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son of Chaka。 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； Baleka； after I had told my
dream to her； and of the manner of her death by the command of Chaka；
and of the great fashion in which she had died； then； I say；
Umslopogaas wept； who； I think； seldom wept before or after。 But as my
tale drew it its end I saw that he listened ill； as a man listens who
has a weightier matter pressing on his heart； and before it was well
done he broke in：
〃So； Mopo； my uncle； if I am the son of Chaka and Baleka； Nada the
Lily is no sister to me。〃
〃Nay； Umslopogaas； 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 Nada
if she still lives； for it comes upon me now that I have never loved
any woman as I love Nada the Lily；〃 and while he spoke； I heard the
rat stir in the thatch of the hut。
〃Wed her if you will； Umslopogaas；〃 I answered； 〃yet I think that one
Zinita； your Inkosikasi； will find words to say in the matter。〃
〃Zinita is my head wife 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 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。 Nada is not yet at
your gates； and perhaps she will never find them。 See； Umslopogaas； 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 Dingaan and
fear him； and did they know that a son of Chaka lived； and that son
the Slaughterer； he well might climb to the throne upon their
shoulders。 Also the soldiers love the name of Chaka； though he dealt
cruelly with them； because at least he was brave and generous。 But
they do not love Dingaan； for his burdens are the burdens of Chaka but
his gifts are the gifts of Dingaan； therefore they would welcome
Chaka's son if once they knew him for certain。 But it is here that the
necklet 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
Umslopogaas。 〃One thing I know： I had rather see Nada at my gates to…
night than hear all the chiefs in the land crying 'Hail； O King！'〃
〃You will live to think otherwise； Umslopogaas； and now spies must be
set at the kraal Umgugundhlovu to give us warning of the mind of the
king； lest he should send an impi suddenly to eat you up。 Perhaps his
hands may be too full for that ere long； for those white Amaboona will
answer his assegais with bullets。 And one more word： let nothing be
said of this matter of your birth； least of all to Zinita your wife；
or to any other woman。〃
〃Fear not； uncle；〃 he answered； 〃I know how to be silent。〃
Now after awhile Umslopogaas left me and went to the hut of Zinita；
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； Bayete。〃
Umslopogaas 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 lock them fast till they
be forgotten。〃
〃Or fulfilled；〃 said Zinita； and again Umslopogaas looked at her
wondering。
Now after this night I began my work； for I established spies at the
kraal of Dingaan； and from them I learned all that passed with the
king。
At first he gave orders that an impi should be summoned to eat up the
People of the Axe； but afterwards came tidings that the Boers； to the
number of five hundred mounted men； were marching on the kraal
Umgugundhlovu。 So Dingaan had no impi to spare to send to the Ghost
Mountain； and we who were beneath its shadow dwelt there in peace。
This time for Boers were beaten； for Bogoza； the spy； led them into an
ambush； still few were killed； and they did but draw back that they
might jump the further； and Dingaan knew this。 At this time also the
English white men of Natal； the people of George； who attacked Dingaan
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。 Umslopogaas had no more words with Zinita； but she
always watched him； and he went heavily。 For he awaited Nada； and Nada
did not come。
But at length Nada came。
CHAPTER XXX
THE COMING OF NADA
One nightit was a night of full moonI sat alone with Umslopogaas
in my hut； and we spoke of the matter of our plots； then； when we had
finished that talk； we spoke of Nada the Lily。
〃Alas！ my uncle；〃 said Umslopogaas sadly； 〃we shall never look more on
Nada； she is surely dead or in bonds； otherwise she had been here long
ago。 I have sought far and wide； and can hear no tidings and find
nothing。〃
〃All that is hidden is not lost；〃 I answered； yet I myself believed
that there was an end of Nada。
Then we were silent awhile； and presently； in the silence； a dog
barked。 We rose； and crept out of the hut to see what it might be that
stirred； for the night drew on； and it was needful to be wary； since a
dog might bark at the stirring of a leaf； or perhaps it might be the
distant footfall of an impi that it heard。
We had not far to look； for standing gazing at the huts； like one who
is afraid to call； was a tall slim man； holding an assegai in one hand
and a little shield in the other。 We could not see the face of the
man； because the light was behind him； and a ragged blanket hung about
his shoulders。 Also； he was footsore； for he rested on one leg。 Now we
were peering round the hut； and its shadow hid us； so that the man saw
nothing。 For awhile he stood still； then he spoke to himself； and his
voice was strangely soft。
〃Here are many huts；〃 said the voice； 〃now how may I know which is the
house of my bro