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were young and fair。 Now what this dream of Chaka may have been I do
not know； or have forgotten； for in those days he dreamed many dreams；
and all his dreams led to one end； the death of men。 He sat in front
of his hut scowling； and I was with him。 To the left of him were
gathered the girls and women； and their knees were weak with fear。 One
by one they were led before him； and stood before him with bowed
heads。 Then he would bid them be of good cheer； and speak softly to
them； and in the end would ask them this question： 〃Hast thou； my
sister； a cat in thy hut？〃
Now； some would say that they had a cat； and some would say that they
had none； and some would stand still and make no answer； being dumb
with fear。 But； whatever they said； the end was the same； for the king
would sigh gently and say： 〃Fare thee well； my sister； it is
unfortunate for thee that there is a cat in thy hut；〃 or 〃that there
is no cat in thy hut；〃 or 〃that thou canst not tell me whether there
be a cat in thy hut or no。〃
Then the woman would be taken by the slayers； dragged without the
kraal； and their end was swift。 So it went on for the most part of
that day； till sixty…and…two women and girls had been slaughtered。 But
at last a maiden was brought before the king； and to this one her
snake had given a ready wit； for when Chaka asked her whether or no
there was a cat in her hut； she answered； saying that she did not
know； 〃but that there was a half a cat upon her；〃 and she pointed to a
cat's…skin which was bound about her loins。
Then the king laughed； and clapped his hands； saying that at length
his dream was answered； and he killed no more that day nor ever again
save once only。
That evening my heart was heavy within me； and I cried in my heart；
〃How long？〃nor might I rest。 So I wandered out from the kraal that
was named Duguza to the great cleft in the mountains yonder； and sat
down upon a rock high up in the cleft； so that I could see the wide
lands rolling to the north and the south； to my right and to my left。
Now； the day was drawing towards the night； and the air was very
still； for the heat was great and a tempest was gathering； as I； who
am a Heaven…Herd； knew well。 The sun sank redly； flooding the land
with blood； it was as though all the blood that Chaka had shed flowed
about the land which Chaka ruled。 Then from the womb of the night
great shapes of cloud rose up and stood before the sun； and he crowned
them with his glory； and in their hearts the lightning quivered like a
blood of fire。 The shadow of their wings fell upon the mountain and
the plains； and beneath their wings was silence。 Slowly the sun sank；
and the shapes of cloud gathered together like a host at the word of
its captain； and the flicker of the lightning was as the flash of the
spears of a host。 I looked； and my heart grew afraid。 The lightning
died away； the silence deepened and deepened till I could hear it； no
leaf moved； no bird called； the world seemed deadI alone lived in
the dead world。
Now； of a sudden； my father； a bright star fell from the height of
heaven and lit upon the crest of the storm； and as it lit the storm
burst。 The grey air shivered； a moan ran about the rocks and died
away； then an icy breath burst from the lips of the tempest and rushed
across the earth。 It caught the falling star and drove it on towards
me； a rushing globe of fire； and as it came the star grew and took
shape； and the shape it took was the shape of a woman。 I knew her now；
my father； while she was yet far off I knew herthe Inkosazana who
came as she had promised； riding down the storm。 On she swept； borne
forward by the blast； and oh！ she was terrible to see； for her garment
was the lightning； lightnings shone from her wide eyes and lightnings
were in her streaming hair； while in her hand was a spear of fire； and
she shook it as she came。 Now she was at the mouth of the pass； before
her was stillness； behind her beat the wings of the storm； the thunder
roared； the rain hissed like snakes； she rushed on past me； and as she
passed she turned her awful eyes upon me； withering me。 She was there！
she was gone！ but she spoke no word； only shook her flaming spear。 Yet
it seemed to me that the storm spoke； that the rocks cried aloud； that
the rain hissed out a word in my ear； and the word was：
〃Smite； Mopo！〃
I heard it in my heart； or with my ears； what does it matter？ Then I
turned to look； through the rush of the tempest and the reek of the
rain； still I could see her sweeping forward high in air。 Now the
kraal Duguza was beneath her feet； and the flaming spear fell from her
hand upon the kraal and fire leaped up in answer。
Then she passed on over the edge of the world； seeking her own place。
Thus； my father； for the third and last time did my eyes see the
Inkosazana…y…Zulu； or mayhap my heart dreamed that I saw her。 Soon I
shall see her again； but it will not be here。
For a while I sat there in the cleft； then I rose and fought my way
through the fury of the storm back to the kraal Duguza。 As I drew near
the kraal I heard cries of fear coming through the roaring of the wind
and the hiss of the rain。 I entered and asked one of the matter； and
it was told me that fire from above had fallen on the hut of the king
as he lay sleeping； and all the roof of the hut was burned away； but
that the rain had put out the fire。
Then I went on till I came to the front of the great hut； and I saw by
the light of the moon； which now shone out in the heavens； that there
before it stood Chaka； shaking with fear； and the water of the rain
was running down him； while he stared at the great hut； of which all
the thatch was burned。
I saluted the king； asking him what evil thing had happened。 Seeing
me； he seized me by the arm； and clung to me as； when the slayers are
at hand； a child clings to his father； drawing me after him into a
small hut that was near。
〃What evil thing has befallen； O King？〃 I said again； when light had
been made。
〃Little have I known of fear； Mopo；〃 said Chaka； 〃yet I am afraid now；
ay； as much afraid as when once on a bygone night the dead hand of
Baleka summoned something that walked upon the faces of the dead。〃
〃And what fearest thou； O King； who art the lord of all the earth？〃
Now Chaka leaned forward and whispered to me： 〃Hearken； Mopo； I have
dreamed a dream。 When the judgment of those witches was done with； I
went and laid me down to sleep while it was yet light； for I can
scarcely sleep at all when darkness has swallowed up the world。 My
sleep has gone from methat sister of thine； Baleka； took my sleep
with her to the place of death。 I laid me down and I slept； but a
dream arose and sat by me with a hooded face； and showed me a picture。
It seemed to me that the wall of my hut fell down； and I saw an open
place； and in the centre of the place I lay dead； covered with many
wounds； while round my corpse my brothers Dingaan and Umhlangana
stalked in pride like lions。 On the shoulders of Umhlangana was my
royal kaross； and there was blood on the kaross； and in the hand of
Dingaan was my royal spear； and there was blood upon the spear。 Then；
in the vision of my dream； Mopo； thou didst draw near； and； lifting
thy hand； didst give the royal salute of Bayete to these brothers of
mine； and with thy foot didst spurn the carcase of me； thy king。 Then
the hooded Dream pointed upwards and was gone； and I awoke； and lo！
fire burned in the roof of my hut。 Thus I dreamed； Mopo； and now； my
servant； say thou； wherefore should I not slay thee； thou who wouldst
serve other kings than I； thou who wouldst give my royal salute to the
princes； my brothers？〃 and he glared upon me fiercely。
〃As thou wilt； O King！〃 I answered gently。 〃Doubtless thy dream was
evil； and yet more evil was the omen of the fire that fell upon thy
hut。 And yet〃 and I ceased。
〃And yetMopo； thou faithless servant？〃
〃And yet； O King； it seems to me in my folly that it were well to
strike the head of the snake and not its tail； for without the tail
the head may live； but not the tail without the head。〃
〃Thou wouldst say； Mopo； that if these princes die never canst thou or
any other man give them the royal names。 Do I hear aright； Mopo？〃
〃Who am I that I should lift up my voice asking for the blood of
princes？〃 I answered。 〃Judge thou； O King！〃
Now； Chaka brooded awhile； then he spoke： 〃Say； Mopo； can it be done
this night？〃
〃There are but few men in the kraal； O King。 All are gone out to war；
and of those few many are the servants of the princes； and perhaps
they might give blow for blow。〃
〃How then； Mopo？〃
〃Nay； I know not； O King； yet at the great kraal beyond the river sits
that regiment which is named the Slayers。 By midday to…morrow they
might be here； and then〃
〃Thou speakest wisely； my child Mopo； it shall be for to…morrow。 Go
summon the regiment of the Slayers； and； Mopo； see that thou fail me
not。〃
〃If I fail thee； O King； then I fail myself； for it seems that my life
hangs on this matter。〃
〃If all the words that ever passed thy lips are lies； yet is that word
true； Mopo；〃 said Chaka： 〃moreover； know this； my servant： if aught
miscarries thou s