Evening star., 1909-02-17

of the zulus she must be attended by
Zulus only. l have spoken. ] pray
that she who is named Princess of the
Zulus will appear before my messen-
gers and acknowledge the gift OF the
king of the Zulus. that they may see
her in the flesh and make report CT
her to me-
Now when Mr.. Dove had received
this message, one evening at sundown.
he went into the house and repeated It
to Rachel. for it puzzled him much, and
he knew not what to answer.
Rachel in her turn took counsel with
Noie. who was hidden away lest some
of the embassy should see and recoS-
nize her.
Speak with the messenger said
Noie. lit is well to have power among
the Zu!us: 1. who have some knowi-
edge of this business. say. speak with
them alone. and speak softly, saying
that one day you will come"
So having explained the matter to
her father. and obtained his consent,
Rachel. WHO desired to impress these
savages. threw a white shawl about
her. as Mole instructed her to do. Then.
letting her long. golden hair hang
down. she went out alone carrying n
light assegai in her hand. to the place
where the messengers. six of them, and
those who had driven the cattle from
Zululand. were encamped in the guest
kraal. at the gate of which. as II
chanced. lay a great boulder Of rock.
On this boulder she took her stand, un-
observed. waiting there till the full
moon shone out from behind dark
cloud. turning her white robe to silver
Now of a sudden the messengers. who
were seated together talking and TAX
ing snuff. looked up and saw her.
'Inkosazana-y Zoola.' exclaimed one
of them, rising; whereon they al
sprang to their feet and perceiving this
hoo II nd wi
common impulse. lifted their right
arms and gave to her what no woman
had ever received befoSe-the royal Sd
lutte.
"Bayete"' they cried. "Bayete: thea
stood silent.
Il hear you" said Rachel who spoke
their tongue as well as she did her OWE.
1T has been reported to me that you
wished to see me, 0 Mouths of the
King. Behold, ] am pleased to appear
before you: What would you of Ink
osazana-y Zoola. o Mouths of the
king?"
Then their spokesman. an old man OF
high rank. with withered hand. stepped
forward from the line of his companions,
stared at her for a while. and saluted
again.
LADY, he said humbly. lady or spirit,
we would know how thou camest by that
great name OF thine
1T was given me as a child far away
from here she answered, because in a
mighty tempest the lightnings turned aside
and Smote me not; because the waters
ragged yet drowned me not; because the
lions slept with me yet harmed me not
1t came to me from the high heaven that
was my friend. l do not know how it
came
We have heard the story answered
the old man (Which indeed they had with
many additionsD, "and we believe. We
believe that the heavens above gave thee
their own name which is the name Of the
Spirit OF our people. That Spirit have
seen in dream and she was like to thee,
O InkOsaZana-yZoola.
'It may be so. Mouth Of the King still
l am woman. not spirit.
Yet in every woman there dwells 4
spirit, SO we believe. and in thee a great
one, or so we have heard and believe O
Lady of the Heavens To thee. thou,
a. gain we repeat the words of Dingaan and
Of his council which To-Day we have said
in the ears of him who thinks himself
thy father To thee the roads are open; i;
is an earnest OF them. Thine are the lives
Of men. Command now, if you wilt that
one of US be slain before thee, and whilst
thou watchest. he shall look his last upon
the MOON
Il hear you." said Rachel, quietly, but
seek the life of none who are good. l
thank the king for his gift; 1 wish the
king we'll l remember that life and death
lie in my hands. Say these words to the
king"
We will say them. but wilt thou not
come, 0 lady. as the king desires? A regi
ment shall meet thee on the river bank
and lead thee to his house. Unharmed
shalt thou come. unharmed shalt thou
return, and what thou askest that shall
be given thee.
not now. Go in peace. . Mouths of the
King
AS she spoke another dark cloud floated
across the moon, and when it had passed
away she stood no more upon the rock.
Then. seeing that she was gone, those
gathered up their spears and
mats and returned swiftly TO Zululand.
When she reached the house again
Rachel told her father and mother all
that had passed. laughing as she spoke.
1T seems scarcely right. my dear said
Mr.. Dove. when she had done. Those
benighted heathens will really believe that
you are something unearthly.
Then let them.' she answered 1t
can do no one any harm. and the power
OF life and death with the rest of it.
was ell talk as I suspect. might
be very useful one day. Who knows?
And now the princess of the heavens will
go and set the supper, as NOie-I beg
pardon Nonha-is off duty for the
present
Afterwards she asked Mole who was the
old man with a withered hand who had
spoken as the Kings Mouth"
.'Mopo is his name. Mopo or UmbOpo.
none other. o Zooa,' she answered. 1T
was he who stabbed T'Chaka. tlre black
ore 1t is said also that alone among
mea living he has seen the White Spirit;
the Inkcsazana. Thrice has he seen her,
or SO goes the tale that my father, who
knew everything, told to me. That is
why Dingaan sent him here to make re-
port of YOU" And she told her all the
wonderful story of Mopo and of the death
Of T'Chaka. which Rachel treasured in her
mind.
Such was Rachel's first introduction to
the Zulus, an occasion on which her un-
doubted histronic abilities stood her in
good stead.
Ito be continued tomorrow
The Salt Cure for Cholera.