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Macropha； and some held that Macropha was his daughter； and not that
of the Swazi headman。 At least I know this； that before my wife's
birth the Swazi killed the white man。 But none can tell the truth of
these matters； and I only speak of them because the beauty of Nada was
rather as is the beauty of the white people than of ours； and this
might well happen if her grandfather chanced to be a white man。
Now Umslopogaas and Nada were always together。 Together they ate；
together they slept and wandered； they thought one thought and spoke
with one tongue。 Ou！ it was pretty to see them！ Twice while they were
still children did Umslopogaas save the life of Nada。
The first time it came about thus。 The two children had wandered far
from the kraal； seeking certain berries that little ones love。 On they
wandered and on； singing as they went； till at length they found the
berries； and ate heartily。 Then it was near sundown； and when they had
eaten they fell asleep。 In the night they woke to find a great wind
blowing and a cold rain falling on them； for it was the beginning of
winter； when fruits are ripe。
〃Up； Nada！〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃we must seek the kraal or the cold will
kill us。〃
So Nada rose； frightened； and hand in hand they stumbled through the
darkness。 But in the wind and the night they lost their path； and when
at length the dawn came they were in a forest that was strange to
them。 They rested awhile； and finding berries ate them； then walked
again。 All that day they wandered； till at last the night came down；
and they plucked branches of trees and piled the branches over them
for warmth； and they were so weary that they fell asleep in each
other's arms。 At dawn they rose； but now they were very tired and
berries were few； sot hat by midday they were spent。 Then they lay
down on the side of a steep hill； and Nada laid her head upon the
breast of Umslopogaas。
〃Here let us die； my brother；〃 she said。
But even then the boy had a great spirit； and he answered； 〃Time to
die； sister； when Death chooses us。 See； now！ Do you rest here； and I
will climb the hill and look across the forest。〃
So he left her and climbed the hill； and on its side he found many
berries and a root that is good for food； and filled himself with
them。 At length he came to the crest of the hill and looked out across
the sea of green。 Lo！ there； far away to the east； he saw a line of
white that lay like smoke against the black surface of a cliff； and
knew it for the waterfall beyond the royal town。 Then he came down the
hill； shouting for joy and bearing roots and berries in his hand。 But
when he reached the spot where Nada was； he found that her senses had
left her through hunger； cold； and weariness。 She lay upon the ground
like one asleep； and over her stood a jackal that fled as he drew
nigh。 Now it would seem that there but two shoots to the stick of
Umslopogaas。 One was to save himself； and the other to lie down and
die by Nada。 Yet he found a third； for； undoing the strips of his
moocha； he made ropes of them； and with the ropes he bound Nada on his
back and started for the king's kraal。 He could never have reached it；
for the way was long； yet at evening some messengers running through
the forest came upon a naked lad with a girl bound to his back and a
staff in his hand； who staggered along slowly with starting eyes and
foam upon his lips。 He could not speak； he was so weary； and the ropes
had cut through the skin of his shoulders； yet one of the messengers
knew him for Umslopogaas； the son of Mopo； and they bore him to the
kraal。 They would have left the girl Nada； thinking her dead； but he
pointed to her breast； and； feeling it； they found that her heart
still beat； so they brought her also； and the end of it was that both
recovered and loved each other more than ever before。
Now after this； I； Mopo； bade Umslopogaas stay at home within the
kraal； and not lead his sister to the wilds。 But the boy loved roaming
like a fox； and where he went there Nada followed。 So it came about
that one day they slipped from the kraal when the gates were open； and
sought out a certain deep glen which had an evil name； for it was said
that spirits haunted it and put those to death who entered there。
Whether this was true I do not know； but I know that in the glen dwelt
a certain woman of the woods； who had her habitation in a cave and
lived upon what she could kill or steal or dig up with her hands。 Now
this woman was mad。 For it had chanced that her husband had been
〃smelt out〃 by the witch…doctors as a worker of magic against the
king； and slain。 Then Chaka； according to custom； despatched the
slayers to eat up his kraal； and they came to the kraal and killed his
people。 Last of all they killed his children； three young girls； and
would have assegaied their mother； when suddenly a spirit entered into
her at the sight； and she went mad； so that they let her go； being
afraid to touch her afterwards。 So she fled and took up her abode in
the haunted glen； and this was the nature of her madness； that
whenever she saw children； and more especially girl children； a
longing came upon her to kill them as her own had been killed。 This；
indeed； she did often； for when the moon was full and her madness at
its highest； she would travel far to find children； snatching them
away from the kraals like a hyena。 Still； none would touch her because
of the spirit in her； not even those whose children she had murdered。
So Umslopogaas and Nada came to the glen where the child…slayer lived；
and sat down by a pool of water not far from the mouth of her cave；
weaving flowers into a garland。 Presently Umslopogaas left Nada； to
search for rock lilies which she loved。 As he went he called back to
her； and his voice awoke the woman who was sleeping in her cave； for
she came out by night only； like a jackal。 Then the woman stepped
forth； smelling blood and having a spear in her hand。 Presently she
saw Nada seated upon the grass weaving flowers； and crept towards her
to kill her。 Now as she cameso the child told mesuddenly a cold
wind seemed to breathe upon Nada； and fear took hold of her； though
she did not see the woman who would murder her。 She let fall the
flowers； and looked before her into the pool； and there； mirrored in
the pool； she saw the greedy face of the child…slayer； who crept down
upon her from above； her hair hanging about her brow and her eyes
shining like the eyes of a lion。
Then with a cry Nada sprang up and fled along the path which
Umslopogaas had taken； and after her leapt and ran the mad woman。
Umslopogaas heard her cry。 He turned and rushed back over the brow of
the hill； and； lo！ there before him was the murderess。 Already she had
grasped Nada by the hair； already her spear was lifted to pierce her。
Umslopogaas had no spear； he had nothing but a little stick without a
knob； yet with it he rushed at the mad woman and struck her so smartly
on the arm that she let go of the girl and turned on him with a yell。
Then； lifting her spear； she struck at him； but he leapt aside。 Again
she struck； but he sprang into the air； and the spear passed beneath
him。 A th