Evening star., 1909-03-09
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS ;
By H. RIDER HAGGARD. >:
stays arkesA T.


Some OF them have gone, know. the
accursed. coWardly fools. No. 1t is not
she is really a spirit. and has melted. as
spirits do. I hope not for il SO she will
haunt me. and I want her company in
the flesh. not i'll the spirit. I ought to
have it. too, for 1t has cost me pretty
dear. She must have bewitched me. or
why should I have risked everything for
her, just one white woman who hates
the sight Of me? The devil is at the back
Of 1t. This was his road from the first
So he went on until Rachel could bear
it no more. the thing was too absurd
Yes. yes" she said from the top Of the
hut. his road from the first. and it ends
not far away, at the red gates Of hell,
Night-prowler."
The man below sasped and fell against
the fence.
Whose voice is that: Where are you?"
he asked of the air.
Then as there was no answer, he ad-
ded 1T sounded like Rachel. but it
spoke above me. l suppose that she has
killed herself. I thought she might. but
better that she should be dead than be-
long to that fellow. Only then why did
she speak?
He started to feel his way toward the
hut. perhaps to fetch the lamp. when
suddenly the skies behind were illuminat-
ed IN a blaze of light. broad slow blaze
it the eyes of Rachel. made quick with
madness. saw many things. From her
perch on the top of the hut she saw the
town OF Mafoott. On the plain to the
west she saw a number OF black dots,
which she took to be people and cattle
travelling away from the town. In the
mex to the east she saw more dots each
Of them crested with white and carry
Zulu impi marching: Some of these dots
had come to the wall of the tcwn: yes.
and soma of them were on the crest
Of 1t. while vet others were creeping
al de-
away.
Also these caught sight OF something.
for they paused and seemed to fall to-
gether as though in fear. Lastly, just
before the light went out out she p perceived ed
at her. for NE. too, had seen her. seen
her standing above him in the air, the
z2ear in her hand. and In her eyes fire
But of the dots to the east and of the
dots to the west he had seen nothing.
He appeared to fall to his knees and re-
main there muttering. Then the heavens
biazed again. for the storm was coming
up. and by the fare of them he read
the truth. This was no ghost, but the
living woman.
on he said. recovering himself.
that's where you've got to. is it? Come
down, Rachel, and let us talk
She made no answer, none at ALL she
who was so curious to see what he would
do. For quite a long while he harangued
her from below. walking round and
round the hut. Then at length in despair
he began TO climb It, But In that dark
dazzling light. unlike Rachel. he found
the task dif1cult. and once, missing his
hold he fell to the ground heavily. Find
ing his feet he rushed at the hut with
grass strings that bound It, struggled al
most to the top. to be met by the point
Of Rachers spear held at his face, There
then he hung. looking like toad on the
slope OF rock, unable to advance be-
cause of that spear, and unwilling to go
down. lest his labor must be begun again.
Rachel he said come down. Rachel.
Whatever I have done has been for your
sake. come down and tell me that you
She laughed out loudly, a wild. scream
ing laugh. for really he looked most
ridiculous. sprawling there on the bend
of the hut. and the lightning showed her
all sorts Of pictures in his eyes.
Did Richard Darrien forgive you?"
she asked. 'And what did you mix that
poison with? Milk? The milk Of human
kindness. 1t was a very good poison.
Toad 80 good that 1 think you must
When you are dead all the bushmen
should come and dip their arrows in you.
for then even crocodiles ana the big
snakes would die at a scratch
He made no answer, 80 she went on.
Have your people forgiven you? If so.
why do they fee away. carrying that
white thing which was man. Have
my father and mother forgiven you? Do
you hear what they are saying to me
that judgment IS the Lords? Have the
Zulus forgiven you. the Zulus who believe
that Judgment IS the king's-and the
| Tnkosazana's? Turn now. and ask them,
for here they are and she pointed over
his head with her spear. Turn: Toad.
and set out your case and / will stand
above and try 1t. the case Of Dingaan
against 1bubesi and one by one I will
call up all those who died through you,
and they shall give their evidence. and I.
the Judge. will sum it up to jury Of
sharp spears. See. here come the spears.
Look at the wall, Toad. look at the
WALL"
ITO be continued tomorrow .