The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-16

..but it must serve us TO start these
comics from their burrows. Come, my
brother GalaZi, you know where the
comics hide; then take my place and
lead Us"
So Galazi led the impi. Turning a
corner of the glen he came with them to
a great open space that had a fountain
in the midst OF it, and this place was
full of thousands OF cattle. Then he
turned again to the left and brought
them to the inner side of the mountain
where the cliff hung over, and here was
the mouth of a great cave. Now the
cave was dark, but by the door of the
cave was stacked a pipe Of resinous
wood to serve as torches.
Here is that which shall give US
light" said Galazi, and one man OF
every two took torch and lighted it at
"A fire that burned near the mouth of the
cave. Then they rushed in, waving the
flaring torches and assegais aloft. Here
for the last time the HalakaZi stood
ngainst them, and the torches hoated up
and down upon the wavo of war. But
they did not stand for very long. The
People Of the AK drove them out into
the open and finished them by starlight
among the cattle.
In one corner of the cave Umslopo-
g;las saw knot of men clustered around
something as though to guard it. H.
rushed at the men and with him wen:
Galazi and others. Very soon most Of
them had spoken their last, for Groan-
maker clave through them as an assegai
eleaves the air, and there were others to
deal with those he left. But when Um-
slopogaas was through by the light of
mis- torch he saw a man, tall and slender.
who leaned against the wall of the cave
and held shield before his face.
You are cowardg he cried, and
sInote with Groanmaker. The great
AK pierced the hide, but missing the
head behind rang loud against the rock.
and as it rang a sweet voice said:
''Ahi my brother, slay me not. Where
fore are you angry with mel?
Now the shield had come away from
the holders hands upon the blade of the
ak, and there was something in the notes
of the voice that caused UmslopOgaas
to smile no more. 1t was as though a
memory of childhood had come to him
in a dream. His torch was burning low
but he thrust it forward to look on him
who crouched against the rock. The
dress was the dress of a man, but this
was no mans form. Nay, rather that
of a woman lovely to look OH and well
nigh white in color. She dropped her
hands from before her face, and now he
saw her we'll. He saw eyes that shone
as stars, hair that curled and fell upon
the shoulders, and such beauty AZ was
not known among our people. And as
the voice had spoken to him of some
thing that was lost, so did the eyes
seem TO shine across the blackness Of
many years and the beauty to bring back
he knew not what.
He looked on her in all her beauty
and she looked on him in his fierceness
and his might. red with war and wounds
They both looked, while the torchlight
flared on them, on the walls of the cave
and the broad blade of the Groanmaker.
and from around rose the sounds of the
Staying.
"HOw are you named who are 50 fair
to seer he asked ut length.
IL am named the Lily now. Once /
had another name. NADIA. daughter Of
Umbova, was once. but name and ali
else are dead and 90 to join them. Stay
me and make an end. l will shat my
eyes that l may not see the great ak
fash
Now UmaIOpogaas gnzed upon her
again an6 GroAnmAker fell from his
hand.
Look on me. NADIA. daughter of Um-
Dova," he said in low voice, "Iook on
mo and say who am l."
She looked once again, and yet again.
Now her face was thrust forward as one
who gazes over the edge of the world.
1t grew fixed and strange. by my
hearth she said; ''by my heart thou art
Umslopogaas my brother who is dead,
and whom dead as living l have loved
ever and alone"
Then the torch fiared out, but Um-
slopogaas took her in the darkness and
pressed her to him and kissed her, the
sister whom he had found after many
years, and she kissed him.
You kiss me now" she said, ''yet not
long ago that great ak shore my locks,
missing me by but fingers breadth,
and still the sound of slaughter rings in
my ears. Ali boon of you, my broth
er, boonI Let there DO no more death
since we are met once more. The peo-
pie of the HalalzaZi are conquered, and
it is their Just doom, for thus. in this
same way, they slew those with whom
lived aforetime. Yet they have treated
mo well, not forcing me into wedlOck
and Withholding mo from bingham. So
spare them, my brother, if you may"
Then Umslopogaas lifted up his voice,
commanding that the killing should
cease, and sent messengers running
swiftly, with these words: This Is the
command of Bulalio, that he who lifts
hand against one more of the people Of
the Halakazi shall himself know the
assegai."
Now, when the soldiers had eaten
abundantly of the store of the Halakazi,
and guards had been set to ward the
cattle and watch against surprise, UNI
slopogaas spoke long with NADIA the
Lily, taking her apart, and told her all
his story. She told him also all that tale
YOU know, my father, of how she had
lived with the little people that were
subject to the HalakaZi, she and her
mother, Macropha, and how the fame OF
her beauty had spread about the land.
Then she told him of how the Halakazi
had claimed her, and of how in the end
lncy nAQ lihelA bg AOANO VI
staying all the people of the kraal, and
among them her own mother. There
after she had dwelt among the Hala-
kazi, who named her anew, calling her
the Lily, and they had done well by her,
giving her reverence because of her
sweetness and beauty, and forcing her
into marriage with no man.
land wherefore would you not wed a
man, NADIA, my sister," asked Umslopo-
gaas, "you who are far past the age of
marriage2"
Nay, know not" she answered,
hanging her head, "but have no heart
that way. seek this only-tO be left
alone"
Now Umslopogaas thought awhile and
spoke; "Do you not know, then, NADIA,
why it IL that have made this war, and
why the people Of the Halskazi are dead
and scattered, and their cattle the prize
Of my AzTnS I will tell you. am come
hither TO win you, whom know only
by report a. the Lily maid. the f0irest
OF women, TO ba Q wife 10 Dingaan.
Therefore did ! undertake tAis enter