 Chapter 25 of Narda the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The war with the Halakazi people Now, my father, I must tell of how Amslopogas, the slaughterer, and Gelazi the wolf, fared in their war against the people of the Halakazi. When I had gone from the shadow of the Ghost Mountain, Amslopogas summoned the gathering of all his headmen, and told them it was his desire that the people of the Aks should no longer be a little people, that they should grow great and number their cattle by tens of thousands. The headmen asked how this might be brought about. Would he then make war on Dengar and the King? Amslopogas answered no. He would win the favour of the King thus, and he told them of the lily made, and of the Halakazi tribe in Swaziland, and of how he would go up against that tribe. Now some of the headmen said yea to this, and some said nay, and the talk ran high and lasted till the evening. But when the evening was come, Amslopogas rose, and said that he was chief under the Aks, and none other, and that it was his will that they should go up against the Halakazi, if there was any man there who would gain say his will, that him stand forward and do battle with him, and he who conquered should order all things. To this there was no answer, for there were few who cared to face the beak of Grownmaker, and so it came about, that it was agreed that the people of the Aks should make war upon the Halakazi, and Amslopogas sent out messengers to summon every fighting man to his side. But when Zenita, his headwife, came to hear of the matter, she was angry and abraded Amslopogas, and heaped curses on me, Mopo, whom she knew only as the mouth of Dingahan, because, as she said truly, I had put this scheme into the mind of the slaughterer. What, she went on, do you not live here in peace and plenty, and must you go to make war on those who have not harmed you, there perhaps to perish or to come to other ill? You say you do this to win a girl for Dingahan, and to find favor in his sight. Has not Dingahan girls more than he can count? It is more likely that, wearing of us your wives, you go to get girls for yourself well aliyo, and as for finding favor, rest quiet, so shall you find most favor. If the king sends his impis against you, then it will be time to fight, oh fool with little wit. Thus Zenita spoke to him, very roughly, for she always blurted out what was in her mind, and Amslopogas could not challenge her to battle. So he must bear her talk as best he might, for it is often thus my father, that the greatest men grow small enough in their own hearts. Moreover, he knew that it was because Zenita loved him, that she spoke so bitterly. Now on the third day, all the fighting men were gathered, and there might have been two thousand of them, good men and brave. Zenita and Amslopogas went out and spoke to them, telling them of this adventure, and Galazi the wolf was with him. They listened silently, and it was plain to see that, as in the case of the headmen, some of them thought one thing, and some another. Then Galazi spoke to them briefly, telling them that he knew the roads and the caves and the number of the Halakazi cattle, but still they doubted. Then Amslopogas added these words, Tomorrow at the dawn, I, Bulalio, holder of the axe, chief of the people of the axe, go up against the Halakazi with Galazi the wolf, my brother. If but ten men follow us, yet we will go. Now choose, you soldiers, let those come who will, and let those who will stop at home with the women and the little children. Now a great shout rose from every throat. We will go with you, Bulalio, to victory or death. So on the morrow they marched, and there was wailing among the women of the people of the axe. Only Zenita did not wail, but stood by in wrath, foreboding evil, nor would she bid her lord farewell, yet when he was gone she wept also. Now Amslopogas and his impi travelled fast and far, hungering and thirsting, till at length they came to the land of the Amswazi, and after a while entered the territory of the Halakazi by a high and narrow pass. The fear of Galazi the wolf was that they should find this pass held, though they had harmed none in the crawls as they went, and taken only enough cattle to feed themselves. Yet he knew well that messengers had sped by day and night to warn the people of the Halakazi, but they found no man in the pass, and on the other side of it they rested, for the night was far spent. Had dawn Amslopogas looked out over the wide plains beyond, and Galazi showed him a long low hill, two hours march away. There, my brother, he said, lies the head-cral of the Halakazi, where I was born, and in that hill is the great cave. Then they went on, and before the sun was high, they came to the crest of a rise, and heard the sound of horns on its farther side. They stood upon the rise and looked, and low, yet far off but running towards them was the whole impie of the Halakazi, and it was a great impie. They have gathered their strength indeed, said Galazi, but every man of ours there are three of these Swazis. The soldiers saw also, and the courage of some of them sank low. Then Amslopogas spoke to them, yonder the Swazi dogs, my children, they are many, and we are but few. Yet shall it be told at home, that we, men of the Zulu blood, were hunted by a pack of Swazi dogs? Shall our women and children sing that song in our ears, those soldiers of the axe? Now some cried, never, but some were silent. So Amslopogas spoke again, turn back all who will, there is yet time, turn back all who will, but ye who are men, come forward with me, or if ye will, go back all of you, and leave axe grownmaker and club-watcher to see this matter out alone. Now there rose a mighty shout of, we will die together who have lived together. Do you swear it? cried Amslopogas, holding grownmaker on high. We swear it by the axe, they answered. Then Amslopogas and Galazi made ready for the battle. They posted all the young men in the broken ground above the bottom of the slope, for these could best be spared to the spear, and Galazi the wolf took command of them. But the veterans stayed upon the hillside, and with them Amslopogas. Now the Halakazi came on, and there were four full regiments of them. The plain was black with them, the air was rent with their shoutings, and their spears flashed like lightnings. On the far side of the slope they halted, and sent a herald forward, to demand what the people of the axe would have from them. The slaughterer answered that they would have three things. First, the head of their chief, whose place Galazi should fill henceforth. Secondly, that fair maid who men named the lily. Thirdly, a thousand head of cattle. If these demands were granted, then he would spare them the Halakazi. If not, he would stamp them out and take all. So the herald returned, and when he reached the ranks of the Halakazi, he called aloud his answer. Then a great roar of laughter went up from the Halakazi regiments, a roar that shook the earth. The brow of unslopper gas, the slaughterer, burned red beneath the black when he heard it, and he shook groanmaker towards their host. Ye shall sing another song before this sun is set. He cried, and strode along the ranks, speaking to this man and that by name, and lifting up their hearts with great words. Now the Halakazi raised a shout and charged to come at the young men led by Galazi the wolf. But beyond the foot of the slope was peaty ground, and they came through it heavily, and as they came, Galazi and the young men fell upon them and slew them. Still they could not hold them back for long because of their great numbers, and presently the battle raged all along the slope. But so well did Galazi handle the young men, and so fiercely did they fight beneath his eye. That's before they could be killed or driven back. All the force of the Halakazi was doing battle with them. Aye, and twice Galazi charged with such as he could gather, and twice he checked the Halakazi rush, throwing them into confusion, till at length company was mixed with company and regiments with regiments. But it might not endure for now more than half of the young men were down, and the rest were being pushed back up the hill, fighting madly. But all this while, um Sloppa gas and the veterans sat in their ranks upon the brow of the slope and watched. Those Swazi dogs have a fool for their general, like Wotham Sloppa gas. He has no men left to fall back on, and Galazi has broken his array, and mixed his regiments as milk and cream are mixed in a bowl. They are no longer an impi, they are a mob. Now the veterans moved restlessly on their haunches, pushing their legs out and drawing them in again. They glanced at the fray, they looked into each of the other's eyes, and spoke a word here, a word there. Well smitten Galazi, wow, that's what is down, a brave lad, oh, a good club is the watcher. The fight draws near, my brother. And ever as they spoke, their faces grew fiercer, and their fingers played with their spears. At length the captain called aloud to him Sloppa gas, Say slaughterer, is it not time to be up and doing? The grass is wet to sit on, and our limbs grow cramped. Wait a while, answered them Sloppa gas, let them weary of their play, let them weary, I tell you. As he spoke, the Halakazi huddled themselves together, and with a rush drove back Galazi, and those who were left of the young men. Yes, at last they were forced to flee, and after them came the Swazis, and in the forefront of the pursuit was their chief, ringed round with a circle of his bravest. Up Sloppa gas saw it, and bound it to his feet, roaring like a bull. At them now wolves, he shouted. Then the lines of warriors sprang up as a wave springs, and their crests were like foam upon the wave. As a wave that swells to break, they rose suddenly, like a breaking wave they poured down the slope. In front of them was the slaughterer, holding grownmaker aloft. And oh, his feet were swift! So swift were his feet that, strife as they would, he outran them by the quarter of a spear's throw. Galazi heard the thunder of their rush. He looked round, and as he looked low, the slaughterer swept past him, running like a buck. Then Galazi too bound it forward, and the wolf brethren sped down the hill, the length of four spears between them. The Halakazi also saw and heard, and strove to gather themselves together to meet the rush. In front of them slupe a gas was their chief, a tall man hedged about with as a guise. Straight at the shield hedge drove them slupe a gas, and a score of spears were lifted to greet him, a score of shields heaved into the air. This was a fence that none might pass alive, yet with the slaughterer pass it, and alone. Galazi, he steadies his pace, he gathers himself together, and now he leaps, high into the air he leaps. His feet knock the heads of the warriors, and rattle against the crowns of their shields. They smite upwards with the spear, but he has swept over them like a swooping bird. He has cleared them, he has lit, and now the shield hedge guards two chiefs. Oh, groan may gaze aloft. He falls, and neither shield nor axe may stay his stroke. Both are cleft through, and the Halakazi lack a leader. The shield ring wheels in upon itself. Fools, Galazi is upon you. What was that? Look now, see how many bones are left unbroken in him, whom the watcher falls on full. What? Another down. Close up, shield bend, close up. Aye, ayu fled. Ah, the wave has fallen on the beach. Listen to its roaring. Listen to the roaring of the shields. Stand, you men of Halakazi, stand. Surely they are but a few. So it is done. By the head of Shaka they break. They are pushed back. Now the wave of slaughter sleeves along the sands. Now the foe is swept like floating weed, and from all the line there comes a hissing, like the hissing of thin waters. Ski, says the hiss. Ski, ski. There, my father, I am old. What have I to do with the battle any more? With the battle and its joy. Yet it is better to die in such a fight as that than to live any other way. I have seen such. I have seen many such. Oh, we could fight when I was a man, my father, but none that I ever knew could ever fight like of Slopegas the slaughterer, son of Shaka, and his blood-brother Galazi the wolf. So, so, they swept them away, those Halakazi. They swept them as a maid sweeps the dust of a hut, as the wind sweeps the withered leaves. It was soon done when once it was begun. Some were fled, and some were dead, and this was the end of that fight. No, no, not of all the war. The Halakazi were worsted in the field, but many lived to win the great cave, and there the work must be finished. Dither then went the slaughterer presently, with such of his impious was left to him. Alas, many were killed, but how could they have died better than in that fight? Also, those who were left were as good as all, for now they knew that they should not be overcome easily, while acts and clubs still led the way. Now they stood before a hill, measuring perhaps three thousand paces round its base. It was of no great height, and yet unclimable, but after a man had gone up a little way, the sides of it were sheer, offering no foothold except to the rock rabbits and the lizards. No one was to be seen without this hill, nor in the great krall of the Halakazi that lay to the east of it, and yet the ground about was trampled with the hooves of oxen and the feet of men, and from within the mountain came a sound of lowing cattle. Here is the nest of the Halakazi, quoth Galazi the wolf. Here is the nest indeed, said Hamslopagas, but how shall we come at the eggs to suck them? There are no branches on this tree, but there is a hole in the trunk, answered the wolf. Now he led them a little way, till they came to a place where the soil was trampled, as it is at the entrance to a cattle krall, and they saw that there was a low cave which led into the cliff, like an archway such as you white men build. But this archway was filled up with great blocks of stone, placed upon each other in such a fashion that it could not be forced from without. After the cattle were driven in, it had been filled up. We cannot enter here, said Galazi, follow me. So they followed him and came to the north side of the mountain, and there, two spear casts away, a soldier was standing, but when he saw them he vanished suddenly. This is the place, said Galazi, and the fox has gone to earth in it. Now they ran to the spot and saw a little hole in the rock, scarcely bigger than an ant-bear's burrow, and through the hole came sounds and some light. Now where is the hyena who will try a new burrow? cried, um-slopper-gas. A hundred head of cattle to the man who wins through and clears the way. Then two young men sprang forward who were flushed with victory and desired nothing more than to make a great name and win cattle, crying, here are hyenas burralio. To earth then, said um-slopper-gas, and let him who wins through hold the path awhile till others follow. The two young men sprang at the hole, and he who reached it first went down upon his hands and knees and crawled in, lying on his shield and holding his spear before him for a little while the light in the burrow vanished and they heard the sound of his crawling. Then came the noise of blows and once more light crept through the hole. The man was dead. This one had a bad snake, the second soldier. His snake deserted him. Let me see if mine is better. So down he went on his hands and knees and crawled as the first had done. Only he put his shield over his head. For awhile they heard him crawling, then once more came the sound of blows echoing on the oxide shield and after the blows, groans. He was dead also, yet it seemed that they had left his body in the hole, but now no light came through. This was the cause, my father. When they struck the man, he had wriggled back a little way and died there and none had entered from the farther side to drag him out. Now the soldiers stared at the mouth of the passage and none seemed to love the look of it, but this was but a poor way to die. I'm sloppy gas and Galazy also looked at it thinking. Now I am named Wolf, said Galazy but a wolf should not fear the dark. Also these are my people and I must be the first to visit them and he went down on his hands and knees without more ado. But I'm sloppy gas, having peered once more down the burrow, said, Hold Galazy, I will go first. I have a plan. Do you follow me? I knew my children shout loudly so that none may hear us move. And if we win through, follow swiftly, but we cannot hold the mouth of that place for long. Hark and also, this is my counsel to you. If I fall, choose another chief. Galazy the wolf, if he is still living. Nay slaughterer, do not name me, said the wolf, but together we will live or die. So let it be, Galazy, then choose you some other man and try this road no more. Or if we cannot pass it, none can. But seek food and sit down here till those jackals bolt, then be ready. Farewell, my children, farewell, father, they answered. Go warily, lest we be left like cattle without a herdsman, wandering and desolate. Then I'm sloppy gas, crept into the hole, taking no shield, but holding grownmaker before him, that his heels crept, Galazy. When he had covered the length of six spears, he stretched out his hand, and as he trusted to do, he found the feet of that man who had gone before and died in the place. Then I'm sloppy gas, the way he did this. He put his head beneath the dead man's legs and thrust himself onwards till all the body was on his back. And there he held it with one hand, gripping its two wrists in his hand. Then he crawled forward a little space and saw that he was coming to the inner mouth of the burrow. But that the shadow was deep there because of a great mass of rock which lay before the burrow, shutting out the light. This is well for me, thought I'm sloppy gas, but now they will not know the dead from the living. I may yet look upon the sun again. Now he heard the Halakazi soldiers talking without. The Zulu rats do not love this run, said one. They fear the rat catcher's stick. This is good sport. And the man laughed. Then I'm sloppy gas, pushed himself forward as swiftly as he could, holding the dead man on his back. And suddenly came out of the hole into the open place in the dark shadow of the great rock. By the lily cried a soldier. Here's a third. Take this Zulu rat. And he struck the dead man heavily with a carry. And that cried another, driving his spear through him so that it pricked some sloppy gas beneath. And that and this and that, said others as they smote and stabbed. Now I'm sloppy gas, groaned heavily in the deep shadow and lay still. No need to waste more blows, said the man who had struck first. This one will never go back to Zulu land. And I think that few will care to follow him. Let us make an end, run some of you, and find stones to stop the burrow. But now the sport is done. He turned as he spoke. And so did the others. And this was what the slaughterer sought. With a swift movement, he freed himself from the dead man and sprung to his feet. They heard the sound and turned again. But as they turned, groanmaker pecked softly. And that man who had sworn by the lily was no more a man. Then I'm sloppy gas leaped forwards and bounding on to the great rock, stood there like a buck against the sky. A Zulu rat is not so easily slain, oh ye weasels. He cried as they came at him from all sides at once with a roar. He smote to the right and the left, and so swiftly that a man could scarcely see the blows fall. But he struck with groanmaker's beak. But the whole man scarcely saw the blows. Yet, my father, men fell beneath them. Now foes were all around, leaping up at the slaughterer as rushing water leaps to hide a rock. Everywhere shuns spears, thrusting at him from this side and from that. Those in front and to the side, groanmaker served to stay. But one wounded and sloppy gas in the neck, and another was lifted to pierce his back when the strength of its holder was bound to the dust, to the dust to become of the dust. For now the wolf was through the hole also and the watcher grew very busy. He was so busy that soon the back of the slaughterer had nothing more to fear. Yet those had much to fear who stood behind his back. The pair fought bravely making a great slaughter and presently one by one plumed heads of the people of the axe showed through the burrow and strong arms mingled in the fray. Swiftly they came leaping into battle as otters leap to the water. Now there were ten of them, now there were twenty and now the halakazi broke and fled since they did not bargain for this. Then the rest of the men of the axe came through in peace and the evening grew towards the dark before all had passed the hole. End of Chapter 25 Chapter 26 of Nader the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The finding of Nader. Umsloppegas marshaled his company. There is little light left, he said, but it must serve us to start these conies from their burrows. Come, my brother Galazi, you know where the conies hide. Take my place and lead us. So Galazi led the impi. Turning a corner of the glen, he came with them to a large open space that had a fountain in its midst and this place was full of thousands of cattle. Then he turned again to the left and brought them to the inner side of the mountain where the cliff hung over and here was the mouth of a great cave. Now the cave was dark, but by its door was stacked a pile of resinous wood to serve as torches. Here is that which shall give us light, said Galazi, and one man of every two took a torch and lit it at a fire that's burned near the mouth of the cave. Then they rushed in, waving the flaring torches and with asagais aloft. Here for the last time the Halakazi stood against them and the torches floated up and down upon the wave of war. They did not stand for very long, but all the heart was out of them. Wow, yes, many were killed. I do not know how many. I know this only. The Halakazi are no more a tribe, since some Sloppa gas, who is named Bulaliu, stamped them with his feet. They had nothing but a name now. The people of the axe drove them out into the open and finished the fight by starlight among the cattle. In one corner of the cave, Umsloppa gas saw a knot of men clustering around something as though to guard it. He rushed at the men and with him went Galazi and others. But when Umsloppa gas was through by the light of his torch, he perceived a tall and slender man who leaned against the wall of the cave and held the shield before his face. You are a coward, he cried, and smote with groanmaker. The great axe pierced the hide, but missing the head behind rang loudly against the rock and as its struck, a sweet voice said, Ha, soldier, do not kill me. Why are you angry with me? Now the shield had come away from its holder's hands upon the blade of the axe and there was something in the notes of the voice that caused Umsloppa gas to smite no more. It was as though a memory of childhood had come to him in a dream. His torch was burning low, but he thrust it forward to look at him who crouched against the rock. The dress was the dress of a man, but this was no man's form. Rather that of a lovely woman, well-nigh, white in colour, she dropped her hands from before her face and now he could see her well. He saw eyes that shone like stars, hair that curled and fell upon the shoulders and such beauty as was not known among our people. And as the voice had spoken to him of something that was lost, so did the eyes seem to shine across the blackness of many years and the beauty to bring back he knew not what. He looked at the girl in all her loveliness and she looked at him in his fierceness and his might, red with war and wounds. They both looked long while the torchlight flared on them on the walls of the cave and the broad blade of groanmaker and from around rose the sounds of the fray. How are you named who are so fair to see? He asked at length. I am named a lily now. Once I had another name, Dada, daughter of Mopo, I was once. But name and all else are dead and I go to join them, kill me and make an end. I will shut my eyes that I may not see the great axe flash. Now I'm slupe a gas gazed upon her again and groanmaker fell from his hand. Look on me, Nada, daughter of Mopo, he said in a low voice. Look at me and say who am I. She looked once more and yet again. Now her face was thrust forward as one who gazes over the edge of the world. It grew fixed and strange. By my heart, she said, By my heart, you are I'm slupe a gas, my brother who is dead and whom dead as living I have loved ever and alone. Then the torch flared out, but I'm slupe a gas took hold of her in the darkness and depressed her to him and kissed her. The sister whom he found after many years and she kissed him. You kiss me now, she said. Yet not long ago that great axe sure my locks, missing me but by a fingers breadth and still the sound of fighting rings in my ears. Ah, a boon of you, my brother, a boon. Let there be no more death since we are met once more. The people of the Halakazia conquered and it is their just doom. For thus in this same way they killed those with whom I lived before. Yet they have treated me well, not forcing me into wedlock and protecting me from Ding'an. So spare them, my brother, if you may. Then I'm slupe a gas lifted up his voice, commanding that the killing should cease and sent messengers running swiftly with these words. This is the command of Wuleliu, that he who lifts hand against one more of the people of the Halakazi shall be killed himself. And the soldiers obeyed him, though the order came somewhat late and no more of the Halakazi were brought to doom. They were suffered to escape, except those of the women and children who were kept to be led away as captives, and they ran far that night. Nor did they come together again to be a people, for they feared Galazi the Wolf, who would be chief over them, but they were scattered wide in the world to sojourn among strangers. Now, when the soldiers had eaten abundantly of the store of the Halakazi, and guards had been sent to ward the cattle and watch against surprise, Humslopagar spoke long with Nader the Lili, taking her apart, and he told her all his story. She told him also the tale which you know, my father, of how she had lived with the little people that were subject to the Halakazi, she and her mother Makrafa, and how the fame of her beauty had spread about the land. Then she told him how the Halakazi had claimed her, and of how in the end they had taken her by force of arms, killing the people of that Kral, and among them her own mother. Thereafter she had dwelt among the Halakazi, who named her anew, calling her the Lili, and they had treated her kindly, giving her reverence because of her sweetness and beauty, and not forcing her into marriage. And why would you not wed, Nader, my sister, Humslopagar, you who are far past the age of marriage? I cannot tell you," she answered, hanging her head, but I have no heart that way, I only seek to be left alone. Now Humslopagar thought a while and spoke, Do you not know, then, Nader, why it is that I have made this war, and why the people of the Halakazi are dead and scattered, and they cattle the prize of my arm? I will tell you, I am come here to win you, whom I knew only by report as the Lili made, the fairest of women, to be a wife to Ding'an. The reason that I began this war was to win you, and to make my peace with Ding'an, and now I have carried it through to the end. Now when she heard these words, Nader the Lili trembled and wept, and, sinking to the earth, she clasped the knees of Humslopagar in supplication. Oh, do not this cruel thing by me, your sister, she prayed. Take rather that great axe and make an end of me, and of the beauty which has wrought so much woe, and most of all to me who wear it. Would that I had not moved my head behind the shield, but had suffered the axe to fall upon it. To this end I was dressed as a man, that I might meet the fate of a man. Ah, a curse beyond my woman's weakness, that snatched me from death to give me up to shame. Thus she prayed to Humslopagar in her low, sweet voice, and his heart was shaken in him, though indeed he did not now purpose to give Nader to Ding'an, as Balakar was given to Shaka, perhaps in the end to meet the fate of Balakar. There are many, Nader, he said, who would think it no misfortune that they should be given as a wife to the first of chiefs. Then I am not of their number, she answered, they I will die first by my own hand if need be. Now Humslopagar's wondered how it came about, that Nader looked on marriageless. But he did not speak of the matter. He said only, tell me then, Nader, how can I deliver myself of this charge? I must go to Ding'an, as I promised our father Muppo, and what shall I say to Ding'an when he asks for the lily whom I went out to pluck and whom his heart desires? What shall I say to save myself alive from the wrath of Ding'an? Then Nader thought and answered, you shall say this, my brother, you shall tell him that the lily, being clothed in the wardress of a warrior, fell by chance in the fray. See now, none of your people know that you have found me. They are thinking of other things than maids in the hour of their victory. This then is my plan. We will search now by the starlight till we find the body of a fair maid. For doubtless some were killed by hazard in the fight, and on her we will set a warrior's dress and lay by her the corpse of one of your own men. Tomorrow at the light you shall take the captains of your soldiers and having laid the body of the girl in the dark of the cave. You shall show it to them hurriedly and tell them that this was the lily, slain by one of your own people, whom in your wrath you slew also. They will not look long on so common a sight, and if by hazard they see the maid and think her not so very fair, they will deem that it is death which has robbed her of her comeliness. So the tale which you must tell to Ding'an shall be built up firmly, and Ding'an shall believe it to be true. And how shall this be, Narda? asked Amsloppe-Gas. How shall this be when men see you among the captives and know you by your beauty? Are there then two such lilies in the land? I shall not be known, for I shall not be seen, Amsloppe-Gas. You must set me free tonight. I will wander hence disguised as a youth and covered with a blanket. And if any meets me, who shall say that I am the lily? And where will you wander, Narda? To your death? Must we then meet after so many years to part again for ever? Where was it that you said you lived, my brother? Beneath the shade of a ghost-mountain that men may know by a shape of stone which is fashioned like an old woman, frozen into stone, was it not? Tell me of the road dither. So Amsloppe-Gas told her the road, and she listened silently. Good, she said, I am strong, and my feet are swift. Perhaps they may serve to bring me so far. And perhaps if I win the shadow of that mountain, you will find me a hut to hide in, Amsloppe-Gas, my brother. Surely it shall be so, my sister, answered Amsloppe-Gas. And yet the way is long, and many dangers lie in the path of a maid journeying alone without food or shelter. And as he spoke, Amsloppe-Gas thought of Zinnita, his wife, for he guessed that she would not love Nada, although she was only his sister. Still, it must be travelled, and the dangers must be braved, she answered, smiling. Alas, there is no other way! Then Amsloppe-Gas summoned Galazy the wolf, and told him all this story, for Galazy was the only man whom he could trust. The wolf listened in silence, marvelling the while at the beauty of Nada, as the starlight showed it. When everything was told, he said only, that he no longer wondered, that the people of the Halakazi had defied Ding'an, and brought death upon themselves for the sake of this maid. Still, to be plain, his heart thought ill of the matter, for death was not done with yet. There before them shone the star of death, and he pointed to the lily. Now Nada trembled at his words of evil omen, and the slaughterer grew angry, but Galazy would neither add to them, nor take away from them. I have spoken that which my heart hears, he answered. Then they rose and went to search among the dead for a girl who would suit their purpose. Soon they found one, a tall and fair maiden, and Galazy wore her in his arms to the great cave. Here in the cave were none but the dead, and tossed hither and thither in their last sleep. They looked awful in the glare of the torches. "'Tis sleep sound,' said the lily, gazing on them. "'Rest is sweet.' "'We shall soon win it, maiden,' answered Galazy, and again Nada trembled. Then, having arrayed her in the dress of a warrior, and put a shield and a spear by her, they laid down the body of the girl in a dark place in the cave, and, finding a dead warrior of the people of the axe, placed him beside her. Now they left the cave, and, pretending that they visited this entrance, some slobber-gas and Galazy passed from spot to spot, while the lily walked after them like a guard, hiding her face with a shield, holding a spear in her hand, and having with her a bag of corn and dried flesh. So they passed on, till at length they came to the entrance in the mountainside. The stones that had blocked it were pulled down, so as to allow those of the Galazy to fly, who had been spared at the entreaty of Nada. But they were guards by the entrance to watch that none came back. Some slobber-gas challenged them, and they saluted him, but he saw that they were worn out with battle and journeying, a new little of what they saw or said. Then he, Galazy and Nada, passed through the opening onto the plain beyond. Here the slaughterer and the lily bade each other farewell, while Galazy watched, and presently the wolf slobber-gas returned, as one who is heavy at heart, and caught sights of the lily, skimming across the plain lightly like a swallow. I do not know when we too shall meet again, said them slobber-gas, so soon as she had melted into the shadows of the night. May you never meet, answered Galazy, for I am sure that if you meet, that sister of yours will bring death on many more than those who lie low. Because of her loveliness, she is a star of death, and when she sets, the sky shall be blood-red. I am slobber-gas did not answer, but walked slowly through the archway in the mountainside. How is this chief? said he who was captain of the guard. Three went out, but only two returned. Fool! answered I am slobber-gas. Are you drunk with Halakazi beer, or blind with sleep? Two went out, and two returned. I sent him who was with us back to the camp. So be it, father, said the captain. Two went out, and two returned. All is well. End of chapter 26. Chapter 27 of Narda the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The stamping of the fire. On the morrow the impious woke refreshed with sleep, and after they had eaten, I am slobber-gas mustered them. Alas! nearly half of those who had seen the son of yesterday would wake no more for ever. The slaughterer mustered them, and thanked them for that which they had done, winning fame and cattle. They were merry, wrecking little of those who were dead, and sang his praises, and the praises of Galazi in a loud song. When the song was ended, of slobber-gas spoke to them again, saying that the victory was great, and the cattle they had won were countless. Yet something was lacking. She was lacking whom he came to seek to be a gift to Ding'an the king, and for whose sake this war was made. Then now was the lily. Yesterday she had been here, clad in a mucca, like a man, and bearing a shield. This he knew from the captives. Where then was she now? Then all the soldiers said that they had seen nothing of her. When they had done, Galazi spoke a word, as was agreed between him and them slobber-gas. He said that when they stormed the cave, he had seen a man run at a warrior in the cave to kill him. Then as he came, he who was about to be slain threw down the shield and cried for mercy, and Galazi knew that this was no warrior of the Halakazi, but a very beautiful girl. So he called to the man to let her alone and not to touch her, but the order was that no women should be killed. But the soldier, being mad with the lust of fight, shouted that made our man she should die and slew her. Thereon he, Galazi, in his wrath, ran up and smote the man with the watcher, and killed him also, and he prayed that he had done no wrong. You have done well, my brother, said am slobber-gas, come now, some of you, and let us look at this dead girl. Perhaps it is the lily, and if so, that is unlucky for us, but I do not know what tale we shall tell to Dingan of the matter. So the captains went with am slobber-gas and Galazi, and came to the spot where the girl had been laid, and by her the man of the people of the axe. All is as the wolf my brother has told, said am slobber-gas, waving the torch in his hand over the two who lay dead. Here without a doubt lies she who has named the lily whom we came to win, and by her that fool who slew her slain himself by the blow of the watcher, an ill sight to see, and an ill tale for me to tell at the kral of Dingan. Still what is is, and cannot be altered, and this maid who was the fairest of the fair is now none too lovely to look on. Let us away, and he turned swiftly, then spoke again, saying, Bind up this dead girl in ox-hides, cover her with salt, and let her be brought with us, and they did so. Then the captain said, Surely it is so my father, now it cannot be altered, and Dingan must miss his bride. So said they all, except that man who had been captain of the guard, when am slobber-gas and Galazi and another passed through the archway. This man indeed said nothing, yet he was not without his thoughts, for it seemed to him that he had seen three pass through the archway, and not two. It seemed to him, moreover, that the carost which the Third War had slipped aside as she pressed past him, and that beneath it he had seen the shape of a beautiful woman, and above it had caught the glint of a woman's eye, an eye full and dark like a books. So this captain noted, that Bulalio called none of the captives to swear to the body of the lily-maid, and that he shook the torch to and fro as he held it over her, he whose hand was of the steadiest, all of this he kept in his mind, forgetting nothing. Now it chanced afterwards on the homeward march, my father, that am slobber-gas had cause to speak angrily to this man, because he tried to rob another of his share of the spoil of the halakazi. He spoke sharply to him, degrading him from his rank, and setting another over him. Also he took cattle from the man, and gave them to him whom he would have robbed. And thereafter, though he was justly served, this man thought more and more of the third who had passed through the arch of the cave, and had not returned, and who seemed to him to have a fair woman's shape, and eyes which gleamed like those of a woman. On that day then, from slobber-gas began his march to the kral Umgugunglovu, where Dingan sat, but before he set his face homewards, in the presence of the soldiers, he asked Galazi the wolf if he would come back with him, or if he desired to stay to be chief of the halakazi, as he was by right of birth and war. Then the wolf laughed, and answered that he had come out to seek for vengeance, and not for the place of a chief, that there were few of the halakazi people left over whom he might rule, if he wished. Moreover he added this, that, like twin trees, they too, blood-brethren, had grown up side by side, till their roots were matted together, and that, where one of them dug up and planted in Swazi's soil, he feared lest both should wither, or at the least, that he Galazi would wither, who loved but one man, and certain wolves. So Umslopagar said no more of the chieftainship, but began his journey. With him he brought a great number of cattle to be a gift for Dingan, and a multitude of captives, young women and children, for he would appease the heart of Dingan, because he did not bring her whom he sought, the lily, flower of flowers. Yet, because he was cautious, and put little faith in the kindness of kings. Umslopagar, so soon as he reached the borders of Sululand, sent the best of the cattle, and the fairest of the maids and children, on to the kral of the people of the axe, by the ghost mountain. And he who had been captain of the guard, but now was a common soldier, noticed this also. Now it chanced that on a certain morning, I, Mopo, sat in the kral, umgugungluvu, in attendance on Dingan. For still I waited on the king, though he had spoken no word to me, good or bad, since the yesterday, when I foretold to him that in the blood of the white men whom he had betrayed, grew the flower of his own death. For, my father, it was on the morrow of the slaying of the amabuna, that umslopagar's came to the kral, umgugungluvu. Now the mind of Dingan was heavy, and he sought something to lighten it. Presently he bethought him of the white praying man, who had come to the kral, seeking to teach us people of the Zulu, to worship other gods, than the asagai and the king. Now this was a good man, but no luck went with his teaching, which was hard to understand. And moreover, the indonas did not like it, because it seemed to set a master over the master, and a king over the king, and to preach of peace to those whose trade was war. Still Dingan sent for the white man that he might dispute with him, for Dingan thought that he himself was the cleverest of all men. Now the white man came, but his face was pale, because of that which he had seen before the boars, for he was gentle and hated such sites. The king bade him to be seated, and spoke to him, saying, The other day, o white man, thou toldest me of a place of fire, wither those go after death, who have done wickedly in life. Tell me now of thy wisdom, to my fathers lie in that place. How can I know, king? answered the prayer doctor, who may not judge of the deeds of men. This I say only, that those who murder and rob and oppress the innocent and bear false witness, shall lie in that place of fire. It seems that my fathers have done all these things, and if they are in this place I would go there also, for I am minded to be with my fathers at the last. Yet I think that I should find a way to escape if ever I came there. How, king? Now Dingan had set this trap for the prayer doctor, in the centre of that open space where he had caused the boars to be fallen upon. He had built up a great pyre of wood, brushwood beneath, and, on the top of the brushwood, logs and even whole trees. Perhaps my father, there were sixty full wagon-loads of dry wood piled together there in the centre of the place. Thou shalt see with thine eyes, white man! he answered, and bidding attendance, set fire to the pile all round. He summoned that regiment of young men, which was left in the krall. Maybe there were a thousand and a half thousand of them, not more, the same that had slain the boars. Now the fire began to burn fiercely, and the regiment filed in and took its place in ranks. By the time that all had come, the pyre was everywhere a sheet of raging flame, and though we sat a hundred paces from it, its heat was great when the wind turned our way. Now, doctor of prayers, is thy hot place hotter than yonder fire? said the king. He answered that he did not know, but the fire was certainly hot. Then I will show thee how I will come out of it, if ever I go to lie in such a fire. I, though it be ten times as big and fierce, home, my children, he cried to the soldiers, and, springing up, you see yonder fire, run swiftly and stamp its flats with your feet, where there was fire that there be blackness and ashes. Now the white man lifted his hands and prayed ding an, not to do this thing, that should be the death of many. But the king bade him to be silent. Then he turned his eyes upward and prayed to his gods. For a moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt, for the fire raged furiously, and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven, and above it and about it, the hot air danced. But the captain called to them loudly, Great is the king, hear the words of the king who honours you. Yesterday we ate up the amabuna. It was nothing, they were unarmed. There is a foe more worthy of our valour. Come, my children, let us wash in the fire, we who are fiercer than the fire. Great is the king who honours us. Thus he spoke and ran forward, and, with a roar after him, sprang the soldiers rank by rank. They were brave men indeed. Moreover they knew that if death lay before them, death also awaited him who lagged behind, and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed. On they went as to the joy of battle, their captain leading them, and as they went they sang the ingomo, the war chants of the Zulu. Now the captain neared the raging fire. We saw him lift his shield to keep off its heat. Then he was gone. He had sprung into the heart of the furnace, and but little of him was ever found again. After him went the first company. In they went, beating at the flames with their oxhide shields, stamping them out with their naked feet, tearing down the burning logs and casting them aside. Not one man of that company lived, my father. They fell down like moths which flutter through a candle, and where they fell they perished. But after them came other companies, and it was well for those in this fight who were last to grapple with the foe. Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame, and the flame grew less and less, and the smoke more and more. And now blackened men, hairless, naked and blistered, white with the scorching of the fire, staggered out on the farther side of the flames, falling to earth here and there. After them came others. Now there was no flame, only a grey smoke in which men moved dimly. And presently, my father, it was done. They had conquered the fire, and that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies, though every man had trodden it. How many perished? Nay, I know not. They were never counted. But what between the dead and the injured? That regiment was at half-strength, till the king drafted more men into it. See, Doctor of Prayers, said Ding-an with a laugh. Thus shall I escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest. If such there be indeed, I will bid my impious stamp them out, then the praying man went from the kral, saying that he would teach no more among the Zulus, and afterwards he left the land. When he had gone, the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away, the injured were doctored or killed according to their hurts, and those who had little harm came before the king and praised him. New shields and head-dresses must be found for you, my children, said Ding-an, for the shields were black and shriveled, and of heads of hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment. Wow! said Ding-an again, looking at the soldiers who still lived. Shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the white man speaks. Then he ordered beer to be brought to the men, for the heat had made them thirsty. Now, though you may not guess it, my father, I have told you this tale, because it has something to do with my story. Pascarsly had the matter been ended, when messengers came, saying that Bulalio, chief of the people of the axe, and his impie were without. Having returned with much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland. Now, when I heard this, my heart leapt for joy, seeing that I had feared greatly for the fate of Omslopagas, my fosterling. Ding-an also was very glad, and springing up, danced to and fro like a child. Now at last we have good tidings, he said at once, forgetting the stamping of the fire, and now shall my eyes behold that lily, whom my hand has longed to pluck, that Bulalio and his people enter swiftly. For a while there was silence, then from far away, without the high fence of the great place, there came a sound of singing, and through the gates of the kral rushed two great men, wearing black plumes upon their heads, having black shields in their left hands, and in their right, worn an axe and worn a club, while about their shoulders were bound wolf-skins. They ran low, neck and neck, without stretched shields, and heads held forward, as a buck runs when he is hard-pressed by dogs, and no such running had been seen in the kral Ongogonglovu, as the running of the wolf-brotheran. Half across the space they ran, and halted suddenly, and, as they halted, the dead ashes of the fire flew up before their feet in a little cloud. By my head, look, these come armed before me, said Ding-an frowning, and to do this is death. Now, say, who is that man, great and fierce, who bears an axe aloft? Did I not know him dead? I should say it was the black one, my brother, as he was in the days of the smiting of Zuide. So was his head set on his shoulders, and so he was wont to look round, like a lion. I think that is Balaleo the slaughterer, chief of the people of the Axo-king, I answered. And who is the other with him? He is a great man also. Never have I seen such a pair. I think that is Galazi the wolf, he who is blood-brother to the slaughterer, and his general, I said again. Now after these two came the soldiers of the people of the Axe, armed with short sticks alone. Four by four they came, all holding their heads low, and with black shields outstretched, and formed themselves into companies behind the wolf-brotheran till all were there. Then after them the crowd of the Halakazi captives were driven in. Women, boys, and maids a great number, and they stood behind the ranks, huddled together like frightened calves. A gallant sight truly, said Ding'an, as he looked upon the companies of black-plumed and shielded warriors. I have no better soldiers in my impious, than yet my eyes behold these for the first time. And again he frowned. Now suddenly from Sloppa-gas lifted his axe, and started forward at full speed, and after him thundered the companies. On they rushed, and their plumes lay back upon the wind, till it seemed as though they must stamp us flat. But when he was within ten paces of the king, from Sloppa-gas lifted Grona-maker again, and Galazi held the watcher on high, and every man halted where he was, while once more the dust flew up in clouds. They halted in long unbroken lines, with outstretched shields and heads held low. No man's head rose more than the length of a dance-carry from the earth. So they stood one minute, then for the third time, from Sloppa-gas lifted Grona-maker, and in an instant every man straightened himself. Each shield was tossed on high, and from every throat was roared the royal salute, a pretty sight for sooth. But these soldiers are too well drilled, who have never done me service, nor the black one who was before me. This slaughter is too good a captain, I say. Come hither ye twain, he cried aloud. Then the wolf brethren strode forward, and stood before the king, and for a while they looked upon each other. End of Chapter 27 Chapter 28 of Nader the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The Lily is brought to Ding'an. How are you named? said Ding'an. We are named Bolalio the slaughterer and Galazi the wolf-o-king, and Saddam Sloppa-gas. Was it thou who did send a certain message to the black one who is dead, Bolalio? Yeo-king, I sent a message, but from all I have heard, Masilo my messenger gave more than the message, but he stabbed the black one. Masilo had an evil heart. Now Ding'an winced, for he knew well that he himself and one Mopo had stabbed the black one, but he thought that this Outland Chief had not heard that tale, so he said no more of the message. How is it that ye dare to come before me armed? Know ye not the rule that he who appears armed before the king dies? We have not heard that law, o king, said Am Sloppa-gas. Moreover, there is this to be told. By virtue of the axe I bear, I rule alone. If I am seen without the axe, then any man may take my place who can. For the axe is chieftainess of the people of the axe, and he who holds it is its servant. For strange custom, said Ding'an, would let it pass. Thou wolf, what hast thou to say of that great club of thine? There is this to be told of the club, o king, answered Galazi. By virtue of the club I guard my life. If I am seen without the club, then may any man take my life who can. For the club is my watcher, not I watcher of the club. Never was thou nearer to the losing of both club and life, said Ding'an angrily. It may be so, o king, answered the wolf. When the hour is, then, without a doubt, the watcher shall cease from his watching. Ye are a strange pair. Where have you been now, and what is your business at the place of the elephant? We have been in a far country, o king, answered Am Sloppa-gas. We have wandered in a distant land to search for a flower to be a gift to a king, and in our searching we have trampled down a Swazi garden, and yonder are some of those who tended it. And he pointed to the captives, and without are the cattle that plowed it. Good slaughterer, I see the gardeners, and I hear the lowing of the cattle. But what of the flower? Where is this flower ye went so far to dig in Swazi soil? Was it a lily bloom, p'chance? It was a lily bloom, o king, and yet, alas, the lily has withered. Nothing is left but the stalk, white and withered as are the bones of men. What meanest thou, said Dingan, starting to his feet? That's the king shall learn, answered Am Sloppa-gas, and, turning, he spoke a word to the captives who were behind him. Presently the ranks opened up, and four men ran forward from the rear of the companies. On their shoulders they bore a stretcher, and upon the stretcher lay something wrapped about with raw ox hides, and bound round with rimpice. The men saluted and laid their burden down before the king. Opened, said the slaughterer, and they opened, and there within the hides, packed in salt, lay the body of a girl who was once tall and fair. Here lies the lily's stalk, o king, said Am Sloppa-gas, pointing with the axe. But if a flower blooms on any air, it is not here. Now Dingan stared at the sight of death, and a bitterness of heart took hold of him, since he had desired above all things to win the beauty of the lily for himself. Bear away this carrion and cast it to the dogs, he cried, but thus he could speak of her whom he would have taken to wife, when once he deemed her dead. Take it away, and thou, slaughterer, tell me how it came about that the maid was slain. It will be well for thee if thou hast a good answer, but know thy life hangs on the words. So Am Sloppa-gas told the king all that tale which had been made ready against the wrath of Dingan, and when he had finished, Galazi told his story of how he had seen the soldier kill the maid, and in his wrath had killed the soldier. Then certain of the captains who had seen the soldier and the maid, lying in one death, came forward and spoke to it. Now Dingan was very angry, and yet there was nothing to be done. The lily was dead, and by no fault of any except of one who was also dead and beyond his reach. Get you hence you and your people, he said to the wolf brethren, I take the cattle and the captives, be thankful that I do not take all your lives also, first because you have dared to make war without my word, and secondly because having made war you have so brought it about that, though you bring me the body of her I sought, you do not bring the life. Now, when the king spoke of taking the lives of all the people of the axe, Humslopagar smiled grimly and glanced at his companies. Then, saluting the king, he turned to go. But as he turned, a man sprang forward from the ranks and called to Dingan, saying, Is it granted that I may speak truth before the king, and afterwards sleep in the king's shadow. Now this was the man who had been captain of the guard, on the night when three passed out through the archway, and two returned. That same man whom Humslopagar had degraded from his rank. Speak on, thou art safe, answered Dingan. O king, thy ears have been filled with lies, said the soldier. Hark an oaking! I was captain of the guard of the gate, on that night of the slaying of the Halakazi. Three came to the gate of the mountain. They were Balaleo, the wolf Galazi, and another. That other was tall and slim, bearing a shield high, so. As the third passed the gate, the Kaross he wore brushed against me and slipped aside. Beneath that Kaross was no man's breast oaking, but the shape of a woman, almost white in colour, and very fair. In drawing back the Kaross, this third one moved the shield. Behind that shield was no man's face, o king, but the face of a girl, lovelier than the moon, and having eyes brighter than the stars. Three went out at the mountain gate, o king. Only two returned. And, peeping after them, it seemed that I saw the third running swiftly across the plains as a young maid runs, o king. This also elephant. Balaleo yonder denied me when, as captain of the guard, I asked for the third who had passed the gate, saying that only two had passed. Further, none of the captives were called to swear to the body of the maid, and now it is too late. That man who lay beside her was not killed by Galazi in the cave. He was killed outside the cave by a blow of a Halakazi carry. I saw him fall with my own eyes, and slew the man who smoked him. One thing more, king of the world. The best of the captives and the cattle are not here for a gift to thee. They are at the Kral of Balaleo, chief of the people of the axe. I have spoken, o king, yes, because my heart loves not lies. I have spoken the truth, and now do thou protect me from these wolf-brethren, o king, for they are very fierce. Now all this while that the traitor told his tale, from slupper-garse inch by inch, was edging nearer to him, and yet nearer, till at length he might have touched him with an outstretched spear. None noted him except me, Mopo alone, and perhaps Galazi, for all were watching the face of Ding'an, as men watched a storm that is about to burst. Fear thou not the wolf-brethren soldier, gasped Ding'an, rolling his red eyes. The poor of the lion-guards thee, my servant! Here the words had left the king's lips, the slaughterer leapt. He leaped full onto the traitor, speaking never a word, and oh, his eyes were awful. He leaped upon him, he seized him with his hands, lifting no weapon, and in his terrible might he broke him, as a child breaks a stick. Nay, I know not how it was too swift to see. He broke him, and hurling him on high, cast him dead at the feet of Ding'an, crying in a great voice, Take thy servant king, surely he sleeps in thy shadow. Then there was silence, only through the silence was heard a gasp of fear and wonder, for no such deed as this had been wrought in the presence of the king. No, not since the day of Senzangakona the root. Now Ding'an spoke, and his voice came thick with rage, and his limbs trembled. Slay him, he hissed. Slay the dog, and all those with him. Now we come to a game which I can play, answered them sloppig-ass. Oh, people of the axe, will you stand to be slaughtered by these singed rats? And he pointed with groan-maker at those warriors who had escaped without hurt in the fire, but whose faces the fire had scorched. Then, for answer, the great shout went up, a shout and a roar of laughter, and this was the shout. No slaughterer, not so are we minded, and right and left they faced to meet the foe, while from all along the companies came the crackling of the shaken shields. Back sprang him, sloppig-ass, to head his men. Forward leaped the soldiers of the king, to work the king's will, if so they might. And Galazi the wolf also sprang forward towards Ding'an, and as he sprang, swung up the watcher, crying in a great voice, HOLD! Again there was silence, the men saw that the shadow of the watcher lay dark upon the head of Ding'an. It is a pity that many should die when one will suffice, cried the wolf again. Let a blow be struck, and where his shadow lies there shall the watcher be, and lo, the world shall lack a king, a word king. Now Ding'an looked up at the great man who stirred above him, and felt the shadow of the shining club, like cold upon his brow, and again he shook. This time it was with fear. Be gone in peace, he said. A good word for the king, said the wolf, grinning, and slowly he drew himself backwards towards the companies saying, Praise the king! The king bids his children go in peace. But when Ding'an felt that his brow was no longer cold with the shadow of death, his rage came back to him, and he would have called to the soldiers to fall upon the people of the axe. Only I stayed him, saying, Thy death is in it, O king! The slaughterer will grind such men as thou hast here beneath his feet, and then once more shall a watcher look upon thee. Now Ding'an saw that this was true, and gave no command, for he had only those men with him, whom the fire had left. All the rest were gone to slaughter the boars in Natal. Still he must have blood, so he turned on me. Thou art a traitor, Mopo, as I have known for long, and I will serve thee as yonder dog, served his faithless servant. And he thrust at me with the asagai in his hand. But I saw the stroke, and springing high into the air, avoided it. Then I turned and fled very swiftly, and after me came certain of the soldiers. The way was not far to the last company of the people of the axe. Moreover, it saw me coming, and headed by Amslopogas, who walked behind them all, ran to meet me. Then the soldiers who followed to kill me hung back out of reach of the axe. Here with the king is no place for me any more, my son, I said to Amslopogas. Fear not, my father, I will find you a place, he answered. Then I called a message to the soldiers who followed me, saying, Tell this to the king, that he has done ill to drive me from him. For I, Mopo, set him on the throne, and I alone can hold him there. Tell him this also, that he will do yet worse to seek me where I am. For that day, when we are once more face to face, shall be his day of death. Thus speaks Mopo, yinhyanga, Mopo the doctor, who never yet prophesied that which should not be. Then we marched from the Kral, Omgogongluvu, and when next I saw that Kral, it was to burn all of it which Ding'an had left unburned. And when next I saw Ding'an, ah, that is to be told of my father. We marched from the Kral, non hindering us, for there were none to hinder. And after we had gone a little way, Amslopogas halted and said, Thou it is in my mind to return once we came and slay this Ding'an, ah, he slay me. Yet it is well to leave a frightened lion in his thickets, my son, for a lion at bay is hard to handle. Doubt not that every man, young and old, in Omgogongluvu, now stands armed about the gates, lest such a thought should take you, my son, though just now he was afraid, yet Ding'an will strike for his life. When you might have killed, you did not kill. Now the hour has gone. Wise words, said Galasi. I would that the watcher had fallen where his shadow fell. What is your council now, father? asked Amslopogas. This, then, that you too should abide no more beneath the shadow of the ghost mountain, but should gather your people and your cattle, and pass to the north on the track of Musilikatsi the lion, who broke away from Shaka. There you may rule apart altogether, and never dream of Ding'an. I will not do that, father, he answered. I will dwell beneath the shadow of the ghost mountain while I may. And so will I, said Galasi, or rather among its rocks. What shall my wolves lack a master when they would go hunting? Shall gray snouts and black fang, blood and death-grip and their company black and gray, howl for me in vain? So be it, children, he are young and will not listen to the council of the old, let it befall as it chances. I spoke thus, for I did not know, then, why Amslopogas would not leave his krals. It was for this reason, because he had bid and nada meet him there. Afterwards, when he found her, he would have gone, but then the sky was clear, the danger clouds had melted for a while. Oh, that Amslopogas my foster link had listened to me. Now he would have reigned as a king, not wandered an outcast in strange lands I know not where. And nada should have lived not died, nor would the people of the axe have ceased to be a people. This of Ding'an, when he heard my message he grew afraid once more, for he knew me to be no liar. Therefore he held his hand for a while, sending no impetus might some Slopogas, lest it might come about, that I should bring him his death, as I had promised. And before the fear had worn away, it happened that Ding'an's hands were full with the war against the Amabuna, because of his slaughter of the white people. And he had no soldiers to spare, with whom to wreak vengeance on a petty chief living far away. Yet his rage was great because of what had chanced, and after his custom he murdered many innocent people to satisfy it. End of Chapter 28 Chapter 29 of Narda the Lily by H. Ryder Haggard This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Mopo tells his tale. Now afterwards as we went upon our road, Amslopogas told me all there was to tell of the slaying of the Halakazi and of the finding of Narda. When I heard that Narda my daughter still lived, I wept for joy, though like Amslopogas I was torn by doubt and fear, for it is far for an unaided maid to travel from Swaziland to the Ghost Mountain. Yet all this while I said nothing to Amslopogas of the truth as to his birth, because on the journey there were many around us, and the very trees have ears, and the same wind to which we whispered might whisper to the King. Still I knew that the hour had now come when I must speak, for it was in my mind to bring it about that Amslopogas should be proclaimed the son of Shaka, and we made King of the Zulus in the place of Ding'an, his uncle. Yet all these things had gone cross for us, because it was fated so my father. Had I known that Amslopogas still lived when I slew Shaka, then I think that I could have brought it about, that he should be King, or had things fallen out as I planned, and the lily maid being brought to Ding'an, and Amslopogas grown great in his sight, then perhaps I could have brought it about. But all things had gone wrong, the lily was none other than Narda, and how could Amslopogas give Narda whom he thought his sister, and who was my daughter, to Ding'an against her will? Also, because of Narda, Ding'an and Amslopogas were now at bitter enmity, and for this same cause I was disgraced and a fugitive, and my councils would no longer be heard in the ear of the King. So everything must be begun afresh, and as I walked with the impie towards the Ghost Mountain, I thought much and often of the manner in which this might be done, but as yet I said nothing. Now at last we were beneath the Ghost Mountain, and looked on the stone face of the old witch who sits there aloft, for ever waiting for the world to die, and that same night we came to the Kral of the people of the Axe, and entered it with a great singing. But Galasi did not enter at that time, he was away to the mountain to call his flock of wolves, and as we passed its foot we heard the welcome that the wolves howled in greeting to him. Now, as we drew near the Kral, all the women and children came out to meet us, headed by Zinnita, the head wife of Amslopogas. They came joyfully, but when they found how many were wanting, who were mooned before had gone thence to fight, their joy was turned to mourning, and the voice of their weeping went up to heaven. Amslopogas greeted Zinnita kindly, and yet I thought that there was something lacking. At first she spoke to him softly, but when she learned all that had come to pass, her words were not soft, for she reviled me and sang a loud song at Amslopogas. See now, slaughterer, she said. See now what has come about, because you have listened to this aged fool. That was I, my father. This fool who calls himself Mouth. I, a mouth he is, a mouth out of which proceed folly and lies. What did he counsel you to do, to go up against these Halakazi and win a girl for Ding'an? And what have you done? You have fallen upon the Halakazi, and doubtless have killed many innocent people with that great axe of yours. Also you have left nearly half of the soldiers of the axe to whiten in the Swazi caves, and in exchange have brought back certain cattle of a small breed, and girls and children whom we must nourish. Nor does the matter end here. If you went it seems to win a girl whom Ding'an desired, yet when you find that girl you let her go, because indeed you say she was your sister, and would not wed Ding'an. For Sooth is not the king good enough for this sister of yours? Now what is the end of the tale? You try to play tricks on the king, because of your sister, and have found out. Then you kill a man before Ding'an, and escape, bringing this fool of an aged mouth with you, that he may teach you his own folly. So you have lost half of your men, and you have gained a king for a foe, who shall bring about the death of all of us, and a fool for a counsellor. Wow, slaughterer! Keep to your trade and let others find you wit. Thus she spoke without ceasing, and there was some truth in her words. Zinniter had a bitter tongue. I sat silent till she had finished, and of slopper gas also remained silent, though his anger was great, because there was no crack in her talk, through which a man might thrust a word. Peace, woman, I said at last. Do not speak ill of those who are wise, and who had seen much before you were born. Speak no ill of him who is my father, growled, I'm slopper gas. I, though you do not know it, this mouth whom you revile, is mobile, my father. Then there is a man among the people of the axe who has a fool for a father. Of all tidings, this is the worst. There is a man among the people of the axe who has a jade and a scold for a wife, said I'm slopper gas, springing up. Be gone, Zinniter, and know this, that if I hear you snarl more such words of him who is my father, you shall go further than your own hut, for I will put you away and drive you for my kral. I have suffered you too long. I go, said Zinniter. Oh, I am well served. I made you chief, and now you threaten to put me away. My own hands made me chief, said I'm slopper gas, and springing up he thrust her from the hut. It is a poor thing to be wedded to such a woman, my father, he said presently. Yes, a poor thing I'm slopper gas, yet these are the burdens that men must bear. Learn wisdom from it I'm slopper gas, and have as little to do with women as may be. At the least do not love them over much, so shall you find them more peace. Thus I spoke smiling, and would that he had listened to my counsel, for it is the love of women which has brought ruin on I'm slopper gas. All this was many years ago, and but lately I have heard that I'm slopper gas is fled into the North, and become a wanderer to his death, because of the matter of a woman who betrayed him, making it seem that he had murdered one Lusta, who was his blood brother, just as Galazi had been. I do not know how it came about, but he who was so fierce and strong, had that weakness like his uncle Dinghan, and it has destroyed him at the last, and for this cause I shall behold him no more. Now my father, for a while we were silent and alone in the hut, and as we sat I thought that I heard a rat stir in the thatch. Then I spoke, I'm slopper gas, at length the hour has come, that I should whisper something into your ear, a word which I have held secret ever since you were born. Speak on, my father, he said, wondering. I crept to the door of the hut and looked out. The night was dark, and I could see none about, and could hear no one move. Yet, being cautious, I walked round the hut. Ah, my father, when you have a secret to tell, be not so easily deceived. It is not enough to look forth and peer round. Dig beneath the floor, and search the roof also. Then, having done all this, go elsewhere and tell your tale. The woman was right, I was but a fool for all my wisdom and my white hairs. Had I not been a fool, I should have smoked out that rat in the thatch before I opened my lips. For the rat was Zinnita, my father. Zinnita, who had climbed the hut, and now lay there in the dark, her ear upon the smoke-hole, listening to every word that's passed. It was a wicked thing to do, and, moreover, the worst of omens. But there is little honour among women, when they would learn that which others wished to hide away from them. Nor, indeed, did they then weigh omens. So, having searched and found nothing, I spoke to Amsloppe Gas, my fosterling, not knowing that death in a woman's shape lay on the hut above us. Harken, I said, you are no son of mine, Amsloppe Gas, though you have called me father from a babe, you spring from a loftier stock slaughterer. Yet I was well pleased with my fathering, old man, said Amsloppe Gas. The breed is good enough for me. Say then, whose son am I? Now I bent forward, and whispered to him, Yet alas, not low enough. You are the son of the black one, who is dead, yea, sprung from the blood of Shaka and of Balika, my sister. I still have some kinship with you there, Mopo, and that I am glad of. Wow, who would have guessed that I was the son of that Silwana, of that Tainaman. Perhaps it is for this reason that, like Alasi, I love the company of the wolves, though no love grows in my heart for my father or any of his house. You have little cause to love him, Amsloppe Gas, for he murdered your mother Balika, and would have snained you also. But you are the son of Shaka and no other man. Well, his eyes must be keen indeed, my uncle, who can pick his own father out of a crowd, and yet I once heard this tale before, though I had long ago forgotten it. From whom did you hear it, Amsloppe Gas? An hour since, it was known to one alone, the others are dead, who knew it? Now it is known to two. Ah, my father, I did not guess up the third. From whom, then, did you hear it? It was from the dead, at least, Galasi the wolf heard it, from the dead one who sat in the cave on Ghost Mountain, for the dead one told him that a man would come to be his brother, who should be named Amsloppe Gas Bulalio, son of Shaka, and Galasi repeated it to me, but I had long forgotten it. It seems that there is wisdom among the dead, I answered, for lo, today you are named Amsloppe Gas Bulalio, and today I declare you the son of Shaka, but listen to my tale. Then I told him all the story from the hour of his birth onwards, and when I spoke of the words of his mother Paleka, after I had told my dream to her, and of the manner of her death by the command of Shaka, and of the great fashion in which she had died then, I say Amsloppe Gas wept, who I think seldom wept before or after, but as my tale grew to its end, I saw that he listened ill as a man listens, who has a weighty amatter pressing on his heart, and before it was well done he broke in. So Bopo, my uncle, if I am the son of Shaka and Paleka, Narda the lily is no sister to me. Nay, Amsloppe Gas, she is only your cousin. Over near of blood, he said, yet that shall not stand between us, and his face grew glad. I looked at him in question. You grow dull, my uncle, this is my meaning, that I will marry Narda if she still lives, for it comes upon me now that I have never loved any woman as I love Narda the lily, and while he spoke, once more, I heard the rats stir in the fact of the hut. Wed her if you will, Amsloppe Gas, I answered, yet I think that one Zinita, your Incosikasi, will find words to say in the matter. Zinita is my headwife 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 me 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, Narda is not yet at your gates, and perhaps she will never find them. See, Amsloppe Gas, 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 Ding'an and fear him, and did they know that a son of Shaka lived, and that son, the slaughterer, he might well climb to the throne upon their shoulders. Also the soldiers love the name of Shaka, though he dealt cruelly with them, because at least he was brave and generous. But they do not love Ding'an, for his burdens are the burdens of Shaka, but his gifts are the gifts of Ding'an. Therefore they would welcome Shaka's son if once they knew him for certain, but it is here that the necklace 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 Amsloppe Gas. One thing I know, I had rather see Narda at my gates tonight than hear all the chiefs in the land crying Halo King. You will live to think otherwise, Amsloppe Gas. And now spies must be set at the Kral Ungogunglu, to give us warning of the mind of the King, lest he should send an impie suddenly to eat you up. Perhaps his hands may be too full for that ere long, for those white Amabuna will answer his assagais with bullets, and one more word, let nothing be said of this matter of your birth, least of all to Zinniter your wife, or to any other woman. Fear not, uncle, he answered, I know how to be silent. Now after a while Amsloppe Gas left me, and went to the hut of Zinniter, 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 by Ette. Amsloppe Gas 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 look them fast till they be forgotten. Oh, fulfilled, said Zinniter, and again Amsloppe Gas looked at her, wondering. Now after this night I began my work, for I established spies at the Kral of Dingan, and from them I learned all that's passed with the king. At first he gave orders that an impie should be summoned to eat up the people of the axe, but afterwards came tidings that the boars to the number of 500 mounted men were marching on the Kral Ungugungluvu. So Dingan had no impie to spare to send to the ghost mountain, and we who were beneath its shadow dwelt there in peace. This time the boars were beaten, for Bogozad the spy led them into an ambush. Still few were killed, and they did but draw back that they might jump the further, and Dingan knew this. At this time also the English white men of Natal, the people of George who attacked Dingan 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. Omslopagar said no more words with Zinniter, but she always watched him, and he went heavily, for he awaited Narda, and Narda did not come. But at length Narda came. End of chapter 29