Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-05
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

Reyond its walls Ishmael paused. The
Zulus had fed in one direction and the
inhabitants Of Ramah in another; there
was no one to be seen. His eye fell
upon the dense mass Of bush above the
station and he remembered the message
that he had sent to his own people to
meet him there. Perhaps they had al
re&dy arrived. He would 60 to see. he who
was in such sore need of human COM
pany. AS he went his numbed faculties
returned to him and in the open light OF
day some of his terror passed. He began
to think again. What was done was
done; he could not bring the dead back
to life. He was not really to blame. and
after ALL things had worked out well for
him. Save for this white man. Dario,
Rachel was now alone in the world, ana
dead people did not speak there was no
one to tell her Of his share in the tragedy.
Why should she not turn to him who had
no one else to whom she could gof Ihe
white man, If he were still with her,
could be got rid of somehow; very Hke!y
he would run away, and they Two Woulo
be left quite alone. At any rate, 1t was
for her sake that he had entered on this
black road of sin, and what did one step
more matter. the step that LED MIN 10 ms
reward? or course 1t might lead him
somewhere else. Rachel was woman
to be feared. and the Zulus were to be
feared. and other things to which he could
give no shape or name, but that ne Ielt
pressing round him, were still more to pc
feared. Perhaps he would do best 10 ny.
far into the interior, or by ship to some
other land where none would know him
and his black story. What! Fly COM
panioned by those ghosts, and leave
Rachel. the woman for whom ne burned,
with this Dario. whom the Zulus said she
loved and with whom her mother, just
before her end, had declared that she
would be safe? Never. She was his;
he had bought her with blood, and he
would have the due the devil owed him.
He was in the bush now. and a voice
called him. that Of his head man.
"Come out, you dog" he said, searching
the dense foliage with his eyes. and the
man appeared, saluting him humhly.
I'VE received your message and we
have come, Inkoos. We are but Just ar
rived. What has CHANGED here that the
town is so still?'
'.The Zulus have been and gone. They
have killed the white teacher and his
wife, though / thought to save them
look at my wound. Also the people are
fed
"Ah!" replied the head man, 'sthat was
an i'll deed, for he was holy, and a great
prophet. and doubtless his spirit is strong
to revenge. Well for you is It. master.
that you had no hand IN the deco. as at
first feared might be the case. for know
that last night strange dog climbed on
to your hut and howled there and would
not be driven away. nor could We kill it
with spears, SO we think it was ghost.
All your wives thought that eVu had
drawn near to you"
Ishmael struck him across the mouth,
exclaiming: BE silent. you accursed wiz
ard, or you shall howl louder than your
ghost-dog."
II meant no HARM" answered the man
humbly, but with a curious CLEAN in his
eye. What are your commands, chief?"
That we watch here. I think that the
daughter of the shouter, she who is called
Inkosazana-yZoola. is coming. and she
may need help. Have you brought thirty
men with you as I babe you through my
messenger
AYE, Ibubesi, they are all hidden in the
bush. / go to summon them, though I
think that the mighty Inkosazana, who
can command all the Zulu impis and all
the spirits of the dead. will need little
help from u.s."