The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-19
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 THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908, by H. Rider Haggard


eeeeseseeeeeeseae tA ! Nodwenge, and the Isangu regiments whom thou didst send to destroy the chief Madaku and his people, who dwell far away in the swamp land to | the north near where the Great River | runs into the sea. King. we could not come at this chief because he fled
 away on rafts and in boats, he and h 6 people, and we lost our path among the reeds where again and again we were ambushed, and many of us sank Tn the swamDs and were drowned. Al | so we found no food and were forced to live upon our shields" and he held up gnawed fragments in his hand. 50 we perished by hundreds and of all who went forth but twenty-one times ten remain alive"
 When Dingaan heard this he groan- ed. for his arms had been defeated and three of his best regiments destroyed. But Rachel laughed aloud, the terrible laugh at which all who heard it shiv- cred.
 Did I not say.'' she asked, that Heaven would pour out its vengeance in plenty because of the blood that ! runs between the Spirit of the Inkosa- zana and her people of the Zulus?'' Truly this curse works fast and we'll" exclaimed Dingaan. Then turn ing to the men, he shouted: Be gone, you starved rats, you towards who do not know how to fight, and be thank full that the Great Elephant (Chalxa) is dead. for surely he would have fed your upon shields until you periShed :" So these captains crept away also. Ere they were we'll gone a man ap- preached craving audience. a fat man who wore a woeful countenance, for tears ran down his bloated cheeks Dingaan knew him well, for every week he saw him, and sometimes oft ener.
 What is it, Movo. keeper of the kine," he asked anxiously, that yo4
 break in on me thus at my Council?' : 70 at pardon me-. but. O King. my tidings are so sad that I avafled myself of my privilege, and pushed past the guards at thy gate.''
 Those who will bear ill news ever rlip quickly" grunted the King. Stop that weeping and out with it. Movo."
 Shaker of the Earthl Eater up of EnemiesH' said Movo, thou myself art eaten up, or at least thy cattle are. the cattle that love. A sore sick ness has fallen on the great herd, the royal herd, the white herd with the twisted horns. and,'' here he paused to and many more are sick. Soon tn re will be no herd left'' and he wept out right.
 Now Dingaan 1eaDt up in his wrath and struck the man so sharply with the shaft of the spear he held that it broke upon his head.
 Fat fool that you are,' he exclaim- ed What have you done to my cat lte. fSpedk. or you snail De Sla1n 10r an evil-doer who has bewitched them."
 '.Is it a crime to be fat. O King" answered the indignant Movo. rubbing his skull, when others are so much fatter?" and he looked responsibility at Dingaan'Sr enormous person.. Can I help it if a thousand of thy oxen are now but hides for shields?''
 ''Whl you answer. or will you taste the other end of the spear?" asked Dingaan, grasDing the broken shaft just above the blade. What have you done to my cattle?''
 70 King. I have done nothing to them. Can I help it if those aceursed beasts choose to eat dead lOcuStS in stead of grass. and foam at the mouth and choke? Can. the cattle help it if all the grass has become locusts so that there is nothing else for them to eat? am not to- blame, and the cattle. are not to bIane. Blame the Heavens above, to whom thou. or rather" he added hastily. t'son1e wicked wizard must have given offence. for no such thing as this has been known before in Zululand.'
 Again Rachel broke in with her wild laughter, and said:
 Did l. not tell thee that vengeance would be poured down in plenty pour ed down like the rain O Dingaan? Vengeance on the King. vengeance on the people, vengeance on the soldiers. vengeance on the. corn. vengeance on the kline, vengeance on the whole land. because blood runs between the spirit of the Inkosazana and the race of the Ama-zulu. whom once she loved"'
 Ut is true. it is true. White One. but why dost thou say it so often?' groan- ed the maddened Dingaan. Why show the whip to those who must feel the blow? Now. you Movo. have you done?"
 Note quite, O King" answered the melancholy Movo. still rubbing his head. ''The cattle of all the kraals around are dying of this same sick ness. and the crops are quite eaten, so that next winter everyone must perish of famine
 '1s that all. O Movo?'
 Not quite. O King. since messengers have come to me, as head keeper Of the kline. to say that all the other royal herds within two days journey are also stricken, although if I understand them right, of some other pest. Also. which forgot to add--
 Hunt out this bearer of i'll tidings." roared Dingaan. hunt him out. and send orders that his own cattle be taken to fill up the holes in my blan- ket.''
 Now some attendants sprang on the luckless Movo and began to beat him with their sticks. Still. before he reached the gates he succeeded in turning round weeping in good earnest and shouted:
 Tt is quite useless. O King all my cattle are dead. too They will find nothing but the horns and the hoofs. for I have sold the hides to the shield makers
 Then they thrust him forth
 He was gone, and for a while there was silence, for despair filled the hear S of the King and his Councillors, as they gazed at Rachel dismayed. won dering within themselves how they might be rid of her and of the evils which she had brought upon them be- cause of the blood of her people which lay at their doors.
 Whilst they still stared thus in sil- ence yet another messenger came run ming through the gate like one in great haste.
 Now I am minded to order this fel- low to be killed before he opens his