Evening star., 1909-03-13

touch Of Noies hand and the sound of
NOie's voice. At times, however, her mad
ness got hold of her, and she broke out
into those bursts of wild laughter which
had scared the Zulus Then Eddo would
descend from his litter and lay his long
fingers on her forehead and look into her
eyes in such a fashion that she went to
sleep and was at peace But if Mole spo le
to her in these sleeps she answered her
questions, and even talked reaSona bly,, as
she had done before the people Of Ma
footi laid the body Of Richard at her feet
and she stood upon the roof the hut which
1Shmael Strove to climb.
Thus 1t was that Noie came to learn all
that had happened to her since they
parted. for though she had gathered much
from them the Zulus could not or would
not, tell her everything. In past davs
she had heard from Rachel Of the lad
Richard Darrien. who had been her COM
panion years before through that night of
storm on the island in the river. and now
she understood that her lady loved this
Richard. and that it was because of his
murder by the wild brute Ibubesi that she
had become mad
Yes, she was mad and for that reason
Mole reJoiced that the dwarf people were
taking her TO their home. since il she
could be cured at all they were able In
heal hey. they. the great doctors. More
over, II se~priests and the Zulus would
have let her go. whittier else could she
nave gone, whose parents and lover were
dead. except to the white people on the
coast. who did not reverence the insane
as do all black folk. but would have
locked hey up in a house with others like
her until she died. No. although she
knew that there were dangers before
them. many and great dangers Eoie re-
Joiced that things had befallen thus.
Also i'll her tender care already Rachel
improved much. and Mole believed that
one day she would be herself again. Only
sne wished that she and her lady We're
alone together: that there were no priests
with them. and. above all, no Eddo For
Eddo. as she knew Well was Jealous of
her authority over Rachel: jealous. too,
OF the love that they bore one TO the
other. He wished to use this crazed white
chieftainess. who had been accepted as
their lnkosazana by the great Zulu peo-
pie. for his own purposes This had been
clear from the beginning. and that was
why, when he first heard Of her. he had
consented TO go on the embassy to Din
gaan, since by his magic he could fore
see much of the future that was dark to
Noie whose blood was mixed and who
had not all the gifts of the ghost-kings
Moreover. the Mother Of the Trees was
Noie's great aunt. being the sister of
her grandfather. or of his father-Noe
was not sure which. for she had dwelt
among them but a few days and never
thought to inquire Of the matter. But of
one thing she was sure that E,ddo. the
frst priest. hated this Mother of the
Trees. who was named Nya and desired
that when her tree fell the next mother
should be his servant. which Nya was not
Perhaps. reflected Noie, it was in his
mind that her lady would fill this part,
and. being mad, obey him in all things
Stlll she kept watch upon her words
and even on her thoughts, for Eddo and
his fellow-priests, PAM and Hama, were
able to peer into human hearts and read
their secrets. Also. she protected Rachel
from him as much AS she was able never
leaving her side for moment however
weary She might he. for she feared lest
he should become the master Of her will
Only when the fits of madness fell upon
her mistress she was forced to allow
eye. since herself she lacked this power.
nor dared she call the others to her help.
for they were under the hand of Eddo
Northward. ever northWard. First they
passed through the Zulus and their sub
iect tribes who knew of them and of the
InkOsa zana. All of these were suffering
from the curse that lay upon the land
because, as they believed. there was blood
between the Gnkosezana and her people.
plague ravaged their cattle. so that they
were terrified OF her and of the little
gray folk with whom she travelled. tie
wizards who had shown fearful things to
Dingaan and left him sick with dread
They fed al their approach. only leaving
a few of their old people to PROSTATE
before this Inkosazana, who
wandered in search of her own spirit. and
the dream-men. who dwelt with the
ghosts in the heart OF forest. and to
pray her and them to lift this cloud of
evil from the land. bringing gifts Of such
things were left to them.
tTo be continued tomorrow