Evening star., 1909-02-26
CHAPTER XI-Continued.


.All right, will. You may think your
self goddess. as do myself sometimes.
But ] know that you are woman, too,
and that soon you Will get tired of this
business. You want to go home to your
father and mother. don't you? Well. you
can't. You are prisoner here, for these
fools have got 1t into their heads that
you are their spirit, and that it would be
unlucky to let you out of the country.
So here you must stop. for years, per-
haps, or till they are sick of you and Kill
you. Just understand, Rachel, that no.
body can help YOU to escape except me.
and that l shan't do so for nothing"
Rachel Strengthened herself upon her
seat. gripping the edge of it with her
hands. for her temper was rising, while
Mole bent forward and said something in
her ear.
What is that black devil whispering
to your he asked. TELLING you to have
me killed. expect. Well. you darent. for
what would your holy parents say? 1t
would go to hell. where l daresay you
come from, for otherwise how could you
be such a witch? Look here" he went
on, changing his tone, don't let's squab-
bic. Make it up with me. I'll get you
clear Of this and marry you afterward
on the square. If you won't, it will be
the worse for you-and everybody else,
yes everybody else"
Mr.. Ishmael," answered Rachel calmly,
"you are making a very great mistake,
about my scruples as to taking life L
mean, among other things. Once when 1t
was necessary you saw me kill man
Well. if l am forced to 1t, what did then
l will do again. only not with my own
hand. Mr. Ishmael. you said just now
that you could get me out of Zululand. l
ia ka word.
sake. for l am comfortable enough here.
but for that Of my father and mother
who will be anxious" and her voice
weakened little as she spoke Of them.
do you? Well, l won't. I am COM
Portable here also, and shall be more so
as the husband Of the Inkosazana. This
is very pretty kraal, and 1t Is quite big
enough for two he added with an amor
Gus sneer.
Now for a minute at least Rachel sat
still and rigid. When she spoke again 1t
was in kind Of gasp:
Never" she said, have you gone
nearer to your death, you wanderer with
out name or shame. Listen now. / give
you one week to arrange my escape home.
If 1t Is not done within that time ! will
pay you back for those words. Be silent,
! will hear no more
Then she called out:
Rise. men, and bear the message of the
Inkosazana to Dingaan. King of the Zu-
white dog whom he has sent into my
house has done me insult Say that he
has asked me. the Inkosazana-ZoOla, to
be one of his wives
At thece words the counselors and cap
tains uttered a shout of rage, and two Of
the latter seized Ishmael by the arm,
lifting their spears to plunge them into
him. Rachel waved her wand and they
let them fall again.
mot yet" she said. take him to the
king, and If my word comes to the king.
then he dies, and not till then. / would
not have his vile blood on my hands. I'm
less 1 speak, l, Queen of the Heavens,
leave, him to the vengeance Of the heav-
ems. My mantle is over him, lead him
back to the king and let me see his face
no more"
I'VE hear and it shall be So" they an
swered with one voice; then. forgetting
their ceremony, hustled Ishmael from the
kraal.
Have 1 done well?' asked Rachel Of
Noie. when they were alone.
mo, Zoola," she answered, "you should
have killed the snake while you were hot
against him. since when your blood grows
cold you can never do it. and he will live
to bite YOU"
Il have no right to kill man. Mole.
just because he makes love to me, and
hate him. Also, II l did so he could not
help me to escape from Zululand, which
he will do now because he is afraid of
me-"
'Will he be afraid of you when you are
both across the Tugela?' asked Mole.
'Inkosazana give me power to ask no
questions. Ibubesi killed my father and
mother and brethren. and has tried to
kill me. Therefore my heart would not be
sore If. after the fashion of this land,
paid him spears for battleaxes, for he de-
serves to die"
''Perhaps, Noie, but not by my word
Perhaps by your hand, then," said
Mole, looking at her curiously. "Well,
soon or late he will die a red death-the
the spirit of my father"
THE spirit of your father" said Ra-
chel. looking at her.
Certainly, it speaks to me often and
tells me many things. though 1 may not
repeat them to you till they are accom-
hands Of Dingaan, for 1t told me that you
would save me-
Il wish 1t would speak to me and tell
me when l can go home" said Rachel,
with sigh.
1T would if it could, zoola, but it can
not because the curtain is too thick. Had
all you loved been slain before your eyes.
then the veil would be worn thin as mine
Is, and through it you who are akin to
them would hear the talk of the ghosts
and dimly see them wandering beneath
their trees"
Beneath their trees"
Yes, the trees of their life, of which
all the boughs are deeds and all the
leaves are words. under the shadow of
which they must abide forever. My peo-
pie could tell you of those trees, and per-
haps they will one day when we visit
them together. Nay, pay no heed, I was
wandering in my talk. 1t is the sight of
that wild beast, Ibubesi. You will not
let me kill him! Well, doubtless it is
fated so. think one day you will be
sorry-but too late