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given me to conquer in this bout； I will tell the tale of his end from
kraal to kraal throughout the land； and it shall be a tale forever。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE LILY'S FAREWELL
Umslopogaas listened； but he made no answer to the words of Faku the
captain； though he liked them well； for he would not waste his breath
in talking； and the light grew low。
〃I am ready； Man of Dingaan；〃 he said； and lifted his axe。
Now for awhile the two circled round and round； each waiting for a
chance to strike。 Presently Faku smote at the head of Umslopogaas； but
the Slaughterer lifted Groan…Maker to ward the blow。 Faku crooked his
arm and let the axe curl downwards； so that its keen edge smote
Umslopogaas upon the head； severing his man's ring and the scalp
beneath。
Made mad with the pain； the Slaughterer awoke； as it were。 He grasped
Groan…maker with both hands and struck thrice。 The first blow hewed
away the plumes and shield of Faku； and drive him back a spear's
length； the second missed its aim； the third and mightiest twisted in
his wet hands； so that the axe smote sideways。 Nevertheless； it fell
full on the breast of the captain Faku； shattering his bones； and
sweeping him from the ledge of rock on to the slope beneath； where he
lay still。
〃It is finished with the daylight；〃 said Umslopogaas； smiling grimly。
〃Now； Dingaan； send more Slayers to seek your slain；〃 and he turned to
find Nada in the cave。
But Faku the captain was not yet dead； though he was hurt to death。 He
sat up； and with his last strength he hurled the axe in his hand at
him whose might had prevailed against him。 The axe sped true； and
Umslopogaas did not see it fly。 It sped true； and its point struck him
on the left temple； driving in the bone and making a great hole。 Then
Faku fell back dying； and Umslopogaas threw up his arms and dropped
like an ox drops beneath the blow of the butcher； and lay as one dead；
under the shadow of a stone。
All day long Nada crouched in the cave listening to the sounds of war
that crept faintly up the mountain side； howling of wolves； shouting
of men； and the clamour of iron on iron。 All day long she sat； and now
evening came apace； and the noise of battle drew near； swelled； and
sank； and died away。 She heard the voices of the Wolf…Brethren as they
called to each other like bucks； naming the number of the slain。 She
heard Galazi's cry of 〃Victory！〃 and her heart leapt to it； though she
knew that there was death in the cry。 Then for the last time she heard
the faint ringing of iron on iron； and the light went out and all grew
still。
All grew still as the night。 There came no more shouting of men and no
more clash of arms； no howlings of wolves； no cries of pain or triumph
all was quiet as death； for death had taken all。
For awhile Nada the Lily sat in the dark of the cave； saying to
herself； 〃Presently he will come； my husband； he will surely come； the
Slayers are slainhe does not but tarry to bind his wounds； a
scratch； perchance； here and there。 Yes； he will come； and it is well；
for I am weary of my loneliness； and this place is grim and evil。〃
Thus she spoke to herself in hope； but nothing came except the
silence。 Then she spoke again； and her voice echoed in the hollow
cave。 〃Now I will be bold； I will fear nothing； I will push aside the
stone and go out to find him。 I know well he does but linger to tend
some who are wounded； perhaps Galazi。 Doubtless Galazi is wounded。 I
must go and nurse him； though he never loved me； and I do not love him
overmuch who would stand between me and my husband。 This wild wolf…man
is a foe to women； and； most of all； a foe to me； yet I will be kind
to him。 Come； I will go at once；〃 and she rose and pushed at the rock。
Why； what was this？ It did not stir。 Then she remembered that she had
pulled it beyond the socket because of her fear of the wolf； and that
the rock had slipped a little way down the neck of the cave。
Umslopogaas had told her that she must not do this； and she had
forgotten his words in her foolishness。 Perhaps she could move the
stone； no； not by the breadth of a grain of corn。 She was shut in；
without food or water； and here she must bide till Umslopogaas came。
And if he did not come？ Then she must surely die。
Now she shrieked aloud in her fear； calling on the name of
Umslopogaas。 The walls of the cave answered 〃Umslopogaas！
Umslopogaas！〃 and that was all。
Afterwards madness fell upon Nada； my daughter； and she lay in the
cave for days and nights； nor knew ever how long she lay。 And with her
madness came visions； for she dreamed that the dead One whom Galazi
had told her of sat once more aloft in his niche at the end of the
cave and spoke to her； saying：
〃Galazi is dead！ The fate of him who bears the Watcher has fallen on
him。 Dead are the ghost…wolves； I also am of hunger in this cave； and
as I died so shall you die； Nada the Lily！ Nada； Star of Death！
because of whose beauty and foolishness all this death has come
about。〃
This is seemed to Nada； in her madness； that the shadow of him who had
sat in the niche spoke to her from hour to hour。
It seemed to Nada； in her madness； that twice the light shone through
the hole by the rock； and that was day； and twice it went out； and
that was night。 A third time the ray shone and died away； and lo！ her
madness left her； and she awoke to know that she was dying； and that a
voice she loved spoke without the hole； saying in hollow accents：
〃Nada？ Do you still live； Nada？〃
〃Yea；〃 she answered hoarsely。 〃Water！ give me water！〃
Next she heard a sound as of a great snake dragging itself along
painfully。 A while passed； then a trembling hand thrust a little gourd
of water through the hole。 She drank； and now she could speak； though
the water seemed to flow through her veins like fire。
〃Is it indeed you； Umslopogaas？〃 she said； 〃or are you dead； and do I
dream of you？〃
〃It is I； Nada；〃 said the voice。 〃Hearken！ have you drawn the rock
home？〃
〃Alas！ yes；〃 she answered。 〃Perhaps； if the two of us strive at it； it
will move。〃
〃Ay； if our strength were what it wasbut now！ Still； let us try。〃
So they strove with a rock； but the two of them together had not the
strength of a girl； and it would not stir。
〃Give over； Umslopogaas；〃 said Nada； 〃we do but waste the time that is
left to me。 Let us talk！〃
For awhile there was no answer； for Umslopogaas had fainted； and Nada
beat her breast； thinking that he was dead。
Presently he spoke； however； saying； 〃It may not be； we must perish
here； one on each side of the stone； not seeing the other's face； for
my might is as water； nor can I stand upon my feet to go and seek for
food。〃
〃Are you wounded； Umslopogaas？〃 asked Nada。
〃Ay； Nada； I am pierced to the brain with the point of an axe； no fair
stroke； the captain of Dingaan hurled it at me when I thought him
dead； and I fell。 I do not know how long I have lain yonder under the
shadow of the rock； but it must be long； for my limbs are wasted； and
those who fell in the fray are picked clean by the vultures； all
except Galazi； for the old wolf Deathgrip lies on his breast dying；
but not dead； licking my brother's wounds； and scares the fowls away。
It was the beak of a vulture； who had smelt me out at last； that woke
me from my sleep beneath the stone； Nada； and I crept hither。 Would
that he had not awakened me； would that I had died as I lay； rather
than lived a little while till you perish thus； like a trapped fox；
Nada； and presently I follow you。〃
〃It is hard to die so； Umslopogaas；〃 she answered； 〃I who am yet young
and fair； who love you； and hoped to give you children； but so it has
come about； and it may not be put away。 I am well…nigh sped； husband；
horror and fear have conquered me； my strength fails； but I suffer
little。 Let us talk no more of death； let us rather speak of our
childhood； when we wandered hand in hand； let us talk also of our
love； and of the happy hours that we have spent since your great axe
rang upon the rock in the Halakazi caves； and my fear told you the
secret of my womanhood。 See； I thrust my hand through the hole； can
you not kiss it； Umslopogaas？〃
Now Umslopogaas stooped his shattered head； and kissed the Lily's
little hand； then he held it in his own； and so they sat till the end
he without； resting his back against the rock； she within； lying on
her side； her arm stretched through the little hole。 They spoke of
their love； and tried to forget their sorrow in it； he told her also
of the fray which had been and how it went。
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃that was Zinita's work； Zinita who hated me； and
justly。 Doubtless she set Dingaan on this path。〃
〃A little while gone；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； 〃and I hoped that your last
breath and mine might pass together； Nada； and that we might go
together to seek great Galazi； my brother； where he is。 Now I hope
that help will find me； and that I may live a little while； because of
a certain vengeance which I would wreak。〃
〃Speak not of vengeance； husband；〃 she answered； 〃I； too； am near to
that land where the Slayer and the Slain； the Shedder of Blood and the
Avenger of Blood are lost in the same darkness。 I would