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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 will give us light；〃 said Galazi； and one man of
every two took a torch and lit it at a fire that burned near the mouth
of the cave。 Then they rushed in； waving the flaring torches and with
assegais aloft。 Here for the last time the Halakazi stood against
them； and the torches floated up and down upon the wave of war。 But
they did not stand for very long； for all the heart was out of them。
Wow！ yes； many were killedI do not know how many。 I know this only；
that the Halakazi are no more a tribe since Umslopogaas； who is named
Bulalio； stamped them with his feetthey are 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 Umslopogaas saw a knot of men clustering
round something as though to guard it。 He rushed at the men； and with
him went Galazi and others。 But when Umslopogaas 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 a shield before his face。
〃You are a coward！〃 he cried； and smote with Groan…Maker。 The great
axe pierced the hide； but； missing the head behind； rang loudly
against the rock； and as it struck a sweet voice said：
〃Ah！ 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
Umslopogaas 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 formnay； 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 Groan…Maker； 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 the Lily now： once I had another name。 Nada； 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 Umslopogaas gazed upon her again； and Groan…Maker 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 Umslopogaas； my brother
who is dead； and whom dead as living I have loved ever and alone。〃
Then the torch flared out； but Umslopogaas took hold of her in the
darkness and pressed 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 shore my
locks； missing me but by a finger's…breadthand still the sound of
fighting rings in my ears！ Ah！ a boon of you； my brothera boon： let
there be no more death since we are met once more。 The people of the
Halakazi are 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
Dingaan； so spare them； my brother； if you may。〃
Then Umslopogaas lifted up his voice； commanding that the killing
should cease； and sent messengers running swiftly with these words：
〃This is the command of Bulalio： that he should 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； Umslopogaas spoke long with Nada the Lily； 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 Macropha； 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 kraal； and
among them her own mother。 Thereafter； she had dwelt among the
Halakazi； who named her anew； calling her the Lily； 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； Nada； my sister？〃 asked Umslopogaas； 〃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 Umslopogaas thought awhile and spoke。 〃Do you not know then； Nada；
why it is that I have made this war； and why the people of the
Halakazi are dead and scattered and their 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 Lily maid； the fairest of women； to be a wife to Dingaan。 The
reason that I began this war was to win you and make my peace with
Dingaan； and now I have carried it through to the end。〃
Now when she heard these words； Nada the Lily trembled and wept； and；
sinking to the earth； she clasped the knees of Umslopogaas in
supplication： 〃Oh； do not this cruel thing by me； your sister；〃 she
prayed； 〃take rather that great axe and make an end of