The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-01
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright. 1908. by H. Rider Hageard
(Continued.l

So he left what had been the town
 Mafooti. Walking along the edge of | the cleft into which Ishmael had leapt
 on fire. he climbed the walls built with | so much toll to keep out the Zulus, | ana at last came to the river which Rachel had swum. It was low now. Here the natives seemed to know of | his approach. for they gathered in
 numbers watching him. and put food in his path. But they would not speak
 saying that he followed a Dream and
 asking if they had seen the Dream. they cried out that he was tagati. be-
 witched. and fled away.
 He continued his journey. finding each night hut prenared for him to sleep in. and food for him to eat, till at length one evening he reached the Great Place. Umgugundhlovo. Through its streets he marched with a. set face, while thousands stared at him in sil- ence. Then a captain pointed out a hut to him. and into it he entered. ate and slept. At dawn he rose, for he knew that here he must not tarry; the spirit face of Rachel still hung before him. the spirit voice still whispered
 Forward. forward to the north. l myself will be your guide" Tn his path sat the King and his Councillors, and around them regiment of men. He walked through them unheeding. till at length. when he was in front of the King. they barred his road. and he halted. si,
 sswho art thou and what is thy busi- ness?" asked an old Councillor, with withered hand.
 'I am Richard Darrien," he answer ed. land here I have no business. I journey to the north. Stay me not.'
 We know thee," said the Council or, ''thou art the lord Dario that didst dwell in the shadow of the Inkosazana. wild beast Ibubesi, slew at the kraal Mafooti. Why does thy ghost come hitller to trouble us?''
 Living or dead, ghost or man, answered.
 what seekest thou in the north. thou lord Darfo?"
 q seek Dream: a Spirit leads me Man with the withered hand?"
 "Ahy' they repeated, The seeks Dream. A Spirit leads him to find Dream in the north.''
 "What is this Dream like?" asked Mopo of the withered hand.
 Come, stand at my side and look There dost thou see 1t floating in the air before us. thou hast eyes that ca-. read a Dream?"
 Mopo came and looked. then his knees trembled a little and he said:
 Aye. lord Dario. see and I know that face"
 broke in Dingaan angrily. "Then whose is it2''
 70 King" answered Mopo. dropping his eyes, ''it Is not lawful to speak the who sat where that wanderer stands. and showed thee certain pictures in a bowl of water ag
 Now Dingaan trembled. for the meni- ory of those visions haunted him night and day; moreover he thought at times that they drew near to their fulfilment.
 'sThe white man is mad" he said. land thou. Mopo. art mad also have often thought it. and that it would be we'll if thou wentest on long Journey for thy health. This Dario shall stay here a while. I will not suffer him to wander through my land crazing the people with his tales of creams and visions. Take him and hold him: the Circle of the Doctors shall inquire into the matter"
 So Dingaan spoke who in his heart was afraid lest this wild-eyed Dario should learn that he had given the In kosazana to the dwarf folk when she was mad, to appease them after they had prophesied evil to him. Also he remembered that it was because of the murders done by Ibubesi that the In- kosazana had gone mad, and did not understand If Dario had been killed at the kraal Mafooti how it could be that he now stood before him. Therefore he thought that he would keep him a prisoner until he found out all the truth of the matter, and whether he were still a man or ghost or a wizard clothed in the shape of the dead
 At the bidding Of the King, guards sprang forward to seize Rdchard. but the old Councillor. Mopo. shrunk away behind him hiding his eyes with h's withered hand. They sprang forward. and yet they laid no finger on him. but fell off to right and left. saying: 'sKin us. if thou wilt. Black One. we cannot!"
 .'The wizard has bewitched them." said Dingaan ansrily. "Here, you Doc tors, you whose trade it is to catch wizards. take this white fellow and bind him."
 Unwilling enough the Doctors. of whom there were eight or ten sitting apart, rose to do the Kings bidding. They came on towards Richard. some of them singing songs. and some mutt tering charms. and as they came he laughed and said:
 a.Beware! you Abangoma. the Dream | is looking at you very angrily." Then they too broke away to right and left, crying out that this was a wizard i against whom they had no power. wrath. and shouted to his soldiers to seize the white man. and if he resisted | them to kill him with their sticks. for of witchcraft they had known enough | in Zululand of late.
 So thick as bees the regiment formed | up in front of him. shouting and way | ing their kerries. for here in the Kings | Place they bore no spears
 
 can stay no longer. must to the | north.''
 The soldiers did not stir. only a cap tain stepped out bidding him give uo his spear and yield himself or be kill | ed Richard walked forward and at | a sign from the captain, men sprang | at him. lifting their kerries. to dash | out his brains. Then suddenly in front | of Richard there appeared something | faint and white, something that walk ed before him. The soldiers saw it. | and the kerries fell from their hands. The regiment behind saw it. and turn ing burst away like a scared herd of cattle They did not wait to seek the | gates. they burst through the fence of the enclosure, and were gone. leaving It flat behind them. The King and his saw it also, and more clearly than the rest.
 'NThe Inkosazana!' they cried. ''It Ia the Inkosazana who walks before him that she lovedv' and they fell uo- on their faces. Only Dingaan remain