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Avenger of Blood are lost in the same darkness。 I would die with love；
and love only； in my heart； and your name； and yours only； on my lips；
so that if anywhere we live again it shall be ready to spring forth to
greet you。 Yet； husband； it is in my heart that you will not go with
me； but that you shall live on to die the greatest of deaths far away
from here； and because of another woman。 It seems that； as I lay in
the dark of this cave； I saw you； Umslopogaas； a great man； gaunt and
grey； stricken to the death； and the axe Groan…maker wavering aloft；
and many a man dead upon a white and shimmering way； and about you the
fair faces of white women； and you had a hole in your forehead；
husband； on the left side。〃
〃That is like to be true； if I live；〃 he answered； 〃for the bone of my
temple is shattered。〃
Now Nada ceased speaking； and for a long while was silent； Umslopogaas
was also silent and torn with pain and sorrow because he must lose the
Lily thus； and she must die so wretchedly； for one reason only； that
the cast of Faku had robbed him of his strength。 Alas！ he who had done
many deeds might not save her now； he could scarcely hold himself
upright against the rock。 He thought of it； and the tears flowed down
his face and fell on to the hand of the Lily。 She felt them fall and
spoke。
〃Weep not； my husband；〃 she said； 〃I have been all too ill a wife to
you。 Do not mourn for me； yet remember that I loved you well。〃 And
again she was silent for a long space。
Then she spoke and for the last time of all； and her voice came in a
gasping whisper through the hole in the rock：
〃Farewell； Umslopogaas； my husband and my brother； I thank you for
your love； Umslopogaas。 Ah！ I die！〃
Umslopogaas could make no answer； only he watched the little hand he
held。 Twice it opened； twice it closed upon his own； then it opened
for the third time； turned grey； quivered； and was still forever！
Now it was at the hour of dawn that Nada died。
CHAPTER XXXV
THE VENGEANCE OF MOPO AND HIS FOSTERLING
It chanced that on this day of Nada's death and at that same hour of
dawn I； Mopo； came from my mission back to the kraal of the People of
the Axe； having succeeded in my end； for that great chief whom I had
gone out to visit had hearkened to my words。 As the light broke I
reached the town； and lo！ it was a blackness and a desolation。
〃Here is the footmark of Dingaan；〃 I said to myself； and walked to and
fro； groaning heavily。 Presently I found a knot of men who were of the
people that had escaped the slaughter； hiding in the mealie…fields
lest the Slayers should return； and from them I drew the story。 I
listened in silence； for； my father； I was grown old in misfortune；
then I asked where were the Slayers of the king？ They replied that
they did not know； the soldiers had gone up the Ghost Mountain after
the Wolf…Brethren and Nada the Lily； and from the forest had come a
howling of beasts and sounds of war； then there was silence； and none
had been seen to return from the mountain； only all day long the
vultures hung over it。
〃Let us go up the mountain；〃 I said。
At first they feared； because of the evil name of the place； but in
the end they came with me； and we followed on the path of the impi of
the Slayers and guessed all that had befallen it。 At length we reached
the knees of stone； and saw the place of the great fight of the Wolf…
Brethren。 All those who had taken part in that fight were now but
bones； because the vultures had picked them every one； except Galazi；
for on the breast of Galazi lay the old wolf Deathgrip； that was yet
alive。 I drew near the body； and the great wolf struggled to his feet
and ran at me with bristling hair and open jaws； from which no sound
came。 Then； being spent； he rolled over dead。
Now I looked round seeking the axe Groan…Maker among the bones of the
slain； and did not find it and the hope came into my heart that
Umslopogaas had escaped the slaughter。 Then we went on in silence to
where I knew the cave must be； and there by its mouth lay the body of
a man。 I ran to itit was Umslopogaas； wasted with hunger； and in his
temple was a great wound and on his breast and limbs were many other
wounds。 Moreover； in his hand he held another handa dead hand； that
was thrust through a hole in the rock。 I knew its shape wellit was
the little hand of my child； Nada the Lily。
Now I understood； and； bending down； I felt the heart of Umslopogaas；
and laid the down of an eagle upon his lips。 His heart still stirred
and the down was lifted gently。
I bade those with me drag the stone； and they did so with toil。 Now
the light flowed into the cave； and by it we saw the shape of Nada my
daughter。 She was somewhat wasted； but still very beautiful in her
death。 I felt her heart also： it was still； and her breast grew cold。
Then I spoke： 〃The dead to the dead。 Let us tend the living。〃
So we bore in Umslopogaas； and I caused broth to be made and poured it
down his throat； also I cleansed his great wound and bound healing
herbs upon it； plying all my skill。 Well I knew the arts of healing；
my father； I who was the first of the izinyanga of medicine； and； had
it not been for my craft； Umslopogaas had never lived； for he was very
near his end。 Still； there where he had once been nursed by Galazi the
Wolf； I brought him back to life。 It was three days till he spoke；
and； before his sense returned to him； I caused a great hole to be dug
in the floor of the cave。 And there； in the hole； I buried Nada my
daughter； and we heaped lily blooms upon her to keep the earth from
her； and then closed in her grave； for I was not minded that
Umslopogaas should look upon her dead； lest he also should die from
the sight； and because of his desire to follow her。 Also I buried
Galazi the Wolf in the cave； and set the Watcher in his hand； and
there they both sleep who are friends at last； the Lily and the Wolf
together。 Ah！ when shall there be such another man and such another
maid？
At length on the third day Umslopogaas spoke； asking for Nada。 I
pointed to the earth； and he remembered and understood。 Thereafter the
strength of Umslopogaas gathered on him slowly； and the hole in his
skull skinned over。 But now his hair was grizzled； and he scarcely
smiled again； but grew even more grim and stern than he had been
before。
Soon we learned all the truth about Zinita； for the women and children
came back to the town of the People of the Axe； only Zinita and the
children of Umslopogaas did not come back。 Also a spy reached me from
the Mahlabatine and told me of the end of Zinita and of the flight of
Dingaan before the Boers。
Now when Umslopogaas had recovered； I asked him what he would do； and
whether or not I should pursue my plots to make him king of the land。
But Umslopogaas shook his head； saying that he had no heart that way。
He would destroy a king indeed； but now he no longer desired to be a
king。 He sought revenge alone。 I said that it was well； I also sought
vengeance； and seeking together we would find it。
Now； my father； there is much more to tell； but shall I tell it？ The
snow has melted； your cattle have been found where I told you they
should be； and you wish to be gone。 And I also； I would be gone upon a
longer journey。
Listen； my father； I will be short。 This came into my mind： to play
off Panda against Dingaan； it was for such an hour of need that I had
saved Panda alive。 After the battle of the Blood River； Dingaan
summoned Panda to a hunt。 Then it was that I journeyed to the kraal of
Panda on the Lower Tugela； and with me Umslopogaas。 I warned Panda
that he should not go to this hunt； for he was the game himself； but
that he should rather fly into Natal with all his people。 He did so；
and then I opened talk with the Boers； and more especially with that
Boer who was named Ungalunkulu； or Great Arm。 I showed the Boer that
Dingaan was wicked and not to be believed； but Panda was faithful and
good。 The end of it was that the Boers and Panda made war together on
Dingaan。 Yes； I made that war that we might be revenged on Dingaan。
Thus； my father； do little things lead to great。
Were we at the big fight； the battle of Magongo？ Yes； my father； we
were there。 When Dingaan's people drove us back； and all seemed lost；
it was I who put into the mind of Nongalaza； the general； to pretend
to direct the Boers where to attack； for the Amaboona stood out of
that fight； leaving it to us black people。 It was Umslopogaas who cut
his way with Groan…Maker through a wing of one of Dingaan's regiments
till he came to the Boer captain Ungalunkulu； and shouted to him to
turn the flank of Dingaan。 That finished it； my father； for they
feared to stand against us both； the white and the black together。
They fled； and we followed and slew； and Dingaan ceased to be a king。
He ceased to be a king； but he still lived； and while he lived our
vengeance was hungry。 So we went to the Boer captain and to Panda； and
spoke to them nicely； saying； 〃We have served you well； we have fought
for you； and so ordered things that victory is yours。 Now grant us
this request； that we may follow Dingaan； who has fled into hidin