any woman as I love Nada the Lily；〃 and while he spoke； I heard the
rat stir in the thatch of the hut。
〃Wed her if you will； Umslopogaas；〃 I answered； 〃yet I think that one
Zinita； your Inkosikasi； will find words to say in the matter。〃
〃Zinita is my head wife indeed； but shall she hold me back from taking
other wives； after the lawful custom of our people？〃 he asked angrily；
and his anger showed that he feared the wrath of Zinita。
〃The custom is lawful and good；〃 I said； 〃but it has bred trouble at
times。 Zinita can have little to say if she continues in her place and
you still love her as of old。 But enough of her。 Nada is not yet at
your gates； and perhaps she will never find them。 See； Umslopogaas； it
is my desire that you should rule in Zululand by right of blood； and；
though things point otherwise； yet I think a way can be found to bring
it about。〃
〃How so？〃 he asked。
〃Thus： Many of the great chiefs who are friends to me hate Dingaan and
fear him； and did they know that a son of Chaka lived； and that son
the Slaughterer； he well might climb to the throne upon their
shoulders。 Also the soldiers love the name of Chaka； though he dealt
cruelly with them； because at least he was brave and generous。 But
they do not love Dingaan； for his burdens are the burdens of Chaka but
his gifts are the gifts of Dingaan； therefore they would welcome
Chaka's son if once they knew him for certain。 But it is here that the
necklet chafes； for there is but my word to prove it。 Yet I will try。〃
〃Perhaps it is worth trying and perhaps it is not； my uncle；〃 answered
Umslopogaas。 〃One thing I know： I had rather see Nada at my gates to…
night than hear all the chiefs in the land crying 'Hail； O King！'〃
〃You will live to think otherwise； Umslopogaas； and now spies must be
set at the kraal Umgugundhlovu to give us warning of the mind of the
king； lest he should send an impi suddenly to eat you up。 Perhaps his
hands may be too full for that ere long； for those white Amaboona will
answer his assegais with bullets。 And one more word： let nothing be
said of this matter of your birth； least of all to Zinita your wife；
or to any other woman。〃
〃Fear not； uncle；〃 he answered； 〃I know how to be silent。〃
Now after awhile Umslopogaas left me and went to the hut of Zinita；
his Inkosikasi； where she lay wrapped in her blankets； and； as it
seemed； asleep。
〃Greeting； my husband；〃 she said slowly； like one who wakens。 〃I have
dreamed a strange dream of you。 I dreamed that you were called a king；
and that all the regiments of the Zulus filed past giving you the
royal salute； Bayete。〃
Umslopogaas looked at her wondering； for he did not know if she had
learned something or if this was an omen。 〃Such dreams are dangerous；〃
he said； 〃and he who dreams them does well to lock them fast till they
be forgotten。〃
〃Or fulfilled；〃 said Zinita； and again Umslopogaas looked at her
wondering。
Now after this night I began my work； for I established spies at the
kraal of Dingaan； and from them I learned all that passed with the
king。
At first he gave orders that an impi should be summoned to eat up the
People of the Axe； but afterwards came tidings that the Boers； to the
number of five hundred mounted men； were marching on the kraal
Umgugundhlovu。 So Dingaan had no impi to spare to send to the Ghost
Mountain； and we who were beneath its shadow dwelt there in peace。
This time for Boers were beaten； for Bogoza； the spy； led them into an
ambush； still few were killed； and they did but draw back that they
might jump the further； and Dingaan knew this。 At this time also the
English white men of Natal； the people of George； who attacked Dingaan
by the Lower Tugela； were slain by our soldiers； and those with them。
Also； by the help of certain witch…doctors； I filled the land with
rumours； prophecies； and dark sayings； and I worked cunningly on the
minds of many chiefs that were known to me； sending them messages
hardly to be understood； such as should prepare their thoughts for the
coming of one who should be declared to them。 They listened； but the
task was long； for the men dwelt far apart； and some of them were away
with the regiments。
So the time went by； till many days had passed since we reached the
Ghost Mountain。 Umslopogaas had no more words with Zinita； but she
always watched him； and he went heavily。 For he awaited Nada； and Nada
did not come。
But at length Nada came。
CHAPTER XXX
THE COMING OF NADA
One nightit was a night of full moonI sat alone with Umslopogaas
in my hut； and we spoke of the matter of our plots； then； when we had
finished that talk； we spoke of Nada the Lily。
〃Alas！ my uncle；〃 said Umslopogaas sadly； 〃we shall never look more on
Nada； she is surely dead or in bonds； otherwise she had been here long
ago。 I have sought far and wide； and can hear no tidings and find
nothing。〃
〃All that is hidden is not lost；〃 I answered； yet I myself believed
that there was an end of Nada。
Then we were silent awhile； and presently； in the silence； a dog
barked。 We rose； and crept out of the hut to see what it might be that
stirred； for the night drew on； and it was needful to be wary； since a
dog might bark at the stirring of a leaf； or perhaps it might be the
distant footfall of an impi that it heard。
We had not far to look； for standing gazing at the huts； like one who
is afraid to call； was a tall slim man； holding an assegai in one hand
and a little shield in the other。 We could not see the face of the
man； because the light was behind him； and a ragged blanket hung about
his shoulders。 Also； he was footsore； for he rested on one leg。 Now we
were peering round the hut； and its shadow hid us； so that the man saw
nothing。 For awhile he stood still； then he spoke to himself； and his
voice was strangely soft。
〃Here are many huts；〃 said the voice； 〃now how may I know which is the
house of my brother？ Perhaps if I call I shall bring soldiers to me；
and be forced to play the man before them； and I am weary of that。
Well； I will lie here under the fence till morning； it is a softer bed
than some I have found； and I am word out with travelsleep I must；〃
and the figure sighed and turned so that the light of the moon fell
full upon its face。
My father； it was the face of Nada； my daughter； whom I had not seen
for so many years； yet across the years I knew it at once； yes； though
the bud had become a flower I knew it。 The face was weary and worn；
but ah！ it was beautiful； never before nor since have I seen such
beauty； for there was this about the loveliness of my daughter； the
Lily： it seemed to flow from withinyes； as light will flow through
the thin rind of a gourd； and in that she differed from the other
women of our people； who； when they are fair are fair with the flesh
alone。
Now my heart went out to Nada as she stood in the moonlight； one
forsaken； not having where to lay her head； Nada； who alone was left
alive of all my children。 I motioned to Umslopogaas to hide himself in
the shadow； and stepped forward。
〃Ho！〃 I said roughly； 〃who are you； wanderer； and what do you here？〃
Now Nada started like a frightened bird； but quickly gathered up her
thoughts； and turned upon me in a lordly way。
〃Who are you that ask me？〃 she said； feigning a man's voice。
〃One who can use a stick upon thieves and night…prowlers； boy。 Come；
show your business or be moving。 You are not of this people； surely
that moocha is of a Swazi make； and here we do not love Swazis。〃
〃Were you not old； I would beat you for your insolence；〃 said Nada；
striving to look brave and all the while searching a way to escape。
〃Also； I have no stick； only a spear； and that is for warriors； not
for an old umfagozan like you。〃 Ay； my father； I lived to hear my
daughter name me an umfagozana low fellow！
Now making pretence to be angry； I leaped at her with my kerrie up；
and； forgetting her courage； she dropped her spear； and uttered a
little scream。 But she still held the shield before her face。 I seized
her by the arm； and struck a blow upon the shield with my kerrieit
would scarcely have crushed a fly； but this brave warrior trembled
sorely。
〃Where now is your valour； you who name my umfagozan？〃 I said： 〃you
who cry like a maid and whose arm is soft as a maid's。〃
She made no answer； but hugged her tattered blanket round her； and
shifting my grip from her arm； I seized it and rent it； showing her
breast and shoulder； then I let her go； laughing； and said：
〃Lo！ here is the warrior that would beat an old umfagozan for his
insolence； a warrior well shaped for war！ Now； my pretty maid who
wander at night in the garment of a man； what tale have you to tell？
Swift with it； lest I drag you to the chief as his prize！ The old man
seeks a new wife； they tell me？〃
Now when Nada saw that I had discovered her she threw down the shield
after the spear； as a thing that was of no more use； and hung her head
sullenly。 But when I spoke of dragging her to the chief then she flung
herself upon the ground； and clasped my knees； for since I called him
old； she thought that this chief could not be Umslopogaas。
〃Oh； my father；〃 said the Lily； 〃oh； my father； have pity on me！ Yes；
yes！ I am a girl； a maidno wifeand you who are old； you； perchance
have daughters such as I； and in their name I ask for pity。 My father；
I have journeyed far； I have endured many things； to find my way to a
kraal where my brother rules； and now it seems I have come to the
wrong kraal。 Forgive me that I spoke to you so； my father； it was but
a woman's feint； and I was hard pressed to hide my sex； for my father；
you know it is ill to be a lonely girl among strange men。〃
Now I said nothing in answer； for this reason only： that when I heard
Nada call me father； not knowing me； and saw her clasp my knees and
pray to me in my daughter's name； I； who was childless save for her；
went nigh to weeping。 But she thought that I did not answer her
because I was angry； and about to drag her to this unknown chief； and
implored me the more even with tears。
〃My father；〃 she said； 〃do not this wicked thing by me。 Let me go and
show me the path that I shall ask： you