Evening star., 1909-03-07
CHAPTER XVI.-Continued.
AZ-4GO NEkcS

The next day passed in much the same
fashion as the first had done. For the
most of it Rachel sat under the tree in
the walled court, companioned only by
her terrible thoughts and fears. Nobody
came near her, and nothing happened.
in the morning Mani went out, and, re-
turning at the dinner hour told Rachel
that she had seen Ishmael who had
questioned her closely as to what the
Inkosazana had done and said, to which
she replied that she had only eaten and
slept, and invoked the spirits on her
knees As for words none had passed
her lips. She had not been able to get
near the huts where Dario was in prison.
as Ishmael was watching her. For the
rest the work of fortification went on
without cease. even Ishmaels own wives
being employed thereon.
In the afternoon Mani went out again
and did not return till night, when she
rad much to tell. TO begin with. while
the sentry was DOING being wearied with
carrying stones to the wall, she had man.
aged to approach the fence of the hut
where Richard was confined. She said
that he was walking up and down inside
the fence with his hands tied and she
had spoken to him through a crack in the
reeds. and given him Rachers message.
He listened eagerly, and bade her tell the
1nkosaZana that he thanked her for her
words; that he, too. was strong and well.
though much troubled in mind, but the
future was in the hands of the heavens
and that she must keep high heart.
just tken the sentry woke up. SO Mani
could not wait to hear any more
That evening however lad who had
been sent out of the town to drive in
some cattle. had returned with the It'd
1ngS which she. Mani. heard him deliver
10 Ibuhesi with her own ears.
He said that whilst he was collecting
tine oxen, ringed Zulu came upon him
VINO from his manner and bearing he
took TO be a great chief although he was
alone. and seemed to be tired with walk
ing. The Zulu had asked him if il were
true that the 1nkosazana and the white
chief Dario We're in prison at Mafooti
and when he hesitated about replying
threatened him with his assegai, saying
he would cut out his heart unless he told
the truth. Then being frightened the
lad said that it was true; that they had
been brought thither from Ramah The
Zulu replied that he knew It,. as ne had
Just come from Ramah. where he mad
seen strange things, and spoken with a
man Of Ibubesi's whom he found dying
in the garden OF the house Then he
had given him this message:
Say TO 1bubesi that I know ali his
wickedness, and that If the 1nkosazana is
harmed. or a drop of the blood OF the
white chief. pario. is shed. 1 Will destroy
him and everything that lives in his town
down to the rats. Say to him also that
he cannot escape as already he is ringed
in by the children of the Shouter who
have come back and are watching him
The lad had asked who IL was that sent
snch message. whereon he answered
II am the Horn of the Black Bull; am
the Trunk Of the Elephant, | am the
Mouth of Dingaau.''
Then straightway he turned. and de-
parted at a run toward Zuuland More
over. Mani described the man in the
words or the lad, and Rachel thought tina.
he could be none other than Tamboosa
whom she had commanded TO follow her
with the white OK. Mani added that
when he received this message Ibubesi
seemed much disturbed, though to his
people he declared that il was all non
sense. as Dingaan's mouth would not
come alone, or deliver the kings word to
a boy. But the people thought otherwise.
and murmured among themselves, fear
Ing the terrible vengeance of Dingaan.
On the next day Mani went out again
AT nightfall, when she returned she told
Rachel that she had not found il possi-
BILE to approach the huts where Dario
Was. as the hole she made I'm the fence
TO speak with him had been discovered
and stricter watch was kept over him
lbubeSi, she said. was in an i'll humor
and working furiously to finish his for
tiiications. as he was now sure that the
town was being watched either by the
neople of Mafooti, they were grumbling