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

sinking TO the earth she clasped the
knees of Unslopogaas in suppIicatlon.
''Oh, do not this cruel thing by me, your
sister" she prayed; "take rather that
great ak and make an end OF me and OF
the beauty which has wrought so much
woe, and most of all to me, who wear it.
Would that had not moved my head
behind the shield, but had suffered the
ak to fall upon it. For this end l was
dressed as a man-that i might meet
the fate of man. Ahl a curse be on
nv woman's weakness that snatched me
from death to give me up to shamer
Thus she prayed him in her low, sweet
voice, and his heart was shaken in him,
though he had it not in mind to give
NADIA to Dingaan as Baleka was given
to Chaka, perchance in the end to meet
the fate of Baleka-
"There are many, NADIA" he said,
.'who would think it no i'll thing that
they should be given as a wife to the
first of chiefs.
"Then l am not of their number" she
answered. NAY, will die frst-by my
own hand if need be-"
Now Umslopogaas wondered how it
came about that NADIA looked on mar
rage thus, but he did not speak of the
matter. He said only: Tell me, then,
NADIA, how l can deliver myself of this
charge. l must go to Dingaan, as /
promised our father, Umbova, and what
shall l say to bingham when he asks for
the Lily; what shall say to save myself
alive from the wrath of Dingaang'
Then NADIA thought, and answered:
you shall say this, my brother You
shall say that the Lily, being clothed in
the war dress of a warrior, was slain by
chance in the fray. See, now, none of
your people know that you have found
me-they are thinking of other things
than maids in the hour of their victory.
This then is my plan: We will search
now by the starlight till we find the
body of a fair maid, for doubtless some
were slain by hazard in the fight, and
! on her we will set a warriors dress and lay
by her the corpse of one of your own men.
| Tomorrow, at the light, you shall take
the captains of your soldiers, and hav-
| ing laid the body of the girl In the dark
of the cave you shall show 1t to them
hurriedly and tell them that this was
the Lily, slain by one of your own peo-
pie, whom i'll your wrath you slew also.
They will look little ON SO common a
sight, and if by hazard they see the maid
and think her not so very fair, they will
| deem that it is death which has robbed
her of her cumeliness. So shall the tale
which you must tell to Dingaan be built
| up firmly, and Dingaan shall hold it for a
| true tale"
And how shall this be, NADIA" asked
! Umslopogaas, ''how shall this be when
men see you 5w1ong the captives and
know you by Your beauty? Are there.
then, two such Lilies in the landY
Il shall not be known. for shall not
be seen, Umslopogaas. Now this night
you must set me free. will wander
hence disguised as q youth and covered
with blanket, and if any meet me who
shall say that am the Lilyf"
"And where will you wander, Nadai
To your death? Must we then meet
after SO many years to part again for
ever?'
"Where was it that you said you
lived, my brother? Beneath the shade
of a Ghost mountain that men may
know by shape of stone that is fash
toned like an old woman frozen into
stone, was it notI Tell me of the road
thither."
So Umslopogaas told her the road, and
she listened silently.
Good" she said. Il am strong and
my feet are swift. Perchance they may
sorve to bring me so far, and pcrchance
if win the shadow of that mountain
you will find me Int to hide in, Um'
slopogaas, my BROTHER
''Surely it shall be so, my sister,
answered UmslOpOgaas, land yet the
way is long and many dangers lie III the
path of maid journeying alone, with
out food or SHELTER" and as he spoke he
thought of Zinita, his wife, for he
guessed that she would love NADIA little
although she was but his sister.
Still, it must be travelled and the
dangers must be braved, she answered
smiling. ''Alasi there is no other plan.
Then Umslopoglas summoned Galaz
the Wolf and told to him all this story,
for Galazi he could trust alone. The
Wolf listened in silence, Inarveling the
while at the beauty of NADIA, as the star
light showed it. When all was told he
said only that he no longer wondered
that the people of the HalakaZi had de-
fed Dingaan and brought death upon
! themselves because of this maid.
Then they rose and went to search
among the dead for a girl who should
suit their purpose. Soon they found one
"a maid tall and fair-and GalaZi bore
her in his arms to the great cave. Here
in the cave were none but the dead, and
tossed here and there in their last SLEEP
they looked fearsome in the glare of the
torches.
'.They sleep sound" said the Lily
gazing on them. Sweet is rest"
1--WE shall soon win it, maiden" an
swered Galazi, and again NADIA trem
bled.
Then, having arrayed her in the dres:
of n warrior and put spear and a shield
by her, they laid down the slain girl il
q dark place in the cave, and finding &
dead warrior of the People of the Az
placed him beside her. Now they lef
the cave, and making pretense that they
visited the sentries, UmslOpogaas anC
GalaZi passed from place to place and
the Lily walked after them like guard
hiding her face with shield and hold
ing a spear in her hand, and having
with her a bag of corn and dried flesh.
So they passed ON to the entry IN the
mountain side. The stones that haC
blocked it had been pulled down so as tt
suffer those of the Halakazi to fly who
had been spared at the entreaty OF
NADIA. But there was a guard by the
entry to watch that none came back
Umslopogaas challenged them and they
saluted him, but he saw that they were
worn out with battle and journeying
and knew little of what they saw or
said. Then lie, Galazi and NADIA passed
through the opening on to the plain be-
You'd.
Here the Slaughterer and the Lily
babe each other farewell, while Galazi
watched. and presently the Wolf saw
UmslopoSaas return as one who is heavy
at heart and caught sight of the Lily
running across the plain lightly as a
swallow.
Umslopogaas walked slowly through
the archway in the mountain side.
"How is this, chief" said he who was
captain of the guard. Three went out,
! but two RETURN
"Foolv answered Umslopogaas. Are
you drunk with Halakazi beer or blind
with sleep? Two went out and two re-
turn. 1 sent him who was with us back
to the camp"
80 be it, father" said the captain
1.-TWO went out and two return. All /:
we'll
CHAPTER XIV.
UMSLOPOGAAS AT DINGAAN's KRAAI-