San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-29

wives, if, Umslopogaas being gone, they
would take notice of no other child
Now, as they sat thus, presently the
doorway was darkened, and behold! the
king himself crept through it and saw
them fondling the child Moosa. When
they knew who it was that entered the
women flung themselves upon theground
and he babe them be seated. Then he
spoke, saying: You wonder WIZ it is
that l come here into the hut of Mopo
Twill tell you: it is because he is away
upon my business, and hear that his.
wife Anadi is, sick. Therefore. as the
first doctor in the land, | am come to
cure her."
Thus he spoke, and though his words
were gentle they shook with fear, for
when Chaka spoke thus gently he meant
death to many But Unandi answered,
saying that it was good that the king
had come, since his medicine would
bring rest and peace to her who lay sick.
Yes" he answered; lit is good. 1t
pleasant, moreover, my mother and my
sister, to see you kissing yonder child
Surely, We're he of your own blood you
could not love him more"
Now they trembled again and prayed
in their hearts that Anadi, the sick
woman, who lay asleep, might not wake
and utter foolish words in her wander
ings. But Anadi woke, and hearing the
voice of the king, her sick mind flew to
him whom she believed to be the kings
child.
''Ah!' she said, sitting upon the ground
and pointing to her own son Moosa
kiss him, Mother of the Heavens, kiss
him! Whom do they call him, the young
cub who brings i'll fortune to our doors?
They call him son of Mopo and Macro-
pha!" and she laughed wildly and sank
back upon the bed.
They call him son of Mopo and Ma
crOpha," said the king in a low voice.
Whose son is he, then, woman
"Oh, ask her not, o king" cried his
mother and his wife. She is bewitched,
and has dreams and fancies.
Peace" he answered. II would lis
ten to this woman's wanderings. Who
then is he, woman"
who is he?' she answered. Are you
then fool that asks who he is? He is the
son of Chaka and Baleka. the sister of
Mopo, whom Unandi, Mother of the
Heavens, palmed off upon this house to
bring curse on it, and whom she would
lead out before the people when the land
is weary of the king, to take the place
of the king"
1T is false, o king cried the two
women. The boy is her own son,
Moosa, whom she does not know in her
sickness"
But Chaka stood up in the hut and
laughed terribly. 80 this is the trick
thou hast played upon me, my mother.
Thou wouldst give me son to kill me.
Good! Mother of the Heavens take thou
the doom of the heavens! Die, Unandi!
die at the hand thou didst bring forth"
And he lifted the little assegai and smote
it through her.
For moment Unandi, Mother of the
Heavens, wife of Senzangacona, stood
uttering no cry. Then she put up her
hand and drew the assegai from her
heart.
80 shalt thou also die, Chaka the
Evil" she cried, and fell down dead.
Now when Baleka saw what had been
done she turned and fled so swiftly that
the guards at the gates could not stop
her But when she reached her own
hut she fell senseless on the ground. But
the boy Moosa, my son, staid where he
was, and Chaka, believing him to be his
son, murdered him also.
Then he stalked out of the hut and
commanded a company of soldiers to
surround the kraal and fire it. This
they did, and as the people rushed out
they killed them, and those who did not
rush out were burned in the fire. Thus,
then, persisted all my wives, my chill
dren and my servants.
Then Chaka sent messengers bidding
them kill Macropha my wife and NADIA
my daughter, and him who was named
my son. But they should not Stay me,
but bring me living before him.
Now it was my belief that | was
saved alive only that might die later
and in more cruel fashion. Therefore
why should |, who was already doomed,
wait to meet my doom? In my girdle |
carried secret medicine; he who eats
of it, my father, will see the suns shad-
ow move no more and will never look
upon the stars again. Surely now was
the time to use it.
So thought, but even as | did so
my daughter NADIA, who
was still left to me, though she sojourn- |
ed in far country, and my wife Ma
cropha and my sister Baleka, who lived
yet, so said the soldiers, though how it |
came about that the king had not killed |
her did not know then. Also another |
thought was born in my heart. While |
l;f, 80, I l,a Il