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fashioned like an old woman frozen into stone； was it not？ Tell me of
the road thither。〃
So Umslopogaas told her the road； and she listened silently。
〃Good；〃 she said。 〃I am strong and my feet are swift； perhaps they may
serve to bring me so far； and perhaps； if I win the shadow of that
mountain； you will find me a hut to hide in； Umslopogaas； my brother。〃
〃Surely it shall be so； my sister；〃 answered Umslopogaas； 〃and yet the
way is long and many dangers lie in the path of a maid journeying
alone； without food or shelter；〃 and as he spoke Umslopogaas thought
of Zinita his wife； for he guessed that she would not love Nada；
although she was only his sister。
〃Still； it must be travelled； and the dangers must be braved；〃 she
answered； smiling。 〃Alas！ there is no other way。〃
Then Umslopogaas summoned Galazi the Wolf and told him all this story；
for Galazi was the only man whom he could trust。 The Wolf listened in
silence； marvelling the while at the beauty of Nada； as the starlight
showed it。 When everything was told； he said only that he no longer
wondered that the people of the Halakazi had defied Dingaan and
brought death upon themselves for the sake of this maid。 Still； to be
plain； his heart thought ill of the matter； for death was not done
with yet： there before them shone the Star of Death； and he pointed to
the Lily。
Now Nada trembled at his words of evil omen； and the Slaughterer grew
angry； but Galazi would neither add to them nor take away from them。
〃I have spoken that which my heart hears；〃 he answered。
Then they rose and went to search among the dead for a girl who would
suit their purpose； soon they found one； a tall and fair maiden； and
Galazi bore her in his arms to the great cave。 Here in the cave were
none but the dead； and； tossed hither and thither in their last sleep；
they looked awful in the glare of the torches。
〃They sleep sound；〃 said the Lily； gazing on them； 〃rest is sweet。〃
〃We shall soon win it； maiden；〃 answered Galazi； and again Nada
trembled。
Then； having arrayed her in the dress of a warrior； and put a shield
and spear by her； they laid down the body of the girl in a dark place
in the cave； and； finding a dead warrior of the People of the Axe；
placed him beside her。 Now they left the cave； and； pretending that
they visited the sentries； Umslopogaas and Galazi passed from spot to
spot； while the Lily walked after them like a guard； hiding her face
with a shield； holding a spear in her hand； and having with her a bag
of corn and dried flesh。
So they passed on； till at length they came to the entrance in the
mountain side。 The stones that had blocked it were pulled down so as
to allow those of the Halakazi to fly who had been spared at the
entreaty of Nada； but there were guards by the entrance to watch that
none came back。 Umslopogaas challenged them； and they saluted him； but
he saw that they were worn out with battle and journeying； and knew
little of what they saw or said。 Then he； Galazi； and Nada and passed
through the opening on to the plain beyond。
Here the Slaughterer and the Lily bade each other farewell； while
Galazi watched； and presently the Wolf saw Umslopogaas return as one
who is heavy at heart； and caught sight of the Lily skimming across
the plain lightly like a swallow。
〃I do not know when we two shall meet again；〃 said Umslopogaas so soon
as she had melted into the shadows of the night。
〃May you never meet；〃 answered Galazi； 〃for I am sure that if you meet
that sister of yours will bring death on many more than those who now
lie low because of her loveliness。 She is a Star of Death； and when
she sets the sky shall be blood red。〃
Umslopogaas did not answer； but walked slowly through the archway in
the mountain side。
〃How is this； chief？〃 said he who was captain of the guard。 〃Three
went out； but only two return。〃
〃Fool！〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃Are you drunk with Halakazi beer； or
blind with sleep？ Two went out； and two return。 I sent him who was
with us back to the camp。〃
〃So be it； father；〃 said the captain。 〃Two went out； and two return。
All is well！〃
CHAPTER XXVII
THE STAMPING OF THE FIRE
On the morrow the impi awoke refreshed with sleep； and； after they had
eaten； Umslopogaas mustered them。 Alas！ nearly half of those who had
seen the sun of yesterday would wake no more forever。 The Slaughterer
mustered them and thanked them for that which they had done； winning
fame and cattle。 They were merry； recking little of those who were
dead； and sang his praises and the praises of Galazi in a loud song。
When the song was ended Umslopogaas spoke to them again； saying that
the victory was great； and the cattle they had won were countless。 Yet
something was lackingshe was lacking whom he came to seek to be a
gift to Dingaan the king； and for whose sake this war was made。 Where
now was the Lily？ Yesterday she had been here； clad in a moocha like a
man and bearing a shield； this he knew from the captives。 Where； then；
was she now？
Then all the soldiers said that they had seen nothing of her。 When
they had done； Galazi spoke a word； as was agreed between him and
Umslopogaas。 He said that when they stormed the cave he had seen a man
run at a warrior in the cave to kill him。 Then as he came； he who was
about to be slain threw down the shield and cried for mercy； and
Galazi knew that this was no warrior of the Halakazi； but a very
beautiful girl。 So he called to the man to let her alone and not to
touch her； for the order was that no women should be killed。 But the
soldier； being made with the lust of fight； shouted that maid or man
she should die； and slew her。 Thereon； heGalaziin his wrath ran up
and smote the man with the Watcher and killed him also； and he prayed
that he had done no wrong。
〃You have done well； my brother；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Come now； some of
you； and let us look at this dead girl。 Perhaps it is the Lily； and if
so that is unlucky for us； for I do not know what tale we shall tell
to Dingaan of the matter。〃
So the captains went with Umslopogaas and Galazi； and came to the spot
where the girl had been laid； and by her the man of the People of the
Axe。
〃All is as the Wolf； my brother； has told；〃 said Umslopogaas； waving
the torch in his hand over the two who lay dead。 〃Here； without a
doubt； lies she who was named the Lily； whom we came to win； and by
her that fool who slew her； slain himself by the blow of the Watcher。
An ill sight to see； and an ill tale for me to tell at the kraal of
Dingaan。 Still； what is is； and cannot be altered； and this maid who
was the fairest of the fair is now none to lovely to look on。 Let us
away！〃 And he turned swiftly； then spoke again； saying：
〃Bind up this dead girl in ox hides； cover her with salt； and let her
be brought with us。〃 And they did so。
Then the captains said： 〃Surely it is so； my father； now it cannot be
altered； and Dingaan must miss his bride。〃 So said they all except
that man who had been captain of the guard when Umslopogaas and Galazi
and another passed through the archway。 This man； indeed； said
nothing； yet he was not without his thoughts。 For it seemed to h