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saved her from Dingaan； and brought the wrath of Dingaan upon the
People of the Axe； the wrath that shall destroy them。〃
〃So I thought then； Zinita；〃 he answered； 〃now I know otherwise。 Nada
is daughter to Mopo yonder indeed； but he is no father to me； though
he has been named so； nor was the mother of Nada my mother。 That is
so； Councillors。〃
Then Zinita looked at me and muttered； 〃O fool of a Mouth； not for
nothing did I fear evil at your hands。〃
I heard the words and took no note； and she poke again to Umslopogaas；
saying： 〃Here is a mystery； O Lord Bulalio。 Will it then please you to
declare to us who is your father？〃
〃I have no father；〃 he answered； waxing wroth； 〃the heavens above are
my father。 I am born of Blood and Fire； and she； the Lily； is born of
Beauty to be my mate。 Now； woman； be silent。〃 He thought awhile； and
added； 〃Nay； if you will know； my father was Indabazimbi the Witch…
finder； the smeller…out of the king； the son of Arpi。〃 This
Umslopogaas said at a hazard； since； having denied me； he must declare
a father； and dared not name the Black One who was gone。 But in after
years the saying was taken up in the land； and it was told that
Umslopogaas was the son of Indabazimbi the Witch…finder； who had long
ago fled the land； nor did he deny it。 For when all this game had been
played out he would not have it known that he was the son of Chaka； he
who no longer sought to be a king； lest he should bring down the wrath
of Panda upon him。
When the people heard this they thought that Umslopogaas mocked
Zinita； and yet in his anger he spoke truth when he said first that he
was born of the 〃heavens above；〃 for so we Zulus name the king； and so
the witch…doctor Indabazimbi named Chaka on the day of the great
smelling out。 But they did not take it in this sense。 They held that
he spoke truly when he gave it out that he was born of Indabazimbi the
Witch…doctor； who had fled the land； whither I do not know。
Then Nada turned to Zinita and spoke to her in a sweet and gentle
voice： 〃If I am not sister to Bulalio； yet I shall soon be sister to
you who are the Chief's Inkosikaas； Zinita。 Shall that not satisfy
you； and will you not greet me kindly and with a kiss of peace； who
have come from far to be your sister； Zinita？〃 and Nada held out her
hands towards her； though whether she did this from the heart or
because she would put herself in the right before the people I do not
know。 But Zinita scowled； and jerked at her necklace of beads；
breaking the string on which they were threaded； so that the beads
rolled upon the black earthen floor this way and that。
〃Keep your kisses for our lord； girl；〃 Zinita said roughly。 〃As my
beads are scattered so shall you scatter this People of the Axe。〃
Now Nada turned away with a little sigh； and the people murmured； for
they thought that Zinita had treated her badly。 Then she stretched out
her hand again； and gave the lily in it to Umslopogaas； saying：
〃Here is a token of our betrothal； Lord； for never a head of cattle
have my father and I to sendwe who are outcasts； and； indeed； the
bridegroom must pay the cattle。 May I bring you peace and love； my
Lord！〃
Umslopogaas took the flower； and looked somewhat foolish with ithe
who was wont to carry the axe； and not a flower； and so that talk was
ended。
Now as it chanced； this was that day of the year when； according to
ancient custom； the Holder of the Axe must challenge all and sundry to
come up against him to fight in single combat for Groan…Maker and the
chieftainship of the people。 Therefore； when the talk was done；
Umslopogaas rose and went through the challenge； not thinking that any
would answer him； since for some years none had dared to stand before
his might。 Yet three men stepped forward； and of these two were
captains； and men whom the Slaughterer loved。 With all the people； he
looked at them astonished。
〃How is this？〃 he said in a low voice to that captain who was nearest
and who would do battle with him。
For answer the man pointed to the Lily； who stood by。 Then Umslopogaas
understood that because of the medicine of Nada's beauty all men
desired to win her； and； since he who could win the axe would take her
also； he must look to fight with many。 Well； fight he must or be
shamed。
Of the fray there is little to tell。 Umslopogaas killed first one man
and then the other； and swiftly； for； growing fearful； the third did
not come up against him。
〃Ah！〃 said Galazi； who watched； 〃what did I tell you； Mopo？ The curse
begins to work。 Death walks ever with that daughter of yours； old
man。〃
〃I fear so；〃 I answered； 〃and yet the maiden is fair and good and
sweet。〃
〃That will not mend matters；〃 said Galazi。
Now on that day Umslopogaas took Nada the Lily to wife； and for awhile
there was peace and quiet。 But this evil thing came upon Umslopogaas；
that； from the day when he wedded Nada； he hated even to look upon
Zinita； and not at her alone； but on all his other wives also。 Galazi
said it was because Nada had bewitched him； but I know well that the
only witcheries she used were the medicine of her eyes； her beauty；
and her love。 Still； it came to pass that henceforward； and until she
had long been dead； the Slaughterer loved her； and her alone； and that
is a strange sickness to come upon a man。
As may be guessed； my father； Zinita and the other women took this
ill。 They waited awhile； indeed； thinking that it would wear away；
then they began to murmur； both to their husband and in the ears of
other people； till at length there were two parties in the town； the
party of Zinita and the party of Nada。
The party of Zinita was made up of women and of certain men who loved
and feared their wives； but that of Nada was the greatest； and it was
all of men； with Umslopogaas at the head of them； and from this
division came much bitterness abroad； and quarrelling in the huts。 Yet
neither the Lily nor Umslopogaas heeded it greatly； nor indeed；
anything； so lost and well content were they in each other's love。
Now on a certain morning； after they had been married three full
moons； Nada came from her husband's hut when the sun was already high；
and went down through the rock gully to the river to bathe。 On the
right of the path to the river lay the mealie…fields of the chief； and
in them laboured Zinita and the other women of Umslopogaas； weeding
the mealie…plants。 They looked up and saw Nada pass； then worked on
sullenly。 After awhile they saw her come again fresh from the bath；
very fair to see； and having flowers twined among her hair； and as she
walked she sang a song of love。 Now Zinita cast down her hoe。
〃Is this to be borne； my sisters？〃 she said。
〃No；〃 answered another； 〃it is not to be borne。 What shall we do
shall we fall upon her and kill her now？〃
〃It would be more just to kill Bulalio； our lord；〃 answered Zinita。
〃Nada is but a woman； and； after the fashion of us women； takes all
that she can gather。 But he is a man and a chief； and should know
wisdom and justice。〃
〃She has bewitched him with her beauty。 Let us kill her；〃 said the
other women。
〃Nay；〃 answered Zinita； 〃I will speak with h