Evening star., 1909-03-13

toward each other and said. each to the
other:
"Hearest thou. priest, and nearest
thou. priest and nearest thou. priesi? He
says that the words were of his own
death and have nothing to do with the
story" and they smiled and nodded and
appeared to go to sleep again.
Now Mopo went on with his tale. He
told OF the question of the king. how he
had asked the Inkosazana whether he
should fall upon the Beers or let them
be: of how she had searched the heavens
with her eyes: Of how the meteor had
travelled them and burst over the kraal
Cmgugundhlovu, that star which she
said was thrown by the hand OF the
great-great. the Umkulunkulu. and Of
how she had sworn that she also heard
the feet of a people travelling over plain
and mountain and saw the rivers behind
them running red with blood, Lastly he
told of how she had refused to add TO or
take from her words or to set out their
meaning Mopo then sat himself down
again in the circle of the councillors and
watched and hearkened like a hungry
wolf.
''Ye have heard. ghost-men." said the
king. Now. If We are really wise in-
terpret to us the meaning Of this saying
OF the InkOsaZana and OF the running
star which none can read.
The priests awoke and consulted with
each other. then Eddo said:
This matter is too high for us, king
of the Zulus.''
Dingaan heard and laughed angrily.
Il thought it. | thought it," he cried
"Ye are but cheats after all who. like
any common doctor, rereat the gossip
that ye have heard and pretend that it is
a message from heaven. Now why should
/ not whip you from my town with rods
till We see that red blood which ye so
greatly fear?
At the mention of the word blood, the
little men seemed to curl up like cut
grass before a fire: then Eddo smiled.
sickly smile. and answered.:
BE gentle. king. walk softly, king. We
are but poor cheats yet we will do our
best we, or another for u.s. new bowl,
a big bowl. red bowl for the red king.
and fill 1t to the brink with dew
AS he piped out the words a man from
among their company appeared with a
vessel much larger than those into which
they had gaZed. and made of beautiful
polished. bloodhued wood that cleaned
In the sunlight Eddo took it in his hand
and another slave filled it with water
from the gourd: the last drop of the
water filed it to the brim Then the
three of them muttered invocations over
it and Eddo. beckoning to Mole. bade her
bear II to the InkOsaZana that she might
gaze therein.
Rachel received it and looked: as she
looked all the emptiness left her eyes
which grew quick and active and full of
horror
Thou seest something. maiden?"
queried Edo
Aye" answered Rachel, IL see much.
Must 1 speak,"
Nay. nay! Breathe on the water thrice
and fix the visions. Now bear the bowl
to yonder king and let him look. Per
chance he also will see something
Rachel breathed on the water thrice.
rose like one in a trance and advancing
to Dingaan placed the brimming bowl
upon his knees.
Look. king. look" cried Eddo. land
tell us if in what thou seest lies an
answer to the oracle of the InkosaZa
Dingaan stared at the water. angrily
at first, one who smells trick. Then
his face changed.
by the head of the black one he said
Il see people fighting in this kraal white
mastered and the Zulus drag them out
to death The Zulus conquer, o my peo-
pie. 1t is as l thought that it would be
that is the meaning of the riddle of the
Inkosazana.'
Good. good.' said the council. Doubt
less 1t shall come to pass
But The dwarf Edo only smiled and
waved his hand.
Look once more. king he said in his
low. kissing voice. and Dineaan looked.
Now his face darkened. Il see FIRE
he said Yes. in this kraal. Jmgugundh-
lovu burns, my royal house burns and
yonder come the white men riding upon
horses. Oh, they are gone"
Eddo waved his hand. saying:
Look again and tell us what thou
seest, king"
Unwilingly enough. but as though he
could not resist, Dingaan looked and
said:
Il see mountain whereof the top is
like the shape of woman. and between
her knees is the mouth of cave. Be
meath the floor of that cave I see bodies.
the body of a great man and the body of
a girl she must have been fair. that
girl
Now when he heard this The counclor
who was named Mopo. he with the with