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again。
The flap of her tent was drawn aside and she shrank back upon her bed；
shutting her eyes for fear lest they should fall upon the face of
Jacob Meyer。 Feeling that it was not he； or learning it perhaps from
the footfall； she opened them a little； peeping at her visitor from
between her long lashes。 He proved to benot Jacob or her father； but
the old Molimo； who stood beside her holding in his hand a gourd
filled with goat's milk。 Then she sat up and smiled at him； for Benita
had grown very fond of this ancient man； who was so unlike anyone that
she had ever met。
〃Greeting； Lady；〃 he said softly； smiling back at her with his lips
and dreamy eyes； for his old face did not seem to move beneath its
thousand wrinkles。 〃I bring you milk。 Drink； it is fresh and you need
food。〃
So she took the gourd and drank to the last drop； for it seemed to her
that she had never tasted anything so delicious。
〃Good； good；〃 murmured the Molimo； 〃now you will be well again。〃
〃Yes； I shall get well；〃 she answered； 〃but oh！ what of my father？〃
〃Fear not； he is still sick； but he will recover also。 You shall see
him soon。〃
〃I have drunk all the milk；〃 she broke out； 〃there is none left for
him。〃
〃Plenty； plenty；〃 he answered； waving his thin hand。 〃There are two
cups fullone for each。 We have not many she…goats down below； but
the best of their milk is saved for you。〃
〃Tell me all that has happened； Father；〃 and the old priest； who liked
her to call him by that name； smiled again with his eyes； and squatted
down in the corner of the tent。
〃You went away； you remember that you would go； although I told you
that you must come back。 You refused my wisdom and you went； and I
have learned all that befell you and how you two escaped the impi。
Well； that night after sunset； when you did not return； came the Black
Oneyes； yes； I mean Meyer； whom we name so because of his beard；
and；〃 he added deliberately； 〃his heart。 He came running down the hill
asking for you； and I gave him the letter。
〃He read it； and oh！ then he went mad。 He cursed in his own tongue； he
threw himself about； he took a rifle and wished to shoot me； but I sat
silent and looked at him till he grew quiet。 Then he asked why I had
played him this trick； but I answered that it was no trick of mine who
had no right to keep you and your father prisoners against your will；
and that I thought you had gone away because you were afraid of him；
which was not wonderful if that was how he talked to you。 I told him；
too； I who am a doctor； that unless he was careful he would go mad；
that already I saw madness in his eye； after which he became quiet；
for my words frightened him。 Then he asked what could be done； and I
saidthat night； nothing； since you must be far away； so that it
would be useless to follow you； but better to go to meet you when you
came back。 He asked what I meant by your coming back； and I answered
that I meant what I said； that you would come back in great haste and
perilalthough you would not believe me when I told you sofor I had
it from the Munwali whose child you are。
〃So I sent out my spies； and that night went by； and the next day and
night went by； and we sat still and did nothing； though the Black One
wished to wander out alone after you。 But on the following morning； at
the dawn； a messenger came in who reported that it had been called to
him by his brethren who were hidden upon hilltops and in other places
for miles and miles； that the Matabele impi； having destroyed another
family of the Makalanga far down the Zambesi； was advancing to destroy
us also。 And in the afternoon came a second spy； who reported that you
two had been surrounded by the impi； but had broken through them； and
were riding hitherward for your lives。 Then I took fifty of the best
of our people and put them under the command of Tamas； my son； and
sent them to ambush the pass； for against the Matabele warriors on the
plain we； who are not warlike； do not dare to fight。
〃The Black One went with them； and when he saw how sore was your
strait； wished to run down to meet the Matabele； for he is a brave
man。 But I had said to Tamas'No； do not try to fight them in the
open； for there they will certainly kill you。' Moreover； Lady； I was
sure that you would reach the top of the poort。 Well； you reached it；
though but by the breadth of a blade of grass； and my children shot
with the new rifles； and the place being narrow so that they could not
miss； killed many of those hyenas of Amandabele。 But to kill Matabele
is like catching fleas on a dog's back： there are always more。 Still
it served its turn； you and your father were brought away safely； and
we lost no one。〃
〃Where； then； are the Matabele now？〃 asked Benita。
〃Outside our walls； a whole regiment of them： three thousand men or
more； under the command of the Captain Maduna； he of the royal blood；
whose life you begged； but who nevertheless hunted you like a buck。〃
〃Perhaps he did not know who it was；〃 suggested Benita。
〃Perhaps not；〃 the Molimo answered； rubbing his chin； 〃for in such
matters even a Matabele generally keeps faith； and you may remember he
promised you life for life。 However； they are here ravening like lions
round the walls； and that is why we carried you up to the top of the
hill； that you might be safe from them。〃
〃But are you safe； my Father？〃
〃I think so；〃 he replied with a dry little chuckle in his throat。
〃Whoever built this fortress built it strong； and we have blocked the
gates。 Also； they caught no one outside； all are within the walls；
together with the sheep and goats。 Lastly； we have sent most of the
women and children across the Zambesi in canoes； to hide in places we
know of whither the Amandabele cannot follow； for they dare not swim a
river。 Therefore； for those of us that remain we have food for three
months； and before then the rains will drive the impi out。〃
〃Why did you not all go across the river； Father？〃
〃For two reasons； Lady。 The first is； that if we once abandoned our
stronghold； which we have held from the beginning； Lobengula would
take it； and keep it； so that we could never re…enter into our
heritage； which would be a shame to us and bring down the vengeance of
the spirits of our ancestors upon our heads。 The second is； that as
you have returned to us we stay to protect you。〃
〃You are very good to me；〃 murmured Benita。
〃Nay； nay； we brought you here； and we do what I am told to do from
Above。 Trouble may still come upon you； yes； I think that it will
come； but once more I pray you； have no fear； for out of this evil
root shall spring a flower of joy；〃 and he rose to go。
〃Stay；〃 said Benita。 〃Has the chief Meyer found the gold？〃
〃No； he has found nothing； but he hunts and hunts like a hungry jackal
digging for a bone。 But that bone is not for him； it is for you； Lady；
you and you only。 Oh！ I know；