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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 brother？ Perhaps if I call I shall bring soldiers to me；
and be forced to play the man before them； and I am weary of that。
Well； I will lie here under the fence till morning； it is a softer bed
than some I have found； and I am word out with travelsleep I must；〃
and the figure sighed and turned so that the light of the moon fell
full upon its face。
My father； it was the face of Nada； my daughter； whom I had not seen
for so many years； yet across the years I knew it at once； yes； though
the bud had become a flower I knew it。 The face was weary and worn；
but ah！ it was beautiful； never before nor since have I seen such
beauty； for there was this about the loveliness of my daughter； the
Lily： it seemed to flow from withinyes； as light will flow through
the thin rind of a gourd； and in that she differed from the other
women of our people； who； when they are fair are fair with the flesh
alone。
Now my heart went out to Nada as she stood in the moonlight； one
forsaken； not having where to lay her head； Nada； who alone was left
alive of all my children。 I motioned to Umslopogaas to hide himself in
the shadow； and stepped forward。
〃Ho！〃 I said roughly； 〃who are you； wanderer； and what do you here？〃
Now Nada started like a frightened bird； but quickly gathered up her
thoughts； and turned upon me in a lordly way。
〃Who are you that ask me？〃 she said； feigning a man's voice。
〃One who can use a stick upon thieves and night…prowlers； boy。 Come；
show your business or be moving。 You are not of this people； surely
that moocha is of a Swazi make； and here we do not love Swazis。〃
〃Were you not old； I would beat you for your insolence；〃 said Nada；
striving to look brave and all the while searching a way to escape。
〃Also； I have no stick； only a spear； and that is for warriors； not
for an old umfagozan like you。〃 Ay； my father； I lived to hear my
daughter name me an umfagozana low fellow！
Now making pretence to be angry； I leaped at her with my kerrie up；
and； forgetting her courage； she dropped her spear； and uttered a
little scream。 But she still held the shield before her face。 I seized
her by the arm； and struck a blow upon the shield with my kerrieit
would scarcely have crushed a fly； but this brave warrior trembled
sorely。
〃Where now is your valour； you who name my umfagozan？〃 I said： 〃you
who cry like a maid and whose arm is soft as a maid's。〃
She made no answer； but hugged her tattered blanket round her； and
shifting my grip from her arm； I seized it and rent it； showing her
breast and shoulder； then I let her go； laughing； and said：
〃Lo！ here is the warrior that would beat an old umfagozan for his
insolence； a warrior well shaped for war！ Now； my pretty maid who
wander at night in the garment of a man； what tale have you to tell？
Swift with it； lest I drag you to the chief as his prize！ The old man
seeks a new wife； they tell me？〃
Now when Nada saw that I had discovered her she threw down the shield
after the spear； as a thing that was of no more use； and hung her head
sullenly。 But when I spoke of dragging her to the chief then she flung
herself upon the ground； and clasped my knees； for since I called him
old； she thought that this chief could not be Umslopogaas。
〃Oh； my father；〃 said the Lily； 〃oh； my father； have pity on me！ Yes；
yes！ I am a girl； a maidno wifeand you who are old； you； perchance
have daughters such as I； and in their name I ask for pity。 My father；
I have journeyed far； I have endured many things； to find my way to a
kraal where my brother rules； and now it seems I have come to the
wrong kraal。 Forgive me that I spoke to you so； my father； it was but
a woman's feint； and I was hard pressed to hide my sex； for my father；
you know it is ill to be a lonely girl among strange men。〃
Now I said nothing in answer； for this reason only： that when I heard
Nada call me father； not knowing me； and saw her clasp my knees and
pray to me in my daughter's name； I； who was childless save for her；
went nigh to weeping。 But she thought that I did not answer her
because I was angry； and about to drag her to this unknown chief； and
implored me the more even with tears。
〃My father；〃 she said； 〃do not this wicked thing by me。 Let me go and
show me the path that I shall ask： you who are old； you know that I am
too fair to be dragged before this chief of yours。 Hearken！ All I knew
are dead； I am alone except for this brother I seek。 Oh！ if you betray
me may such a fate fall upon your own daughter also！ May she also know
the day of slavery； and the love that she wills not！〃 and she ceased；
sobbing。
Now I turned my head and spoke towards the hut； 〃Chief；〃 I said； 〃your
Ehlose is kind to you to…night； for he has given you a maid fair as
the Lily of the Halakazi〃here Nada glanced up wildly。 〃Come； then；
and take the girl。〃
Now Nada turned to snatch up the assegai from the ground； but whether
to kill me； or the chief she feared so much； or herself； I do not
know； and as she turned； in her woe she called upon the name of
Umslopogaas。 She found the assegai； and straightened herself again。
And lo！ there before her stood a tall chief leaning on an axe； but the
old man who threatened her was gonenot very far； in truth； but round
the corner of the hut。
Now Nada the