Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-26

w MIL ~ li.t dlO vi tiiC IN liA'''AO
kraal? Here the Elephant kills alOne!'
I'VE are Of the children of Makeda-
ma" they answered, "ard we follow
these evil doors who have done wicked
ness and murder in our hraal. See. but
now two of us are dead at their hands,
and others lie dead along the road. Suf-
Ter that we STAY Them
ASK that of the Elephant" said the
FOLDERS; TASK, too. that he suffer you
ahould not be slain"
Just then the tall chief saw blood and
heard words. He stalked up; and u
great man he was TO see, though still
young in years. For he was taller by a
head than any around him. and his chest
was big as the chests of two; his face
was fierce and beautiful, and when he
was angry his eye flashed like smitten
brand.
"Who are these who dare to stir up
Iust at the gates of my kraal;" he asked,
frowning
so Chaka, o Elephant" answered
the captain of the soldiers, throwing
himself to the earth before him, 1.-THE
lnen say that these are evil doors and
that they pursue them TO kill them
"Good" he answered. "Let them slay
the evil doers."
40 great chief! thanks be TO thee,
great chiefr said those who sought to
slay us.
81 hear YOU" he answered, then spoke
once more to the captain. and when
they have slain the evil doors, let them
themselves be blinded and turned loose
to seek their way home because they
have dared to lift spear within the
Zulu gates. Now praise on, my chill
dren" and he laughed, while the sol
diers murmured, "Oul he is wise, he is
great his justice is bright and terrible
like the sunl"
But the two men cried out in fear, for
this they did not seek.
Cut ont their tongues ALSO" said
Chaka. What! shall the land of the
Zulus suffer such noise? Never! lest
the cattle miscarrv. To it, We black
ones. There lies the girl. She is asleep
and helpless Stay hor What you
hesitate! Nay then, if you will have
time for thought, | will give it. Take
these men, smear them with honey and
pin them over ant heaps; by tomorrow's
sun they will know their own minds. But
first kill these two hunted jackals," and
he pointed to Baleka and myself. "They
seem tired, and doubtless they long for
sleep"
Then for the first time l spoke, for the
soldiers drew near to Stay us
ooh, Chaka," cried Il am Mopo, and
this is my sister, Baleka"
stopped, and great shout of laugh
ter went up from all who stood around.
VERY well, Mopo, and thy sister, Ba-
leka," said Chaka grimly. Good morn
ing to you, Mopo, and Baleka also, good
night"
"Oh, Chaka" broke in, Il am Mopo
son of Makedama, of the Langeni tribe
II was | who gave thee gourd of wa
ter many years ago, when we both We're
little. Then thou badest me come to
thee when thou hadet grown great, VOW
ing that thou wouldst protect me and
never do me harm. SO | have come.
bringing my sister with me, and now,
pray thee. do not eat mp the words of
long ago
AS spoke Chaka's face changed, and
he listened earnestly, as a man who
holds his hand behind his ear. Those
are no lies, he said "Welcome, Mopo!
Thou shalt be a dog in my hut and feed
from my hand. But OF thy sister said
nothing. Why. then should she not he
slain when | swore vengeance against
all thy tribe save thee alone
because she is too fair to slay, o
chiefr answered boldly; "also because
] love her and ask her life as boon"
Turn the girl over" said Chaka, and
they did so, showing her face.
Again thou speakest no lie, son of
Makedama," said the chief II grant
thee the boon She also shall lie in my
hut and be Of the number Of my sisters,
Now tell me thy tale, speaking only the
truth.
These, than, my father, were the
events that ended in the coming Of me,
MopO, and of my sister Baleka TO the
kraal OF Chaka, the Lion Of the Zulu
Now you may ask why | have kept You
81 LONG with TINS tale, which is as are
Other tales OF our people. But that shall
he seen, for from these NATTER IL Il tree
from seed, grew the birth Of UMsloJo
gdaS Bulalio, Umslopogaa, tie Slaugh
lcrer and NADIA the EeaUtilu.. q who's
love my story las 10 tell. 70. NADIA wa.
my daughter, ard CmslOrCgaaa, thougi
few know l., was uOuc other than the
son Of Chaku, bora Of my sister Bale6a
Now Whc. BleLa rrcovcr.d iron
the W.ariucaa Of oar flight and her beau
ty came haci; 10 her, ChaEu took her t,
wife, numbering Aer among his Nyolaou