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

told" said Umslopogaas, waving the
torch i'll his hand over the twain who
lay dead Here without a doubt lies
she who was named the Lily, whom we
came to win, and by her that fool who
slew her, slain himself by the blow of
the Watcher. An i'll sight to see and an
i'll tale for me to tell at the place of
Dingaan. Still, what Is, is, and cannot
be altered, and this maid, who was the
fairest of the fair, is now none too love-
ly to look ON. Let us away" and he
turned swiftly, then spoke again, saying:
Blind up this girl in OK hides, cover
her with salt and let her be brought
with u.s." And they did so.
Then the captains said. surely it Is
SO, my father; now it cannot be altered,
and Dingaan must miss his bride" So
said they all except that man who had
been captain of the guard when Umslo0-
ogaas and Galazi and another passed
through the archway. This man, in
deed, said nothing, yet he was not with
out his thoughts. For it seemed to him
that he had seen three pass through the
archway, and not two. 1t seemed to
him, moreover, that the karOSs which
the third wore had slipped aside as she
pressed past him and that beneath it he
had seen the shape of a woman, won
drous fair, and above it he had caught
the CLINT of a woman's eye-an eye full
and dark, like bucks. Moreover, this
captain noted that Bulalio called none
of the captains to swear to the body OF
the Lily maid and that he shook the
torch to and fro as he held it over her
he whose hand was of the steadiest. All
of this he kept in his mind, forgetting
nothing.
Now it CHANGED afterward on the
homeward march, my father, that UNI
slopogaas had cause to speak sharply tc
this man because he strove to rob another
of his share of the spoil of the Halakazi.
He spoke sharply to him; degrading him
from his rank and setting another over
him. Also he took cattle from the man
and gave them to him whom he would
have robbed.
And thereafter, though he was justly
served, the man thought more and more
of the third, who had passed through the
arch of the cave and had not returned,
and who seemed to him to have a fair
woman's shape, above which CLEANED
the eye of a woman.
On that day, then, Umslopogaas began
his march to the kraal Umgugundhlovu,
where Dingaan sat. But before he set
his face homeward in the presence of
the soldiers he asked Galazi the Wolf If
he would come back with him or if he
would stay to be chief of the Halakazi,
as he was by right of birth and war.
Then the Wolf laughed and answered
that he had come out to seek for venge-
ance, and not for the place of a chief;
also that there were few of the Halakazi
people left over whom he might rule if
he would. Moreover, he added this, that
like twin trees they two, blood brethren,
had grown up side by side till their roots
were matted together, and that were one
of them dug up to be planted in Swat
soil he feared that both should wither,
or at least that he should wither who
loved but one man and certain wolves.
So Umslopogaas said no more of the
craftsmanship, but began his journey.
With him he brought a great number of
cattle to be a gift to Dingaan and a null
titude of captives, young women and
children, for he would appease the heart
of Dingaan because he brought not her
whom he sought-the Lily-flower of
flowers. Yet because he was cautious
and put little faith in the kindness of
kings UmslopOgaas, SO soon rs he reached
the borders of Zululand he sent the best
of the cattle and the fairest of the maids
and children on to the llraal of the Peo-
pie of the Ak, by Ghost mountain. And
this he who had been captain of tho
guard, but now was d common soldier,
noticed also.
Now it chauced that on a certain
morning l, Umbova, sat in the kraal
Umgugundhlovu in attendance on Din
gaan, when messengers came saying
that Bulalio, chief of the People of the
AK, and his impi were without, having
returned with much spoil from the STAY
ing of the Halakazi i'll Swaziland. Now
when heard this my heart leaped for
Joy within me, for l had feared greatly
for the fate of Umslopogaas, my foster
ling. Dingaan also was very glad, and
springing up danced to and fro like
child.
Nov at last we have good tidings,
he said, at once forgetting the stamping
of the fire, land now shall my eyes be-
behold that Lily whom my hand has
longed to pluck. Let Bulalio and his
people enter swiftly"
Now for awhile there was silencei
then from far away without the high
fence of the great place there came a
sound of singing, and through the gates
of the place rushed two great men,
wearing black plumes upon their heads,
having black shields in their left hands,
and in their right one an ak and one a
club; about their shoulders also were
bound wolfskins. They ran low, neck
and neck, with outstretched shields and
head held forward, as buck runs when
he is hard pressed by dogs, and no such
running had been seen in the kraal Um-
gugundhlovu as the running of the
Wolf Brethren. Half across the space
they ran, and halted suddenly, and as
they halted the dead ashes of the fire
flew up before their feet like a little
cloud.
by my head, but these come armed
before me-" said Dingaan, frowning,
land that is death. Now say who is
that man, great and fierce, who bears an
ak aloft? Did l not know him dead
should say it was the Black One, my
brother, as he was in the days of the
shifting of Zweedi; 50 was his head on
his shoulders, and so he was wont to
look around like lion"
"Methinks that is Bulalio the Slaugh-
terer, chief of the People of the AK, .
king" l answered.
land who is the other with him? He
is a great man also. Never have seen
such pair"
''Niethinks that is GalaZi the Wolf
he who is blood brother to the Slaugh-
terer and his general" said again.
Now after these two came the sol
diers of the People of the AK, armed with
short sticks alone. Four by four they
came, all holding their heads low and
with black shields outstretched.
. "a gallant sight, truly" said Dingaan,
as he looked upon the companies of
black plumed and shielded warriors. 81
have no better soldiers in my impis, and
vet my eyes behold them now for the
first time" and again he frowned.
Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his
ak and started forward at full speed, and
after him Numbered the companies. On
they rushed, and their plumes lay back
upon the wind till it seemed as though
they must stamp us flat. But when he
was within ten PAGES of the king, UNI
slopogaas lifted Groanmaker again, and
n,1,I; l,o11 fI,a XVo+char HIGH and