The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-06
THE LADY OF
 THE HEAVENS
Copyright, 1908, by H. Rider Haggard
tContinued.l { CHAPTER XII.f
Rachel Secs a Vision.


 before the Kng. lie wasiin evil case, | Tor the captains. some of whom had grudges against him. when he tried to break away from them outside the gate. had beaten him with their spear | Sna1ts nearly all the way from the kraal to the Great Palace. remarking when he fought and remonstrated. that the InkOSazana had forbidden them to l klil him. but had said nothing as to giving him the flogging wh oh he de ~red. His clothes were torn, his hat e-a pipe were iost-indeed hours pc sS-s Noie had thrown both of them m to the fre-his eyes were black rom the blow of a heavy stick and he was bruised all over. was thrust before Dingaan. Seetn1ng l with rage which he could scarcely sup | press. even in that presence. Did you visit the InkosaZana to- | day. White Man?" asked the King blandly. while the indunas stared at him with grim amusement. Then Ishnrael broke out into re- cita1 of his wrongs. demanding that the captains who had beaten him, a white man. and a great person. should be killed. - .-.----z -The question. .Night-prowler. isl whether you should not be killed y'u dog who dared to insult the 1nkosazana by offering yourself to her as a hus- band. Had<she commanded you to be speared. she would have done we'll. and if you trouble me with your shoutings, I will send you to sleep with the jackals tonight without waiting for Now, seeing his danger. Ishmael was silent. and the King went on:
 Did you discover. as I bade you why it is that the Inkosazana desires to leave us ?''-. "Yes. King It is because she would return to. her own people. the oid prayer-doctor- and his wife,. They are not her people? excla1m- ed Dingaau. "We know that she came to thenl.s out of the storm. and that they are4but her foster-parents chosen for her by the Heavens. You were the first to tell us that. story. and how she Caused the lightning to burn up my soldier wonder at Ramah. We are h 1T people and no others. Can the lnkosa- zana have a father and a mother?"
 T 1t3on,t know answered I hmael. s.but she is a woman and I never knew a woman who was without them At least I am sure that she looks upon them ss her father and mother. obey ing them in all things. and that she will never leave them while they live, unless they command her to do SOL
 Dingaan stared at him with his pig like eyes, repeating after him-while they live. unless they command her to do sop Then he asked:
 eff the InkoSazana desires to go. who is there that dares to stay her. and If shc puts out her magic. who is there that has the power? If a hand is lifted against her. will she not lay a curse on us and bring destruction upon us?''
 "IN don't know answered Ishmael again, "but if she goes back among the white folk and is angry. think that she will bring the BOerS upon you.
 Now Dingaan's s face grew very trou- bled. and bidding Ishmael stand back while. he consulted with his council Then he said:
 Listen to me, White Man. It would be very evil thing if the Inkosazana were to leave us. for with her wou d go the Spirit of our people. and their Jyr< En sh-dO with one voice. and believe them. Further.it is our desire that she shou d remain with us a while. This day the Council of the Diviners has spoken, saying that the words of the Inkosa- zana which she uttered here are too hard for them. and that other doctors of a people who live far away, must be sent for and brought face to face with her. Therefore, here at Ungug- undhlovo she should abide until they come"
 Indeed" answered Ishmae1 indiffer- ently.
 In the doctors who dwelt far away. and the Council of the Diviners he had no belief. But understanding the na- tives as he did he guessed correctly enough that the latter found tn =n- selves in a cleft stick. Worked on by their superstitions. which he had first awakened for his own ends. they had accepted Rachel as something more than human. as the incarnation of the Spirit of their people. This Mopo. who
 
 maud of that Spirit, had acknowledged her to be- and therefore they did not dare to declare that her words spoken as an oracle were empty words. But neither did they dare to interpret the saving that she meant that no attack must be made upon the Boers and should be obeyed. To do this would be to fly in the face of the martial as- pirations of the nation and the secret wishes of the king. and perhaps if war ultimately broke out. would cost them their lives. So it came about that they announced that they could not under stand her sayings. and had decided to thrust off the responsibility on to the shoulders of some other diviners. though who these men might be Ish- maeI neither knew nor took the troL- ble to ask.
 .eBut', went on the King, ''who can force the dove to build in tree that does not please it, seeing that it has wings and can fly away? Yet if its own tree. that in which it was reared from the nest. could be brought to it. it might be pleased to abide there. Do you understand. White Man?"
 s.No" answered Ishmael. though in fact he understood we'll enough that the King was playing upon Rachers English name of Dove. and that he meant that her home might be moved into Zululand. NO. the Inkosazana is not bird. and who can carry trees about?"
 "Have the spear-shafts knocked the wit out of you. Ibubesi.' asked Dim gaan. impatiently. GOT are you drunk with beer? Learn then my meaning. The InkoSaZana will not stay because her home is wonder. therefore it must be brought here and she will stay. A first I gave orders that if this old white teacher and his wife tried to accompany her. they should be Killed. NOW I eat up those words. They must come to Zululand-"
 s.IIow did I persuade the Inkosazana ber-seIf to come? Was it not to seek one whom she lOved?
 nThey will think that you have kill ed her and wish to kill them also.'
 s.No. because you will go in com nand of an impi and show them other
 1T cannot go: your brutes of cap- tains have hurt my. head. and famed