 Chapter 16 of Narda the Lillie by H. Ryder Haggard This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Umsloppa gas ventures out to win the axe. Now many moons had gone by since Umsloppa gas became a king of the wolves, and he was a man full grown, a man fierce and tall and keen, a slayer of men, fleets of foot and a valour unequaled, seeing by night as well as by day. But he was not yet named the slaughterer, and not yet did he hold that iron chieftainess, the axe grownmaker. Still the desire to win the axe was foremost in his mind, for no woman had entered there, who, when she enters, drives out all other desire. Aye, my father, even that of good weapons! Times indeed, Umsloppa gas would lurk in the reeds by the river, looking at the kral of Jikiza, the unconquered, and would watch the gates of his kral, and once, as he lurked, he saw a man great, broad and hairy, who bore upon his shoulder a shining axe, hafted with the horn of a rhinoceros. After that his greed for this axe entered into Umsloppa gas more and more, to that length he scarcely could sleep for thinking of it, and to Galazi he spoke of little else, wearying him much with his talk, for Galazi loved silence. But for all his longing he could find no means to win it. Now it's befell that Umsloppa gas hid one evening in the reeds, watching the kral of Jikiza, he saw her a maiden, straight and fair, whose skin shone like the copper anklets on her limbs. She walked slowly towards the reeds where he lay hidden, nor did she stop at the brink of the reeds. She entered them, and sat herself down within a spear's length of where Umsloppa gas was seated, and at once began to weep, speaking to herself as she wept. Would that the ghost-wolves might fall on him, and all that is his, she sobbed. Aye, and Omasilo also, I would hound them on, even if I myself must next know their fangs. Better to die by the teeth of the wolves than to be sold to this fat pig of Omasilo. Oh, if I must wed him, I will give him a knife for the bride's kiss. Oh, that I were lady of the ghost-wolves, there should be a picking of bones in the krall of Chickiza before the moon grows young again. Umsloppa gas heard, and of a sudden reared himself up before the maid, and he was great and wild to look on, and the she-wolf's fangs shone upon his brow. The ghost-wolves are at hand, damsel, he said. They are ever at hand for those who need them. Now the maid saw him, and screamed faintly, then grew silent, wondering at the greatness and the fierce eyes of the man who spoke to her. Who are you? she asked. I fear you not, whoever you are. Then you are wrong, damsel, for all men fear me, and they have cause to fear. I am one of the wolf-brotheren whose names have been told of. I am a wizard of the ghost-mountain. Take heed now lest I kill you. It will be of little avail to call upon your people, for my feet are flatter than theirs. I have no wish to call upon my people, wolf-man, she answered, and for the rest I am too young to kill. That is so maiden, answered Umsloppa gas, looking at her beauty. What will the words upon your lips, as to Chickiza and a certain Masilo, were they not fierce words, such as my heart likes well? It seems that you heard them, answered the girl. What need to waste breath in speaking them again? No need, maiden. Now tell me your story, perhaps I may find a way to help you. There is little to tell, she answered. It is a small tale and a common. My name is Zenita, and Chickiza, the unconquered, is my stepfather. He married my mother, who is dead, but none of his blood is in me. Now he would give me a marriage to a certain Masilo, a fat man and an old, whom I hate, because Masilo offers many cattle for me. Is there then another whom you would wed, maiden, asked Umsloppa gas. There is none, answered Zenita, looking him in the eyes. And is there no path by which you may escape from Masilo? There is only one path, Wolf-Man, by death. If I die, I shall escape. If Masilo dies, I shall escape. But a little end, for I shall be given to another. But if Chickiza dies, then it will be well. What of that wolf-people of yours? Are they not hungry, Wolf-Man? I cannot bring them here, answered Umsloppa gas. Is there no other way? There is another way, said Zenita. If one can be found to try it, and again she looked at him strangely, causing the blood to beat within him. Harken, do you not know how our people are governed? They are governed by him who holds the axe grown-maker. He that can win the axe in war from the hand of him who holds it shall be our chief. But if he who holds the axe dies unconquered, then his son takes his place, and with it the axe. It has been thus indeed for four generations, since he who held grown-maker has always been unconquerable. But I have heard that the great grandfather of Chickiza won the axe from him who held it in his day. He won it by fraud, for when the axe had fallen on him but likely he fell over, feigning death. Then the owner of the axe laughed and turned to walk away. But the forefather of Chickiza sprang up behind him and pierced him through with a spear, and thus he became chief of the people of the axe. Therefore it is the custom of Chickiza to hew off the heads of those whom he kills with the axe. Does he then slay many? Asked them sloppergass. Of late years few indeed, she said, for none dare stand against him. No, not with all to win. For, holding the axe grown-maker, he is unconquerable, and to fight with him is sure death. Fifty and one have tried in all, and before the huts of Chickiza there are piled fifty and one white skulls. And know this, the axe must be won in fight. If it is stolen or found it has no virtue. Nay, it brings shame and death to him who holds it. How then may a man give battle to Chickiza? He asked again. Thus, once in every year, on the first day of the new moon of the summer season, Chickiza holds a meeting of the headmen. Then he must rise and challenge all or any to come forward, and do battle with him to win the axe, and to become chief in his place. Now if one comes forward, they go into the cattle-cral, and there the matter is ended. Afterwards, when the head is hewn from his foe, Chickiza goes back to the meeting of the headmen, and they talk as before. All are free to come to the meeting, and Chickiza must fight with them if they wish it, whoever they may be. Perhaps I shall be there, said Omslopagas. After this meeting at the new moon, I am to be given in marriage to Masilo, said the maid. But should one conquer Chickiza, then he will be chief, and can give me in marriage to whom he will. Now Omslopagas understood her meaning, and knew that he had found favour in her sight, and the thought moved him a little, for women were strange to him as yet. If perchance I should be there, he said, and if perchance I should win the iron chieftainess, the axe-grown maker, and rule over the people of the axe, you should not live far from the shadow of the axe thence forward, maid Zenita. It is his well-wolf man, though some might not wish to dwell in that shadow, but first you must win the axe, many have tried and all have failed. Yet one must succeed at last, he said, and so farewell, and he leapt into the torrents of the river, and swam it with great strokes. Now the maid Zenita watched him till he was gone, and love of him entered into her heart, and love that was fierce and jealous and strong, but as he wend it to the ghost mountain, from Sloppa Gas thought rather of axe-grown maker than of maid Zenita, for ever at the bottom of Sloppa Gas loved war more than women, though this has been his fate, that women have wrought sorrow on his head. Fifteen days must pass before the day of the new moon, and during this time, from Sloppa Gas thought much and said little. Still he told Galazi something of the tale, and that he was determined to do battle with Jigiza, the unconquered, for the axe-grown maker. Galazi said that he would do well to let it be, and that it was better to stay with the wolves than to go out seeking for strange weapons. He said also that even if he won the axe, the matter might not stay there, but he must take the girl also, and his heart bowed no good of women. It had been a girl who poisoned his father in the crowds of the Galakazi, to all of which some Sloppa Gas answered nothing, for his heart was set both on the axe and the girl, but more on the former than the latter. So the time wore on, and at length came the day of the new moon, at the dawn of that day, from Sloppa Gas arose and clad himself in a mucca, binding the she-wolf's skin round his middle beneath the mucca. In his hand he took a stout fighting shield, which he had made of buffalo hide, and that same light moon-shaped axe with which he had slain the captain of Shaka. A poor weapon with which to kill Jigiza the unconquered, said Galazi, eyeing it a scans. It shall serve my turn, answered Sloppa Gas. Now on Sloppa Gas ate, and then they moved together slowly down the mountain and crossed the river by a ford, for he wished to save his strength. On the farther side of the river, Galazi hid himself in the reeds, because his face was known, and there on Sloppa Gas bade him farewell, not knowing if he should look upon him again. Afterwards he walked up to the great place of Jigiza. Now when he reached the gates of the Kral, he saw that many people were streaming through them, and mingled with the people. Presently they came to the open space in front of the huts of Jigiza, and there the headmen were gathered together in the centre of them, and before a heap of the skulls of men rolled up against his doorpost, sat Jigiza, a huge man, a hairy and a proud, who glared about him rolling his eyes. Passing to his arm by a thong of leather was the great axe grownmaker, and each man as he came up saluted the axe, calling it Incosigas, or chieftaness, but he did not salute Jigiza. From Sloppa Gas sat down with the people in front of the counsellors, and few took any notice of him, except Zinita, who moved sullenly to and fro, bearing gourds of beer to the counsellors. Near to Jigiza, on his right hand, sat a fat man with small and twinkling eyes, who watched the maid Zinita greedily. Young man thought of Sloppa Gas, his Masilo, the better for bloodletting will you be Masilo. Presently Jigiza spoke, rolling his eyes. This is the matter before you counsellors. I have settled it in my mind to give my step-daughter Zinita in marriage to Masilo, but the marriage gift is not yet agreed on. I demand a hundred head of cattle from Masilo, for the maid is fair and straight, a proper maid, and moreover, my daughter, though not of my blood. Masilo offers fifty head only, therefore I ask you to settle it. We hear you, lord of the axe, answered one of the counsellors, but first, oh unconquered, you must, on this day of the year, according to ancient custom, give public challenge to any man to fight you for the grown-maker, and for your place as chief of the people of the axe. This is a weary something, grumble Jigiza, and I never have done in it. Fifty-three of I slain in my youth without a wound, and now, for many years, I have challenged like a cock on a dung hill, a non-crowing answer. Oh, now, is there any man who will come forward and do battle with me, Jigiza, for the great axe-grown-maker, to him who can win it, it shall be, and with it, the chieftainship of the people of the axe. Thus he spoke very fast, as a man gabbles a prayer to a spirit in whom he has little faith, then turned once more to talk of the cattle of Masilo and of the maids in Ita. But suddenly, Umslopagar stood up, looking at him over the top of his war-shield and crying, here is one, oh Jigiza, who will do battle with you for the axe-grown-maker, and for the chieftainship that is to him who holds the axe. Now all the people laughed, and Jigiza glared at him. Come forth from behind that big shield of yours. He said, come out and tell me your name and lineage, you who would do battle with the unconquered for the ancient axe. Umslopagar came forward, and he looked so fierce, though he was but young, that the people laughed no more. What is my name and lineage to you, Jigiza? He said, let it be and hasten to do me battle, as you must by the custom prime eager to handle the grown-maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter of the cattle of Masilo the pig. When I have killed you, I will take a name who now have none. Now once more the people laughed, but Jigiza grew mad with wrath and sprang up gasping. What, he said, you dare to speak thus to me, you babe unweened, to me the unconquered, the holder of the axe. Never did I think to live to hear such talk from a long-legged pup. On to the cattle-cral, people of the axe that I may hew this braggart's head from his shoulders. He would stand in my place, would he? The place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue of the axe. I tell you all that presently I will stand upon his head and then we will settle the matter of Masilo. Babel not so fast, man, quoth of slopper gas, or if you must, Babel, speak those words which you would say, ere you bid the sun farewell. Now Jigiza choked with rage and foam came from his lips so that he could not speak. But the people found this sport all except Masilo who looked at scans at the stranger tall and fierce and Zenita who looked at Masilo and with no love. So they moved down to the cattle-cral and Galazi seeing it from afar could keep away no longer but drew near and mingled with the crowd. End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Narda the Lily they tried a haggard. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Umslopper gas becomes chief of the people of the axe. Now when Umslopper gas and Jigiza the unconquered had come to the cattle-cral they were set in its centre and there were ten paces between them. Umslopper gas was armed with the great shield and the light moon-shaped axe. Jigiza carried the grown-maker and a small dancing shield and looking at the weapons of the two people thought that this stranger would furnish no sport to the holder of the axe. He is ill-armed said an old man it should be otherwise. Large axe small shield Jigiza is unconquerable and the big shield will not help this long-legged stranger when grown-maker rattles on the buffalo hide. The old man spoke thus in the hearing of Galazi the Wolf and Galazi thought that he spoke wisely and sorrowed for the fate of his brother. Now the word was given and Jigiza rushed on Umslopper gas roaring for his rage was great. But Umslopper gas did not stir till his foe was about to strike. Then suddenly he leaped aside and as Jigiza passed he smoked him hard upon the back with the flat of his axe making a great sound for it was not his plan to try to kill Jigiza with this axe. Now a shout of laughter went up from the hundreds of the people and the heart of Jigiza nearly burst with rage because of the shame of that blow. Around he came like a bull that is mad and once more rushed at Umslopper gas who lifted his shield to meet him. Then of a sudden just when the great axe leapt on high Umslopper gas uttered a cry as of fear and turning fled before the face of Jigiza. Now once more the shout of laughter went up while Umslopper gas fled swiftly and after him rushed Jigiza blind with fury. Round and about the cry sped Umslopper gas scarcely a spear's length ahead of Jigiza and he ran keeping his back to the sun as much as might be that he might watch the shadow of Jigiza. Second time he sped round while the people cheered the chase as hunters cheer a dog which pursues a buck. So cunningly did Umslopper gas run that though he seemed to reel with weakness in such fashion that men thought his breath was gone yet he went ever faster and faster drawing Jigiza after him. Now when Umslopper gas knew by the breathing of his foe and by the staggering of his shadow that his strength was spent suddenly he made as though he were about to fall himself and stumbled out of the path far to the right and as he stumbled he let drop his great shield full in the way of Jigiza's feet. Then it came about that Jigiza running on blindly caught his feet in the shield while headlong to earth. Umslopper gas saw and swooped on him like an eagle on a dove before men could so much as think he had seized the axe grown maker and with a blow of the steel he had severed the thong of leather which bound it to the wrist of Jigiza and sprung back holding the great axe aloft and casting down his own weapon upon the ground. Now the watchers saw all the cunning of his fight and those of them who hated Jigiza shouted aloud but others were silent. Slowly Jigiza gathered himself from the ground wondering if he were still alive and as he rose he grasped the little axe of Umslopper gas and looking at it he wept. Umslopper gas held up the great grown maker iron chieftainess and examined its curved points of blue steel the gouge that stands behind it and the beauty of its haft bound about with wire of brass and ending in a knob like the knob of a stick as a lover looks upon the beauty of his bride. Then before all men he kissed the broad blade and cried aloud greeting to thee my chieftainess greeting to the wife of my youth whom I have won in war never shall we part, thou and I and together will we die, thou and I for I am not minded that others should handle thee when I am gone. Thus he cried in the hearing of men then turned to Jigiza who stood weeping because he had lost all. Where now is your pride? O unconquered lapped Umslopper gas fight on, you are as well armed as I was a while ago when I did not fear to stand before you. Jigiza looked at him for a moment then with a curse he hurled a little axe at him and turning fled swiftly towards the gates of the cattle Umslopper gas snooped and the little axe sped over him then he stood for a while watching and the people thought that he meant to let Jigiza go but that was not his desire. He waited indeed so Jigiza had covered nearly half the space between him and the gate then with a roar he leaped forward as light leaps from a cloud and so fast did his feet fly that the watchers scarcely could see them move. Jigiza fled fast also yet he seemed but as one who stands still now he reached the gates of the Kral now there was a rush, a light of downward falling steel and something swept past him then behold Jigiza fell in the gateway of the cattle Kral and all saw that he was dead smitten to death by that mighty axe Gromaker which he and his fathers had held for many years. A great shout went up from the crowd of watchers when they knew that Jigiza the unconquered was killed at last and there were many who hailed Umslopper gas naming him chief and lord but the sons of Jigiza to the number of ten great men and brave rushed on Umslopper gas to kill him. Umslopper gas ran backwards lifting up the Gromaker when certain counsellors of the people flung themselves in between them crying hold is not this your law ye counsellors said Umslopper gas that having conquered the chief of the people of the axe and myself am chief that is our law indeed stranger answer than aged counsellor but this also is our law that now you must do battle one by one with all who come against you so it was in my father's time when the grandfather of him who now lies dead won the axe so it must be again today I have nothing to say against the rule said Umslopper gas now who is there who will come up against me to do battle for the axe Gromaker and the chiefdanship of the people of the axe then all the ten sons of Jigiza stepped forward as one man for their hearts were mad with wrath because of the death of their father and because the chiefdanship had gone from their race they cared little if they lived or died but there were none besides these for all men feared to stand before Umslopper gas and the Gromaker Umslopper gas counted them there are ten by the head of Shaka he cried now if I must fight all these one by one no time will be left to me this day to talk of the matter of Masilo and of the maid Zenita the sons of Jigiza the conquered if I find one other to stand beside me in the fray and all of you come on at once against us twain ten against two to slay us or be slain will that be to your minds the brethren consulted together and held that so they should be in better case than if they went up one by one so be it they said and the council has assented now as he fled round and round Umslopper gas had seen the face of Galazi his brother in the throng and knew that he hungered to share the fight so he called aloud that he whom he should choose and who would stand back to back with him in the fray if victory were theirs should be the first after him among the people of the axe and as he called he walked slowly down the line scanning the faces of all till he came to where Galazi stood leading on the watcher here is a great fellow who bears a great club said Umslopper gas how are you named fellow I am named wolf and said Galazi say now wolf are you willing to stand back to back with me in this fray of two against ten if victory is ours I am among this people better I love the wild woods and the mountains breast and the carls of men and the kiss of wives axe bearer and said Galazi yet because you have shown yourself a warrior of might and to taste again of the joy of battle I will stand back to back with you axe bearer and see this matter ended a bargain wolf cried Umslopper gas cried a mighty pair till they came to the centre of the cattle kral all there looked on them wondering and it came into the thoughts of some that these were none other than the wolf brethren who dwelt upon the ghost mountain now axe grown maker and club watcher have come together Galazi said Umslopper gas as they walked and I think that few can stand before them some shall find it so and said Galazi at the least the fray will be merry and what matter how frays end ah said Umslopper gas victory is good but death ends all and is best of all then they spoke of the fashion in which they should fight and Umslopper gas looked curiously at the axe he carried and at the point on its hammer balancing it in his hand when he had looked long the pair took their stand back to back in the centre of the kral and people saw that Umslopper gas held the axe in a new fashion its curved blade being inwards towards his breast and the hollow point turned towards the foe the ten brethren gathered themselves together shaking their asser guys five of them stood before Umslopper gas and five before Galazi the Wolf they were all great men made fierce with rage and shame now nothing except witchcraft can save these two said a counsellor to one who stood by him yet there is virtue in the axe and said the other and for the club it seems that I know it I think it is named Watcher of the Fords for those who stand before the Watcher I myself have seen him aloft when I was young moreover these are no Cravens who hold the axe and the club they are but lads indeed yet they have drunk Wolf's milk meanwhile an aged man drew near to speak the word of Onset it was that same man who had set out the law to Umslopper gas he must give the signal to bring up a spear and when it struck the ground then the fight should begin the old man took the spear and threw it but his hand was weak and he cast so clumsily that it fell among the sons of Jikiza who stood before Umslopper gas causing them to open up to let it pass between them and drawing the eyes of all ten of them to it but Umslopper gas watched the touching of the spear only being careless where it touched as the points of it kissed the earth he said a word and lo Umslopper gas and Galazi not waiting for the onslaught of the ten as men had thought they must sprang forward each at the line of foes who were before him while the ten still stood confused for it had been their plan to attack the wolf brethren were on them Rownmaker was up but as for no great stroke he did but peck as a bird pecks with his bill and yet a man dropped dead the watcher also was up but he fell like a falling tree and was the death of one through the lines of the ten passed the wolf brethren in the gaps that each had made then they turned swiftly and charged towards each other again again Rownmaker pecked again the watcher thundered and lo once more Umslopper gas and Galazi stood back to back unhurt but before them lay four men dead the onslaught and the return were so swift that men scarcely understood what had been done even those who were the sons of Jigiza who were left stared at each other wondering then they knew that they were but six but four of them were dead with a shout of rage they rushed upon the pair from both sides but in either case one was the most eager and outstepped the other two and thus it came about that time was given the wolf brethren to strike at him alone before his fellows were at his side he who came at Umslopper gas drove at him with his spear but he was not to be caught thus for he bent his middle sideways so that the spear only cut his skin and as he bent tapped with the point of the axe the head of the smiter dealing death on him Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of steel and he can use it well said the counselor to him who stood by him this is a slaughter indeed the man answered and the people heard the names then sforth they knew Umslopper gas as the Woodpecker and as Bulalio or the slaughterer and by no other names now he who came at Galazi the wolf rushed on wildly holding his spear short but Galazi was cunning in war he took one step forward to meet him then swinging the watcher backward he let him fall at the full length of arms and club the child of Jikizar lifted his shield to catch the blow but the shield was to the watcher what a leaf is to the wind full on its hide the huge club fell making a loud sound the war shield doubled up like a raw skin and he who bore it fell crushed to the earth now for a moment the four who were left of the sons of Jikizar hovered round the pair painting at them from afar but never coming within reach of axe or club one threw a spear indeed though Umslopper gas leapt aside and as it sped towards him smote the haftin too with the blade of groanmaker yet its head flew on wounding Galazi in the flank then he who had thrown the spear turned to fly for his hands were empty and the others followed swiftly for the heart was out of them and they dared to do battle with these two no more thus the fight was ended and from its beginning till the finish was not longer than the time in which men might count a hundred slowly it seems that none are left for us to kill Galazi said Umslopper gas laughing aloud ah that was a cunning fight oh you sons of the unconquered who run so fast stay your feet I give you peace you shall live to sweep my huts to plow my fields with the other women of my kral now counsellors the fighting is done so let us to the chief's huts where Masilo waits us and he turned and went with Galazi and after him followed all the people wondering and in silence when he reached the huts Umslopper gas sat himself down in the place where Jikiza had sat that morning and the maid Zenita came to him with a wet cloth and washed the wound that the spear had made he thanked her then she would have washed Galazi's wound also this was deeper but Galazi made her to let him be roughly as he would have no woman meddling with his wounds for neither then nor at any other time did Galazi turn to women but he hated Zenita most of them all then Umslopper gas spoke to Masilo the pig who sat before him with a frightened face saying it seems oh Masilo that you have sought this maid Zenita in marriage and against her will persecuting her now I had intended to kill you as an offering to her anger but there has been enough bloodletting today yet you shall give a marriage gift to this girl whom I myself will take in marriage you shall give a hundred head of cattle then get you gone from among the people of the axe lest a worse thing befall you the pig so Masilo rose up and went and his face was green with fear but he paid the hundred head of cattle and fled towards the Kral of Shaka Zenita watched him go and she was glad of it and because the slaughterer had named her for his wife I am well rid of Masilo she said aloud in the hearing of Galazi but I had been better pleased to see him dead before me this woman has a fierce heart thought Galazi and she will bring no good to him sloppigas my brother now as the counsellors and the captains of the people of the axe conzaid to him whom they named the slaughterer doing homage to him as chief and holder of the axe and also they did homage to the axe itself so umsloppigas became chief over this people and their number was many and he grew great and fat in cattle and wives and none dared to gain say him from time to time indeed a man ventured to stand up before him in fight but none could conquer him and in a little while no one sought to face grownmaker himself to peck Galazi was also great among the people but dwelt with them little for best he loved the wild woods and the mountains breast and often as of old he swept at night across the forest and the plains and a howling of the ghost wolves went with him but henceforth umsloppigas the slaughterer hunted very rarely with the wolves at night he slept at the side of Zenita and she loved him much and bore him children End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of Narda the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard this Librivox recording is in the public domain the Curse of Baleca now my father my story winds back again as a river bends towards its source and I tell of those events which happened at the king's Kral of Givamak'agu which you white people name Givalklac and the Kral that is called pick out the old men for it was there that Shaka murdered all the aged who were unfit for war after I Mopo had stood before the king and he had given me new wives and fat cattle and a Kral to dwell in the bones of Onandi the great mother elephant mother of the heavens were gathered together from the ashes of my hut and because all could not be found some of the bones of my wives were collected also to make up the number but Shaka never knew this when all were brought together a great pit was dug and the bones were set out in order in the pit and buried not alone around them were placed 12 maidens of the servants of Onandi and these maidens were covered over with the earth and left to die in the pits by the bones of Onandi their mistress moreover all those who were present at the burial were made into a regiment and commanded that they should dwell by the grave for the space of a year they were many my father while he was not one of them also Shaka gave orders that no crops should be sown that year that the milk of the cows should be spilled upon the ground and that no woman should give birth to a child for a full year and that if any should dare to bear children then that they should be slain and their husbands with them and for a space of some months these things were done my father and great sorrow came upon the land then for a little while there was quiet and Shaka went about heavily and he wept often and we who waited on him wept also as we walked till at length it came about by use that we could weep without ceasing for many hours no angry woman can weep as we wept in those days it was an art my father for the teaching of which I received many cattle for woe to him who had no tears in those days then it was also that Shaka sent out the captain and fifty soldiers to search for umslopper gas for though he said nothing more to me of this matter he did not believe all the tale that I had told him of the death of umslopper gas in the jaws of a lion and the tale of those who were with me how that company fared at the hands of umslopper gas and of Galazi the wolf and at the fangs of the people black and grey I have told you my father none of them ever came back again in after days it was reported to the king that these soldiers were missing never having returned but he only laughed saying that the lion which ate umslopper gas son of Mopo was a fierce one and had eaten them also had last gained the night of the new moon that dreadful night to be followed by a more dreadful morrow I sat in the Kral of Shaka and he put his arm about my neck and groaned and wept for his mother whom he had murdered and I groaned also but I did not weep because it was dark and on the morrow I must weep in the sight of king and the med therefore I spared my tears lest they should fail me in my need all night long the people drew on from every side towards the Kral and as they came in thousands and tens of thousands they filled the night with their cries till it seemed as though the whole world were mourning and loudly none might cease their crying and none dared to drink so much as a cup of water the daylight came and Shaka rose saying come let us go forth Mopo and look on those who mourn with us so we went out and after us came men armed with clubs to do the bidding of the king outside the Kral the people were gathered and their number was countless as the leaves upon the trees on every side the land was black with them as at times the felt his black with game when they saw the king they ceased from their howling and sang the war song then once again they howled and Shaka walked among them weeping now my father the sight became dreadful for as the sun rose higher the day grew hot and utter weariness came upon the people who were packed together like herds of cattle and though oxen slain in sacrifice lay around they might neither eat nor drink some fell to the ground and were trampled to death others took much snuff to make them weep others stained their eyes with saliva others walked to and fro with tongues hanging from their jaws while groans broke from their parched throats now Mopo we shall learn who are the wizards that have brought these ills upon us set the king and who are true hearted men as he spoke we came upon a man a chief of renown he was named Zwaumbana chief of the Amaborphis wives and followers this man could weep no more he gasped with thirst and heat the king looked at him see Mopo he said see that brute who has no tears for my mother who is dead oh the monster without a heart shall such as he live to look upon the sun while I and thou must weep Mopo never take him away and all those who are with him take them away the people without hearts who do not weep because my mother is dead by witchcraft and Shaka walked on weeping and I followed also weeping but the chief Zwaumbana and those with him were all slain by those who do the bidding of the king and the slayers also must weep as they slew presently we came upon another man who seeing the king took snuff secretly to bring tears to his eyes but the glance of Shaka was quick and he noted it look at him Mopo he said look at the wizard who has no tears though my mother is dead by witchcraft see he takes snuff to bring tears to his eyes that are dry with wickedness take him away the heartless brute oh take him away so this one also was killed and these were but the first of thousands for presently Shaka grew mad with wickedness with fury and with the lust of blood he walked to and fro weeping going down again into his hut to drink beer and I with him he said that we who sorrowed must have food and ever as he walked he would wave his arm or his ass a guy saying take them away the heartless brute who do not weep because my mother is dead and those who chance to stand before his arm were killed till at length the slayers could slay no more and themselves were slain because their strength had failed them and they had no more tears and I also I must slay lest if I slew not I should myself be slain and now at length the people also went mad with their thirst and the fury of their fear they fell upon each other killing each other every man who had a foe sought him out and killed him none were spared the place was but a shambles there on that day died full seven thousand men and still Shaka walked weeping among them saying take them away the heartless brutes take them away yet my father there was cunning in his cruelty for though he destroyed many for sport alone also he slew on this day all those whom he hated or whom he feared at length the night came down the sun sank red that day all the sky was like a blood and blood was all the earth beneath then the killing ceased because none had now the strength to kill and the people lay panting in heaps upon the ground the living and the dead together I looked at them and saw that if they were not allowed to eat and drink before day dawned again the most of them would be dead and I spoke to the king for I cared little in that hour if I lived or died even my hope of vengeance was forgotten in the sickness of my heart a morning indeed oh king I said a merry morning for true hearted men but for wizards a morning as they do not love I think that thy sorrows are avenged oh king thy sorrows and mine also not so mopo answered the king this is but the beginning our morning was merry today it shall be merry tomorrow tomorrow oh king few will be left to mourn for the land will be swept off men why mopo son of macadama but a few have perished of all the thousands who are gathered together number the people and they will not be missed but a few have died beneath the asagai and the kerio king yet hunger and thirst shall finish the spear's work the people have neither eaten nor drunk for a day and a night and for a day and a night they have wailed and moaned look without black one there they lie in heaps with the dead they will also be dead or dying now shaka thought a while and he saw that the work would go too far leaving him but a small people over whom to rule it is hard mopo he said that thou and I must mourn alone over our woes while these dogs feast and make merry yet because of the gentleness of my heart I will deal gently with them go out son of macadama and bid my children eat and drink if they have the heart for this mourning is ended scarcely will unandy my mother sleep well seeing that so little blood has been shed upon her grave surely her spirit will haunt my dreams yet because of the gentleness of my heart I declare this mourning ended my children eat and drink if indeed they have the heart happy are the people over whom such a king is set I said in answer then I went out and told the words of shaka to the chiefs and captains and those of them who had the voice left to them praised the goodness of the king but the most gave over sucking the dew from their sticks and rushed to the water the cattle that have wandered five days in the desert and drank their fill some of them were trampled to death in the water afterwards I slept as I might best it was not well my father for I knew that shaka was not yet glutted with slaughter on the morrow many of the people went back to their homes having sought leave from the king and headed to the place of bones and yet others were sent out in impious to kill such as had not come to the mourning of the king when midday was past shaka said that he would walk and ordered me and other of his indunas and servants to walk with him we went on in silence and the king leaning on my shoulder has on a stick what of thy people mobile he said at length what of the langenny tribe were they at my mourning I did not see them then I answered that I did not know they had been summoned but the way was long and the time short for so many to march so far dogs should run swiftly when their master calls mobile my servant said shaka and the dreadful light came into his eyes that never shone in the eyes of any other one then I grew sick at heart my father I though I loved my people little and they had driven me away I grew sick at heart now we had come to a spot where there is a great rift of black rock and the name of that rift is wudonga luka tatiana on either side of this donga the ground slopes steeply down towards its yawning lips and from its end a man may see the open country here shaka sat down at the end of the rift pondering presently he looked up and saw a vast multitude of men women and children who wound like a snake across the plain beneath towards the kral give a magoo I think Mopole said the king that by the colour of their shields yonder should be the langenny tribe then own people Mopole it is my people oh king I answered then shaka sent messengers running swiftly and bade them summon the langenny people to him where he sat other messengers he sent also to the kral whispering in their ears but what he said I did not know then now for a while shaka watched a long black snake of men winding towards him across the plain till the messengers met them and the snake began to climb the slope of the hill how many of these people of thine Mopole asked the king I know not so elephant I answered who have not seen them for many years perhaps they number three full regiments no more said the king what thinkers thou Mopole would this people of thine fill the rift behind us and he nodded at the gulf of stone now my father I trembled in all my flesh seeing the purpose of shaka but I could find no words to say for my tongue clave to the roof of my mouth the people are many said shaka yet Mopole I bet the fifty head of cattle will not fill the donger the king is pleased to jest I said ye Mopole I jest yet I suggest take thou the bet as the king wills I murmured who could not refuse now the people of my tribe drew near at their head was an old man with white hair and beard and looking at him I knew him for my father when he came within earshot of the king he gave him the royal salute of paete and fell upon his hands and knees crawling towards him and consired to the king praising him as he came all the thousands of the people also fell upon their hands and knees and praised the king aloud and the sound of their praising was like the sound of a great thunder at length Makedama my father writhing on his breast like a snake lay before the majesty of the king shaka bade him rise and greeted him kindly but all the thousands of people yet lay upon their breasts beating the dust with their heads rise Makedama my child father of the people of the langany said shaka and tell me why art thou late in coming to my mourning the way was far oh king answered Makedama my father who did not know me the way was far of the time short more over the women and the children grew weary and foot sore and they are weary in this hour speak not of it Makedama my child said the king surely thy heart mourned and that of thy people and soon they shall rest from their weariness say are they here every one every one oh elephant none are wanting my crowds are desolate the cattle wander and tended on their hills birds pick at the unguarded crops it is well Makedama thou faithful servant yet thou wouldst mourn with me an hour is it not so now Harkon bid thy people pass to the right and to the left of me and stand in all their numbers upon the slopes of the grass that run down to the lips of the rift so Makedama my father bade the people do the bidding of the king for neither he nor the indunas saw his purpose but I who knew his wicked heart I saw it then the people filed pass to the right and to the left by hundreds and by thousands and presently the grass of the slopes could be seen no more because of their number when all had passed Shaka spoke again to Makedama my father bidding him climb down to the bottom of the Donga and then slipped up his voice in mourning the old man obeyed the king slowly and with much pain at the bottom of the rift and stood there it was so deep and narrow that the light scarcely seemed to reach to where he stood for I could only see the white of his hair gleaming far down in the shadows then standing far beneath he lifted up his voice and it reached the thousands of those who clustered upon the slopes it seemed still and small yet it came up to them faintly like the voice of one speaking from a mountain top in a time of snow mourn children of Makedama and all the thousands of the people men women and children echoed his words in a thunder of sound crying mourn children of Makedama again he cried mourn people of the Langeni mourn with the whole world and the thousands answered mourn people of the Langeni mourn with the whole world a third time came his voice mourn children of the Makedama mourn people of the Langeni mourn with the whole world howl ye warriors weep ye women beat your breast ye maidens sob ye little children drink of the water of tears cover yourselves with the dust of affliction mourn o tribe of the Langeni because the mother of the heavens is no more mourn children of Makedama because the spirit of fruitfulness is no more mourn o ye people because the lion of the Zulu is left desolate let your tears fall as the rain falls let your cries be as the cries of women who bring forth sorrow is fallen like the rain the world has conceived and brought forth death great darkness is upon us darkness and the shadow of death the lion of the Zulu wanders and wanders in desolation because the mother of the heavens is no more who shall bring him comfort there is comfort in the crying of his children mourn people of the Langeni let the voice of your mourning beats against the skies and rend them who I who I who I thus sang the old man my father Makedama far down in the deeps of the clef he sang it in a still small voice but line after line his song was caught up by the thousands who stood on the slopes above and thundered to the heavens till the mountains shook with its sound moreover the noise of their crying opened the bosom of a heavy rain cloud that had gathered as they mourned and the rain fell in great slow drops as though the sky also wept and with the rain came lightning and the roll of thunder Shaka listened and large tears coursed down his cheeks whose heart was easily stirred by the sound of song now the rain hissed fiercely making as it were a curtain about the thousands of the people but still their cry went up through the rain and the roll of the thunder was lost in it presently and I looked to the right there above the heads of the people coming over the brow of the hill with the plumes of warriors and in their hands gleamed a hedge of spears I looked to the left there also I saw the plumes of warriors dimly through the falling rain and in their hands a hedge of spears I looked before me towards the end of the cleft there also loomed the plumes of warriors and in their hands was a hedge of spears then from all the people there arose another cry a cry of terror and of agony ah now they mourn indeed Mopu said Shaka in my ear now thy people mourn from their hearts not with the lips alone as he spoke the multitudes of the people on either side of the rift surged forward like a wave surged back again once more surged forward then with a dreadful crying driven on by the merciless spears of the soldiers they began to fall a warrant of men women and children far into the black depths below my father forgive me the tears that fall from these blind eyes of mine I am very aged I am but as a little child and as a little child I weep I cannot tell it at last it was done but all grew still thus was Makedama buried beneath the bodies of his people thus was ended the tribe of the Langeni as my mother had dreamed so it came about and thus did Shaka take vengeance for that cup of milk which was refused to him many a year before though has not won thy bet Mopu said the king presently see here is a little space where one more may find room to sleep full to the brim is this corn chamber with the ears of death in which no living grain is left yet there is one little space and is there not one to fill it are all the tribe of the Langeni dead indeed there is one oh king I answered the tribe of the Langeni let my carcass fill the place nay Mopu nay who then should take the bet moreover I slay thee not for it is against my oath also do we not mourn together thou and I there is no other left living of the tribe of the Langeni oh king the bet is lost it shall be paid I think that there is another there is a sister to thee and me Mopu ah see she comes I looked up my father and I saw this I saw Baleka my sister walking towards us and on her shoulders was a carous of wildcat skins and behind her were two soldiers she walked proudly holding her head high and her step was like step of a queen now she saw the sight of death for the dead lay before her like black water in a sunless pool a moment she stood shivering having guessed all then walked on and stood before Shaka what is thy will with me oh king she said thou art come in a good hour sister said Shaka turning his eyes from hers it is thus Mopu my servant and thy brother made a bet with me a bet of cattle it was a little matter that we wagered on as to whether the people of the Langeni tribe dynone tribe Baleka my sister would fill yonder place Udongo Luka Tatiana when they heard of the bet my sister the people of the Langeni hurled themselves into the rift by thousands being eager to put the matter to the proof and now it seems thy brother has lost the bet for there is yet place for one yonder ere the donger is full then my sister my brother Mopu brought it to my mind that there was still one of the Langeni tribe left upon the earth who should she sleep in that place would turn the bet in his favour and prayed me to send for her so my sister as I would not take that which I have not won I have done so and now do thou go apart and talk with Mopu thy brother alone upon this matter as once before thou didst talk when a child was born to thee my sister now Baleka took no heed of the words of Shaka which he spoke of me for she knew his meaning well only she looked him in the eyes and said he'll shout thou sleep shaka till thou comest to a land where no sleep is I have spoken Shaka saw and heard and of a sudden he quailed growing afraid in his heart and turned his head away Mopu my brother said Baleka let us speak together for the last time it is the king's word so I drew apart with Baleka my sister and a spear was in my hand we stood together alone by the people of the dead and Baleka threw the corner of the Karos about her brows and spoke to me swiftly from beneath its shadow what did I say to you a while ago Mopu it has come to pass swear to me that you will live on and that this same hand of yours shall take vengeance for me I swear it's my sister swear to me that when the vengeance is done you will seek out my son if he still lives and bless him in my name I swear it's my sister Fare you well Mopu we have always loved each other much and now all fades and it seems to me that once more we are little children playing about the Karos of the Langeni so may we play again in another land now Mopu and she looked at me steadily and with great eyes I am weary I would join the spirits of my people I hear them calling in my ears it is finished for the rest I will not tell it to you my father End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Narda the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard this Librivox recording is in the public domain Masilo comes to the Kral-Dugusa that night the curse of Baleca fell upon Shaka and he slept ill so ill did he sleep that he summoned me to him bidding me to walk abroad with him I went and we walked alone and in silence Shaka leading the way and I following after him saw that his feet led him towards the Dongolu Katatiana that place where all my people lay dead and with them Baleca my sister we climbed the slope of the hill slowly and came to the mouth of the cleft to that same spot where Shaka had stood when the people fell over the lips of the rock like water over a waterfall then there had been noise and crying now there was silence for the night was very still the moon was full also and lighted up the dead who lay near to us so that I could see them all yes I could see even the face of Baleca my sister they had thrown her into the midst of the dead never had it looked so beautiful as in this hour and yet as I gazed I grew afraid only the far end of the Donga was hidden shadow that would not have won thy bet now mobile my servant said Shaka see they have sunk together the Donga is not full by the length of a stabbing spear I did not answer but at the sound of the king's voice jackals stirred and slunk away presently he spoke again laughing loudly as he spoke thou should sleep well this night my mother for I have sent many to hush thee to thy rest ah people of the Langheny tribe you forgot but I remembered you forgot how a woman and a boy came to you seeking food and shelter and you would give them none no not a gourd of milk what did I promise you on that day people of the Langheny tribe did I not promise you that for every drop the gourd I craved would hold I would take the life of a man and have I not kept my promise do not men lie here more in number than the drops of water in a gourd and with them women and children countless as the leaves oh people of the Langheny tribe who refused me milk when I was little having grown great I am avenged upon you having grown great ah who is there so great as I the earth shakes beneath my feet when I speak the people tremble when I frown they die they die in thousands I have grown great and great I shall remain the land is mine as far as the feet of man can travel the land is mine and mine are those who dwell in it and I shall grow greater yet greater ever greater is it thy face Balakar that stares upon me from among the faces of the thousands whom I have slain thou didst promise me that I should sleep ill henceforth Balakar I fear thee not at the least thou sleeper sound tell me Balakar rise from thy sleep and tell me whom there is that I should fear and suddenly he ceased the ravings of his pride now my father while Shaka the king spoke thus it came into my mind to make an end of things and kill him for my heart was mad with rage and the thirst of vengeance already I stood behind him already the stick in my hand was lifted to strike out his brains when I stopped also for I saw something there in the midst of the dead I saw an arm stir it stirred it lifted itself it beckoned towards the shadow which hid the head of the cleft and the piled up corpses that lay there and it seemed to me that the arm was the arm of Balakar Pachansit was not her arm Pachansit was but the arm of one who yet lived among the thousands of the dead say you my father at the least the arm rose at her side and was ringed with such bracelets as Balakar wore and it beckoned from her side though her cold face changed not at all thrice the arm rose thrice it stood awhile in the air thrice it beckoned with crooked finger as though it summoned something from the depths of the shadow and from the multitudes of the dead then it fell down at a silence I heard its fall at a clank of the brace and the bracelets and as it fell there rose from the shadow a sound of singing of singing wild and sweet such as I had never heard the words of that song came to me then my father but afterwards they passed from me and I remember them no more only I know this that the song was of the making of things and of the beginning and the end of peoples it told of how the black folk grew and of how the white folk should eat them up and wherefore they were and wherefore they should cease to be it told of evil and of good of woman and of man and of how these wore against each other and why it is that they wore and what are the ends of the struggle it told also of the people of the Zulu and it spoke of a place of a little hand where they should conquer and of a place where a white hand should prevail against them and how they shall melt away beneath the shadow of the white hand and be forgotten passing to a land where things do not die but live on forever the good with the good the evil with the evil it told of life and of death of joy and of sorrow of time and of that sea in which time is but a floating leaf and of why all these things are many names also came into the song and I knew but a few of them yet my own was there and the name of Baleka and the name of Amslopegas and the name of Shaka the Lion but a little while did the voice sing yet all this was in the song I and much more but the meaning of the song is gone from me though I knew it once and shall know it again when all is done the voice in the shadow sang on till the whole place was full of the sound of it singing and even the dead seemed to listen Shaka heard it and shook with fear but his ears were deaf to its burden though mine were open the voice came nearer and now in the shadow there was a faint glow of light like the glow that gathers on the six days dead slowly it drew nearer through the shadow and as it came I saw that the shape of the light was the shape of a woman now I could see it well and I knew the face of glory my father it was the face of the Incosasana Isulu the Queen of Heaven she came towards us very slowly gliding down the gulf that was full of dead and the path she trod was paved with the dead and as she came to me that shadows rose from the dead following her the Queen of the Dead thousands upon thousands of them and ah her glory my father the glory of her hair of molten gold of her eyes that were as the noonday sky the flash of her arms and the breast that were like the driven snow when it glows in the sunset her beauty was awful to look on but I am glad to have lived to see it as it shone and changed in the shifting robe of light which is her garment now she drew near to us and shaka sank upon the earth huddled up in fear hiding his face in his hands but I was not afraid my father only the wicked need fear to look on the heaven nay I was not afraid I stood upright and gazed upon her glory face to face in her hand she held a little spear hafted with the royal wood it was the shadow of the spear that shaka held in his hand the same with which he had slain his mother and wherewith he should himself be slain now she ceased her singing before the crouching king and before me who was behind the king so that the light of her glory shone upon us she lifted the little spear and with it touched shaka son of senzangakona on the brow giving him to doom then she spoke but though shaka felt the touch he did not hear the words that were for my ears alone mopo son of makedama said the low voice stay thy hand the cup of shaka is not full when for the third time thou ceased me riding down the storm then smites mopo my child thus she spoke and a cloud swept across the face of the moon when it passed she was gone when I was alone with shaka with the knights and the dead shaka looked up and his face was grey with the sweat of fear who was this mopo he said in a hollow voice this was the inkus asana of the heavens she who watches over the people of our reiso king and who from time to time is seen of men ere great things shall befall I have heard speak of this queen shaka wherefore came she now what was the song she sang and why did she touch me with a spear she came o king because the dead hand of balika summoned her as thou sawest the song she sang was of things too high for me and why she touched the on the forehead with a spear I do not know o king perhaps it was to crown the chief of a yet greater realm yay chief of a realm of death that thou art already black one I answered glancing at the silent multitude before us and the cold shape of balika again shaka shuddered come let us be going mopo he said now I have learnt what it is to be afraid early or late fear is a guest that all must feast even kings o earth shaker I answered and we turned and went homewards in silence now after this night shaka gave it out that his kral of giveamaku was bewitched and bewitched was the land of the zulus because he might sleep no more in peace but woke ever crying out with fear and muttering the name of balika therefore in the end the kral far away and built the great town of duguza here in natal look now my father there on the plane far away is a place of the white men it is called stanga where is the white man's town stood the great kral duguza I cannot see for my eyes are dark but you can see where the great of the kral was built there is a house it is the place where the white man gives out justice that is the place of the gates of the kral through which justice never walked behind is another house where the white men who have sinned against him pray to the king of heaven for forgiveness there on that spot have I seen many a one who had done no wrong of men for mercy but I have never seen but one who found it the words of shaka have come true I will tell them to you presently my father the white man holds the land he goes to and fro about his business of peace where impis ran forth to kill his children laugh and gather flowers where men died in blood by hundreds they bathe in the waters of the imbozamo where once the crocodiles were fed daily with human flesh his young men woo the maidens where other maids have kissed the asegai it is changed nothing is the same and of shaka I left only a grave yonder and a name of fear now after shaka shaka had come to the duguzakaral for a while he sat quiet then the old thirst of blood came on him and he sent his impis against the people of the pondos and they destroyed that people and brought back their cattle but the warriors might not rest again they were doctored for war and sent out by tens of thousands to conquer Sochiangana chief of the people who lived north of the Limpopo they went singing after the king had looked upon them and bidden them return victorious or not at all their number was so great that from the hour of dawn till the sun was high in the heavens they passed the gates of the kral like countless herds of cattle they the unconquered little did they know that victory smiled on them no more that they must die by thousands of hunger and of fever in the marshes of the Limpopo and that those of them who returned should come with their shields in their bellies having devoured their shields because of their ravenous hunger but what of them they were nothing dust was the name of one of the great governments that went out against Sochiangana and dust they were dust to be driven to death by the breath of Shaka lion of the Zulu now few men remained in the kral dugusa for nearly all had gone with the impi and only women and aged people were left Dingan and Unclangana brothers of the king were there to suffer them to depart fearing lest they should plot against him and he looked on them always with an angry eye so that they trembled for their lives though they did not show their fear lest fate should follow fear but I guessed it and like a snake I wound myself into their secrets and we talked together darkly and in hints but of that presently my father for I must tell of the coming of Masilo he who would have wed Zinita and whom on Sloppa gas the slaughterer had driven out from the krals of the people of the axe it was on the day after the impi had left that Masilo came to the kral dugusa craving leave to speak with the king Shaka sat before his hut and with him were Dingan and Unclangana and his royal brothers I was there also and certain of the Indunas counselors of the king Shaka was weary that morning for he had slept badly as now he always did therefore when one told him that a certain wanderer named Masilo would speak with him he did not command that the man should be killed but bathed them bring him before him presently there was a sound of praising and I saw a fat man much worn with travel who crawled through the dust towards us giving the Simbonga that is naming the king by his royal names Shaka bathed him cease from praising and tell his business then the man sat up and all that tale which you have heard my father of how a young man great and strong came to the place of the people of the axe and conquered Jigizat the holder of the axe and became chief of that people and of how he had taken the cattle of Masilo and driven him away now Shaka knew nothing of this people of the axe for the land was great in those days my father and there were many little tribes in it living far away of whom the king had not even heard so he questioned Masilo about them and of the number of their fighting men of their wealth in cattle of the name of the young man who ruled them and especially as to the tribute which they paid to the king Masilo answered saying that the number of their fighting men was perhaps the half of a full regiment that their cattle were many though they were rich that they paid no tribute and that the name of the young man was Bulalio the slaughterer at the least he was known by that name and he had heard no other then the king grew wroth her eyes Masilo he said run to this people and speak in the ear of the people to him who is named the slaughterer saying there is another slaughterer who sits in a kral that is named Dugusa and this is his word to you O people of the axe answer thee thou who hold us the axe rise up with all the people and with all the cattle of your people and come before him who sits in the kral Dugusa and lay in his hands the great axe grown maker he looked swiftly and do this bidding lest you sit down shortly over the last time of awe footnote the Zulus are buried sitting end of footnote Masilo heard and said it should be so though the way was far and he feared greatly to appear before him who was called the slaughterer and who sat 20 days journey to the north beneath the shadow of the witch mountain be gone said the king and stand before me on the 30th day from now with the answer of this boy with an axe if thou standest not before me then some shall come to seek thee and the boy with an axe also so Masilo turned and fled swiftly to do the bidding of the king and Shaka spoke no more of that matter but I wondered in my heart if the man with an axe might be for I thought that he had dealt with Jikiza and with the sons of Jikiza as some slopper gas would have dealt with them had he come to the years of his manhood but I also said nothing of the matter now on this day also there came to me news that my wife Makrofa and my daughter Nada were dead among their people and it was said that the men of the chief of the Halakazi tribe had fallen on their Kral and put all in it to the Asagai and among them Makrofa and Nada I heard the news but I wept no tear for my father I was so lost in sorrows that nothing could move me any more Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Nada the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard this Librivox recording is in the public domain Mopo bargains with the princess 8 and 20 days went by my father and on the 9 and 20th it befell that Shaka having dreamed a dream in his troubled sleep summoned before him certain women of the Kral to the number of a hundred or more some of these were his women whom he named his sisters and some were maidens not yet given in marriage but all were young and fair now what this dream of Shaka's may have been I do not know or have forgotten for in those days he dreamed many dreams and all his dreams led to one end the death of men he sat in front of his hut scowling and I was with him to the left of him were gathered the girls and women and their knees were weak with fear one by one they were led before him and stood before him with bowed heads then he would bid them to be of good cheer and speak softly to them and in the end would ask them this question Hustle, my sister a cat in thy hut now some would say that they had a cat and some would say that they had none and some would stand still and make no answer being dumb with fear but whatever they said the end was the same for the king would sigh gently and say very well, my sister it is unfortunate for thee that there is a cat in thy hut or there is no cat in thy hut or that thou canst not tell me whether there be a cat in thy hut or no then the woman would be taken by the slayers dragged without the krall and their end was swift so it went on for the most part of that day till 60 and two women and girls had been slaughtered but at last the maiden was brought before the king and to this one her snake had given a ready wit for when shaka asked her whether or no there was a cat in her hut she answered saying that she did not know but there was half a cat upon her and she pointed to a cat's skin which was bound about her loins then the king laughed and clapped his hands saying that at length his dream was answered and he killed no more that day nor ever again save once only that evening my heart was heavy within me and I cried in my heart how long nor might I rest so I wandered out from the krall that was named Duguzah to the great cleft in the mountains yonder and sat down upon a rock high up in the cleft so that I could see the wide lands rolling to the north and the south to my right and to my left now the day was drawing towards the night and the air was very still for the heat was great and a tempest was gathering as I who am a heaven heard knew well the sun sank redly flooding the land with blood it was as though all the blood that shaka had shed flowed about the land which shaka ruled then from the womb of the night great shapes of cloud rose up and stood before the sun and he crowned them with his glory and in their hearts the lightning quivered like a blood of fire the shadow on their wings fell upon the mountain and the plains and beneath their wings was silence slowly the sun sank and the shapes of cloud gathered together like a host at the word of its captain and the flicker of the lightning was as the flash of the spears of a host I looked and my heart grew afraid the lightning died away the silence deepened and deepened till I could hear it no leaf moved no bird called the world seemed dead I alone lived in the dead world now all of a sudden my father a bright star fell from the height of heaven and lit upon the crest of the storm and as it lit the storm burst the great air shivered a moan ran about the rocks and died away then an icy breath burst from the lips of the tempest and rushed across the earth it caught the falling star and drove it on toward me a rushing globe of fire and as it came the star grew and took shape and the shape it took was the shape of a woman I knew her now my father while she was yet far off I knew her the Incosasana who came as she had promised riding down the storm on she swept worn forward by the blast and oh she was terrible to see her garments was the lightning lightning shone from her wide eyes and lightnings were in her streaming air while in her hand was a spear of fire and she shook it as she came now she was at the mouth of the pass before her was stillness behind her beat the wings of the storm the thunder roared the rain hissed like snakes she rushed on past me and as she passed she turned her awful eyes upon me withering me she was there she was gone but she spoke no word only shook her flaming spear yet it seemed to me that the storm spoke that the rocks cried aloud that the rain hissed out a word in my ear and the word was my tmopo I heard in my heart or with my ears what does it matter then I turned to look through the rush of the tempest and the reek of the rain still I could see her sweeping forward high in air now the kral dugusa was beneath her feet and the flaming spear fell from her hand upon the kral and fire leaped up in answer then she passed on over the edge of the world seeking her own place thus my father for the third and last time did my eyes see the inkosazana izulu or may have my heart dream that I saw her soon I shall see her again but it will not be here for a while I sat there in the cleft then I rose and fought my way through the fury of the storm back to the kral dugusa as I drew near the kral I heard cries of fear coming through the roaring of the wind and the hiss of the rain I entered and asked one of the matter and it was told me that fire from above had fallen on the hut of the king as he lay sleeping all the roof of the hut was burned away but that the rain had put out the fire then I went on till I came to the front of the great hut and I saw by the light of the moon which now shone out in the heaven that there before it stood chakka shaking with fear and the water of the rain was running down him while he stared at the great hut of which all the thatch was burned I saluted the king asking him what evil thing had happened seeing me he seized me by the arm and clung to me as when the slayers are at hand a child clings to his father drawing me after him into a small hut that was near what evil thing has befallen oh king I said again when light had been made little have I known of fear Mopo said chakka yet I am afraid now I as much afraid as when once on a bygone night the dead hand of Balakka summons something that walked upon the faces of the dead and what fear is thou oh king who art the lord of all the earth now chakka leaned forward and whispered to me ah can Mopo I have dreamed a dream when the judgment of those witches was done with I went and laid me down to sleep while it was yet light for I can scarcely sleep at all when darkness has swallowed up the world my sleep has gone from me that sister of thine Balakka took my sleep with her to the place of death I laid me down and I slept but a dream arose and sat by me with a hooded face and showed me a picture it seemed to me that the wall of my hut fell down and I saw an open place and in the centre of the place I lay dead covered with many wounds while round my corpse my brother's dingan and umklangana stalked in pride like lions on the shoulders of umklangana was my royal karros and there was blood on the karros and in the hand of dingan was my royal spear and there was blood upon the spear then in the vision of my dream Mopo thou didst draw near and lifting thy hand didst give the royal salute of bayete to these brothers of mine and with thy foot did spurn the carcass of me, thy king then the hooded dream pointed upwards and was gone and I awoke and low fire burned in the roof of my hut thus I dreamed Mopo and now my servant say thou wherefore should I not slay thee thou who wouldst serve other kings than I thou who wouldst give my royal salute to the princes my brothers and he clared upon me fiercely as thou wilt, oh king I answered gently doubtless thy dream was evil and yet more evil was the omen of the fire that fell upon thy hut and yet and I ceased and yet Mopo thou faithless servant and yet, oh king it seems to me in my folly that it were well to strike the head of the snake and not its tail for without the tail the head may live but not the tail without the head thou wouldst say Mopo that if these princes die never canst thou or any other man give them the royal names do I hear a right, Mopo who am I that I should lift up my voice asking for the blood of princes? I answered judge thou, oh king now Shaka brooded a while then he spoke say Mopo can it be done this night? there are but few men in the cry, oh king all are gone out to war and of those few many other servants of the princes and perhaps they might give blow for blow how then, Mopo nay, I know not, oh king yet had the great cry beyond the river sits that regiment which is named the Slayers by midday tomorrow they might be here and then thou speakest wisely my child, Mopo it shall be for tomorrow go summon the regiment of the Slayers and Mopo see that thou fail me not if I fail thee, oh king then I fail myself for it seems that my life hangs on this matter if all the words that ever pass thy lips are lies yet is that word true, Mopo said Shaka moreover know this my servant if ought miscarries thou shall die no common death be gone I hear the king I answered and went out now my father I knew well that Shaka had doomed me to die though first he would use me to destroy the princes but I feared nothing for I knew this also that the hour of Shaka was come at last for a while I sat in my hut pondering then when all men slept I arose and crept like a snake by many paths to the hut of Ding An the prince who awaited me on that night following the shadow of the hut I came to the door and scratched upon it after a certain fashion suddenly it was opened and I crawled in and the door was shut again now there was a little light in the hut and by its flame I saw the two princes sitting side by side wrapped about with blankets which hung before their brows who is this that comes said the prince Ding An then I lifted the blankets from my head so that they might see my face and they also drew the blankets from their brows I spoke saying hail to you princes who tomorrow shall be dust hail to you sons of Sen Zangakona who tomorrow shall be spirits and I pointed towards them with my withered hand now the princes were troubled and shook with fear what meanest thou thou dog that thou doth speak to us words till Omen said the prince Ding An in a low voice wherefore dost thou pointed us with that white and withered hand of thine wizard hissed the prince some clangana have I not told you oh ye princes I whispered that ye must strike or die and has not your heart failed you now harken Shaka has dreamed another dream now it is Shaka who strikes and ye are already dead ye children of Sen Zangakona if the slayers of the king be without the gates at least thou shalt die first thou who has betrayed us quoth the prince Ding An and drew an asagai from under his caros first hear the king's dream oh prince I said then if thou wilt kill me and die Shaka the king slept and dreamed that he lay dead and that one of you the princes wore his royal caros who wore the royal caros as Ding An eagerly and both looked up waiting on my words the prince some clangana wore it in the dream of Shaka oh Ding An shoot of a royal stock I answered slowly taking snuff as I spoke and watching the two of them over the edge of my snuff spoon now Ding An scowled heavily at unclangana but the face of unclangana was as the morning sky Shaka dreamed this also I went on that one of you the princes held his royal spear who held a royal spear as unclangana the prince Ding An held it in the dream of Shaka oh unclangana sprung from the root of kings and it dripped blood now the face of unclangana grew dark as night but that of Ding An brightened like the dawn Shaka dreamed this also that I muppo your dog who am not worthy to be mentioned with such names came up and gave the royal salute even the bayete the humedest I'll give the bayete o muppo son of Makedama asked both of the princes as with one breath waiting of my words I gave it to both of you oh twin stars of the morning princes of the Zulu in the dream of Shaka I gave it to both of you now the princes looked this way and that and were silent not knowing what to say for these princes hated each other though adversity and fear had brought them to one bed but what avails it to talk thus ye lords of the land I went on seeing that, both of you ye are already as dead men and that vultures which are hungry tonight tomorrow shall be filled with meat of the best Shaka the king is now a doctor of dreams and to clear away such a dream as this of medicine now the brows of those brothers grew black indeed but they saw that their fate was on them these are the words of Shaka the king for ye bulls who lead the herd all are doomed ye twin and I and many another man who loves us in the great karal beyond the river there sits a regiment it is summoned and then good night have ye any words to say those yet left upon the earth perhaps it will be given to me to live a little while after ye are gone and I may bring them to their ears can we not rise up now and fall upon Shaka astingan it is not possible I said the king is guarded hast thou no plan mopo groan them slangana me thinks thou hast a plan to save us and if I have a plan ye princes what shall be my reward it must be great for I am weary of life and I will not use my wisdom for a little thing now both the princes offered me good things each of them promising more than the other as two young men who are rivals promise to the father of a girl whom both would wed I listened saying always it was not enough till in the end both of them swore by their heads and by the bones of Senzangakona their father and by many other things that I should be the first man in the land after them is kings and should command the impious of the land if I would but show them a way to kill Shaka and become kings then when they had done swearing I spoke weighing my words in the great crowd beyond the river oh ye princes they sit not one regiment but two one is named the slayers and loves Shaka the king who has done well by them giving them cattle and wives the other is named the bees and that regiment is hungry and longs for cattle and girls moreover Uncle Angana is the general and it loves him now this is my plan to summon the bees in the name of Uncle Angana not the slayers in the name of Shaka bend forward oh princes that I may whisper in your ears so they bent forward and I whispered a while of the death of a king and the sons of Senzangakona nodded their heads as one man in answer then I rose up and crept from the hut as I had entered it and rousing certain trusty messengers I dispatched them running swiftly through the night End of chapter 20