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must mention that name； it was the Missie Marie herself as last we saw
her alive many； many years ago； only grown a hundred times more
beautiful。〃＇*＇
＇*＇ See the book called /Marie/ by H。 Rider Haggard。
Now I groaned； and Hans went on：
〃The two White Ones came up to me； and stood looking at me with eyes
that were more soft than those of bucks。 Then the Missie Marie said to
the other： 'This is Hans of whom I have so often told you； O Star。'〃
Here I groaned again； for how did this Hottentot know that name； or
rather its sweet rendering？
〃Then she who was called Star asked； 'How goes it with one who is the
heart of all three of us； O Hans？' Yes； Baas； those Shining Ones
joined /me/； the dirty little Hottentot in my old clothes and smelling
of tobacco； with themselves when they spoke of you； for I knew they
were speaking of you； Baas； which made me think I must be drunk； even
there in the quiet place。 So I told them all that I had told your
reverend father； and a very great deal more； for they seemed never to
be tired of listening。 And once； when I mentioned that sometimes；
while pretending to be asleep； I had heard you praying aloud at night
for the Missie Marie who died for you； and for another who had been
your wife whose name I did not remember but who had also died； they
both cried a little； Baas。 Their tears shone like crystals and smelt
like that stuff in a little glass tube which Har？t said that he
brought from some far land when he put a drop or two on your
handkerchief； after you were faint from the pain in your leg at the
house yonder。 Or perhaps it was the flowers that smelt； for where the
tears fell there sprang up white lilies shaped like two babes' hands
held together in prayer。〃
Hearing this； I hid my face in my hands lest Hans should see human
tears unscented with attar of roses； and bade him continue。
〃Baas； the White One who was called Star； asked me of your son； the
young Baas Harry； and I told her that when last I had seen him he was
strong and well and would make a bigger man than you were； whereat she
sighed and shook her head。 Then the Missie Marie said： 'Tell the Baas；
Hans； that I also have a child which he will see one day； but it is
not a son。'
〃After this they； too； said something about Love； but what it was I
cannot remember； since even as I repeat this dream to you it is
beginning to slip away from me fast as a swallow skimming the water。
Their last words； however； I do remember。 They were： 'Say to the Baas
that we who never met in life； but who here are as twin sisters； wait
and count the years and count the months and count the days and count
the hours and count the minutes and count the seconds until once more
he shall hear our voices calling to him across the night。' That's what
they say； Baas。 Then they were gone and only the flowers remained to
show that they had been standing there。
〃Now I set off to bring you the message and travelled a very long way
at a great rate； if Jana himself had been after me I could not have
gone more fast。 At last I got out of that quiet place and among
mountains where there were dark kloofs； and there in the kloofs I
heard Zulu impis singing their war…song； yes； they sang the /ingoma/
or something very like it。 Now suddenly in the pass of the mountains
along which I sped； there appeared before me a very beautiful woman
whose skin shone like the best copper coffee kettle after I have
polished it； Baas。 She was dressed in a leopard…like moocha and wore
on her shoulders a fur kaross； and about her neck a circlet of blue
beads； and from her hair there rose one crane's feather tall as a
walking…stick； and in her hand she held a little spear。 No flowers
sprang beneath her feet when she walked towards me and no birds sang；
only the air was filled with the sound of a royal salute which rolled
among the mountains like the roar of thunder； and her eyes flashed
like summer lightning。〃
Now I let my hands fall and stared at him； for well I knew what was
coming。
〃'Stand； yellow man！' she said； 'and give me the royal salute。'
〃So I gave her the /Bayéte/； though who she might be I did not know；
since I did not think it wise to stay to ask her if it were hers of
right； although I should have liked to do so。 Then she said： 'The Old
Man on the plain yonder and those two pale White Ones have talked to
you of their love for your master； the Lord Macumazana。 I tell you；
little Yellow Dog； that they do not know what love can be。 There is
more love for him in my eyes alone than they have in all that makes
them fair。 Say it to the Lord Macumazana that； as I know well； he goes
down to battle and that the Lady Mameena will be with him in the
battle as； though he saw her not； she has been with him in other
battles； and will be with him till the River of Time has run over the
edge of the world and is lost beyond the sun。 Let him remember this
when Jana rushes on and death is very near to him to…day； and let him
lookfor then perchance he shall see me。 Begone now； Yellow Dog； to
the heels of your master； and play your part well in the battle； for
of what you do or leave undone you shall give account to me。 Say that
Mameena sends her greetings to the Lord Macumazana and that she adds
this； that when the Old Man and the White ones told you that Love is
the secret blood of the worlds which makes them to be they did not
lie。 Love reigns and I； Mameena； am its priestess； and the heart of
Macumazana is my holy house。'
〃Then； Baas； I tumbled off a precipice and woke up here； and； Baas； as
we may not light a fire I have kept some coffee hot for you buried in
warm ashes；〃 and without another word he went to fetch that coffee；
leaving me shaken and amazed。
For what kind of a dream was it which revealed to an old Hottentot all
these mysteries and hidden things about persons whom he had never seen
and of whom I had never spoken to him？ My father and my wife Marie
might be explained； for with these he had been mixed up； but how about
Stella and above all Mameena； although of course it was possible that
he had heard of the latter； who made some stir in her time？ But to hit
her off as he had done in all her pride； splendour； and dominion of
desire！
Well； that was his story which； perhaps fortunately； I lacked time to
analyse or brood upon； since there was much in it calculated to
unnerve a man just entering the crisis of a desperate fray。 Indeed a
minute or so later； as I was swallowing the last of the coffee；
messengers arrived about some business； I forget what； sent by Ragnall
I think； who had risen before I woke。 I turned to give the pannikin to
Hans； but he had vanished in his snake…like fashion； so I threw it
down upon the ground and devoted my mind to the question raised in
Ragnall's message。
Next minute scouts came in who had been watching the camp of the Black
Kendah all night。
These were sleeping not more than hal