The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-04
(Continued.l

Tell it not. Tell it not,' exclaimed | the old man quaveringly.
 So be 1t. There is no need. Yet ere | she dId you made a promise to this Baleka. and that promise you kept at the kraal Duguza. you and the prince Umhlangana, and another prince whose name forget, and she looked at Din gaan. who put his hand before his face. You kept that promise with an l assegai-let me look, let me look into your heart-yes. with a little assegai | handled with the royal red wood. an l assega; that had drunk much blood.' Now a low moan broke from the lips | of Dingaan, and those who sat with them. while Umbopa shivered as though | with cold.
 Have mercy. I pray thee.' he gasp | ed. Forgive me if at times since we I met at Ramah I thought thee but a white maiden. beautiful and bold, as thou didst declare myself to be. Now I see thou hast the spirit. or else how didst thou know these thingS?" Noie heard and smiled in the shadow | but Rachel stood silent.
 'I was bidden to tell thee of the last words of the Black One" went on
 Umbopa hurriedly: but what need is | there to tell thee anything who know est all? They were that he heard the sound of the running of the feet of a great white people which shall stamp
 out the children of the Zulus.''
 Nay" answered Rachel. CT think | they were, Wherefore wouldst thou Kill me. MOpo?'"
 Again Dingaan moaned, for he had heard these very words spoken. Cm-
 bopa turned and stared at him, and he
 stared at Umbopa.
 Come hither," said Rachel. beckon-
 ing to the old man.
 He obeyed. and she threw the corner
 of fer coak over his head and whisper
 ed into his ear. He listened to her
 whisperings. then with a cry broke from her and fled away out of the
 council of the King
 When he had gone there was a sil- ence. though Dfngaan looked ques- tior with his eyes.
 Ask it not" she said, "ask it not of me or of him: I think this Mopo here had his secrets in the past. I think that once he sat in a hut at night and bargained with certain Great Ones. a prince who lives, and a prince who died. Come hither. come hither. thou son of SanzaHgacona.- come from the fields of Death and tell me what was that bargain which thou madest with Mopo. thou and another?" and once again Rachel beckoned. this time up- wards in the air..
 Now the face of Dingaan went grey, even in the moonlight it went grey beneath the blackness of his skin, for there rose before his mind vision of a hut and of Mopo and of Umhlangana, the prince his brother whom he had slain. and of himself, seated in the darkness. their heads together beneath a blanket whispering of the murder of a king.
 Thou knowest all.' he gasped, thou art Nornkubulwana and no other Spare us. Spirit who canst summon our dead sins from the grave of time. and make them walk alive before us."
 Nay. nay" she answered mocking- 1y. "surely I am but a woman. daugh- l ter of a Teacher who lives wonder over the Tugela, a white maiden who eats and sleeps and drinks other maid ems do. Take notice, King. and you @f,,R% T, ing but a woman who chances to bear high name. and to have some wis dom. Only." she added with meaning. l eff any harm should come to me. if I should die. then I think that I should become a spirit. a terrible spirit. and | that i'll would go with that people against whom my blood was laid
 S'Ow.'' said the King. who still shook !, us not. I pray. Thou art the Spirit | w4o has chosen to wear the robe of woman. as flame hides itself in flint | and woe be to the hand that strikes the fire from this stone White One l give us now that wisdom whereof thou speakest. Shall I fall upon the Boers | or shall I let them be?''
 Rachel looked upwards. studying the | stars.
 .'She takes counsel with the Heav- | ems. she who is their daughter nut l tered one of the indunas in low voice.
 AS ne SpOkS IL CIldICSu lllIl d Dl sSlll l meteor travelling from the southwest swept across the sky to burst and vanish over the kraal of Umgugundh- l Iovo.
 'It is a messenger to her. said one. | ''I saw the fire shine upon her hair and vanish in her breast
 Nay answered another. 'it is the | Thlose. the guardian ghost of the Amazulu that appears and dies"
 Not so.'' broke in a third. that light shows the Amaboona travelling l from the southwest to be eaten up in l the blackness of our impis."
 Such star runs ever before the | death of kings. It fell the night ere the Black One died" murAured fourth as though he spoke to himself.
 Only Dingaan. taking no heed os'i them. said. addressing Rachel: |
 Read thou the omen.'
 Nay" she replied upon the swift impulse of the moment. "I read it not. l Interpret it as ye will. Here is my answer to thy question, King. Those | who lift the spear shall perish by the | spear.'