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had pleased the sight of men； there men had been given to death。
Then I went to lead Nada to the place of assembly and found her
awaiting me。 She was dressed now in some woman's garments that I had
brought her； her curling hair fell upon her shoulders； on her wrist
and neck and knee were bracelets of ivory； and in her hand she bore a
lily bloom which she had gathered as she went to bathe in the river。
Perhaps she did this； my father； because she wished here； as
elsewhere； to be known as the Lily； and it is the Zulu fashion to name
people from some such trifle。 But who can know a woman's reason； or
whether a thing is by chance alone； my father？ Also she had begged me
of a cape I had； it was cunningly made by Basutus； of the whitest
feathers of the ostrich； this she put about her shoulders； and it hung
down to her middle。 It had been a custom with Nada from childhood not
to go about as do other girls； naked except for their girdles； for she
would always find some rag or skin to lie upon her breast。 Perhaps it
was because her skin was fairer than that of other women； or perhaps
because she knew that she who hides her beauty often seems the
loveliest； or because there was truth in the tale of her white blood
and the fashion came to her with the blood。 I do not know； my father；
at the least she did so。
Now I took Nada by the hand and led her through the morning air to the
place of assembly； and ah！ she was sweeter than the air and fairer
than the dawn。
There were many people in the place of assembly； for it was the day of
the monthly meeting of the council of the headmen； and there also were
all the women of the kraal； and at their head stood Zinita。 Now it had
got about that the girl whom the Slaughterer went to seek in the caves
of the Halakazi had come to the kraal of the People of the Axe； and
all eyes watched for her。
〃Wow！〃 said the men as she passed smiling； looking neither to the
right nor to the left； yet seeing all〃Wow！ but this flower is fair！
Little wonder that the Halakazi died for her！〃
The women looked also； but they said nothing of the beauty of Nada；
they scarcely seemed to see it。
〃That is she for whose sake so many of our people lie unburied；〃 said
one。
〃Where； then； does she find her fine clothes？〃 quoth another； 〃she who
came here last night a footsore wanderer？〃
〃Feathers are not enough for her： look！ she must bear flowers also。
Surely they are fitter to her hands than the handle of a hoe；〃 said a
third。
〃Now I think that the chief of the People of the Axe will find one to
worship above the axe； and that some will be left mourning；〃 put in a
fourth； glancing at Zinita and the other women of the household of the
Slaughterer。
Thus they spoke； throwing words like assegais； and Nada heard them
all； and knew their meaning； but she never ceased from smiling。 Only
Zinita said nothing； but stood looking at Nada from beneath her bent
brows； while by one hand she held the little daughter of Umslopogaas；
her child； and with the other played with the beads about her neck。
Presently； we passed her； and Nada； knowing well who this must be；
turned her eyes full upon the angry eyes of Zinita； and held them
there awhile。 Now what there was in the glance of Nada I cannot say；
but I know that Zinita； who was afraid of few things； found something
to fear in it。 At the least； it was she who turned her head away； and
the Lily passed on smiling； and greeted Umslopogaas with a little nod。
〃Hail； Nada！〃 said the Slaughterer。 Then he turned to his headmen and
spoke： 〃This is she whom we went to the caves of the Halakazi to seek
for Dingaan。 Ou！ the story is known now； one told it up at the kraal
Umgugundhlovu who shall tell it no more。 She prayed me to save her
from Dingaan； and so I did； and all would have gone well had it not
been for a certain traitor who is done with； for I took another to
Dingaan。 Look on her now； my friends； and say if I did not well to win
herthe Lily flower； such as there is no other in the world； to be
the joy of the People of the Axe and a wife to me。〃
With one accord the headmen answered： 〃Indeed you did well；
Slaughterer；〃 for the glamour of Nada was upon them and they would
cherish her as others had cherished her。 Only Galazi the Wolf shook
his head。 But he said nothing； for words do not avail against fate。
Now as I found afterwards； since Zinita； the head wife of Umslopogaas；
had learned of what stock he was； she had known that Nada was no
sister to him。 Yet when she heard him declare that he was about to
take the Lily to wife she turned upon him； saying：
〃How can this be； Lord？〃
〃Why do you ask； Zinita？〃 he answered。 〃Is it not allowed to a man to
take another wife if he will？〃
〃Surely； Lord；〃 she said； 〃but men do not wed their sisters； and I
have heard that it was because this Nada was your sister that you
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