The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-08-26
Ri RIDER HAaaARD.
CBAPTER XVIII

a.fnra him certain women OF the kraal, |
a., the number Of seventy and three. |
x ma of these were his women, whom
:.e named his sisters" and some were
r.u.idens not yet given in marriage; but
Mi were young and fair. Now what
this dream of Chaka's may have been
a., not know, or have forgotten, for In
hose DAYS he dreamed many dreams,
end all his dreams led to one end, the
death Of men He sat IN front OF his
Int acowhng, and was with him To
tie left Of him were gathered the girls
and women and their knees were weak
with fear. One by one they were led
l,,Fore him, and stood before him with
.t.,wed heads. Then he would bid them
e of good cheer and speak softly to
item. and in the end would ask them
Lis question, blast thou. my sister.
lat In thy hutr
Now some would say that they had a
rat, and some would say they had none
aud some would stand still and make no
answer, being dumb with fear. But
whatever they said the end was the
anne. for the king would sigh gently
and say, "Fare the well. my sister; 1t is
unfortunate for thee. that there Is cat
ia thy hut" or that there is no cat IN
thy hut" or 'sthat thou canst not tell
ne whether there be a cat in thy hut or
no."
Then the women would be taken by
the giayers, dragged without the kraal,
and their end was swift. So it went on
for the most part of that day, till sixty
and two women and girls had been
slaughtered. But at last maiden was
brought before the king, and to this one
her snake had given a ready wit, for
when Chaka asked whether or no there
,sas a cat in her hut she answered, say
ing she did not know, but that there
was half cat upon her," and she point
I'd to q cats skin which was bound about
Ter loins.
Then the king laughed and clapped
his hands, saying that at length his
dream was answered; and he killed no
more that day nor ever ag0in-save once
only.
That evening my heart was heavy
- thin me, and wandered out from the
kraal to the great cleft in the mountains
yonder, and sat down upon rock up IN
the cleft, SO that l could see the wide
lands rolling to the north and south, to
my right and to my left. Now the day
was drawing toward the night, and the
air was very still. for the heat was. great
and tempest was gathering, as l, who
am Heaven Herd, knew well. The sun
eluk redly, flooding the land with blood
il was as though all the blood that
Chaka had shed flowed about the land
which Chaka ruled. Then great shapes
of cloud rose up and in their hearts
the lightning quivered like a blood o.
fire.
Now of a sudden, my father. q brigh
star fell from the height Of heaven anC
lit upon the crest Of the storm, and as i
lit the storm burst. Then an icy breatl
hurst from the lips of the tempest ant
rushed across the earth. 1t caught tn
falling star and drove it on toward me
and as it came the star grew and too
shape, and the shape that it took wa
that n a woman. / knew her now. IN
father, while she was yet far off kneN
her-the Inkosazana who came as SD
had promised, riding down the storm
Now she was at the mouth OF the pas
before her was stiffness; behind ne
heat the wings OF the storm; the thur
der roared, the rain Kissed like snake
she rushed ON past me. and as she passe
she turned her awful eyes upon M
shriveling me up. She was therei 81
was gonei but she spoke no word, onl
shook her flaming spear, Yet it SCENE
10 me that the storm spoke, that ii
rocks cried aloud, that the rain hisse
out q word in my ear, and the wor
n was:
''Smite, Mopor"
Then / turned to look. Through IL
- kIa raSalr of ~
rain still could see her sweeping 70
ward high in air. Now the kraal ID
guza was beneath her feet. and Il
flaming spear fell from her hand upC
the kraaI, and fire leaped up in answe
Then she passed on over the edge
the world, seeking her own place. Thu
my father, for the third and last tin
did my eyes see tho Inkosazana-y-Zulu
For awhile l sat there in the Gle
Then rose and fought my way throuI
the fury Of the storm back to the kra
DuRuxa. As l drew near the kraal
heard cries Of fear coming through I
roaring of the wind and the hiss OF
rain. | entered and asked one OF
matter, and it was told me that fire frs
above had fallen on the hut OF the XII
as he lay sleeping. and all the roof
The hut was burned away, but that :
rain had put out the fire.
Then went on till came to the fro
of the great hut, and | saw by the lie
Of the moon, which now shone out
the heaven, that there before 1t sto
Chaka, shaking with fear. and the wal
OF the rain was running down him, VIII
he stared at the great hut, of which
the thatch was. burned away.
l saluted the king. asking him WI
evil thing had happened. Seeing
he seized me by the arm and chung
me. drawing me after him into 6 SIN
hut that was near.
"What evil thing has befallen,
kingY" said again.
Little have known Of fear, Mop
said Chaka, ''yet am afraid now-a
rs much afraid as when once on
gone night the dead hani Of Bale
summoned something that walked uI
the faces Of the dead"
"And what fearest thou, o king. "
art the lord Of all the earthY'
Now Chaka leaned forward and WI
pered to me: "Hearken, Mopo. l hs
dreamed dream. l laid me down a
I silent. but a dream arose and sat
lllG Will a DOO4Ca Atsl(g aAAN- 49,
q picture. It seemed to me that
wall OF my hut fell down, and saw
open place, and in the center OF
place i iny dead, covered with ms
wounds, while around my corpse
brothers Dingaan and Umhlang'
staIked in pride like lions.
ION the shoulders of Umhlangl
was my royal kaross, and there
blood on the kaross: and in the hane
Dingaan was my royal spear. and To
was blood upon the spear. Then,
the vision of my dream, Mopo, q
didst draw near, and lifting thy b
didst give the royal salute OF Bayete
these brothers OF mine and with
foot didst spurn the carcass OF me,
king. Then the hooded dream polr
upward and was gone. and ava
and lol fire burned in the roof OF
hut. Thus dreamed, mopo, and n
my servant. say thou, wherefore she
not slay thee-thou who wouldst q
other kings than 1. thou who won
give my royal salute to the princess