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！
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 me； and of the
beauty which has wrought so much woe； and most of all to me who wear
it！ Would that I had not moved my head behind the shield； but had
suffered the axe to fall upon it。 To this end I was dressed as a man；
that I might meet the fate of a man。 Ah！ a curse be on my woman's
weakness that snatched me from death to give me up to shame！〃
Thus she prayed to Umslopogaas in her low sweet voice； and his heart
was shaken in him； though； indeed； he did not now purpose to give Nada
to Dingaan； as Baleka was given to Chaka； perhaps in the end to meet
the fate of Baleka。
〃There are many； Nada；〃 he said； 〃who would think it no misfortune
that they should be given as a wife to the first of chiefs。〃
〃Then I am not of their number；〃 she answered； 〃nay； I will die first；
by my own hand if need be。〃
Now Umslopogaas wondered how it came about that Nada looked upon
marriage thus； but he did not speak of the matter； he said only； 〃Tell
me then； Nada； how I can deliver myself of this charge。 I must go to
Dingaan as I promised our father Mopo； and what shall I say to Dingaan
when he asks for the Lily whom I went out to pluck and whom his heart
desires？ What shall I say to save myself alive from the wrath of
Dingaan？〃
Then Nada thought and answered； 〃You shall say this； my brother。 You
shall tell him that the Lily； being clothed in the war…dress of a
warrior； fell by chance in the fray。 See； now； none of your people
know that you have found me； they are thinking of other things than
maids in the hour of their victory。 This； then； is my plan： we will
search now by the starlight till we find the body of a fair maid； for；
doubtless； some were killed by hazard in the fight； and on her we will
set a warrior's dress； and lay by her the corpse of one of your own
men。 To…morrow； at the light； you shall take the captains of your
soldiers and； having laid the body of the girl in the dark of the
cave； you shall show it to them hurriedly； and tell them that this was
the Lily； slain by one of your own people； whom in your wrath you slew
also。 They will not look long on so common a sight； and if by hazard
they see the maid； and think her not so very fair； they will deem that
it is death which has robbed her of her comeliness。 So the tale which
you must tell to Dingaan shall be built up firmly； and Dingaan shall
believe it to be true。〃
〃And how shall this be； Nada？〃 asked Umslopogaas。 〃How shall this be
when men see you among the captives and know you by your beauty？ Are
there； then； two such Lilies in the land？〃
〃I shall not be known； for I shall not be seen； Umslopogaas。 You must
set me free to…night。 I will wander hence disguised as a youth and
covered with a blanket； and if any meet me； who shall say that I am
the Lily？〃
〃And where will you wander； Nada？ to your death？ Must we； then； meet
after so many years to part again for ever？〃
〃Where was it that you said you lived； my brother？ Beneath the shade
of a Ghost Mountain； that men may know by a shape of stone which is
fashioned like an old woman frozen into stone； was it not？ Tell me of
the road