按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Umslopogaas had told her that she must not do this； and she had
forgotten his words in her foolishness。 Perhaps she could move the
stone； no； not by the breadth of a grain of corn。 She was shut in；
without food or water； and here she must bide till Umslopogaas came。
And if he did not come？ Then she must surely die。
Now she shrieked aloud in her fear； calling on the name of
Umslopogaas。 The walls of the cave answered 〃Umslopogaas！
Umslopogaas！〃 and that was all。
Afterwards madness fell upon Nada； my daughter； and she lay in the
cave for days and nights； nor knew ever how long she lay。 And with her
madness came visions； for she dreamed that the dead One whom Galazi
had told her of sat once more aloft in his niche at the end of the
cave and spoke to her； saying：
〃Galazi is dead！ The fate of him who bears the Watcher has fallen on
him。 Dead are the ghost…wolves； I also am of hunger in this cave； and
as I died so shall you die； Nada the Lily！ Nada； Star of Death！
because of whose beauty and foolishness all this death has come
about。〃
This is seemed to Nada； in her madness； that the shadow of him who had
sat in the niche spoke to her from hour to hour。
It seemed to Nada； in her madness； that twice the light shone through
the hole by the rock； and that was day； and twice it went out； and
that was night。 A third time the ray shone and died away； and lo！ her
madness left her； and she awoke to know that she was dying； and that a
voice she loved spoke without the hole； saying in hollow accents：
〃Nada？ Do you still live； Nada？〃
〃Yea；〃 she answered hoarsely。 〃Water！ give me water！〃
Next she heard a sound as of a great snake dragging itself along
painfully。 A while passed； then a trembling hand thrust a little gourd
of water through the hole。 She drank； and now she could speak； though
the water seemed to flow through her veins like fire。
〃Is it indeed you； Umslopogaas？〃 she said； 〃or are you dead； and do I
dream of you？〃
〃It is I； Nada；〃 said the voice。 〃Hearken！ have you drawn the rock
home？〃
〃Alas！ yes；〃 she answered。 〃Perhaps； if the two of us strive at it； it
will move。〃
〃Ay； if our strength were what it wasbut now！ Still； let us try。〃
So they strove with a rock； but the two of them together had not the
strength of a girl； and it would not stir。
〃Give over； Umslopogaas；〃 said Nada； 〃we do but waste the time that is
left to me。 Let us talk！〃
For awhile there was no answer； for Umslopogaas had fainted； and Nada
beat her breast； thinking that he was dead。
Presently he spoke； however； saying； 〃It may not be； we must perish
here； one on each side of the stone； not seeing the other's face； for
my might is as water； nor can I stand upon my feet to go and seek for
food。〃
〃Are you wounded； Umslopogaas？〃 asked Nada。
〃Ay； Nada； I am pierced to the brain with the point of an axe； no fair
stroke； the captain of Dingaan hurled it at me when I thought him
dead； and I fell。 I do not know how long I have lain yonder under the
shadow of the rock； but it must be long； for my limbs are wasted； and
those who fell in the fray are picked clean by the vultures； all
except Galazi； for the old wolf Deathgrip lies on his breast dying；
but not dead； licking my brother's wounds； and scares the fowls away。
It was the beak of a vulture； who had smelt me out at last； that woke
me from my sleep beneath the stone； Nada； and I crept hither。 Would
that he had not awakened me； would that I had died as I lay； rather
than lived a little while till you perish thus； like a trapped fox；
Nada； and presently I follow you。〃
〃It is hard to die so； Umslopogaas；〃 she answered； 〃I who am yet young
and fair； who love you； and hoped to give you children； but so it has
come about； and it may not be put away。 I am well…nigh sped； husband；
horror and fear have conquered me； my strength fails； but I suffer
little。 Let us talk no more of death； let us rather speak of our
childhood； when we wandered hand in hand； let us talk also of our
love； and of the happy hours that we have spent since your great axe
rang upon the rock in the Halakazi caves； and my fear told you the
secret of my womanhood。 See； I thrust my hand through the hole； can
you not kiss it； Umslopogaas？〃
Now Umslopogaas stooped his shattered head； and kissed the Lily's
little hand； then he held it in his own； and so they sat till the end
he without； resting his back against the rock； she within； lying on
her side； her arm stretched through the little hole。 They spoke of
their love； and tried to forget their sorrow in it； he told her also
of the fray which had been and how it went。
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃that was Zinita's work； Zinita who hated me； and
justly。 Doubtless she set Dingaan on this path。〃
〃A little while gone；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； 〃and I hoped that your last
breath and mine might pass together； Nada； and that we might go
together to seek great Galazi； my brother； where he is。 Now I hope
that help will find me； and that I may live a little while； because of
a certain vengeance which I would wreak。〃
〃Speak not of vengeance； husband；〃 she answered； 〃I； too； am near to
that land where the Slayer and the Slain； the Shedder of Blood and the
Avenger of Blood are lost in the same darkness。 I would die with love；
and love only； in my heart； and your name； and yours only； on my lips；
so that if anywhere we live again it shall be ready to spring forth to
greet you。 Yet； husband； it is in my heart that you will not go with
me； but that you shall live on to die the greatest of deaths far away
from here； and because of another woman。 It seems that； as I lay in
the dark of this cave； I saw you； Umslopogaas； a great man； gaunt and
grey； stricken to the death； and the axe Groan…maker wavering aloft；
and many a man dead upon a white and shimmering way； and about you the
fair faces of white women； and you had a hole in your forehead；
husband； on the left side。〃
〃That is like to be true； if I live；〃 he answered； 〃for the bone of my
temple is shattered。〃
Now Nada ceased speaking； and for a long while was silent； Umslopogaas
was also silent and torn with pain and sorrow because he must lose the
Lily thus； and she must die so wretchedly； for one reason only； that
the cast of Faku had robbed him of his strength。 Alas！ he who had done
many deeds might not save her now； he could scarcely hold himself
upright against the rock。 He thought of it； and the tears flowed down
his face and fell on to the hand of the Lily。 She felt them fall and
spoke。
〃Weep not； my husband；〃 she said； 〃I have been all too ill a wife to
you。 Do not mourn for me； yet remember that I loved you well。〃 And
again she was silent for a long space。
Then she spoke and for the last time of all； and her voice came in a
gasping whisper through the hole in the rock：
〃Farewell； Umslopogaas； my husband and my brother； I thank you for
your love； Umslop