The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-01

| DeTore ner w;ls Stiffness: behind her
beat the wings of The storm; the thun-
der roared, the rain Missed like snakes;
she rushed on past lnn and as she passed
| she turncl l!,t i.uis. eyes upon me.
| shriveling me up She was therel she
/. was gone! but she spoke no word, only
shook her flaming spear. Yet it seemed
to me that the storm spoke, that the
rocks cried aloud, that the rain Kissed
out word in my ear, and the word
| was:
"Smite, Mopor'
Then turned to look. Through the
rush OF the tempest and the reek of the
rain still could see her sweeping for
ward high in air. Now the kraal Du-
guza was beneath her feet, and the
flaming spear fell from her hand upon
the kraal, and fire leaped up in answer.
Then she passed on over the edge of
the world, seeking her own place. Thus,
my father, for the third and last time
did my eyes see the Inkosazana-y-Zulu.
For awhile sat there in the cleft.
Then rose and fought my way through
the fury of the storm back to the kraal
Duguza. A | drew near the kraal |
heard cries of fear coming through the
roaring of the wind and the hiss of the
rain. entered and asked one Of the
matter, and it was told me that fire from
above had fallen on the hut of the king
as he lay sleeping, and all the roof of
the hut was burned away. but that the
rain had put out the fire.
Then went on till came to the front
-pf fho h,,< Nd I l. Al. 4.
of the moon, which now shone out in
the heaven, that there before it stood
Chaka. shaking with fear. and the water
OF the rain was running down him, while
he stared at the great hut, of which all
the thatch was burned away
saluted the king, asking him what
evil thing had happened Seeing me
he seized me by the arm and chung to
me, drawing me after him into a small
hut that was near.
"What evil thing has befallen, o
king? said again
Little have known of fear, Mopo,' :
said Chaka, yet am afraid now-aye,
as much afraid as when once on by.
gone night the dead hand of Baleka
summoned something that walked upon
Une races OF the dead.
And what fearest thou, . king. who
art the lord Of all the earth?'
Now Chaka leaned forward and whis.
pered to me: "Hearken, Mopo. | have
dreamed dream. laid me down and
slept but a dream arose and sat by
me with a hooded face. and showed me
picture 1t seemed to me that the
wall of my hut fell down, and | saw an
open place, and in the center of the
place ! lay dead, covered with many
wounds, while around my corpse my
brothers bingham and Umhlangana
stalked in pride like lions.
'On the shoulders of Umhlangana
was my royal kaross, and there was
blood on the kaross; and in the hand of
Dingaan was my royal spear and there
was blood upon the spear Then, in
the vision Of my dream, Mopo. thou
dldst draw near and lifting thy hand
dldst give the royal salute of Bayete to
these brothers of mine and with thy
foot didst spurn the carcass Of me, thy
king. Then the hooded dream pointed
upward and was gone. and | awoke
and To-! fire burned in the roof of my
hut. Thus dreamed. Mopo, and now,
my servant, say thou, wherefore should
not slay thee-thou who wouldst serve
other kings than |, thou who wouldst
give my royal salute to the princes my
brothers. And he glared upon me
6ercely
AS thou wilt, o king" answered
gently. Doubtless thy dream was evil
and yet more evil was the omen of the
fire that fell upon thy hut. And yet,
and ceased
And Mopo. thou faithless serv-
ant?
"And yet. y king. it seems to me in
my folly that it were well to strike the
head of the snake and not it's tail; for
without the tail the head may live, but
not the tail without the head"
''Thou wouldst say, Mopo, that if these
princes die never canst thou or any other
man give them the royal name Do 1
hear Alright, Mopo?
"Who am that l should lift up nv
voice asking for the blood of princesY l
answered. Judge thou. o king!'
Now Chaka brooded awhile; then he
spoke, Say, Mopo, can it be done this
night
There are but few men in the kraal,
o king. All are gone out to war: and of
those few many are the servants of the
princes, and perhaps they might give
blow for blow"
"How then, Mopo?'
may. know not, o king; yet at the
great kraal beyond the river sits the reg
iment which is named the Slayers By
midday tomorrow they might be here
and then" -
"Thou speakest wisely my child, Mo
pc; it shall be for tomorrow Go sum-
mon the regiment of the slayers; and
Mopo, see that thou fail me not
"If fail thee, . king, then fail my
self. for it seems that my life hangs on
this matter"
"If all the words that ever passed thy
bps are lies yet is that word true, Mopo."
said Chaka Moreover, know this, my
servant: If aught miscarries thou shalt
die no common death. Begone!'
haor tho lx;,,,V