Still I thoughtI would try it, when suddenly there flashed across my brain thesaying of whoever it was that personated Mameena in the Valley ofBones, to the effect that in the great rout of the battle I wasnot to join the flying but to set my face towards Ulundi and thatif I did so I should be protected and no harm would come to me. I knew that all this prophecy was but a vain thing fondlyimagined, although it was true that the battle and the rout hadcome. And yet I acted on it--why Heaven knows alone. 

Setting the spurs to my horse I galloped off past IsandhlwanaMount, on the southern slopes of which a body of the 24th werestill fighting their last fight, and heading for the Nqutu Range. The plain was full of Zulus, reserves running up; also to theright of me the Ulundi and Gikazi divisions were streamingforward. These, or some of them, formed the left horn of theimpi, but owing to the unprepared nature of the Zulu battle, forit must always be remembered that they did not mean to fight thatday, their advance had been delayed until it was too late forthem entirely to enclose the camp. Thus the road, if it can sobe called, to Fugitives' Drift was left open for a while, and byit some effected their escape. It was this horn, or part of it, that afterwards moved on and attacked Rorke's Drift, with resultsdisastrous to itself. 

For some hundreds of yards I rode on thus recklessly, becauserecklessness seemed my only chance. Thrice I met bodies ofZulus, but on each occasion they scattered before me, calling outwords that I could not catch. It was as though they werefrightened of something they saw about me. Perhaps they thoughtthat I was mad to ride thus among them. Indeed I must havelooked mad, or perhaps there was something else. At any rate Ibelieved that I was going to win right through them when anaccident happened. 

A bullet struck my mare somewhere in the back. I don't knowwhere it came from, but as I saw no Zulu shoot, I think it musthave been one fired by a soldier who was still fighting on theslopes of the mount. The effect of it was to make the poor beastquite ungovernable. Round she wheeled and galloped at headlongspeed back towards the peak, leaping over dead and dying andbreaking through the living as she went. In two minutes we wererushing up its northern flank, which seemed to be quiteuntenanted, towards the sheer brown cliff which rose above it, for the fighting was in progress on the other side. Suddenly atthe foot of this cliff the mare stopped, shivered and sank downdead, probably from internal bleeding. 

I looked about me desperately. To attempt the plain on footmeant death. What then was I to do? Glancing at the cliff I sawthat there was a gully in it worn by thousands of years ofrainfall, in which grew scanty bushes. Into this I ran, andfinding it practicable though difficult, began to climb upwards, quite unnoticed by the Zulus who were all employed upon thefurther side. The end of it was that I reached the very crest ofthe mount, a patch of bare, brown rock, except at one spot on itssouthern front where there was a little hollow in which at thisrainy season of the year herbage and ferns grew in theaccumulated soil, also a few stunted, aloe-like plants. 

Into this patch I crept, having first slaked my thirst from alittle pool of rain water that lay in a cup-like depression ofthe rock, which tasted more delicious than any nectar, and seemedto give me new life. Then covering myself as well as I couldwith grasses and dried leaves from the aloe plants, I lay still. 

Now I was right on the brink of the cliff and had the best viewof the Isandhlwana plain and the surrounding country that can beimagined. From my lofty eyrie some hundreds of feet in the air, I could see everything that happened beneath. Thus I witnessedthe destruction of the last of the soldiers on the slopes below. They made a gallant end, so gallant that I was proud to be of thesame blood with them. One fine young fellow escaped up the peakand reached a plateau about fifty feet beneath me. He wasfollowed by a number of Zulus, but took refuge in a little cavewhence he shot three or four of them; then his cartridges wereexhausted and I heard the savages speaking in praise ofhim--dead. I think he was the last to die on the field ofIsandhlwana. 

The looting of the camp began; it was a terrible scene. The oxenand those of the horses that could be caught were driven away, except certain of the former which were harnessed to the guns andsome of the wagons and, as I afterwards learned, taken to Ulundiin proof of victory. Then the slain were stripped and Kaffirsappeared wearing the red coats of the soldiers and carrying theirrifles. The stores were broken into and all the spirits drunk. Even the medical drugs were swallowed by these ignorant men, withthe result that I saw some of them reeling about in agony andothers fall down and go to sleep. 

An hour or two later an officer who came from the direction inwhich the General had marched, cantered right into the camp wherethe tents were still standing and even the flag was flying. Ilonged to be able to warn him, but could not. He rode up to theheadquarters marquee, whence suddenly issued a Zulu waving agreat spear. I saw the officer pull up his horse, remain for amoment as though indecisive, then turn and gallop madly away, quite unharmed, though one or two assegais were thrown and manyshots fired at him. After this considerable movements of theZulus went on, of which the net result was, that they evacuatedthe place. 

Now I hoped that I might escape, but it was not to be, since onevery side numbers of them crept up Isandhlwana Mountain and hidbehind rocks or among the tall grasses, evidently for purposes ofobservation. Moreover some captains arrived on the littleplateau where was the cave in which the soldier had been killed, and camped there. At least at sundown they unrolled their matsand ate, though they lighted no fire. 

The darkness fell and in it escape for me from that guarded placewas impossible, since I could not see where to set my feet andone false step on the steep rock would have meant my death. Fromthe direction of Rorke's Drift I could hear continuous firing;evidently some great fight was going on there, I wonderedvaguely--with what result. A little later also I heard thedistant tramp of horses and the roll of gun wheels. The captainsbelow heard it too and said one to another that it was theEnglish soldiers returning, who had marched out of the camp atdawn. They debated one with another whether it would be possibleto collect a force to fall upon them, but abandoned the ideabecause the regiments who had fought that day were now at adistance and too tired, and the others had rushed forward withorders to attack the white men on and beyond the river. 

So they lay still and listened, and I too lay still and listened, for on that cloudy, moonless night I could see nothing. I heardsmothered words of command. I heard the force halt because itcould not travel further in the gloom. Then they lay down, theliving among the dead, wondering doubtless if they themselveswould not soon be dead, as of course must have happened had theZulu generalship been better, for if even five thousand men hadbeen available to attack at dawn not one of them could haveescaped. But Providence ordained it otherwise. Some were takenand the others left. 

About an hour before daylight I heard them stirring again, andwhen its first gleams came all of them had vanished over the nekof slaughter, with what thoughts in their hearts, I wondered, andto what fate. The captains on the plateau beneath had gone also, and so had the circle of guards upon the slopes of the mount, forI saw these depart through the grey mist. As the light gathered, however, I observed bodies of men collecting on the nek, orrather on both neks, which made it impossible for me to do what Ihad hoped, and run to overtake the English troops. From these Iwas utterly cut off. Nor could I remain longer without food onmy point of rock, especially as I was sure that soon some Zuluswould climb there to use it as an outlook post. So while I wasstill more or less hidden by the mist and morning shadows, Iclimbed down it by the same road that I had climbed up, and thusreached the plain. Not a living man, white or black, was to beseen, only the dead, only the dead. I was the last Englishman tostand upon the plain of Isandhlwana for weeks or rather months tocome. 

Of all my experiences this was, I think, the strangest, afterthat night of hell, to find myself alone upon this field ofdeath, staring everywhere at the distorted faces which on theprevious morn I had seen so full of life. Yet my physical needsasserted themselves. I was very hungry, who for twenty-fourhours had eaten nothing, faint with hunger indeed. I passed aprovision wagon that had been looted by the Zulus. Tins of bullybeef lay about, also, among a wreck of broken glass, some bottlesof Bass's beer which had escaped their notice. I found anassegai, cleaned it in the ground which it needed, and openingone of the tins, lay down in a tuft of grass by a dead man, orrather between him and some Zulus whom he had killed, anddevoured its contents. Also I knocked the tops off a couple ofthe beer bottles and drank my fill. While I was doing this alarge rough dog with a silver-mounted collar on its neck, I thinkof the sort that is called an Airedale terrier, came up to mewhining. At first I thought it was an hyena, but discovering mymistake, threw it some bits of meat which it ate greedily. Doubtless it had belonged to some dead officer, though there wasno name on the collar. The poor beast, which I named Lost, atonce attached itself to me, and here I may say that I kept ittill its death, which occurred of jaundice at Durban not longbefore I started on my journey to King Solomon's Mines. No manever had a more faithful friend and companion. 

When I had eaten and drunk I looked about me, wondering what Ishould do. Fifty yards away I saw a stout Basuto pony stillsaddled and bridled, although the saddle was twisted out of itsproper position, which was cropping the grass as well as it couldwith the bit in its mouth. Advancing gently I caught it withouttrouble, and led it back to the plundered wagon. Evidently fromthe marks upon the saddlery it had belonged to CaptainShepstone's force of mounted natives. 

Here I filled the large saddlebags made of buckskin with tins ofbeef, a couple more bottles of beer and a packet of tandstickormatches which I was fortunate enough to find. Also I took theMartini rifle from a dead soldier, together with a score or so ofcartridges that remained in his belt, for apparently he must havebeen killed rather early in the fight. 

Thus equipped I mounted the pony and once more bethought me ofescaping to Natal. A look towards the nek cured me of that idea, for coming over it I saw the plumed heads of a whole horde ofwarriors. Doubtless these were returning from the unsuccessfulattack on Rorke's Drift, though of that I knew nothing at thetime. So whistling to the dog I bore to the left for the NqutuHills, riding as fast as the rough ground would allow, and inhalf an hour was out of sight of that accursed plain. 

One more thing too I did. On its confines I came across a groupof dead Zulus who appeared to have been killed by a shell. Dismounting I took the headdress of one of them and put it on, for I forgot to say that I had lost my hat. It was made of aband of otterskin from which rose large tufts of the blackfeathers of the finch which the natives call "sakabula. " Also Itied his kilt of white oxtails about my middle, precautions towhich I have little doubt I owe my life, since from a distancethey made me look like a Kaffir mounted on a captured pony. 

Then I started on again, whither I knew not. 

CHAPTER XIX

ALLAN AWAKES

Now I have no intention of setting down all the details of thatdreadful journey through Zululand, even if I could recall them, which, for a reason to be stated, I cannot do. I remember thatat first I thought of proceeding to Ulundi with some wild idea ofthrowing myself on the mercy of Cetewayo under pretence that Ibrought him a message from Natal. Within a couple of hours, however, from the top of a hill I saw ahead of me an impi andwith it captured wagons, which was evidently heading for theking's kraal. So as I knew what kind of a greeting thesewarriors would give me, I bore away in another direction with thehope of reaching the border by a circuitous route. In this too Ihad no luck, since presently I caught sight of outposts stationedupon rocks, which doubtless belonged to another impi or regiment. Indeed one soldier, thinking from my dress that I also was aZulu, called to me for news from about half a mile away, in thatpeculiar carrying voice which Kaffirs can command. I shoutedback something about victory and that the white men were wipedout, then put an end to the conversation by vanishing into apatch of dense bush. 

It is a fact that after this I have only the dimmest recollectionof what happened. I remember off-saddling at night on severaloccasions. I remember being very hungry because all the food waseaten and the dog, Lost, catching a bush buck fawn, some of whichI partially cooked on a fire of dead wood, and devoured. Next Iremember--I suppose this was a day or two later--riding at nightin a thunderstorm and a particularly brilliant flash of lightningwhich revealed scenery that seemed to be familiar to me, afterwhich came a shock and total unconsciousness. 

At length my mind returned to me. It was reborn very slowly andwith horrible convulsions, out of the womb of death and terror. I saw blood flowing round me in rivers, I heard the cries oftriumph and of agony. I saw myself standing, the sole survivor, on a grey field of death, and the utter loneliness of it ate intomy soul, so that with all its strength it prayed that it might benumbered in this harvest. But oh! it was so strong, that soulwhich could not, would not die or fly away. So strong, thatthen, for the first time, I understood its immortality and thatit could _never_ die. This everlasting thing still clung for awhile to the body of its humiliation, the mass of clay and nervesand appetites which it was doomed to animate, and yet knew itsown separateness and eternal individuality. Striving to be freeof earth, still it seemed to walk the earth, a spirit and ashadow, aware of the hatefulness of that to which it was chained, as we might imagine some lovely butterfly to be that is fated bynature to suck its strength from carrion, and remains unable tosoar away into the clean air of heaven. 

Something touched my hand and I reflected dreamily that if I hadbeen still alive, for in a way I believed that I was dead, Ishould have thought it was a dog's tongue. With a great effort Ilifted my arm, opened my eyes and looked at the hand against thelight, for there was light, to see it was so thin that this lightshone through between the bones. Then I let it fall again, andlo! it rested on the head of a dog which went on licking it. 

A dog! What dog? Now I remembered; one that I had found on thefield of Isandhlwana. Then I must be still alive. The thoughtmade me cry, for I could feel the tears run down my cheeks, notwith joy but with sorrow. I did not wish to go on living. Lifewas too full of struggle and of bloodshed and bereavement andfear and all horrible things. I was prepared to exchange my partin it just for rest, for the blessing of deep, unending sleep inwhich no more dreams could come, no more cups of joy could beheld to thirsting lips, only to be snatched away. 

I heard something shuffling towards me at which the dog growled, then seemed to slink away as though it were afraid. I opened myeyes again, looked, and closed them once more in terror, for whatI saw suggested that perhaps I was dead after all and had reachedthat hell which a certain class of earnest Christian promises tous as the reward of the failings that Nature and those who begatus have handed on to us as a birth doom. It was somethingunnatural, grey-headed, terrific--doubtless a devil come totorment me in the inquisition vaults of Hades. Yet I had knownthe like when I was alive. How had it been called? Iremembered, "The-thing-that-never-should-have-been-born. " Hark!It was speaking in that full deep voice which was unlike to anyother. 

"Greeting, Macumazahn, " it said. "I see that you have come backfrom among the dead with whom you have been dwelling for a moonand more. It is not wise of you, Macumazahn, yet I am glad whohave matched my skill against Death and won, for now you willhave much to tell me about his kingdom. "

So it was Zikali--Zikali who had butchered my friends. 

"Away from me, murderer!" I said faintly, "and let me die, orkill me as you did the others. "

He laughed, but very softly, not in his usual terrific fashion, repeating the word "murderer" two or three times. Then with hisgreat hand he lifted my head gently as a woman might, saying--

"Look before you, Macumazahn. "

I looked and saw that I was in some kind of a cave. Outside thesun was setting and against its brightness I perceived twofigures, a white man and a white woman who were walking hand inhand and gazing into each other's eyes. They were Anscombe andHeda passing the mouth of the cave. 

"Behold the murdered, O Macumazahn, dealer of hard words. "

"It is only a trick, " I murmured. "Kaatje saw them dead andburied. "

"Yes, yes, I forgot. The fat fool-woman saw them dead andburied. Well, sometimes the dead come to life again and for goodpurpose, as you should know, Macumazahn, who followed the counselof a certain Mameena and wandered here instead of rushing ontothe Zulu spears. "

I tried to think the thing out and could not, so only asked--

"How did I come? What happened to me?"

"I think the sun smote you first who had no covering on your headand the lightning smote you afterwards. Yet all the while thatreason had left you, One led your horse and after the Heavens hadtried to kill you and failed, perhaps because my magic was toostrong for them, One sent that beast which you found, yes, sentit here to lead us to where you lay. There you were discoveredand brought hither. Now sleep lest you should go further thaneven I can fetch you back again. "

He held his hands above my head, seeming to grow in stature tillhis white hair touched the roof of the cave, and in an instant Ifancied that I was falling away, deep, deep into a gulf ofnothingness. 

There followed another period of dreaming, in which dreams Iseemed to meet all sorts of people, dead and living, especiallyLady Ragnall, a friend of mine with whom I had been concerned ina very strange adventure among the Kendah people* and with whomin days to come I was destined to be concerned again, although ofcourse I knew nothing of this, in a still stranger adventure ofwhat I may call a spiritual order, which I may or may not try toreduce to writing. It seemed to me that I was constantly diningwith her tete-a-tete and that she told me all sorts of queerthings between the courses. Doubtless these illusions occurredwhen I was fed. 

[*--See the book called _The Ivory Child. _--EDITOR. ]

At length I woke up again, feeling much stronger, and saw thedog, Lost, watching me with its great tender eyes--oh! they talkof the eyes of women, but are they ever as beautiful as those ofa loving dog? It lay by my low bed-stead, a rough affairfashioned of poles and strung with rimpis or strings of raw hide, and by it, stroking its head, sat the witch-doctoress, Nombe. Iremember how pleasing she looked, a perfect type of the eternalfeminine with her graceful, rounded shape and her continual, mysterious smile which suggested so much more than any mortalwoman has to give. 

"Good-day to you, Macumazahn, " she said in her gentle voice, "youhave gone through much since last we met on the night before Gozatook you away to Ulundi. "

Now remembering all, I was filled with indignation against thislittle humbug. 

"The last time we met, Nombe, " I said, "was when you played thepart of a woman who is dead in the Vale of Bones by the king'skraal. "

She regarded me with a kindly commiseration, and answered, shaking her head--

"You have been very ill, Macumazahn, and your spirit still tricksyou. I played the part of no woman in any valley by the king'skraal, nor were my eyes rejoiced with the sight of you there orelsewhere till they brought you to this place, so changed that Ishould scarcely have known you. "

"You little liar!" I said rudely. 

"Do the white people always name those liars who tell them truethings they cannot understand?" she inquired with a sweetinnocence. Then without waiting for an answer, she patted myhand as though I were a fretful child and gave me some soup in agourd, saying, "Drink it, it is good. The lady Heddana made itherself in the white man's fashion. "

I drank the soup, which was very good, and as I handed back thegourd, answered--

"Kaatje has told me that the lady Heddana is dead. Can the deadmake soup?"

She considered the point while she threw some bits of meat out ofthe bottom of the gourd to the dog, Lost, then replied--

"I do not know, Macumazahn, or indeed whether the dead eat as wedo. Next time my Spirit visits me I will make inquiry and tellyou the answer. But I do know that it is very strange that you, who always turn your back upon the truth, are so ready to acceptfalsehoods. Why should you believe that the lady Heddana is deadjust because Kaatje told you so, when I who am still alive hadsworn to you that I would protect her with my life? Nay, speakno more now. To-morrow if you are well enough you shall see andjudge for yourself. "

She drew up the kaross over me, again patted my hand in hermotherly fashion and departed, still smiling, after which I wentto sleep again, so dreamlessly that I think there was some nativesoporific in that soup. 

On the following day two of Zikali's servants who did the rougherwork of my sick room, if I may so call it, arrived and said thatthey were going to carry me out of the cave for a while, if thatwere my will. I who longed to breathe the fresh air again, saidthat it was very much my will, whereon they grasped the roughbedstead which I have described by either end and very carefullybore me down the cave and through its narrow entrance, where theyset the bedstead in the shadow of the overhanging rock without. When I had recovered a little, for even that short journey tiredme, I looked about me and perceived that as I had expected, I wasin the Black Kloof, for there in front of me were the very hutswhich we had occupied on our arrival from Swazi-Land. 

I lay a while drawing in the sweet air which to me was like adraught of nectar, and wondering whether I were not still in adream. For instance, I wondered if I had truly seen the figuresof Anscombe and Heda pass the mouth of the cave, on that day whenI awoke, or if these were but another of Zikali's illusionsimprinted on my weakened mind by his will power. For of what heand Nombe told me I believed nothing. Thus marvelling I fellinto a doze and in my doze heard whisperings. I opened my eyesand lo! there before me stood Anscombe and Heda. It was she whospoke the first, for I was tongue-tied; I could not open my lips. 

"Dear Mr. Quatermain, dear Mr. Quatermain!" she murmured in hersweet voice, then paused. 

Now at last words came to me. "I thought you were both dead, " Isaid. "Tell me, are you really alive?"

She bent down and kissed my brow, while Anscombe took my hand. 

"Now you know, " she answered. "We are both of us alive andwell. "

"Thank God!" I exclaimed. "Kaatje swore that she saw you deadand buried. "

"One sees strange things in the Black Kloof, " replied Anscombespeaking for the first time, "and much has happened to us sincewe were parted, to which you are not strong enough to listen now. When you are better, then we will tell you all. So grow well assoon as you can. "

After this I think I fainted, for when I came to myself again Iwas back in the cave. 

Another ten days or so went by before I could even leave my bed, for my recovery was very slow. Indeed for weeks I could scarcelywalk at all, and six whole months passed before I really got mystrength again and became as I used to be. During those days Ioften saw Anscombe and Heda, but only for a few minutes at atime. Also occasionally Zikali would visit me, speaking alittle, generally about past history, or something of the sort, but never of the war, and go away. At length one day he said tome--

"Macumazahn, now I am sure you are going to live, a matter as towhich I was doubtful, even after you seemed to recover. For, Macumazahn, you have endured three shocks, of which to-day I amnot afraid to talk to you. First there was that of the battle ofIsandhlwana where you were the last white man left alive. "

"How do you know that, Zikali?" I asked. 

"It does not matter. I do know. Did you not ride through theZulus who parted this way and that before you, shouting what youcould not understand? One of them you may remember even salutedwith his spear. "

"I did, Zikali. Tell me, why did they behave thus, and what didthey shout?"

"I shall not tell you, Macumazahn. Think over it for the rest ofyour life and conclude what you choose; it will not be sowonderful as the truth. At least they did so, as a certain dollI dressed up yonder in the Vale of Bones told you they would, shewhose advice you followed in riding towards Ulundi instead ofback to the river where you would have met your death, like somany others of the white people. "

"Who was that doll, Zikali?"

"Nay, ask me not. Perhaps it was Nombe, perhaps another. I haveforgotten. I am very old and my memory begins to play me strangetricks. Still I recollect that she was a good doll, so like adead woman called Mameena that I could scarcely have known themapart. Ah! that was a great game I played in the Vale of Bones, was it not, Macumazahn?"

"Yes, Zikali, yet I do not understand why it was played. "

"Being so young you still have the impatience of youth, Macumazahn, although your hair grows white. Wait a while and youwill understand all. Well, you lay that night on the topmostrock of Isandhlwana, and there you saw and heard strange things. You heard the rest of the white soldiers come and lie down torest among their dead brothers, and depart again unharmed. Oh!what fools are these Zulu generals nowadays. They send out animpi to attack men behind walls, spears against rifles, and aredefeated. Had they kept that impi to fall on the rest of theEnglish when they walked into the trap, not a man of your peoplewould have been left alive. Would that have happened in the timeof Chaka?"

"I think not, Zikali. Still I am glad that it did happen. "

"I think not too, Macumazahn, but small men, small wit. Alsolike you I am glad that it did not happen, since it is the ZulusI hate, not the English who have now learned a lesson and willnot be caught again. Oh! many a captain in Zululand is to-dayflat as a pricked bladder, and even their victory, as they callit, cost them dear. For, mind you, Macumazahn, for every whiteman they killed two of them died. So, so! In the morning youleft the hill--do not look astonished, Macumazahn. Perhaps thosecaptains on the rock beneath you let you go for their ownpurposes, or because they were commanded, for though weak I canstill lift a stone or two, Macumazahn, and afterwards told me allabout it. Then you found yourself alone among the dead, like thelast man in the world, Macumazahn, and that dog at your side, also a horse came to you. Perhaps I sent them, perhaps it was achance. Who knows? Not I myself, for as I have said, my memoryhas grown so bad. That was your first shock, Macumazahn, theshock of standing alone among the dead like the last man in theworld. You felt it, did you not?"

"As I hope I shall never feel anything again. It nearly drove memad, " I answered. 

"Very nearly indeed, though I have felt worse things and onlylaughed, as I would tell you, had I the time. Well, then the sunstruck you, for at this season of the year it is very hot inthose valleys for a white man with no covering to his head, andyou went quite mad, though fortunately the dog and the horseremained as Heaven had made them. That was the second shock. Then the storm burst and the lightning fell. It ran down therifle that you still carried, Macumazahn. I will show it to youand you will see that its stock is shattered. Perhaps I turnedthe flash aside, for I am a great thunder-herd, or perhaps it wasOne mightier than I. That was the third shock, Macumazahn. Thenyou were found, still living--how, the white man, your friend, will tell you. But you should cherish that dog of yours, Macumazahn, for many a man might have served you worse. Andbeing strong, though small, or perhaps because you still havework left to do in the world before you leave it for a while, youhave lived through all these things and will in time recover, though not yet. "

"I hope so, Zikali, though on the whole I am not sure that I wishto recover. "

"Yes, you do, Macumazahn, because the religion of you white menmakes you fear death and what may come after it. You think ofwhat you call your sins and are afraid lest you should betortured because of them, not understanding that the spirit mustbe judged not by what the flesh has done but by what the spiritdesired to do, by _will_ not by _deed, _ Macumazahn. The evil manis he who wishes to do evil, not he who wishes to do good andfalls now and again into evil. Oh! I have hearkened to yourwhite teachers and I know, I know. "

"Then by your own standard you are evil, Zikali, since you wishedto bring about war, and not in vain. "

"Oho! Macumazahn, you think that, do you, who cannot understandthat what seems to be evil is often good. I wished to bringabout war and brought it about, and maybe what bred the wish wasall that I have suffered in the past. But say you, who have seenwhat the Zulu Power means, who have seen men, women and childrenkilled by the thousand to feed that Power, and who have seen, too, what the English Power means, is it evil that I should wishto destroy the House of the Zulu kings that the English House maytake its place and that in a time to come the Black people may befree?"

"You are clever, Zikali, but it is of your own wrongs that youthink. How about that skull which you kissed in the Vale ofBones?"

"Mayhap, Macumazahn, but my wrongs are the wrongs of a nation, therefore I think of the nation, and at least I do not fear deathlike you white men. Now hearken. Presently your friends willtell you a story. The lady Heddana will tell you how I made useof her for a certain purpose, for which purpose indeed I drew thethree of you into Zululand, because without her I could not havebrought about this war into which Cetewayo did not wish to enter. When you have heard that story, do not judge me too hardly, Macumazahn, who had a great end to gain. "

"Yet whatever the story may be, I do judge you hardly, Zikali, who tormented me with a false tale, causing the woman Kaatje tolie to me and swear that she saw these two dead before her--how Iknow not. "

"She did not lie to you, Macumazahn. Has not such a one as I thepower to make a fat fool think that she saw what she did not see?As to how! How did I make you think in yonder hut of mine thatyou saw what you did not see--perhaps. "

"But why did you mock me in this fashion, Zikali?"

"Truly, Macumazahn, you are blind as a bat in sunlight. Whenyour friends have told you the story, you will understand why. Yet I admit to you that things went wrong. You should have heardthat tale _before_ Cetewayo brought you to the Vale of Bones. But the fool-woman delayed and blundered, and when she reachedUlundi the gates were shut against her as a spy, and not openedtill too late, so that you only found her when you returned fromthe Council. I knew this, and that was why I dared to bid youfire at that which stood upon the rock. Had you heard Kaatje'stale you might have aimed straight, as also you would havecertainly shot straight at me, out of revenge for the deaths ofthose you loved, Macumazahn, though whether you could have killedme before all the game is played is another matter. As it was, Iwas sure that you would not pierce the heart of one who _might_be a certain white woman, sure also that you would not pierce myheart whose death _might_ bring about her death and that ofanother. "

"You are very subtle, Zikali, " I said in astonishment. 

"So you hold because I am very simple, who understand the spiritof man--and some other things. For the rest, had you notbelieved that these two were dead, you would never have leftZululand. You would have tried to escape to get to them and havebeen killed. Is it not so?"

"Yes, I think I should have tried, Zikali. But why did you keepthem prisoner?"

"For the same reason that I still keep them--and you--to holdthem back a while from the world of ghosts. Had I sent them awayafter that night of the declaration of war, they would have beenkilled before they had gone an hour's journey. Oh! I am not sobad as you think, Macumazahn, and I never break my word. Now Ihave done. "

"How goes the war?" I asked as he shuffled to his feet. 

"As it must go, very ill for the Zulus. They have driven backthe white men who gather strength from over the Black Water andwill come on presently and wipe them out. Umnyamana would havehad Cetewayo invade Natal and sweep it clean, as of course heshould have done. But I sent him word that if he did soNomkubulwana, yes, she and no other, had told me that all thespirits would be against him, and he hearkened. When next youthink me wicked, remember that, Macumazahn. Now it is but amatter of time, and here you must bide till all is finished. That will be good for you who need rest, though the other twofind it wearisome. Still for them it is good also to watch thefruit ripen on their tree of love. It will be the sweeter whenthey eat it, Macumazahn, and teach them how to live together. Oho! Oho-ho!" and he shambled off. 

CHAPTER XX

HEDA'S TALE

That evening when I was lying on my bed outside the cave, I heardthe tale of Anscombe and Heda. Up to a certain point he told it, then she went on with the story. 

"On the morning after our arrival at this place, Allan, " saidAnscombe, "I woke up to find you gone from the hut. As you didnot come back I concluded that you were with Zikali, and walkedabout looking for you. Then food was brought to us and Heda andI breakfasted together, after which we went to where we heard thehorses neighing and found that yours was gone. Returning, muchfrightened, we met Nombe, who gave me your note which explainedeverything, and we inquired of her why this had been done andwhat was to become of us. She smiled and answered that we hadbetter ask the first question of the king and the second of hermaster Zikali, and in the meanwhile be at peace since we werequite safe. 

"I tried to see Zikali but could not. Then I went to inspan thehorses with the idea of following you, only to find that theywere gone. Indeed I have not seen them from that day to this. Next we thought of starting on foot, for we were quite desperate. But Nombe intervened and told us that if we ventured out of theBlack Kloof we should be killed. In short we were prisoners. 

"This went on for some days, during which we were well treatedbut could not succeed in seeing Zikali. At length one morning hesent for us and we were taken to the enclosure in front of hishut, Kaatje coming with us as interpreter. For a while he satstill, looking very grim and terrible. Then he said--

"'White Chief and Lady, you think ill of me because Macumazahnhas gone and you are kept prisoners here, and before all is doneyou will think worse. Yet I counsel you to trust me sinceeverything that happens is for your good. '

"At this point Heda, who, as you know, talked Zulu fairly well, though not so well as she does now, broke in, and said some veryangry things to him. "

"Yes, " interrupted Heda. "I told him that he was a liar and Ibelieved that he had murdered you and meant to murder us. "

"He listened stonily, " continued Anscombe, "and answered, 'Iperceive, Lady Heddana, that you understand enough of our tongueto enable me to talk to you; therefore I will send away thishalf-breed woman, since what I have to say is secret. '

"Then he called servants by clapping his hands and ordered themto remove Kaatje, which was done. 

"'Now, Lady Heddana, ' he said, speaking very slowly so that Hedamight interpret to me and repeating his words whenever she didnot understand, 'I have a proposal to make to you. For my ownends it is necessary that you should play a part and appearbefore the king and the Council as the goddess of this land whois called the Chieftainess of Heaven, which goddess is alwaysseen as a white woman. Therefore you must travel with me toUlundi and there do those things which I shall tell you. '

"'And if I refuse to play this trick, ' said Heda, 'what then?'

"'Then, Lady Heddana, this white lord whom you love and who is tobe your husband will--die--and after he is dead you must still dowhat I desire of you, or--die also. '

"'Would he come with me to Ulundi?' asked Heda. 

"'Not so, Lady. He would stay here under guard, but quite safe, and you will be brought back to him, safe. Choose now, withdeath on the one hand and safety on the other. I would sleep alittle. Talk the matter over in your own tongue and when it issettled awaken me again, ' and he shut his eyes and appeared to goto sleep. 

"So we discussed the situation, if you can call it discussionwhen we were both nearly mad. Heda wished to go. I begged herto let me be killed rather than trust herself into the hands ofthis old villain. She pointed out that even if I were killed, which she admitted might not happen, she would still be in hishands whence she could only escape by her own death, whereas ifshe went there was a chance that we might both continue to live, and that after all death was easy to find. So in the end I gaveway and we woke up Zikali and told him so. 

"He seemed pleased and spoke to us gently, saying, 'I was surethat wisdom dwelt behind those bright eyes of yours, Lady, andagain I promise you that neither you nor the lord your lovershall come to any harm. Also that in payment I and my child, Nombe, will protect you even with our lives, and further, that Iwill bring back your friend, Macumazahn, to you, though not yet. Now go and be happy together. Nombe will tell the lady Heddanawhen she is to start. Of all this say nothing on your peril tothe woman Kaatje, since if you do, it will be necessary that sheshould be made silent. Indeed, lest she should learn something, to-morrow I shall send her on to await you at Ulundi, thereforebe not surprised if you see her go, and take no heed of aught shemay say in going. Nombe, my child, will fill her place asservant to the lady Heddana and sleep with her at night that shemay not be lonely or afraid. '

"Then he clapped his hands again and servants came and conductedus back to the huts. And now, Allan, Heda will go on with thestory. "

"Well, Mr. Quatermain, " she said, "nothing more happened that daywhich we spent with bursting hearts. Kaatje did not question usas to what the witch-doctor had said after she was sent away. Indeed I noticed that she was growing very stupid and drowsy, like a person who has been drugged, as I daresay she was, andwould insist upon beginning to pack up the things in a foolishkind of way, muttering something about our trekking on thefollowing day. The night passed as usual, Kaatje sleeping veryheavily by my side and snoring so much" (here I groanedsympathetically) "that I could get little rest. On the nextmorning after breakfast as the huts were very hot, Nombesuggested that we should sit under the shadow of the overhangingrock, just where we are now. Accordingly we went, and beingtired out with all our troubles and bad nights, I fell into adoze, and so, I think, did Maurice, Nombe sitting near to us andsinging all the while, a very queer kind of song. 

"Presently, through my doze as it were, I saw Kaatje approaching. Nombe went to meet her, still singing, and taking her hand, ledher to the cart, where they seemed to talk to the horses, whichsurprised me as there were no horses. Then she brought her roundthe cart and pointed to us, still singing. Now Kaatje began toweep and throw her hands about, while Nombe patted her on theshoulder. I tried to speak to her but could not. My tongue wastied, why I don't know, but I suppose because I was reallyasleep, and Maurice also was asleep and did not wake at all. "

"Yes, " said Anscombe, "I remember nothing of all this business. "

"After a while Kaatje went away, still weeping, and then I fellasleep in earnest and did not wake until the sun was going down, when I roused Maurice and we both went back to the hut, where Ifound that Nombe had cooked our evening meal. I looked forKaatje, but could not find her. Also in searching through mythings I missed the bag of jewels. I called to Nombe and askedwhere Kaatje was, whereon she smiled and said that she had goneaway, taking the bag with her. This pained me, for I had alwaysfound Kaatje quite honest--"

"Which she is, " I remarked, "for those jewels are now in a bankat Maritzburg. "

Heda nodded and went on, "I am glad to hear it; indeed, remembering what Zikali had said, I never really suspected her ofbeing a thief, but thought it was all part of some plan. Afterthis things went on as before, except that Nombe took Kaatje'splace and was with me day and night. Of Kaatje's disappearanceshe would say nothing. Zikali we did not see. 

"On the third evening after the vanishing of Kaatje, Nombe cameand said that I must make ready for a journey, and while shespoke men arrived with a litter that had grass mats hung roundit. Nombe brought out my long cape and put it over me, also akind of veil of white stuff which she threw over my head, so asto hide my face. I think it was made out of one of ourtravelling mosquito nets. Then she said I must say good-bye toMaurice for a while. There was a scene as you may imagine. Hegrew angry and said that he would come with me, whereon armed menappeared, six of them, and pushed him away with the handles oftheir spears. In another minute I was lifted into the litterwhich Nombe entered with me, and so we were parted, wondering ifwe should ever see each other more. At the mouth of the kloof Isaw another litter surrounded by a number of Zulus, which Nombesaid contained Zikali. 

"We travelled all that night and two succeeding nights, restingduring the day in deserted kraals that appeared to have been madeready for us. It was a strange journey, for although the armedmen flitted about us, neither they nor the bearers ever spoke, nor did I see Zikali, or indeed any one else. Only Nombecomforted me from time to time, telling me there was nothing tofear. Towards dawn on the third night we travelled over somehills and I was put into a new hut and told that my journey wasdone as we had reached a place near Ulundi. 

"I slept most of the following day, but after I had eaten towardsevening, Zikali crept into the hut, just as a great toad mightdo, and squatted down in front of me. 

"'Lady, ' he said, 'listen. To-night, perhaps one hour aftersundown, perhaps two, perhaps three, Nombe will lead you, dressedin a certain fashion, from this hut. See now, outside of itthere is a tongue of rock up which you may climb unnoted by thelittle path that runs between those big stones. Look, ' and heshowed me the place through the door-hole. 'The path ends on aflat boulder at the end of the rock. There you will take yourstand, holding in your right hand a little assegai which will begiven to you. Nombe will not accompany you to the rock, but shewill crouch between the stones at the head of the path andperhaps from time to time whisper to you what to do. Thus whenshe tells you, you must throw the little spear into the air, sothat it falls among a number of men gathered in debate who willbe seated about twenty paces from the rock. For the rest you areto stand quite still, saying nothing and showing no alarmwhatever you may hear or see. Among the men before you may beyour friend, Macumazahn, but you must not appear to recognizehim, and if he speaks to you, you must make no answer. Even ifhe should seem to shoot at you, do not be afraid. Do youunderstand? If so, repeat what I have told you. ' I obeyed himand asked what would happen if I did not do these things, or someof them. 

"He answered, 'You will be killed, Nombe will be killed, the lordMauriti your lover will be killed, and your friend Macumazahnwill be killed. Perhaps even I shall be killed and we will talkthe matter over in the land of ghosts. '

"On hearing this I said I would do my best to carry out hisorders, and after making me repeat them once more, he went away. Later, Nombe dressed me up as you saw me, Mr. Quatermain, putsome glittering powder into my hair and touched me beneath theeyes with a dark kind of pigment. Also she gave me the littlespear and made me practise standing quite still with it raised inmy right hand, telling me that when I heard her say the word'Throw, ' I was to cast it into the air. Then the moon rose andwe heard men talking at a distance. At last some one came to thehut and whispered to Nombe, who led me out to the little pathbetween the rocks. 

"This must have been nearly two hours after I heard the men beginto talk--"

"Excuse me, " I interrupted, "but where was Nombe all those twohours?"

"With me. She never left my side, Mr. Quatermain, and while Iwas on the rock she was crouched within three paces of me betweentwo big stones at the mouth of the path. "

"Indeed, " I replied faintly, "this is very interesting. Pleasecontinue--but one word, how was Nombe dressed? Did she wear anecklace of blue beads?"

"Just as she always is, or rather less so, for she had nothing onexcept her moocha, and certainly no blue beads. But why do youask?"

"From curiosity merely. I mean, I will tell you afterwards, praygo on. "

"Well, I stepped forward on to the rock and at first saw nothing, because at that moment the moon was hid by a cloud; indeed Nombehad waited for the cloud to pass over its face, before she thrustme forward. Also some smoke from a fire below was risingstraight in front of me. Presently the cloud passed, the smokethinned, and I saw the circle of those savage men seated beneath, and in their centre a great chief wearing a leopard's skin cloakwho I guessed was the king. You I did not see, Mr. Quatermain, because you were behind a tree, yet I felt that you were there, afriend among all those foes. I stood still, as I had been taughtto do, and heard the murmur of astonishment and caught the gleamof the moonlight from the white feathers that were sewn upon myrobe. 

"Then I heard also the voice of Zikali speaking from beneath. Hecalled on you to come out to shoot at me, and the man whom I tookto be the king, ordered you to obey. You appeared from behindthe tree, and I was certain from the look upon your face that atthat distance you did not know who I was in my strange andglittering raiment. You lifted the pistol and I was terriblyafraid, for I had seen you shoot with it before on the verandahof the Temple and knew well that you do not miss. Very nearly Iscreamed out to you, but remembered and was silent, thinking thatafter all it did not much matter if I died, except for the sakeof Maurice here. Also by now I guessed that I was being used todeceive those men before me into some terrible act, and that if Idied, at least they would be undeceived. 

"I thought that an age passed between the time you pointed thepistol and I saw the flash for which I was waiting. "

"You need not have waited, Heda, " I interposed, "for if I hadreally aimed at you you would never have seen that flash, atleast so it is said. I too guessed enough to shoot above you, although at the time I did not know that it was you on the rock;indeed I thought it was Nombe painted up. "

"Yes, I heard the bullet sing over me. Then I heard the voice ofZikali challenging you to shoot him, and to tell the truth, hopedthat you would do so. Just before you fired for the second time, Nombe whispered to me--'Throw' and I threw the little red-handledspear into the air. Then as the pistol went off Nombewhispered--'Come. ' I slipped away down the path and back withher into the hut, where she kissed me and said that I had donewell indeed, after which she took off my strange robe and helpedme to put on my own dress. 

"That is all I know, except that some hours later I was awakenedfrom sleep and put into the litter where I went to sleep again, for what I had gone through tired me very much. I need nottrouble you with the rest, for we journeyed here in the same waythat we had journeyed to Ulundi--by night. I did not see Zikali, but in answer to my questions, Nombe told me that the Zulus haddeclared war against the English. What part in the business Ihad played, she would not tell me, and I do not know to thishour, but I am sure that it was a great one. 

"So we came back to the Black Kloof, where I found Maurice quitewell, and now he had better go on with the tale, for if I beginto tell you of our meeting I shall become foolish. "

"There isn't much more to tell, " said Anscombe, "except aboutyourself. While Heda was away I was kept a prisoner and watchedday and night by Zikali's people who would not let me stir ayard, but otherwise treated me kindly. Then one day at sunrise, or shortly after it, Heda re-appeared and told me all this story, for the end of which, as you may imagine, I thanked God. 

"After that we just lived on here, happily enough since we weretogether, until one day Nombe told us that there had been a greatbattle in which the Zulus had wiped out the English, killinghundreds and hundreds of them, although for every soldier thatthey killed, they had lost two. Of course this made us very sad, especially as we were afraid you might be with our troops. Weasked Nombe if you were present at the battle. She answered thatshe would inquire of her Spirit and went through some verystrange performances with ashes and knuckle bones, after whichshe announced that you had been in the battle but were alive andcoming this way with a dog that had silver on it. We laughed ather, saying that she could not possibly know anything of thesort, also that dogs as a rule did not carry silver. Whereon sheonly smiled and said--'Wait. '

"I think it was three days later that one night towards dawn Iwas awakened by hearing a dog barking outside my hut, as thoughit wished to call attention to its presence. It barked sopersistently and in a way so unlike a Kaffir dog, that at lengthabout dawn I went out of the hut to see what was the matter. There, standing a few yards away surrounded by some of Zikali'speople, I saw Lost and knew at once that it was an EnglishAiredale, for I have had several of the breed. It looked verytired and frightened, and while I was wondering whence on earthit could have come, I noticed that it had a silver-mounted collarand remembered Nombe and her talk about you and a dog thatcarried silver on it. From that moment, Allan, I was certainthat you were somewhere near, especially as the beast ran up tome--it would take no notice of the Kaffirs--and kept lookingtowards the mouth of the kloof, as though it wished me to followit. Just then Nombe arrived, and on seeing the dog looked at meoddly. 

"'I have a message for you from my master, Mauriti, ' she said tome through Heda, who by now had arrived upon the scene, havingalso been aroused by Lost's barking. 'It is that if you wish totake a walk with a strange dog you can do so, and bring backanything you may find. '"

"The end of it was that after we had fed Lost with milk and meat, I and six of Zikali's men started down the kloof, Lost goingahead of us and now and again running back and whining. At themouth of the kloof it led us over a hill and down into abush-veld valley where the thorns grew very thick. When we hadgone along the valley for about two miles, one of the Kaffirs sawa Basuto pony still saddled, and caught it. The dog went on pastthe pony to a tree that had been shattered by lightning, andthere within a few yards of the tree we found you lyingsenseless, Allan, or, as I thought at first, dead, and by yourside a Martini rifle of which the stock also seemed to have beenbroken by lightning. 

"Well, we put you on a shield and carried you here, meeting noone, and that is all the story, Allan. "

He stopped and we stared at each other. Then I called Lost andpatted its head, and the dear beast licked my hand as though itunderstood that it was being thanked. 

"A strange tale, " I said, "but God Almighty has put much wisdominto His creatures of which we know nothing. Let us thank Him, "and in our hearts we did. 

Thus was I rescued from death by the intelligence and fidelity ofa four-footed creature. Doubtless in my semi-conscious statethat resulted from shock, weariness and sun-stroke, I had all thewhile headed sub-consciously and without any definite object forthe Black Kloof. When I was within a few miles of it I wasstunned by the lightning which ran down the rifle to the ground, though not actually struck. Then the dog, which had escaped, played its part, wandering about the country to find help for me, and so I was saved. 

Now of the long months that followed I have little to tell. Theywere not unhappy in their way, for week by week I felt myselfgrowing stronger, though very slowly. There was a path, steep, difficult and secret, which could be gained through one of thecaves in the precipice, not that in which I slept. This path ranup a water-cut kloof through a patch of thorns to a flattableland that was part of the Ceza stronghold. By it, when Ihad gained sufficient strength, sometimes we used to climb to theplateau, and there take exercise. It was an agreeable change fromthe stifling atmosphere of the Black Kloof. The days were verydull, for we were as much out of the world as though we had beenmarooned on a desert island. Still from time to time we heard ofthe progress of the war through Nombe, for Zikali I saw butseldom. 

She told of disasters to the English, of the death of a greatyoung Chief who was deserted by his companions and died fightingbravely--afterwards I discovered that this was the PrinceImperial of France--of the advance of our armies, of defeatsinflicted upon Cetewayo's impis, and finally of the destructionof the Zulus on the battlefield of Ulundi, where they hurledthemselves by thousands upon the British square, to be swept awayby case-shot and the hail of bullets. This battle, by the way, the Zulus call, not Ulundi or Nodwengu, for it was fought infront of Panda's old kraal of that name, but Ocwecweni, whichmeans--"the fight of the sheet-iron fortress. " I suppose theygive it this name because the hedge of bayonets, flashing in thesunlight, reminded them of sheet-iron. Or it may be becausethese proved as impenetrable as would have done walls of iron. At any rate they dashed their naked bodies against the storm oflead and fell in heaps, only about a dozen of our men beingkilled, as the little graveyard in the centre of the squareentrenchment, about which still lie the empty cartridge cases, records to-day. 

There, then, on that plain perished the Zulu kingdom which wasbuilt up by Chaka. 

Now it was after this event that I saw Zikali and begged him tolet us go. I found him triumphant and yet strangely disturbedand, as I thought, more apprehensive than I had ever seen him. 

"So, Zikali, " I said, "if what I hear is true, you have had yourway and destroyed the Zulu people. Now you should be happy. "

"Is man ever happy, Macumazahn, when he has gained that which hesought for years? The two out there sigh and are sad becausethey cannot be married after their own white fashion, though whatthere is to keep them apart I do not know. Well, in time theywill be married, only to find that they are not so happy as theythought they would be. Oh! a day will come when they will talkto each other and say--'Those moons which we spent waitingtogether in the Black Kloof were the true moons of sweetness, forthen we had something to gain; now we have gained all--and whatis it?'

"So it is with me, Macumazahn. Since the Zulus under Chakakilled out my people, the Ndwandwe, year by year I have plottedand waited to see them wedded to the assegai. Now it has comeabout. You white men have stamped them flat upon the plain ofUlundi; they are no more a nation. And yet I am not happy, forafter all it was the House of Senzangacona and not the people ofthe Zulus, that harmed me and mine, and Cetewayo still lives. While the queen bee remains there may be a hive again. While anember still glows in the dead ashes, the forest may yet be fired. Perhaps when Cetewayo is dead, then I shall be happy. Only hisdeath and mine are set by Fate as close together as two sistergrains of corn upon the cob. "

I turned the subject, again asking his leave to depart to Natalor to join the English army. 

"You cannot go yet, " he answered sternly, "so trouble me no more. The land is full of wandering bands of Zulus who would kill youand your blood would be on my head. Moreover, if they saw awhite woman who had sheltered with me, might they not guesssomething? To dress a doll for the part of the Inkosazana-y-Zuluis the greatest crime in the world, Macumazahn, and what wouldhappen to the Opener of Roads and all his House if it were evenbreathed that he had dressed that doll and thus brought about thewar which ruined them? When Cetewayo is killed and the dead areburied and peace falls upon the land, the peace of death, thenyou shall go, Macumazahn, and not before. "

"At least, Zikali, send a message to the captains of the Englisharmy and tell them that we are here. "

"Send a message to the hyenas and tell them where the carcase is;send a message to the hunters and tell them where the buck Zikalicrouches on its form! Hearken, Macumazahn, if you do this, oreven urge me again to do it, neither you nor your friends shallever leave the Black Kloof. I have spoken. "

Then understanding that the case was hopeless, I left him and heglowered after me, for fear had made him cruel. He had won thelong game and success had turned to ashes in his mouth. Orrather, he had not won--yet--since his war was against the Houseof Senzangacona from which he and his tribe had suffered cruelwrong. To pull it down he must pull down the Zulu nation; it waslike burning a city to destroy a compromising letter. He hadburnt the city, but the letter still remained intact and might beproduced in evidence against him. In other words Cetewayo yetlived. Therefore his vengeance remained quite unslaked and hisdanger was as great, or perhaps greater than it had ever beenbefore. For was he not the prophet who by producing the Princessof Heaven, the traditional goddess of the Zulus, before the eyesof the king and Council, had caused them to decide for war? Andsupposing it were so much as breathed that this spirit which theyseemed to see, had been but a trick and a fraud, what then? Hewould be tortured to death if his dupes had time, or torn limbfrom limb if they had not, that is if he could die like othermen--a matter as to which personally I had no doubts. 

Shortly after I left Zikali Heda and I ate our evening mealtogether. Anscombe, as it chanced, had gone by the secret pathto the tableland of which I have spoken, where he amused himself, as of course we were not allowed to fire a gun, by catchingpartridges, with the help of an ingenious system of grass netswhich he had invented. There were springs on this tableland thatformed little pools of water, at which the partridges, alsooccasionally guineafowl and bush pheasants, came to drink atsunrise and sunset. Here it was that he set his nets and retiredto work them at those hours by means of strings that he pulledfrom hiding-places. So Heda and I were alone. 

I told her of my ill success with Zikali, at which she was muchdisappointed. Then by an afterthought I suggested that perhapsshe might try to do something in the way of getting a messagethrough to the English camp at Ulundi, or elsewhere, by help ofthe witch-doctoress, Nombe, adding that I would speak to hermyself had I not observed that I seemed to be out of favour withher of late. Heda shook her head and answered that she thoughtit would be useless to try, also too dangerous. RememberingZikali's threat, on reflection I agreed with her. 

"Tell me, Mr. Quatermain, " she added, "is it possible for onewoman to be in love with another?"

I stared at her and replied that I did not understand what shemeant, since women, so far as I had observed them, were generallyin love either with a man or with themselves, perhaps more oftenwith the latter than the former. Rather a cheap joke I admit, with just enough truth in it to make it acceptable--in the BlackKloof. 

"So I thought, " she answered, "but really Nombe behaves in a mostpeculiar way. As you know she took a fancy to me from thebeginning, perhaps because she had never had any other woman withwhom to associate, having, so far as I can make out, been broughtup here among men from a child. Indeed, her story is that shewas one of twins and therefore as the younger, was exposed to dieaccording to the Zulu superstition. Zikali, however, or aservant of his who knew what was happening, rescued and rearedher, so practically I am the only female with whom she has everbeen intimate. At any rate her affection for me has grown andgrown until, although it seems ungrateful to say so, it hasbecome something of a nuisance. She has told me again and againthat she would die to protect me, and that if by chance anythinghappened to me, she would kill herself and follow me into anotherworld. She is continually making divinations about my future, and as these, in which she entirely believes, always show me asliving without her, she is much distressed and at times burstsinto tears. "

"Hysteria! It is very common among the Zulu women, andespecially those of them who practise magic arts, " I answered. 

"Perhaps, but as it results in the most intense jealousy, Nombe'shysteria is awkward. For instance, she is horribly jealous ofMaurice. "

"The instincts of a chaperone developed early, " I suggestedagain. 

"That won't quite do, Mr. Quatermain, " answered Heda with alaugh, "since she is even more jealous of you. With reference toMaurice, she explains frankly that if we marry she might, as sheputs it, 'continue to sit outside the hut, ' but that in your caseyou live 'in my head, ' where she cannot come between you and me. "

"Mad, " I remarked, "quite mad. Still madness has to be dealtwith in this world like other things, and Nombe, being anabnormal person, may suffer from abnormal ideas. It just amountsto this; she has conceived a passionate devotion to you, at whichI am sure neither Maurice nor I can wonder. "

"Are those the kind of compliments you used to pay in your youth, Mr. Quatermain? I expect so, and now that you are old you cannotstop them. Well, I thank you all the same, because perhaps youmean what you say. But what is to be done about Nombe? Hush!here she comes. I will leave you to reason with her, if you getthe chance, " and she departed in a hurry. 

Nombe arrived, and something in her aspect told me that I wasgoing to get the chance. Her eternal smile was almost gone andher dark, beautiful eyes flashed ominously. Still she began byasking in a mild voice whether the lady Heddana had eaten hersupper with appetite. It will be observed that she was notinterested in my appetite or whether enough was left for Anscombewhen he returned. I replied that so far as I noted she hadconsumed about half a partridge, with other things. 

"I am glad, " said Nombe, "since I was not here to attend uponher, having been summoned to speak with the Master. "

Then she sat down and looked at me like a thunder storm. 

"I nursed you when you were so ill, Macumazahn, " she began, "butnow I learn that for the milk with which I fed you, you wouldforce me to drink bitter water that will poison me. "

I replied I was well aware that without her nursing I should longago have been dead, which was what caused me to love her like myown daughter. But would she kindly explain? This she did atonce. 

"You have been plotting to take away from me the lady Heddana whoto me is as mother and sister and child. It is useless to lie tome, for the Master has told me all; moreover, I knew it formyself, both through my Spirit and because I had watched you. "

"I have no intention of lying to you, Nombe, about this or anyother matter, though I think that sometimes in the past you havelied to me. Tell me, do you expect the Inkosi Mauriti, the ladyHeddana and myself to pass the rest of our lives in the BlackKloof, when they wish to get married and go across the BlackWater to where their home will be, and I wish to attend to myaffairs?"

"I do not know what I expect, Macumazahn, but I do know thatnever while I live will I be parted from the lady Heddana. Atlast I have found some one to love, and you and the other wouldsteal her away from me. "

I studied her for a while, then asked--

"Why do you not marry, Nombe, and have a husband, and children tolove?"

"Marry?" she replied. "I am married to my Spirit which does notdwell beneath the sun, and my children are not of earth;moreover, all men are hateful to me, " and her eyes added, "especially you. "

"That is a calf with a dog's head, " I replied in the words of thenative proverb, meaning that she said what was not natural. "Well, Nombe, if you are so fond of the lady Heddana, you hadbetter arrange with her and the Inkosi Mauriti to go away withthem. "

"You know well I cannot, Macumazahn. I am tied to my Master byropes that are stronger than iron, and if I attempted to breakthem my Spirit would wither and I should wither with it. "

"Dear me! what a dreadful business. That is what comes of takingto magic. Well, Nombe, I am afraid I have nothing to suggest, nor, to tell you the truth, can I see what I have to do with thematter. "

Then she sprang up in a rage, saying--

"I understand that not only will you give me no help, but thatyou also mock at me, Macumazahn. Moreover, as it is with you, soit is with Mauriti, who pretends to love my lady so much, thoughI love her more with my little finger than he does with all hisbody and what he calls his soul. Yes, he too mocks at me. Nowif you were both dead, " she added with sudden venom, "my ladywould not wish to go away. Be careful lest a spell should fallupon you, Macumazahn, " and without more words she turned andwent. 

At first I was inclined to laugh; the whole thing seemed soabsurd. On reflection, however, I perceived that in reality itwas very serious to people situated as we were. This woman was asavage; more, a mystic savage of considerable powers of mind--aformidable combination. Also there were no restraints upon her, since public opinion had as little authority in the Black Kloofas the Queen's Writ. Lastly, it was not unknown for women toconceive these violent affections which, if thwarted, filled themwith something like madness. Thus I remembered a very terribleoccurrence of my youth which resulted in the death of one who wasmost dear to me. I will not dwell on it, but this, too, was thework of a passionate creature, woman I can scarcely call her, whothought she was being robbed of one whom she adored. 

The end of it was that I did not enjoy my pipe that night, thoughluckily Anscombe returned after a successful evening's netting, about which he was so full of talk that there was no need for meto say much. So I put off any discussion of the problem untilthe morrow. 

CHAPTER XXI

THE KING VISITS ZIKALI

Next morning, as a result of my cogitations, I went to seeZikali. I was admitted after a good deal of trouble and delay, for although his retinue was limited and, with the exception ofNombe, entirely male, this old prophet kept a kind of semi-stateand was about as difficult to approach as a European monarch. Ifound him crouching over a fire in his hut, since at this seasonof the year even in that hot place the air was chilly untilmidday. 

"What is it, Macumazahn?" he asked. "As to your going away, havepatience. I learn that he who was King of the Zulus is in fullflight, with the white men tracking him like a wounded buck. When the buck is caught and killed, then you can go. "

"It is about Nombe, " I answered, and told him all the story, which did not seem to surprise him at all. 

"Now see, Macumazahn, " he said, taking some snuff, "how hard itis to dam up the stream of nature. This child, Nombe, is of myblood, one whom I saved from death in a strange way, not becauseshe was of my blood but that I might make an experiment with her. Women, as you who are wise and have seen much will know, are intruth superior to men, though, because they are weaker in body, men have the upper hand of them and think themselves theirmasters, a state they are forced to accept because they must liveand cannot defend themselves. Yet their brains are keener, as anassegai is keener than a hoe; they are more in touch with thehidden things that shape out fate for people and for nations;they are more faithful and more patient, and by instinct if notby reason, more far-seeing, or at least the best of them are so, and by their best, like men, they should be judged. Yet this isthe hole in their shield. When they love they become the slavesof love, and for love's sake all else is brought to naught, andfor this reason they cannot be trusted. With men, as you know, this is otherwise. They, too, love, by Nature's law, but alwaysbehind there is something greater than love, although often theydo not understand what that may be. To be powerful, therefore, awoman must be one who does not love too much. If she cannot loveat all, then she is hated and has no power, but she must not lovetoo much. 

"Once I thought that I had found such a woman; she was namedMameena, whom all men worshipped and who played with all men, asI played with her. But what was the end of it? Just as thingswere going very well she learned to love too much some man ofstrange notions, who would have thwarted me and broughteverything to nothing, and therefore I had to kill her, for whichI was sorry. "

Here he paused to take some more snuff, watching me over thespoon as he drew it up his great nostrils, but as I said nothing, went on--

"Now after Mameena was dead I bethought me that I would rear up awoman who could still love but should never love a man andtherefore never become mad or foolish, because I believed that itwas only man who in taking her heart from woman, would take herwits also. This child, Nombe, came to my hand, and as I thought, so I did. Never mind how I did it, by medicine perhaps, by magicperhaps, by watering her pride and making it grow tall perhaps, or by all three. At least it was done, and this I know of Nombe, she will never care for any man except as a woman may care for abrother. 

"But now see what happens. She, the wise, the instructed, theman-despiser, meets a woman of another race who is sweet andgood, and learns to love her, not as maids and mothers love, butas one loves the Spirit that she worships. Yes, yes, to her sheis a goddess to be worshipped, one whom she desires to serve withall her heart and strength, to bow down before, making offerings, and at the end to follow into death. So it comes about that thisNombe, whose mind I thought to make as the wings of a birdfloating on the air while it searches for its prey, has becomeeven madder than other women. It is a disappointment to me, Macumazahn. "

"It may be a disappointment to you, Zikali, and all that you sayis very interesting. But to us it is a danger. Tell me, willyou command Nombe to cease from her folly?"

"Will I forbid the mist to rise, or the wind to blow, or thelightning to strike? As she is, she is. Her heart is filledwith black jealousy of Mauriti and of you, as a butcher's gourdis filled with blood, for she is not one who desires that hergoddess should have other worshippers; she would keep her forherself alone. "

"Then in this way or in that the gourd must be emptied, Zikali, lest we should be forced to drink from it and that black bloodshould poison us. "

"How, unless it be broken, Macumazahn? If Heddana departs andleaves her, she will go mad, and accompany her she cannot, forher Spirit dwells here, " and he tapped his own breast. "It wouldpull her back again and she would become a great trouble to me, for then that Spirit of hers would not suffer me to sleep, withits continual startings in search of what it had lost, and itsreturnings empty-handed. Well, have no fear, for at the worstthe bowl can be broken and the blood poured upon the earth, as Ihave broken finer bowls than this before; had I all the bits ofthem they would make a heap so high, Macumazahn!" and he held outhis hand on a level with his head, a gesture that made my backcreep. "I will tell her this and it may keep her quiet for awhile. Of poison you need not be afraid, since unlike mine, herSpirit hates it. Poison is not one of its weapons as it is withmine. But of spells, beware, for her Spirit has some which arevery powerful. "

Now I jumped up, filled with indignation, saying--

"I do not believe in Nombe's spells, and in any case how am I toguard against them?"

"If you do not believe there is no need to guard, and if you dobelieve, then it is for you to find out how to guard, Macumazahn. Oh! I could tell you the story of a white teacher who did notbelieve and would not guard--but never mind, never mind. Good-bye, Macumazahn, I will speak with Nombe. Ask her for alock of her hair to wear upon your heart after she has enchantedit. The charm is good against spells. O-ho--Oho-o! What foolswe are, white and black together! That is what Cetewayo isthinking to-day. "

After this Nombe became much more agreeable. That is to say shewas very polite, her smile was more fixed and her eyes moreunfathomable than ever. Evidently Zikali had spoken to her andshe had listened. Yet to tell the truth my distrust of thishandsome young woman grew deeper day by day. I recognized thatthere was a great gulf between her and the normal, that she was acreature fashioned by Zikali who had trained her as a gardenertrains a tree, nay, who had done more, who had grafted someforeign growth of exotic and unnatural spiritualism on to herprimitive nature. The nature remained the same, but the graft orgrafts bore strange flowers and fruit, unholy flowers andpoisonous fruit. Therefore she was not to blame--sometimes Iwonder whether in this curious world, could one see their pastand their future, anybody is to blame for anything--but this didnot make her the less dangerous. 

Some talks I had with her only increased my apprehensions, for Ifound that in a way she had no conscience. Life, she told me, was but a dream, and all its laws as evolved by man were butillusions. The real life was elsewhere. There was the distantlake on which the flower of our true existence floated. Withoutthis unseen lake of supernatural water the flower could notfloat; indeed there would be no flower. Moreover, the flower didnot matter; sometimes it would have this shape and colour, sometimes that. It was but a thing destined to grow and bloomand rot, and during its day to be ugly or to be beautiful, tosmell sweet or ill, as it might chance, and ultimately to beabsorbed back into the general water of Life. 

I pointed out to her that all flowers had roots which grew insoil. Looking at an orchid-like plant that crept along the boughof a tree, she answered that this was not true as some grew uponair. But however this might be, the soil, or the moisture in theair, was distilled from thousands of other flower lives that hadflourished in their day and been forgotten. It did not matterwhen they died or how many other flowers they choked that theymight live. Yet each flower had its own spirit which always hadbeen and always would be. 

I asked her of the end and the object of that spirit. Sheanswered darkly that she did not know and if she did, would notsay, but that these were very dreadful. 

Such were some of her vague and figurative assertions which Ionly record to indicate their uncomfortable and indeed but halfhuman nature. I forgot to add that she declared that everyflower or life had a twin flower or life, which in eachsuccessive growth it was bound to find and bloom beside, orwither to the root and spring again and that ultimately these twowould become one, and as one flourish eternally. Of all of whichI understood and understand little, except that she had graspedthe elements of some truth which she could not express in clearand definite language. 

One day I was seated in Zikali's hut whither by permission I hadcome to ask the latest news, when suddenly Nombe appeared andcrouched down before him. 

"Who gave you leave to enter here, and what is your business?" heasked angrily. 

"Home of Spirits, " she replied in a humble voice, "be not angrywith your servant. Necessity gave me leave, and my business isto tell you that strangers approach. "

"Who are they that dare to enter the Black Kloof unannounced?"

"Cetewayo the King is one of them, the others I do not know, butthey are many, armed all of them. They approach your gate;before a man can count two hundred they will be here. "

"Where are the white chief and the lady Heddana?" asked Zikali. 

"By good fortune they have gone by the secret path to thetableland and will not be back till sunset. They wished to bealone, so I did not accompany them, and Macumazahn here said thathe was too weary to do so. " (This was true. Also like Nombe Ithought that they wished to be alone. )

"Good. Go, tell the king that I knew of his coming and amawaiting him. Bid my servants kill the ox which is in the kraal, the fat ox that they thought is sick and therefore fit food for asick king, " he added bitterly. 

She glided away like a startled snake. Then Zikali turned to meand said swiftly--

"Macumazahn, you are in great danger. If you are found here youwill be killed, and so will the others whom I will send to warnnot to return till this king has gone away. Go at once to jointhem. No, it is too late, I hear the Zulus come. Take thatkaross, cover yourself with it and lie among the baskets andbeerpots here near the entrance of the hut in the deepest of theshadows, so that if any enter, perchance you will not be found. I too am in danger who shall be held to account for all that hashappened. Perhaps they will kill me, if I can be killed. If so, get away with the others as best you can. Nombe will tell youwhere your horses are hidden. In that case let Heddana takeNombe with her, for when I am dead she will go, and shake her offin Natal if she troubles her. Whatever chances, remember, Macumazahn, that I have done my best to keep my word to you andto protect you and your friends. Now I go to look on thispricked bladder who was once a king. "

He scrambled from the hut with slow, toad-like motions, while Iwith motions that were anything but slow, grabbed the greycatskin kaross and ensconced myself among the beerpots and matsin such a position that my head, over which I set a three-leggedcarved stool of Zikali's own cutting, was but a few inches to theleft of the door-hole and therefore in the deepest of theshadows. Thence by stretching out my neck a little, I could seethrough the hole, also hear all that passed outside. Unless adeliberate search of the hut should be made I was fairly safefrom observation, even if it were entered by strangers. One fearI had, however, it was lest the dog Lost should get into theplace and smell me out. I had left him tied to the centre polein my own hut, because he hated Zikali and always growled at him. But suppose he gnawed through the cord, or any one let him loose!

Scarcely had Zikali seated himself in his accustomed place beforethe hut, than the gate of the outer fence opened and approachingthrough it I saw forty or fifty fierce and way-worn men. Infront of them, riding on a tired horse that was led by a servant, was Cetewayo himself. He was assisted to dismount, or ratherthrew his great bulk into the arms that were waiting to receivehim. 

Then after some words with his following and with one of Zikali'speople, followed by three or four indunas and leaning on the armof Umnyamana, the Prime Minister, he entered the enclosure, therest remaining without. Zikali, who sat as though asleep, suddenly appeared to wake up and perceive him. Struggling to hisfeet he lifted his right arm and gave the royal salute of Bayete, and with it titles of praise, such as "Black One!" "Elephant!""Earth-Shaker!" "Conqueror!" "Eater-up of the White men!" "Childof the Wild Beast (Chaka) whose teeth are sharper than the WildBeast's ever were!" and so on, until Cetewayo, growingimpatient, cried out--

"Be silent, Wizard. Is this a time for fine words? Do you notknow my case that you offend my ears with them? Give us food toeat if you have it, after which I would speak with you alone. Beswift also; here I may not stay for long, since the white dogsare at my heels. "

"I knew that you were coming, O King, to honour my poor housewith a visit, " said Zikali slowly, "and therefore the ox isalready killed and the meat will soon be on the fire. Meanwhiledrink a sup of beer, and rest. "

He clapped his hands, whereon Nombe and some servants appearedwith pots of beer, of which, after Zikali had tasted it to showthat it was not poisoned, the king and his people drankthirstily. Then it was taken to those outside. 

"What is this that my ears hear?" asked Zikali when Nombe and theothers had gone, "that the White Dogs are on the spoor of theBlack Bull?"

Cetewayo nodded heavily, and answered--

"My impis were broken to pieces on the plain of Ulundi; thecowards ran from the bullets as children run from bees. Mykraals are burnt and I, the King, with but a faithful remnant flyfor my life. The prophecy of the Black One has come true. Thepeople of the Zulus are stamped flat beneath the feet of thegreat White People. "

"I remember that prophecy, O King. Mopo told it to me within anhour of the death of the Black One when he gave me the littlered-handled assegai that he snatched from the Black One's hand todo the deed. It makes me almost young again to think of it, although even then I was old, " replied Zikali in a dreamy voicelike one who speaks to himself. 

Hearing him from under my kaross I bethought me that he hadreally grown old at last, who for the moment evidently forgot thepart which this very assegai had played a few months before inthe Vale of Bones. Well, even the greatest masters make suchslips at times when their minds are full of other things. But ifZikali forgot, Cetewayo and his councillors remembered, as Icould see by the look of quick intelligence that flashed fromface to face. 

"So! Mopo the murderer, he who vanished from the land after thedeath of my uncle Dingaan, gave you the little red assegai, didhe, Opener of Roads! And but a few months ago that assegai, which old Sigananda knew again, thrown by the hand of theInkosazana-y-Zulu, drew blood from my body after the white man, Macumazahn, had severed its shaft with his bullet. Now tell me, Opener of Roads, how did it pass from your keeping into that ofthe spirit Nomkubulwana?"

At this question I distinctly saw a shiver shake the frame ofZikali who realized too late the terrible mistake he had made. Yet as only the great can do, he retrieved and even triumphedover his error. 

"Oho-ho!" he laughed, "who am I that I can tell how such thingshappen? Do you not know, O King, that the Spirits leave whatthey will and take what they will, whether it be but a blade ofgrass, or the life of a man"--here he looked at Cetewayo--"oreven of a people? Sometimes they take the shadow and sometimesthe substance, since spirit or matter, all is theirs. As for thelittle assegai, I lost it years ago. I remember that the lasttime I saw it was in the hands of a woman named Mameena to whom Ishowed it as a strange and bloody thing. After her death I foundthat it was gone, so doubtless she took it with her to theUnder-world and there gave it to the Queen Nomkubulwana, withwhom you may remember this Mameena returned from that Under-worldyonder in the Bones. "

"It may be so, " said Cetewayo sullenly, "yet it was no spiritiron that cut my thigh, but what do I know of the ways ofSpirits? Wizard, I would speak with you in your hut alone whereno ear can hear us. "

"My hut is the King's, " answered Zikali, "yet let the Kingremember that those Spirits of which he does not know the ways, can always hear, yes, even the thoughts of men, and on them dojudgment. "

"Fear not, " said Cetewayo, "amongst many other things I rememberthis also. "

Then Zikali turned and crept into the hut, whispering as hepassed me--

"Lie silent for your life. " And Cetewayo having bidden hisretinue to depart outside the fence and await him there, followedafter him. 

They sat them down on either side of the smouldering fire andstared at each other through the thin smoke there in the gloom ofthe hut. By turning my head that the foot of the king hadbrushed as he passed, I could watch them both. Cetewayo spokethe first in a hoarse, slow voice, saying--

"Wizard, I am in danger of my life and I have come to you whoknow all the secrets of this land, that you may tell me in whatplace I may hide where the white men cannot find me. It must betold into my ear alone, since I dare not trust the matter to anyother, at any rate until I must. They are traitors every man ofthem, yes, even those who seem to be most faithful. The fallenman has no friends, least of all if he chances to be a king. Only the dead will keep his counsel. Tell me of the place Ineed. "

"Dingaan, who was before you, once asked this same thing of me, OKing, when he was flying from Panda your father, and the Boers. I gave him advice that he did not take, but sought a refuge ofhis own upon a certain Ghost-mountain. What happened to himthere that Mopo, of whom you spoke a while ago, can tell you ifhe still lives. "*

[*--See _Nada the Lily. _--EDITOR. ]

"Surely you are an ill-omened night-bird who thus croak to mecontinually of the death of kings, " broke in Cetewayo withsuppressed rage. Then calming himself with an effort added, "Tell me now, where shall I hide?"

"Would you know, King? Then hearken. On the south slope of theIngome Range west of the Ibululwana River, on the outskirts ofthe great forest, there is a kloof whereof the entrance, whichonly one man can pass at a time, is covered by a thicket ofthorns and marked by a black rock shaped like a great toad withan open mouth, or, as some say, like myself, 'The-Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born. ' Near to this rockdwells an old woman, blind of one eye and lacking a hand, whichthe Black One cut off shortly before his death, because when hekilled her father, she saw the future and prophesied a like deathto him, although then she was but a child. This woman is of ourcompany, being a witch-doctoress. I will send a Spirit to her, if you so will it, to warn her to watch for you and your company, O King, and show you the mouth of the kloof, where are some oldhuts and water. There you will never be found unless you arebetrayed. "

"Who can betray me when none know whither I am going?" askedCetewayo. "Send the Spirit, send it at once, that this one-armedwitch may make ready. "

"What is the hurry, King, seeing that the forest is far away?Yet be it as you will. Keep silence now, lest evil should befallyou. "

Then of a sudden Zikali seemed to go off into one of his trances. His form grew rigid, his eyes closed, his face became fixed asthough in death, and foam appeared upon his lips. He was adreadful sight to look on, there in the gloomy hut. 

Cetewayo watched him and shivered. Then he opened his blanketand I perceived that fastened about him by a loop of hide in sucha fashion that it could be drawn out in a moment, was the bladeof a broad assegai, the shaft of which was shortened to about sixinches. His hand grasped this shaft, and I understood that hewas contemplating the murder of Zikali. Then it seemed to methat he changed his mind and that his lips shaped the words--"Notyet, " though whether he really spoke them I do not know. Atleast he withdrew his hand and closed the blanket. 

Slowly Zikali opened his eyes, staring at the roof of the hut, whence came a curious sound as of squeaking bats. He looked likea dead man coming to life again. For a few moments he turned uphis ear as though he listened to the squealing, then said--

"It is well. The Spirit that I summoned has visited her of ourcompany who is named One-hand and returned with the answer. Didyou not hear it speaking in the thatch, O King?"

"I heard something, Wizard, " answered Cetewayo in an awed voice. "I thought it was a bat. "

"A bat it is, O King, one with wide wings and swift. This batsays that my sister, One-hand, will meet you on the third dayfrom now at this hour on the further side of the ford of theIbululwana, where three milk-trees grow together on a knoll. Shewill be sitting under the centre milk-tree and will wait for twohours, no more, to show you the secret entrance to the kloof. "

"The road is rough and long, I shall have to hurry when worn outwith travelling, " said Cetewayo. 

"That is so, O King. Therefore my counsel is that you begin thejourney as soon as possible, especially as I seem to hear thebaying of the white dogs not far away. "

"By Chaka's head! I will not, " growled Cetewayo, "who thought tosleep here in peace this night. "

"As the King wills. All that I have is the King's. Only thenOne-hand will not be waiting and some other place of hiding mustbe found, since this is known to me only and to her; also thatSpirit which I sent will make no second journey, nor can I travelto show it to the King. "

"Yes, Wizard, it is known to you and to myself. Methinks itwould be better were it known to me alone. I have a spoonful ofsnuff to share (i. E. , a bone to pick) with you, Wizard. It wouldseem that you set my feet and those of the Zulu people upon afalse road, yonder in the Vale of Bones, causing me to declarewar upon the white men and thereby bringing us all to ruin. "

"Mayhap my memory grows bad, O King, for I do not remember that Idid these things. I remember that the spirit of a certainMameena whom I called up from the dead, prophesied victory to theKing, which victory has been his. Also it prophesied othervictories to the King in a far land across the water, whichvictories doubtless shall be his in due season; for myself I gaveno 'counsel to the King or to his indunas and generals. '"

"You lie, Wizard, " exclaimed Cetewayo hoarsely. "Did you notsummon the shape of the Princess of Heaven to be the sign of war, and did she not hold in her hand that assegai of the Black Onewhich you have told me was in your keeping? How did it pass fromyour keeping into the hand of a spirit?"

"As to that matter I have spoken, O King. For the rest, isNomkubulwana my servant to come and go at my bidding?"

"I think so, " said Cetewayo coldly. "I think also that you whoknow the place where I purpose to hide, would do well to forgetit. Surely you have lived too long, O Opener of Roads, and doneenough evil to the House of Senzangacona, which you ever hated. "

So he spoke, and once more I saw his hand steal towards thespearhead which was hidden beneath the blanket that he wore. 

Zikali saw it also and laughed. "Oho!" he laughed, "forgettingall my warnings, and that the day of my death will be his own, the King thinks to kill me because I am old and feeble and aloneand unarmed. He thinks to kill me as the Black One thought, asDingaan thought, as even Panda thought, yet I live on to thisday. Well, I bear no malice since it is natural that the Kingshould wish to kill one who knows the secret of where he wouldhide himself for his own life's sake. That spearhead which theKing is fingering is sharp, so sharp that my bare breast cannotturn its edge. I must find me a shield! I must find me ashield! Fire, you are not yet dead. Awake, make smoke to be myshield!" and he waved his long, monkey-like arms over the embers, from which instantly there sprang up a reek of thin white smokethat appeared to take a vague and indefinite shape whichsuggested the shadow of a man; for to me it seemed a nebulous andwavering shadow, no more. 

"What are you staring at, O King?" went on Zikali in a fierce andthrilling voice. "Who is it that you see? Who has the fire sentto be my shield? Ghosts are so thick here that I do not know. Icannot tell one of them from the other. Who is it? Who, who ofall that you have slain and who therefore are your foes?"

"Umbelazi, my brother, " groaned Cetewayo. "My brother Umbelazistands before me with spear raised; he whom I brought to hisdeath at the battle of the Tugela. His eyes flame upon me, hisspear is raised to strike. He speaks words I cannot understand. Protect me, O Wizard! Lord of Spirits, protect me from thespirit of Umbelazi. "

Zikali laughed wildly and continued to wave his arms above thefire from which smoke poured ever more densely, till the hut wasfull of it. 

When it cleared away again Cetewayo was gone!

"Saw you ever the like of that?" said Zikali, addressing thekaross under which I was sweltering. "Tell me, Macumazahn. "

"Yes, " I answered, thrusting out my head as a tortoise does, "when in this very hut you seemed to produce the shape, also outof smoke, I think, of one whom I used to know. Say, how do youdo it, Zikali?"

"Do it. Who knows? Perchance I do nothing. Perchance I thinkand you fools see, no more. Or perchance the spirits of the deadwho are so near to us, come at my call and take themselves bodiesout of the charmed smoke of my fire. You white men are wise, answer your own question, Macumazahn. At least that smoke orthat ghost saved me from a spear thrust in the heart, wherewithCetewayo was minded to pay me for showing him a hiding-placewhich he desired should be secret to himself alone. Well, well, I can pay as well as Cetewayo and my count is longer. Now lieyou still, Macumazahn, for I go out to watch. He will not bidelong in this place which he deems haunted and ill-omened. Hewill be gone ere sunset, that is within an hour, and sleepelsewhere. "

Then he crept from the hut and presently, though I could seenothing, for now the gate of the fence was shut, I heard voicesdebating and finally that of Cetewayo say angrily--

"Have done! It is my will. You can eat your food outside ofthis place which is bewitched; the girl will show us where arethe huts of which the wizard speaks. "

A few minutes later Zikali crept back into the hut, laughing tohimself. 

"All is safe, " he said, "and you can come out of your hole, oldjackal. He who calls himself a king is gone, taking with himthose whom he thinks faithful, most of whom are but waiting achance to betray him. What did I say, a king? Nay, in allAfrica there is no slave so humble or so wretched as this brokenman. Oh! feather by feather I have plucked my fowl and by and byI shall cut his throat. You will be there, Macumazahn, you willbe there. "

"I trust not, " I answered as I mopped my brow. "We have beennear enough to throat-cutting this afternoon to last me a longwhile. Where has the king gone?"

"Not far, Macumazahn. I have sent Nombe to guide him to the hutsin the little dip five spear throws to the right of the mouth ofthe kloof where live the old herdsman and his people who guard mycattle. He and all the rest are away with the cattle that arehidden in the Ceza Forest out of reach of the white men, so thehuts are empty. Oh! now I read what you are thinking. I do notmean that he should be taken there. It is too near my house andthe king still has friends. "

"Why did you send Nombe?" I asked. 

"Because he would have no other guide, who does not trust my men. He means to keep her with him for some days and then let her go, and thus she will be out of mischief. Meanwhile you and yourfriends can depart untroubled by her fancies, and join the whitemen who are near. Tomorrow you shall start. "

"That is good, " I said with a sigh of relief. Then an ideastruck me and I added, "I suppose no harm will come to Nombe, whomight be thought to know too much?"

"I hope not, " he replied indifferently, "but that is a matter forher Spirit to decide. Now go, Macumazahn, for I am weary. "

I also was weary after my prolonged seclusion under that very hotskin rug. For be it remembered I was not yet strong again, andalthough this was not the real reason why I had stopped behindwhen the others went to the plateau, I still grew easily tired. My real reason was that of Nombe--that I thought they preferredto be alone. I looked about me and saw with relief that Cetewayoand every man of his retinue were really gone. They had not evenwaited to eat the ox that had been killed for them, but hadcarried off the meat with other provisions to theirsleeping-place outside the kloof. Having made sure of this Iwent to my hut and loosed Lost that fortunately enough had beenunable to gnaw through the thick buffalo-hide riem with which Ihad fastened him to the pole. 

He greeted me with rapture as though we had been parted foryears. Had he belonged to Ulysses himself he could not have beenmore joyful. When one is despondent and lonesome, how gratefulis the whole-hearted welcome of a dog which, we are sometimestempted to think, is the only creature that really cares for usin the world. Every other living thing has side interests of itsown, but that of a dog is centred in its master, though it istrue that it also dreams affectionately of dinner and rabbits. 

Then with Lost at my feet I sat outside the hut smoking andwaiting for the return of Anscombe and Heda. Presently I caughtsight of them in the gloaming. Their arms were around oneanother, and in some remarkable way they had managed to disposetheir heads, forgetting that the sky was still light behind them, in such fashion that it was difficult to tell one from the other. I reflected that it was a good thing that at last we wereescaping from this confounded kloof and country for one wherethey could marry and make an end, and became afflicted with asneezing fit. 

Heda asked where Nombe was and why supper was not ready, forNombe played the part of cook and parlourmaid combined. I toldher something of what had happened, whereon Heda, who did notappreciate its importance in the least, remarked that she, Nombe, might as well have put on the pot before she went and done sundryother things which I forget. Ultimately we got something to eatand turned in, Heda grumbling a little because she must sleepalone, for she had grown used to the company of the ever-watchfulNombe, who made her bed across the door-hole of the hut. 

Anscombe was soon lost in dreams, if he did dream, but I couldnot sleep well that night. I was fearful of I knew not what, andso, I think, was Lost, for he fidgeted and kept poking me withhis nose. At last, I think it must have been about two hoursafter midnight, he began to growl. I could hear nothing, although my ears are sharp, but as he went on growling I crept tothe door-hole and drew aside the board. Lost slipped out andvanished, while I waited, listening. Presently I thought I hearda soft foot-fall and a whisper, also that I saw the shape of awoman which reminded me of Nombe, shown faintly by the starlight. It vanished in a moment and Lost returned wagging his tail, as hemight well have done if it were Nombe who was attached to thedog. As nothing further happened I went back to bed, reflectingthat I was probably mistaken, since Nombe had been sent away forsome days by Zikali and would scarcely dare to return at once, even if she could do so. 

Shortly before daylight Lost began to growl again in a subduedand thunderous fashion. This time I got up and dressed myselfmore or less. Then I went out. The dawn was just breaking andby its light I saw a strange scene. About fifty yards away inthe narrow nek that ran over some boulders to the site of ourhuts, stood what seemed to be the goddess Nomkubulwana as I hadseen her on the point of rock in the Vale of Bones. She wore thesame radiant dress and in the dim glow had all the appearance ofa white woman. I stood amazed, thinking that I dreamt, when fromround the bend emerged a number of Zulus, creeping forwardstealthily with raised spears. 

They caught sight of the supernatural figure which barred theirroad, halted and whispered to each other. Then they turned tofly, but before they went one of them, as it seemed to me throughsheer terror, hurled his assegai at the figure which remainedstill and unmoved. 

In thirty seconds they were gone; in sixty their footsteps haddied away. Then the figure wheeled slowly round and by thestrengthening light I perceived that a spear transfixed itsbreast. 

As it sank to the ground I ran up to it. It was Nombe with herface and arms whitened and her life-blood running down theglittering feather robe. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE MADNESS OF NOMBE

The dog reached Nombe first and began to lick her face, itstongue removing patches of the white which had not had time todry. She was lying, her back supported by one of the boulders. With her left hand she patted the dog's head feebly and with herright drew out the assegai from her body, letting it fall uponthe ground. Recognizing me she smiled in her usual mysteriousfashion and said--

"All is well, Macumazahn, all is very well. I have deserved todie and I do not die in vain. "

"Don't talk, let me see your wound, " I exclaimed. 

She opened her robe and pointed; it was quite a small gashbeneath the breast from which blood ebbed slowly. 

"Let it be, Macumazahn, " she said. "I am bleeding inside and itis mortal. But I shall not die yet. Listen to me while I havemy mind. Yesterday when Mauriti and Heddana went up to the plainI wished to go with them because I had news that Zulus werewandering everywhere and thought that I might be able to protectmy mistress from danger. Mauriti spoke to me roughly, telling methat I was not wanted. Of that I thought little, for to suchwords I am accustomed from him; moreover, they are to be forgivento a man in love. But it did not end there, for my lady Heddanaalso pierced me with her tongue, which hurt more than this spearthrust does, Macumazahn, for I could see that her speech had beenprepared and that she took this chance to throw it at me. Shesaid that I did not know where I should sit; that I was a thornbeneath her nail, and that whenever she wished to talk withMauriti, or with you, Macumazahn, I was ever there with my earopen like the mouth of a gourd. She commanded me in future tocome only when I was called; all of which things I am sureMauriti had taught her, who in herself is too gentle even tothink them--unless you taught her, Macumazahn. "

I shook my head and she went on--

"No, it was not you who also are too gentle, and having sufferedyourself, can feel for those who suffer, which Mauriti who hasnever suffered cannot do. Still, you too thought me a trouble, one that sticks in the flesh like a hooked thorn, or a tick fromthe grass, and cannot be unfastened. You spoke to the Masterabout it and he spoke to me. "

This time I nodded in assent. 

"I do not blame you, Macumazahn; indeed now I see that you werewise, for what right has a poor black doctoress to seek the love, or even to look upon the face of the great white lady whom for alittle while Fate has caused to walk upon the same path with her?But yesterday I forgot that, Macumazahn, for you see we are allof us, not one self, but many selves, and each self has its timesof rule. Nombe alive and well was one woman, Nombe dying isanother, and doubtless Nombe dead will be a third, unless, as sheprays, she should sleep for ever. 

"Macumazahn, those words of Heddana's were to me what gall is tosweet milk. My blood clotted and my heart turned sour. It wasnot against her that I was angry, because that can never happen, but against Mauriti and against you. My Spirit whispered in myear. It said, 'If Mauriti and Macumazahn were dead the ladyHeddana would be left alone in a strange land. Then she wouldlearn to rest upon you as upon a stick, and learn to love thestick on which she rested, though it be so rough and homely. 'But how can I kill them, I asked of my Spirit, and myself escapedeath?

"'Poison is forbidden to you by the pact between us, ' answered mySpirit, 'yet I will show you a way, who am bound to serve you inall things good or ill. '

"Then we nodded to each other in my breast, Macumazahn, and Iwaited for what should happen who knew that my Spirit would notlie. Yes, I waited for a chance to kill you both, forgetting, asthe wicked forget in their madness, that even if I were not foundout, soon or late Heddana would guess the truth and then, even ifshe had learned to love me a thousand times more than she evercould, would come to hate me as a mother hates a snake that hasslain her child. Or even if she never learned or guessed inlife, after death she would learn and hunt me and spit on me fromworld to world as a traitoress and a murderer, one who has sinnedpast pardon. "

Here she seemed to grow faint and I turned to seek for help. Butshe caught hold of my coat and said--

"Hear me out, Macumazahn, or I will run after you till I fall anddie. "

So thinking it best, I stayed and she went on--

"My Spirit, which must be an evil one since Zikali gave it mewhen I was made a doctoress, dealt truly with me, for presentlythe king and his people came. Moreover, my Spirit brought itabout that the king would have no other guide but me to lead himto the kraal where he slept last night, and I went as thoughunwillingly. At the kraal the king sent for me and questioned mein a dark hut, pretending to be alone, but I who am a doctoressknew that two other men were in that hut, taking note of all mywords. He asked me of the Inkosazana-y-Zulu who appeared in theVale of Bones and of the little assegai she held in her hand, andof the magic of the Opener of Roads, and many other things. Isaid that I knew nothing of the Inkosazana, but that withoutdoubt my Master was a great magician. He did not believe me. Hethreatened that I should be tortured very horribly and was aboutto call his servants to torment me till I told the truth. Thenmy Spirit spoke in my heart saying, 'Now the door is open to you, as I promised. Tell the king of the two white men whom theMaster hides, and he will send to kill them, leaving the ladyHeddana and you alone together. ' So I pretended to be afraid andtold him, whereon he laughed and answered--

"'For your sake I am glad, girl, that you have spoken the truth;besides it is useless to torture a witch, since then the spiritin her only vomits lies. '

"Next he called aloud and a man came, who it was I could not seein the dark. The king commanded him to take me to one of theother huts and tie me up there to the roof-pole. The man obeyed, but he did not tie me up; he only blocked the hut with thedoor-board, and sat with me there in the dark alone. 

"Now I grew cunning and began to talk with him, spreading a netof sweet words, as the fowler spreads a net for cranes from whichhe would tear the crests. Soon by his talk I found out that theking and his people knew more than I guessed. Macumazahn, theyhad seen the cart which still stands under the overhanging rockby the mouth of the cave. I asked him if that were all, pretending that the cart belonged to my Master, to whom it hadbeen brought from the field of Isandhlwana, that he might bedrawn about in it, who was too weak to walk. 

"The man said that if I would kiss him he would tell meeverything. I bade him tell me first, swearing that then I wouldkiss him. Yes, Macumazahn, I, whom no man's lips have evertouched, fell as low as this. So he grew foolish and told me. He told me that they had also seen a kappje such as white womenwear, hanging on the hut fence, and I remembered that afterwashing the headdress of my mistress I had set it there to dry inthe sun. He told me also that the King suspected that she whowore that kappje was she who had played the part of theInkosazana in the Vale of Bones. I asked him what the king woulddo about the matter, at the same time denying that there was anywhite woman in the Black Kloof. He said that at dawn the kingwould send and kill these foreign rats, whom the Opener of Roadskept in the thatch of his hut. Now he drew near and asked hispay. I gave it to him--with a knife-point, Macumazahn. Oh! thatwas a good thrust. He never spoke again. Then I slipped away, for all the others were asleep, and was here a little aftermidnight. "

"I thought I saw you, Nombe, " I said, "but was not sure, so I didnothing. "

She smiled and answered--

"Ah! I was afraid that the Watcher-by-Night would be watching bynight; also the dog ran up to me, but he knew me and I sent himback again. Now while I was coming home, thoughts entered myheart. I saw, as one sees by a lightning flash, all that I haddone. The king and his people were not sure that the Master washiding white folk here and would never have sent back to killthem on the chance. I had made them sure, as indeed, being mad, I meant to do. Moreover, in throwing spears at the kites I hadkilled my own dove, since it was on the false Inkosazana who hadcaused them to declare war and brought the land to ruin, thatthey wished to be avenged, and perchance on him who taught herher part, not on one or two wandering white men. I saw that whenCetewayo's people came, and there were many more of them outside, several hundreds I think, they would shave the whole head andburn the whole tree. Every one in the kloof would be killed. 

"How could I undo the knot that I had tied and stamp out the firethat I had lit? That was the question. I bethought me of comingto you, but without arms how could you help? I bethought me ofgoing to the Master, but I was ashamed. Also, what could he dowith but a few servants, for the most of his people are away withthe cattle? He is too weak to climb the steep path to the plainabove, nor was there time to gather folk to carry him. Lastly, even if there were time which there was not, and we went thitherthey would track us out and kill us. For the rest I did notcare, nor for myself, but that the lady Heddana should bebutchered who was more to me than a hundred lives, and through mytreachery--ah! for that I cared. 

"I called on my Spirit to help me, but it would not come. MySpirit was dead in me because now I would do good and not ill. Yet another Spirit came, that of one Mameena whom once you knew. She came angrily, like a storm, and I shrank before her. Shesaid, 'Vile witch, you have plotted to murder Macumazahn, and forthat you shall answer to me before another sun has set over thisearth of yours. Now you seek a way of escape from your ownwickedness. Well, it can be had, but at a price. '

"'What price, O Lady of Death?' I asked. 

"'The price of your own life, Witch. '

"I laughed into that ghost face of hers and said--

"'Is this all? Be swift and show me the way, O Lady of Death, and afterwards we will balance our account. '

"Then she whispered into the ear of my heart and was gone. I ranon, for the dawn was near. I whitened myself with lime, I put onthe glittering cloak and powdered my hair with the sparklingearth. I took a little stick in my hand since I could find nospear and had no time to search, and just as day began to break, I crept out and stood in the bend of the path. The slayers came, twelve or so of them, but behind were many more. They saw theInkosazana-y-Zulu barring their way and were much afraid. Theyfled, but out of his fright one of them threw a spear which wenthome, as I knew it would. He watched to see if I should fall, but I would not fall. Then he fled faster than the rest, knowinghimself accursed who had lifted steel against the Queen ofHeaven, and oh! I am glad, I am glad!"

She ceased, exhausted, yet with a great exultation in herbeautiful eyes; indeed at that moment she looked a mosttriumphant creature. I stared at her, thrilled through andthrough. She had been wicked, no doubt, but how splendid was herend; and, thank Heaven! she was troubled with no thought of whatmight befall her after that end, although I was sure she believedthat she would live again to face Mameena. 

I knew not what to do. I did not like to leave her, especiallyas no earthly power could help her case, since slowly but quitesurely she was bleeding to death from an internal wound. By nowthe sun was up and Zikali's people were about. One of themappeared suddenly and saw, then with a howl of terror turned tofly away. 

"Fool! Fool!" I cried, "go summon the lady Heddana and theInkosi Mauriti. Bid them come swiftly if they would see thedoctoress Nombe before she dies. "

The man leapt off like a buck, and within a few minutes I sawHeda and Anscombe running towards us, half dressed, and went tomeet them. 

"What is it?" she gasped. 

"I have only time to tell you this, " I answered. "Nombe isdying. She gave her life to save you, how I will explainafterwards. The assegai that pierced her was meant for yourheart. Go, thank her, and bid her farewell. Anscombe, stop backwith me. "

We stood still and watched from a little distance. Heda kneltdown and put her arms about Nombe. They whispered together intoeach other's ears. Then they kissed. 

It was at this moment that Zikali appeared, leaning on two of hisservants. By some occult art or instinct he seemed to know allthat had happened, and oh! he looked terrible. He crouched downin front of the dying woman and, toadlike, spat his venom at her. 

"You lost your Spirit, did you?" he said. "Well, it came back tome laden with the black honey of your treachery, to me, its home, as a bee comes to its hive. It has told me everything, and wellfor you, Witch, it is that you are dying. But think not that youshall escape me there in the world below, for thither I willfollow you. Curses on you, traitress, who would have betrayed meand brought all my plans to naught. Ow! in a day to come I willpay you back a full harvest for this seed of shame that you havesown. "

She opened her eyes and looked at him, then answered quitesoftly--

"I think your chain is broken, O Zikali, no more my master. Ithink that love has cut your chain in two and I fear you nevermore. Keep the spirit you lent to me; it is yours, but the restof me is my own, and in the house of my heart another comes todwell. "

Then once more she stretched out her arms towards Heda andmurmuring, "Sister, forget me not, Sister, who will await you fora thousand years, " she passed away. 

It was a good ending to a bad business, and I confess I felt gladwhen it was finished. Only afterwards I regretted very much thatI had not found an opportunity to ask her whether or no she hadmasqueraded as Mameena in the Valley of Bones. Now it is toolate. 

We buried poor Nombe decently in her own little hut where sheused to practise her incantations. Zikali and his people wishedapparently to throw her to the vultures for some secret reasonthat had to do with their superstitions. But Heda, who, now thatNombe was dead, developed a great affection for her not unmixedwith a certain amount of compunction for which really she had nocause, withstood him to his face and insisted upon a decentinterment. So she was laid to earth still plastered with thewhite pigment and wrapped in the bloodstained feather robe. Imay add that on the following morning one of Zikali's servantsinformed me solemnly that because of this she had been seenduring the night riding up and down the rocks on a baboon as Zuluumtagati are supposed to do. I have small doubt that as soon aswe were gone they dug her up again and threw her to the vulturesand the jackals according to their first intention. 

On this day we at length escaped from the Black Kloof, and in ourown cart, for during the night our horses arrived mysteriouslyfrom somewhere, in good condition though rather wild. I went tosay good-bye to Zikali, who said little, except that we shouldmeet once more after many moons. Anscombe and Heda he would notsee at all, but only sent them a message, to the effect that hehoped they would think kindly of him through the long years tocome, since he had kept his promise and preserved them safethrough many dangers. I might have answered that he had first ofall put them into the dangers, but considered it wise to hold mytongue. I think, however, that he guessed my thought, if one cantalk of guessing in connection with Zikali, for he said that theyhad no reason to thank him, since if he had served their turnthey had served his, adding--

"It will be strange in the times to be for the lady Heddana toremember that it was she and no other who crumpled up the Zuluslike a frostbitten winter reed, since had she not appeared uponthe rock in the Valley of Bones, there would have been no war. "

"She did not do this, you did it, Zikali, " I said, "making heryour tool through love and fear. "

"Nay, Macumazahn, I did not do it; it was done by what you callGod and I call Fate in whose hand I am the tool. Well, say tothe lady Heddana that in payment I will hold back the ghost ofNombe from haunting her, if I can. Say also that if I had notbrought her and her lover to Zululand they would have beenkilled. "

So we went from that hateful kloof which I have never seen sinceand hope I shall never see again, two of Zikali's men escortingus until we got into touch with white people. To these we saidas little as possible. I think they believed that we were onlypremature tourists who had made a dash into Zululand to visitsome of the battlefields. Indeed none of us ever reported ourstrange adventures, and after my experience with Kaatje we wereparticularly careful to say nothing in the hearing of anygentleman connected with the Press. But as a matter of factthere were so many people moving about and such a continualcoming and going of soldiers and their belongings, that after wehad managed to buy some decent clothes, which we did at thelittle town of Newcastle, nobody paid any attention to us. 

On our way to Maritzburg one amusing thing did happen. We metKaatje! It was about sunset that we were driving up a steep hillnot far from Howick. At least I was driving, but Anscombe andHeda were walking about a hundred yards ahead of the cart, whensuddenly Kaatje appeared over a rise and came face to face withthem while taking an evening stroll, or as I concludedafterwards, making some journey. She saw, she stared, sheuttered one wild yell, and suddenly bundled over the edge of theroad. Never would I have believed that such a fat woman couldhave run so fast. In a minute she was down the slope and hadvanished into a dense kloof where, as night was closing in and wewere very tired, it was impossible for us to follow her. Nor didsubsequent inquiry in Howick tell us where she was living orwhence she came, for some months before she had left the placeshe had taken there as a cook. 

Such was the end of Kaatje so far as we were concerned. Doubtless to her dying day she remained, or will remain, a firmbeliever in ghosts. 

Anscombe and Heda were married at Maritzburg as soon as thenecessary formalities had been completed. I could not attend theceremony, which was a disappointment to me and I hope to them, but unfortunately I had a return of my illness and was laid upfor a week. Perhaps this was owing to the hot sun that struck meon the neck one afternoon coming down the Town Hill where I wasobliged to hang on to the rear of the cart because the brakes hadgiven out. However I was able to send Heda a wedding gift in theshape of her jewels and money that I recovered from the bank, which she had never expected to see again; also to arrangeeverything about her property. 

They went down to Durban for their honeymoon and, some convenientopportunity arising, sailed thence for England. I received anaffectionate letter from them both, which I still treasure, thanking me very much for all I had done for them, that after allwas little enough. Also Anscombe enclosed a blank cheque, begging me to fill it in for whatever sum I considered he wasindebted to me on the balance of account. I thought this verykind of him and a great mark of confidence, but the chequeremained blank. 

I never saw either of them again, and though I believe that theyare both living, for the most part abroad--in Hungary I think--Ido not suppose that I ever shall. When I came to England someyears later after King Solomon's mines had made me rich, I wroteAnscombe a letter. He never answered it, which hurt me at thetime. Afterwards I remembered that in their fine position it wasvery natural that they should not wish to renew acquaintance withan individual who had so intimate a knowledge of certainincidents that they probably regarded as hateful, such as thedeaths of Marnham and Dr. Rodd, and all the surroundingcircumstances. If so, I daresay that they were wise, but ofcourse it may have been only carelessness. It is so easy forbusy and fashionable folk not to answer a rather troublesomeletter, or to forget to put that answer in the post. Or, indeed, the letter may never have reached them--such things often goastray, especially when people live abroad. At any rate, perhapsthrough my own fault, we have drifted apart. I daresay theybelieve that I am dead, or not to be found somewhere in Africa. However, I always think of them with affection, for Anscombe wasone of the best travelling companions I ever had, and his wife amost charming girl, and wonder whether Zikali's prophecy abouttheir children will come true. Good luck go with them!

As it chances, since then I passed the place where the Templestood, though at a little distance. I had the curiosity, however, at some inconvenience, to ride round and examine thespot. I suppose that Heda had sold the property, for a back-veldBoer, who was absent at the time, had turned what used to beRodd's hospital into his house. Close by, grim and gaunt, stoodthe burnt-out marble walls of the Temple. The verandah was stillroofed over, and standing on the spot whence I had shot thepistol out of Rodd's hand, I was filled with many memories. 

I could trace the whole plan of the building and visited thatpart of it which had been Marnham's room. The iron safe thatstood in the corner had been taken away, but the legs of thebedstead remained. Also not far from it, over grown with runningplants, was a little heap which I took to be the ashes of hisdesk, for bits of burnt wood protruded. I grubbed among themwith my foot and riding crop and presently came across theremains of a charred human skull. Then I departed in a hurry. 

My way took me through the Yellow-wood grove, past the horns ofthe blue wildebeeste which still lay there, past that mud-holealso into which Rodd had fallen dead. Here, however, I made nomore search, who had seen enough of bones. To this day I do notknow whether he still lies beneath the slimy ooze, or was removedand buried. 

Also I saw the site of our wagon camp where the Basutos attackedus. But I will have done with these reminiscences which inducemelancholy, though really there is no reason why they should. 

Tout lasse, tout casse, tout passe--everything wears out, everything crumbles, everything vanishes--in the words of theFrench proverb that my friend Sir Henry Curtis is so fond ofquoting, that at last I wrote it down in my pocket-book, only toremember afterwards that when I was a boy I had heard it from thelips of an old scamp of a Frenchman, of the name of Leblanc, whoonce gave me and another lessons in the Gallic tongue. But ofhim I have already written in _Marie, _ which is the first chapterin the Book of the fall of the Zulus. That headed _Child ofStorm_ is the second. These pages form the third and last. 

Ah! indeed, tout lasse, tout casse, tout passe!

CHAPTER XXIII

THE KRAAL JAZI

Now I shall pass over all the Zulu record of the next four years, since after all it has nothing to do with my tale and I do notpretend to be writing a history. 

Sir Garnet Wolseley set up his Kilkenny cat Government inZululand, or the Home Government did it for him, I do not knowwhich. In place of one king, thirteen chiefs were erected whogot to work to cut the throats of each other and of the people. 

As I expected would be the case, Zikali informed the militaryauthorities of the secret hiding-place in the Ingome Forest wherehe suggested to Cetewayo that he should refuge. The ex-king wasduly captured there and taken first to the Cape and then toEngland, where, after the disgrace of poor Sir Bartle Frere, anagitation had been set on foot on his behalf. Here he saw theQueen and her ministers, once more conquering, as it had beenprophesied that he would by her who wore the shape of Mameena atthe memorable scene in the Valley of Bones when I was present. Often I have thought of him dressed in a black coat and seated inthat villa in Melbury Road in the suburb of London which Iunderstand is populated by artists. A strange contrast truly tothe savage prince receiving the salute of triumph after theBattle of the Tugela in which he won the kingship, or to theroyal monarch to whose presence I had been summoned at Ulundi. However, he was brought back to Zululand again by a Britishman-of-war, re-installed to a limited chieftainship by SirTheophilus Shepstone, and freed from the strangling embrace ofthe black coat. 

Then of course there was more fighting, as every one knew wouldhappen, except the British Colonial Office; indeed all Zululandran with blood. For in England Cetewayo and his rights, orwrongs, had, like the Boers and their rights, or wrongs, become amatter of Party politics to which everything else must give way. Often I wonder whether Party politics will not in the end provethe ruin of the British Empire. Well, thank Heaven, I shall notlive to learn. 

So Cetewayo came back and fought and was defeated by those whoonce had been his subjects. Now for the last scene, that is allwith which I need concern myself. 

At the beginning of February, 1884, business took me to Zululand;it had to do with a deal in cattle and blankets. As I wasreturning towards the Tugela who should I meet but friend Goza, he who had escorted me from the Black Kloof to Ulundi before theoutbreak of war, and who afterwards escorted me and thatunutterable nuisance, Kaatje, out of the country. At first Ithought that we came together by accident, or perhaps that he hadjourneyed a little way to thank me for the blankets which I hadsent to him, remembering my ancient promise, but afterwards Ichanged my opinion on this point. 

Well, we talked over many matters, the war, the disasters thathad befallen Zululand, and so forth. Especially did we talk ofthat night in the Valley of Bones and the things we had seenthere side by side. I asked him if the people still believed inthe Inkosazana-y-Zulu who then appeared in the moonlight on therock. He answered that some did and some did not. For his part, he added, looking at me fixedly, he did not, since it wasrumoured that Zikali had dressed up a white woman to play thepart of the Spirit. Yet he could not be sure of the matter, since it was also said that when some of Cetewayo's people wentto kill this white woman in the Black Kloof, Nomkubulwana, thePrincess of Heaven herself, rose before them and frightened themaway. 

I remarked that this was very strange, and then quite casuallyasked him whom Zikali had dressed up to play the part of the deadMameena upon that same occasion, since this was a point uponwhich I always thirsted for definite intelligence. He stared atme and replied that I ought to be able to answer my own question, since I had been much nearer to her who looked like Mameena thanany one else, so near indeed that all present distinctly saw herkiss me, as it was well known she had liked to do while stillalive. I replied indignantly that they saw wrong and repeated myquestion. Then he answered straight out--

"O Macumazahn, we Zulus believe that what we saw on that nightwas not Nombe or another dressed up, but the spirit of the witchMameena itself. We believe it because we could see the light ofZikali's fire through her, not always, but sometimes; alsobecause all that she said has come true, though everything is notyet finished. "

I could get no more out of him about the matter, for when I triedto speak of it again, he turned the subject, telling me of hiswonderful escapes during the war. Presently he rose to go andsaid casually--

"Surely I grow old in these times of trouble, Macumazahn, forthoughts slip through my head like water through the fingers. Almost I had forgotten what I wished to say to you. The otherday I met Zikali, the Opener of Roads. He told me that you werein Zululand and that I should meet you--he did not say where, only that when I did meet you, I was to give you a message. Thiswas the message--that when on your way to Natal you came to thekraal Jazi, you would find him there; also another whom you usedto know, and must be sure not to go away without seeing him, since that was about to happen in which you must take your part. "

"Zikali!" I exclaimed. "I have heard nothing of him since thewar. I thought that by now he was certainly dead. "

"Oh! no, Macumazahn, he is certainly not dead, but just the sameas ever. Indeed it is believed that he and no other has kept allthis broth of trouble on the boil, some say for Cetewayo's sake, and some say because he wishes to destroy Cetewayo. But what doI know of such matters who only desire to live in peace underwhatever chief the English Queen sends to us, as she has a rightto do having conquered us in war? When you meet the Opener ofRoads at the kraal Jazi, ask him, Macumazahn. "

"Where the devil is the kraal Jazi?" I inquired with irritation. "I never heard of such a place. "

"Nor did I, therefore I cannot tell you, Macumazahn. For aught Ican say it may be down beneath where dead men go. But whereverit is there certainly you will meet the Opener of Roads. Nowfarewell, Macumazahn. If it should chance that we never lookinto each other's eyes again, I am sure you will think of mesometimes, as I shall of you, and of all that we have seentogether, especially on that night in the Vale of Bones when theghost of the witch Mameena prophesied to us and kissed you beforeus all. She must have been very beautiful, Macumazahn, as indeedI have heard from those who remember her, and I don't wonder thatyou loved her so much. Still for my part I had rather be kissedby a living woman than by one who is dead, though doubtless it isbest to be kissed by none at all. Again, farewell, and be sureto tell the Opener of Roads that I gave you his message, lest heshould lay some evil charm upon me, who have seen enough evil oflate. "

Thus talking Goza departed. I never saw him again, and do notknow if he is dead or alive. Well, he was a kindly old fellow, if no hero. 

I had almost forgotten the incident of this meeting when a whilelater I found myself in the neighbourhood of the beautiful butsemi-tropical place called Eshowe, which since those days hasbecome the official home of the British Resident in Zululand. Indeed, although the house was not then finished, if it had beenbegun, Sir Melmoth Osborn already had an office there. I wishedto see him in order to give him some rather importantinformation, but when I reached a kraal of about fifty huts somefive hundred yards from the site of the present Residency, mywagon stuck fast in the boggy ground. While I was trying to getit out a quiet-faced Zulu, whose name, I remember, was Umnikwa, informed me that Malimati, that is Sir Melmoth Osborn's nativename, was somewhere at a little distance from Eshowe, too faraway for me to get to him that night. I answered, Very well, Iwould sleep where I was, and asked the name of the kraal. 

He replied, Jazi, at which I started, but only said that it was astrange name, seeing that it meant "Finished, " or "Finished withjoy. " Umnikwa answered, Yes, but that it had been so calledbecause the chief Umfokaki, or The Stranger, who married a sisterof the king, was killed at this kraal by his brother, Gundane, orthe Bat. I remarked that it was an ill-omened kind of name, towhich the man replied, Yes, and likely to become more so, sincethe King Cetewayo who had been sheltering there "beneath thearmpit" of Malimati, the white lord, for some months, lay in itdying. I asked him of what he was dying, and he replied that hedid not know, but that doubtless the father of the witch-doctors, named Zikali, the Opener of Roads, would be able to tell me, ashe was attending on Cetewayo. 

"He has sent me to bid you to come at once, O Macumazahn, " headded casually, "having had news that you were arriving here. "

Showing no surprise, I answered that I would come, althoughgoodness knows I was surprised enough, and leaving my servants toget my wagon out of the bog, I walked into the kraal with themessenger. He took me to a large hut placed within a fence aboutthe gate of which some women were gathered, who all looked veryanxious and disturbed. Among them I saw Dabuko the king'sbrother, whom I knew slightly. He greeted me and told me thatCetewayo was at the point of death within the hut, but likeUmnikwa, professed ignorance of the cause of his illness. 

For a long while, over an hour I should think, I sat thereoutside the hut, or walked to and fro. Until darkness came Icould occupy myself with contemplating the scenery of theencircling hills, which is among the most beautiful in Zululandwith its swelling contours and rich colouring. But after it hadset in only my thoughts remained, and these I found depressing. 

At length I made up my mind that I would go away, for after allwhat had I to do with this business of the death of Cetewayo, ifin truth he was dying? I wished to see no more of Cetewayo ofwhom all my recollections were terrific or sorrowful. I rose todepart, when suddenly a woman emerged from the hut. I could notsee who she was or even what she was like, because of the gloom;also for the reason that she had the corner of her blanket thrownover her face as though she wished to keep it hidden. For amoment she stopped opposite to me and said--

"The king who is sick desires to see you, Macumazahn. " Then shepointed to the door-hole of the hut and vanished, shutting thegate of the fence behind her. Curiosity overcame me and Icrawled into the hut, pushing aside the door-board in order to doso and setting it up again when I was through. 

Inside burned a single candle fixed in the neck of a bottle, faintly illuminating that big and gloomy place. By its feeblelight I saw a low bedstead on the left of the entrance and lyingon it a man half covered by a blanket in whom I recognizedCetewayo. His face was shrunken and distorted with pain, and hisgreat bulk seemed less, but still without doubt it was Cetewayo. 

"Greeting, Macumazahn, " he said feebly, "you find me in evilcase, but I heard that you were here and thought that I shouldlike to see you before I die, because I know that you are honestand will report my words faithfully. I wish you to tell thewhite men that my heart never really was against them; they havealways been the friends of my heart, but others forced me down aroad I did not wish to travel, of which now I have come to theend. "

"What is the matter with you, King?" I asked. 

"I do not know, Macumazahn, but I have been sick for some days. The Opener of Roads who came to doctor me, because my wivesbelieved those white medicine-men wished me dead, says that Ihave been poisoned and must die. If you had been here at firstyou might perhaps have given me some medicine. But now it is toolate, " he added with a groan. 

"Who then poisoned you, King?"

"I cannot tell you, Macumazahn. Perhaps my enemies, perhaps mybrothers, perhaps my wives. All wish to have done with me, andthe Great One, who is no longer wanted, is soon dead. Bethankful, Macumazahn, that you never were a king, for sad is thelot of kings. "

"Where, then, is the Opener of Roads?" I asked. 

"He was here a little while ago. Perhaps he has gone out to takethe King's head" (i. E. , to announce his death) "to Malimati andthe white men, " he answered in a faint voice. 

Just then I heard a shuffling noise proceeding from that part ofthe hut where the shadow was deepest, and looking, saw anemaciated arm projected into the circle of the light. It wasfollowed by another arm, then by a vast head covered with longwhite hair that trailed upon the ground, then by a big, misshapenbody, so wasted that it looked like a skeleton covered withcorrugated black skin. Slowly, like a chameleon climbing abough, the thing crept forward, and I knew it for Zikali. Hereached the side of the bed and squatted down in his toad-likefashion, then, again like a chameleon, without moving his headturned his deep and glowing eyes towards me. 

"Hail, O Macumazahn, " he said in his low voice. "Did I notpromise you long ago that you should be with me at the last, andare you not with me and another?"

"It seems so, Zikali, " I answered. "But why do you not send forthe white doctors to cure the king?"

"All the doctors, white and black, in the whole world cannot curehim, Macumazahn. The Spirits call him and he dies. At his callI came fast and far, but even I cannot cure him--although becauseof him I myself must die. "

"Why?" I asked. 

"Look at me, Macumazahn, and say if I am one who should travel. Well, all come to their end at last, even the'Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born. '"

Cetewayo lifted his head and looked at him, then said heavily--

"Perchance it would have been better for our House if that endhad been sooner. Now that I lie dying many sayings concerningyou come into my mind that I had forgotten. Moreover, Opener ofRoads, I never sent for you, whoever may have done so, and it wasnot until after you came here that the great pain seized me. Howdid it happen, " he went on with gathering force, "that the whitemen caught me in the secret place where you told me I shouldhide? Who pointed out that hidden hole to the white men? Butwhat does it matter now?"

"Nothing at all, O Son of Panda, " answered Zikali, "even lessthan it matters how I escaped the spear-head hidden in your robe, yonder in my hut in the Black Kloof where, had it not been for acertain spirit that stood between you and me, you would havemurdered me. Tell me, Son of Panda, during these last three dayshave you thought at all of your brother Umbelazi, and of certainother brethren of yours whom you killed at the battle of theTugela, when the white man here led the charge of the Amawombeagainst your regiments and ate up three of them?"

Cetewayo groaned but said nothing. I think he had become toofaint to speak. 

"Listen, Son of Panda, " went on Zikali in an intense and hissingvoice. "Many, many years ago, before Senzangacona, yourgrandfather, saw the light--who knows how long before--a man wasborn of high blood in the Dwandwe tribe, which man was a dwarf. Chaka the Black One conquered the Dwandwe, but this man of highblood was spared because he was a dwarf, an abortion, to whomChaka gave the name of the'Thing-that-never-should-have-been-born, ' keeping him about himto be a mock in times of peace and safety, and because he waswise and learned in magic, to be a counsellor in times oftrouble. Moreover, Chaka killed this man's wives and childrenfor his sport, save one whom he kept to be his 'sister. '

"Therefore for the sake of his people and his butchered wives andchildren, this wizard swore an oath of vengeance against Chakaand all his House. Working beneath the ground like a rat, heundermined the throne of Chaka and brought him to his death bythe spears of his brethren and of Mopo his servant, whom Chakahad wronged. Still working in the dark like a rat, he causedDingaan, who stabbed Chaka, to murder the Boer Retief and hispeople, and thus called down upon his head the vengeance of theWhites, and afterwards brought Dingaan to his death. Then Panda, your father, arose, and his life this'Thing-that-never-should-have-been-born' spared because oncePanda had done him a kindness. Only through the witch Mameena hebrought sorrow on him, causing war to arise between his children, one of whom was named Cetewayo. 

"Then this Cetewayo ruled, first with his father Panda andafterwards in his place, and trouble arose between him and theEnglish. Son of Panda, you will remember that this Cetewayo wasin doubt whether to fight the English and demanded a sign of theThing-that-never-should-have-been-born. He gave the sign, causing the Inkosazana-y-Zulu, the Princess of Heaven, to appearbefore him and thereby lifting the spear of War. Son of Panda, you know how that war went, how this Cetewayo was defeated andcame to the 'Thing-that-never-should-have-been-born' like ahunted hyena, to learn of a hole where he might hide. You know, too, how he strove to murder the poor old doctor who showed himsuch a hole; how he was taken prisoner and sent across the waterand afterwards set up again in the land that had learned to hatehim, to bring its children to death by thousands. And you knowhow at last he took refuge beneath the wing of the white chief, here in the kraal Jazi, and lived, spat upon, an outcast, untilat length he fell sick, as such men are apt to do, and theThing-that-never-should-have-been-born was sent for to doctorhim. And you know also how he lies dying, within him an agony asthough he had swallowed a red hot spear, and before him a greatblackness peopled by the ghosts of those whom he has slain, andof his forefathers whose House he has pulled down and burned. "

Zikali ceased, and thrusting his hideous head to within an inchor two of that of the dying man, he glowered at him with hisfierce and fiery eves. Then he began to whisper into the king'sear, who quivered at his words, as the victim quivers beneath thetorturer's looks. 

At that moment the end of the candle fell into the bottle whichwas of clear white glass, and there burned for a little whiledully before it went out. Never shall I forget the sceneillumined by its blue and ghastly light. The dying man lying onthe low couch, rocking his head to and fro; the wizard bendingover him like some grey vampire bat sucking the life-blood fromhis helpless throat. The terror in the eyes of the one, theinsatiable hate in the eyes of the other. Oh! it was awful!

"Macumazahn, " gasped Cetewayo in a rattling whisper, "help me, Macumazahn. I say that I am poisoned by this Zikali, who hatesme. Oh! drive away the ghosts! Drive them away!"

I looked at him and at his tormentor squatted by him like amocking fiend, and as I looked the candle went out. 

Then my nerve broke, the cold sweat poured from my face and Ifled from the hut as a man might from a scene in hell, followedby the low mocking laugh of Zikali. 

Outside the women and others were gathered in the gloom. I toldthem to go to the king, who was dying, and blundered up the slopeto search for some white man. No one was to be found, but aKaffir messenger by the office told me that Malimati was stillaway and had been sent for. So I returned to my wagon and laydown in it exhausted, for what more could I do?

It was a rough night. Thunder muttered and rain fell in drivinggusts. I dozed off, only to be awakened by a sound of wailing. Then I knew that the king was dead, for this was the Isililo, thecry of mourning. I wondered whether the murderers--for that hewas poisoned I had no doubt--were among those who wailed. 

Towards dawn the storm rolled off and the night grew serene andclear, for a waning moon was shining in the sky. The heat ofthat stiffing place oppressed me; my blood seemed to be afire. Iknew that there was a stream in a gorge about half a mile away, for it had been pointed out to me. I longed for a swim in coolwater, who, to tell truth, had found none for some days, andbethought me that I would bathe in this stream before I trekkedfrom that hateful spot, for to me it had become hateful. Callingmy driver, who was awake and talking with the voorloopers, forthey knew what was passing at the kraal and were alarmed, I toldthem to get the oxen ready to start as I would be back presently. Then I set off for the stream and, after a longish walk, scrambled down a steep ravine to its banks, following a path madeby Kaffir women going to draw water. Arrived there at last Ifound that it was in flood and rising rapidly, at least so Ijudged from the sound, for in that deep, tree-hung place thelight was too faint to allow me to see anything. So I sat downwaiting for the dawn and wishing that I had not come because ofthe mosquitoes. 

At length it broke and the mists lifted, showing that the spotwas one of great beauty. Opposite to me was a waterfall twentyor thirty feet high, over which the torrent rushed into a blackpool below. Everywhere grew tall ferns and beyond these gracefultrees, from whose leaves hung raindrops. In the centre of thestream on the edge of the fall was a rock not a dozen feet awayfrom me, round which the water foamed. Something was squatted onthis rock, at first I could not see what because of the mist, butthought that it was a grey-headed baboon, or some other animal, and regretted that I had not brought a gun with me. Presently Ibecame aware that it must be a man, for, in a chanting voice, itbegan to speak or pray in Zulu, and hidden behind a floweringbush, I could hear the words. They were to this effect--

"O my Spirit, here where thou foundest me when I was young, hundreds of years ago" (he said hundreds, but I suppose he meanttens), "I come back to thee. In this pool I dived and beneaththe waters found thee, my Snake, and thou didst wind thyselfabout my body and about my heart" (here I understood that thespeaker was alluding to his initiation as a witch-doctor whichgenerally includes, or used to include, the finding of a snake ina river that coils itself about the neophyte). "About my bodyand in my heart thou hast dwelt from that sun to this, giving mewisdom and good and evil counsel, and that which thou hastcounselled, I have done. Now I return thee whence thou camest, there to await me in the new birth. 

"O Spirits of my fathers, toiling through many years I haveavenged you on the House of Senzangacona, and never again willthere be a king of the Zulus, for the last of them lies dead bymy hand. O my murdered wives and my children, I have offered upto you a mighty sacrifice, a sacrifice of thousands uponthousands. 

"O Umkulu-kulu, Great One of the heavens, who sentest me toearth, I have done thy work upon the earth and bring back to theethy harvest of the seed that thou hast sown, a blood-red harvest, O Umkulu-kulu. Be still, be still, my Snake, the sun arises, andsoon, soon shalt thou rest in the water that wast thine from thebeginning of the world!"

The voice ceased, and presently a spear of light piercing themists, lit upon the speaker. It was Zikali and about him waswound a great yellow-bellied snake, of which the black head withflickering tongue waved above his head and seemed from time totime to lick him on the brow. (I suppose it had come to him fromthe water, for its skin glittered as though with wet. ) He stoodup on tottering feet, staring at the red eye of the rising sun, then crying, _"Finished, finished with joy!"_ with a loud anddreadful laughter, he plunged into the foaming pool beneath. 

Such was the end of Zikali the Wizard, Opener of Roads, the"Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born, " and such was thevengeance that he worked upon the great House of Senzangacona, bringing it to naught and with it the nation of the Zulus.