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other women。
〃Nay；〃 answered Zinita； 〃I will speak with her；〃 and she went and
stood in the path along which the Lily walked singing； her arms folded
across her breast。
Now Nada saw her and； ceasing her song； stretched out her hand to
welcome her； saying； 〃Greeting； sister。〃 But Zinita did not take it。
〃It is not fitting； sister；〃 she said； 〃that my hand； stained with
toil； should defile yours； fresh with the scent of flowers。 But I am
charged with a message； on my own behalf and the behalf of the other
wives of our Lord Bulalio； the weeds grow thick in yonder corn； and we
women are few； now that your love days are over； will not you come and
help us？ If you brought no hoe from your Swazi home； surely we will
buy you one。〃
Now Nada saw what was meant； and the blood poured to her head。 Yet she
answered calmly：
〃I would willingly do this； my sister； though I have never laboured in
the fields； for wherever I have dwelt the men have kept me back from
all work； save such as the weaving of flowers or the stringing of
beads。 But there is this against itUmslopogaas； my husband； charged
me that I should not toil with my hands； and I may not disobey my
husband。〃
〃Our husband charged you so； Nada？ Nay； then it is strange。 See； now；
I am his head wife； his Inkosikaasit was I who taught him how to win
the axe。 Yet he has laid no command on me that I should not labour in
the fields after the fashion of women； I who have borne him children；
nor； indeed； has he laid such a command upon any of our sisters； his
other wives。 Can it then be that Bulalio loves you better than us；
Nada？〃
Now the Lily was in a trap； and she knew it。 So she grew bold。
〃One must be most loved； Zinita；〃 she said； 〃as one must be most fair。
You have had your hour； leave me mine； perhaps it will be short。
Moreover this： Umslopogaas and I loved each other much long years
before you or any of his wives saw him； and we love each other to the
end。 There is no more to say。〃
〃Nay； Nada； there is still something to say； there is this to say：
Choose one of two things。 Go and leave us to be happy with our lord；
or stay and bring death on all。〃
Now Nada thought awhile； and answered： 〃Did I believe that my love
would bring death on him I love； it might well chance that I would go
and leave him； though to do so would be to die。 But； Zinita； I do not
believe it。 Death chiefly loves the weak； and if he falls it will be
on the Flower； not on the Slayer of Men；〃 and she slipped past Zinita
and went on； singing no more。
Zinita watched her till she was over the ridge； and her face grew evil
as she watched。 Then she returned to the women。
〃The Lily flouts us all； my sisters；〃 she said。 〃Now listen： my
counsel is that we declare a feast of women to be held at the new moon
in a secret place far away。 All the women and the children shall come
to it except Nada； who will not leave her lover； and if there be any
man whom a woman loves； perhaps； my sisters； that man would do well to
go on a journey about the time of the new moon； for evil things may
happen at the town of the People of the Axe while we are away
celebrating our feast。〃
〃What； then； shall befall； my sister？〃 asked one。
〃Nay； how can I tell？〃 she answered。 〃I only know that we are minded
to be rid of Nada； and thus to be avenged on a man who has scorned our
loveay； and on those men who follow after the beauty of Nada。 Is it
not so； my sisters？〃
〃It is so；〃 they answered。
〃Then be silent on the matter； and let us give out our feast。〃
Now Nada told Umslopogaas of those words which she had bandied with
Zinita； and the Slaughterer was troubled。 Yet； because of his
foolishness and of the medicine of Nada's eyes； he would not turn from
his way； and was ever at her side； thinking of little else except of
her。 Thus； when Zinita came to him； and asked leave to declare a feast
of women that should be held far away； he consented； and gladly； for；
above all things； he desired to be free from Zinita and her angry
looks for awhile； nor did he suspect a plot。 Only he told her that
Nada should not go to the feast； and in a breath both Zinita and Nada
answered that is word was their will； as indeed it was； in this
matter。
Now I； Mopo； saw the glamour that had fallen upon my fosterling； and
spoke of it with Galazi； saying that a means must be found to wake
him。 Then I took Galazi fully into my mind； and told him all that he
did not know of Umslopogaas； and that was little。 Also； I told him of
my plans to bring the Slaughterer to the throne； and of what I had
done to that end； and of what I proposed to do； and this was to go in
person on a journey to certain of the great chiefs and win them over。
Galazi listened； and said that it was well or ill； as the chance might
be。 For his part； he believed that the daughter would pull down faster
than I； the father； could build up； and he pointed to Nada； who walked
past us； following Umslopogaas。
Yet I determined to go； and that was on the day before Zinita won
leave to celebrate the feast of women。 So I sought Umslopogaas and
told him； and he listened indifferently； for he would be going after
Nada； and wearied of my talk of policy。 I bade him farewell and left
him； to Nada also I bade farewell。 She kissed me； yet the name of her
husband was mingled with her good…bye。
〃Now madness has come upon these two；〃 I said to myself。 〃Well； it
will wear off； they will be changed before I come again。〃
I guessed little； my father； how changed they would be。
CHAPTER XXXII
ZINITA COMES TO THE KING
Dingaan the king sat upon a day in the kraal Umgugundhlovu； waiting
till his impis should return from the Income that is now named the
Blood River。 He had sent them thither to destroy the laager of the
Boers； and thence； as he thought； they would presently return with
victory。 Idly he sat in the kraal； watching the vultures wheel above
the Hill of Slaughter； and round him stood a regiment。
〃My birds are hungry；〃 he said to a councillor。
〃Doubtless there shall soon be meat to feed them； O King！〃 the
councillor answered。
As he spoke one came near； saying that a woman sought leave to speak
to the king upon some great matter。
〃Let her come；〃 he answered； 〃I am sick for tidings； perhaps she can
tell of the impi。〃
Presently the woman was led in。 She was tall and fair； and she held
two children by the hand。
〃What is thine errand？〃 asked Dingaan。
〃Justice； O King；〃 she answered。
〃Ask for blood； it shall be easier to find。〃
〃I ask blood； O King。〃
〃The blood of whom？〃
〃The blood of Bulalio the Slaughterer； Chief of the People of the Axe；
the blood of Nada the Lily； and of all those who cling to her。〃
Now Dingaan sprang up and swore an oath by the head of the Black One
who was gone。
〃What？〃 he cried； 〃does the Lily； then； live as the soldier thought？〃
〃She lives； O King。 She is wife to the Slaughterer； and because of her
witchcraft he has put me； his first wife； away against all law and
honour。 Therefore I ask vengeance on the witch and vengeance also on
him who was my husband。〃
〃Thou art a good wife；〃 said the king。 〃May my watching spirit save