should be gathered and sent to Swaziland against the Halakazi tribe；
to destroy them and seize the maid。 But when the matter came on to be
discussed with the indunas in the presence of the king； at the
Amapakati or council； I； as chief of the indunas； spoke against it；
saying that the tribe of the Halakazi were great and strong； and that
war with them would mean war with the Swazis also； moreover； they had
their dwelling in caves which were had to win。 Also； I said； that this
was no time to send impis to seek a single girl； for few years had
gone by since the Black One fell； and foes were many； and the soldiers
of the land had waxed few with slaughter； half of them having perished
in the marshes of the Limpopo。 Now； time must be given them to grow up
again； for to…day they were as a little child； or like a man wasted
with hunger。 Maids were many； let the king take them and satisfy his
heart； but let him make no war for this one。
Thus I spoke boldly in the face of the king； as none had dared to
speak before Chaka； and courage passed from me to the hearts of the
other indunas and generals； and they echoed my words； for they knew
that； of all follies； to begin a new war with the Swazi people would
be the greatest。
Dingaan listened； and his brow grew dark； yet he was not so firmly
seated on the throne that he dared put away our words； for still there
were many in the land who loved the memory of Chaka； and remembered
that Dingaan had murdered him and Umhlangana also。 For now that Chaka
was dead； people forgot how evilly he had dealt with them； and
remembered only that he was a great man； who had made the Zulu people
out of nothing； as a smith fashions a bright spear from a lump of
iron。 Also； though they had changed masters； yet their burden was not
lessened； for； as Chaka slew； so Dingaan slew also； and as Chaka
oppressed； so did Dingaan oppress。 Therefore Dingaan yielded to the
voice of his indunas and no impi was sent against the Halakazi to seek
the maid that was named the Lily。 But still he hankered for her in his
heart； and from that hour he hated me because I had crossed his will
and robbed him of his desire。
Now； my father； there is this to be told： though I did not know it
then； the maid who was named the Lily was no other than my daughter
Nada。 The thought； indeed； came into my mind； that none but Nada could
be so fair。 Yet I knew for certain that Nada and her mother Macropha
were dead； for he who brought me the news of their death had seen
their bodies locked in each other's arms； killed； as it were； by the
same spear。 Yet； as it chanced； he was wrong； for though Macropha
indeed was killed； it was another maid who lay in blood beside her；
for the people whither I had sent Macropha and Nada were tributary to
the Halakazi tribe； and that chief of the Halakazi who sat in the
place of Galazi the Wolf had quarrelled with them； and fallen on them
by night and eaten them up。
As I learned afterwards； the cause of their destruction； as in later
days it was the cause of the slaying of the Halakazi； was the beauty
of Nada and nothing else； for the fame of her loveliness had gone
about the land； and the old chief of the Halakazi had commanded that
the girl should be sent to his kraal to live there； that her beauty
might shine upon his place like the sun； and that； if so she willed；
she should choose a husband from the great men of the Halakazi。 But
the headmen of the kraal refused； for none who had looked on her would
suffer their eyes to lose sight of Nada the Lily； though there was
this fate about the maid that none strove to wed her against her will。
Many； indeed； asked her in marriage； both there and among the Halakazi
people； but ever she shook her head and said； 〃Nay； I would wed no
man；〃 and it was enough。
For it was the saying among men； that it was better that she should
remain unmarried； and all should look on her； than that she should
pass from their sight into the house of a husband； since they held
that her beauty was given to be a joy to all； like the beauty of the
dawn and of the evening。 Yet this beauty of Nada's was a dreadful
thing； and the mother of much death； as shall be told； and because of
her beauty and the great love she bore； she； the Lily herself； must
wither； and the cup of my sorrows must be filled to overflowing； and
the heart of Umslopogaas the Slaughterer； son of Chaka the king； must
become desolate as the black plain when fire has swept it。 So it was
ordained； my father； and so it befell； seeing that thus all men； white
and black； seek that which is beautiful； and when at last they find
it； then it passes swiftly away； or； perchance； it is their death。 For
great joy and great beauty are winged； nor will they sojourn long upon
the earth。 They come down like eagles out of the sky； and into the sky
they return again swiftly。
Thus then it came about； my father； that I； Mopo； believing my
daughter Nada to be dead； little guessed that it was she who was named
the Lily in the kraals of the Halakazi； and whom Dingaan the king
desired for a wife。
Now after I had thwarted him in this matter of the sending of an impi
to pluck the Lily from the gardens of the Halakazi； Dingaan learned to
hate me。 Also I was in his secrets； and with me he had killed his
brother Chaka and his brother Umhlangana； and it was I who held him
back from the slaying of his brother Panda also； and； therefore； he
hated me； as is the fashion of small…hearted men with those who have
lifted them up。 Yet he did not dare to do away with me； for my voice
was loud in the land； and when I spoke the people listened。 Therefore；
in the end； he cast about for some way to be rid of me for a while；
till he should grow strong enough to kill me。
〃Mopo；〃 said the king to me one day as I sat before him in council
with others of the indunas and generals； 〃mindest thou of the last
words of the Great Elephant； who is dead？〃 This he said meaning Chaka
his brother； only he did not name him； for now the name of Chaka was
blonipa in the land； as is the custom with the names of dead kings
that is； my father； it was not lawful that it should pass the lips。
〃I remember the words； O King；〃 I answered。 〃They were ominous words；
for this was their burden： that you and your house should not sit long
in the throne of kings； but that the white men should take away your
royalty and divide your territories。 Such was the prophecy of the Lion
of the Zulu； why speak of it？ Once before I heard him prophecy； and
his words were fulfilled。 May the omen be an egg without meat； may it
never become fledged； may that bird never perch upon your roof； O
King！〃
Now Dingaan trembled with fear； for the words of Chaka were in his
mind by night and by day； then he grew angry and bit his lip；
saying：
〃Thou fool； Mopo！ canst thou not hear a raven croak at the gates of a
kraal but thou must needs go tell those who dwell within that he waits
to pick their eyes？ Such criers of ill to come may well find ill at
hand； Mopo。〃 He ceased； looked on me threateningly awhile； and went
on： 〃I did not speak of those words rolling by chance from a tongue
half loosed by death； but of others that told of a certain Bulalio； of
a Slaughterer who rules the People of the Axe and dwells beneath the
shadow of the Ghost Mountain far away to the north yonder。 Surely I
heard them all as I sat beneath the shade of the reed…fence before
ever I came to save him who was my brother from the spear of Masilo；
the murderer； whose spear stole away the life of a king？〃
〃I remember those words also； O King！〃 I said。 〃Is it the will of the
king that an impi should be gathered to eat up this upstart？ Such was
the command of the one who is gone； given； as it were； with his last
breath。〃
〃Nay； Mopo； that is not my will。 If no impi can be found by thee to
wipe away the Halakazi and bring one whom I desire to delight my eyes；
then surely none can be found to eat up this Slaughterer and his
people。 Moreover； Bulalio； chief of the People of the Axe； has not
offended against me； but against an elephant whose trumpetings are
done。 Now this is my will； Mopo； my servant： that thou shouldst take
with thee a few men only and go gently to this Bulalio； and say to
him： 'A greater Elephant stalks through the land than he who has gone
to sleep； and it has come to his earsthat thou； Chief of the People
of the Axe； dost pay no tribute； and hast said that； because of the
death of a certain Mopo； thou wilt have nothing to do with him whose
shadow lies upon the land。 Now one Mopo is sent to thee； Slaughterer；
to know if this tale is true； for； if it be true； then shalt thou
learn the weight of the hoof of that Elephant who trumpets in the
kraal of Umgugundhlovu。 Think； then； and weigh thy words before thou
dost answer； Slaughterer。'〃
Now I； Mopo； heard the commands of the king and pondered them in my
mind； for I knew well that it was the design of Dingaan to be rid of
me for a space that he might find time to plot my overthrow； and that
he cared little for this matter of a petty chief； who； living far
away； had dared to defy Chaka。 Yet I wished to go； for there had
arisen in me a great desire to see this Bulalio； who spoke of
vengeance to be taken for one Mopo； and whose deeds were such as the
deeds of Umslopogaas would have been； had Umslopogaas lived to look
upon the light。 Therefore I answered：
〃I hear the king。 The king's word shall be done； though； O King； thou
sendest a big man upon a little errand。〃
〃Not so； Mopo；〃 answered Dingaan。 〃My heart tells me that this chicken
of a Slaughterer will grow to a great cock if his comb is not cut
presently； and thou； Mopo； art versed in cutting combs； even of the
tallest。〃
〃I hear the king；〃 I answered again。
So； my father； it came about that on the morrow； taking with me but
ten chosen men； I； Mopo； started on my journey towards the Ghost
Mountain； and as I journeyed I thought much of how I had trod that
path in bygone days。 Then； Macropha； my wife； and Nada； my daughter；
and Umslopogaas； the son of Chaka； who was thought to be my son；
walked at my side。 Now； as I imagined； all were dead and I walked
alone； doubtless I also should s