Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-16
CHAPTER xIx.-Continued.


the Queen of the Trees and down these
aisles. piercing the shadows cast by the
interlacing branches overhead. shone the
lights of that lurid morning. Rachel saw.
and something struggled in the darkness
of her brain, as the light struggled in the
darkness OF the forest aisles She re
membered-oh, what was 1t she remem-
bered? Now she knew. II was the dream
she has dreamed upon the island In the
river. years and years ago. a dream of
SUCH trees as these. and of lite gray
people like to these. and of the boy Rich
ard. grown TO manhood, dashed 10 the
trunk of one of the trees. What had
happened 10 her? She could recall moth
ing since she saw the body of Richard
upon its bier in the kraal Mafooti.
But this was not the kraal Mafooti. nor
had Mole, who stood at her side, been with
her there. Mole. who had gone on an en-
baS Sy to her fathers folk. the dwarf peo-
pie All, these people were dwarfs. Look
at them running to and fro screaming like
little monkeys. She must have been
dreaming long. bad dream. whereof the
pictures had escaped her. Doubtless she
was still dreaming and presently would
awake. Well. the torment had gone out
If il, and the fear, only the wonder re-
manned She would stand still and see
what happened. Something was happen
ing now a little thin hand appeared.
gripping the rough bark at the side Of the
fallen tree.
She peeped over the swell of it and saw
an old dwarf woman with long white halr.
whose feet were set in a cleft Of the
shattered bole. and who hung to it as an
ape hangs. Beneath her to the ground
was a fall Of full thirty feet. for the base
Of the bole was held high up by the roots.
80 that the little woman's hair hung down
straight toward the ground, whittier she
must presently fall and be killed. Rachel
wondered how she had come there. II she
had chung to the trunk when Ii fell. or
been thrown up by the shock. or lifted by
a bough. Next she wondered how long IT
would he before she was obliged to leave
90. and whether her white head or her
back would first strike the earth all that
depth beneath. Then II occurred 10 her
that she might be saved
Hold my feet she said TO Mole. who
had followed her along the trunk, speak
ing in her own natural voice, at the
sound of which Mole looked at her in Joy
full wonder Hold my feet | think
can reach that old woman. and without
waiting for an answer she laid herself
down upon the bole, her body hanging
over the curve of It,
Now Mole saw her purpose, and seating
herself with her heels set against the
roughness of the bark, grasped her by the
ankles. Supporting some of her weight
on one hand. with the other Rachel
reached downward all the length or her
long arm, and just as the grasp or the
old woman below was slackening, con-
trived to grip her by the wrist. The
dwarf swung loose. hanging in the air.
but she was very light. of the weight OF
a five-year-old child. perhaps. no more,
and Rachel was very strong. WIN an e1-
fort she lifted her up till the monkey-like
fingers gripped the rough bark again. An
other effort and the little body was rest
ing on the round of the tree. one more
and she was beside her.
Now Rachel rose to her feet again and
laughed. but 1T was not the mad laughter
that had scared Ishmael and the Zulus: 1t
was her own laughter, that or heaithy,
cultured woman.
The little creature crouching on hands
and knees at RacheTs feet, lifted her
head and stared with her round eyes AT
that moment, too, the sun broke out ana
Its rays shining where they had never
shone for ages, fell upon Rachel. upon
her bright hair, and the white robes in
which the dwarfs had clothed her. and
the cleaning spear in her hand. causing
her to look like some ancient statue Oh
goddess upon a temple roof.
in the kissing voice of her race, thou
beautiful One? 1 know! / know. Thou
art that Inkosazana of the Zuius or whom
we have had many visions. she for whom
| sent But the Inkosazana was mad,
She had lost her Spirit; it has been seen
here Beautiful One thou art not mad.
What does she say. Noie?" asked
Rachel. Il can only understand some
words
Mole told her. and Rachel hid her eyes
in her hand. Presently she let 1t fall.
saying:
.'she is right. I lost my spirit for a
while; 1t went away with another spirit
But | think that I have found 1t again
Tell her. Mole. that l have Travelled far to
seek my spirit. and that nave found II
again"
Mole. who could scarcely take her eyes
from RacheIs face, obeyed but the old
woman hardly seemed to heed her words
grief had got hold Of her. She rocked
herself to and fro like a monkey that Las
lost its young. and cried out:
My tree has fallen; the tree Of my
house. which stood from the beginning OF
the world has fallen. but that Of Eddo
still stands" and she pointed TO another
giant of the forest that scared up, I'M
harmed at a little distance MA
tree has fallen-Eddo's tree sun stands.
His magic has prevailed against me his
magic has prevailed against me
As she spoke man appeared s.raln-
bling along the bole toward them; u was
Eddo himself. His round eyes shone. on
his pale face there was a look of triumph
for whoever might be lost. the danger had
passed him BY.
"Nya.'' he piped. tapping her on the
shoulder. THY ghost has deserted thee.
old woman. thy tree is down See. spiI
upon it." and he did So Thou art no
longer mother Of the trees thou art only
the old woman Nya. The ghost ptop.+.
tile dream people. the little gray people.
rave . new queen. and / am her minister,
for rule her spirit. Yonder she stands.
and he pointed at the tall and GlitterfnG
Rachel. Now thou newborn Mother q:
the Trees who vast the Inkosazana OF
the ZulIs. obey me. Give death To TINS
old woman. the red death, that her spirit
may u split with her blood. and lost for
ever GIVE il 10 her with that spear IL
tfv nand, while | hide my eyes, and reign
iuou in her place through me-, and ~
bowed MS head and waited.
Not the red death not the red death.
walled Nyd. Give me- ire white death
and save my soul. beautiful one and in
return ! Mil Silr thee something that
thou deSire>t. tho am Stll the wisest OF
them all. altuougi my tree is down
Noie whispered for 4 while IN Rachel 5
ear. T4en while all the dwarf people
gathered beneath them. watching Rachel
benz forward and. putting her arms about
a.. trembling creature. lifted her Iip as
though She Ner- enid. and ieid hei. 10
Ier bosom
..Mother." ne said. Il give thee no
death red white. | give thee love Thy
tree is down. ST thou il my shadow and
- sate. ON linn who harms taee''-and
she looked 81 F.ddo "on uim shat the
red death fall
CHAPTER Xxx