Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
CHAPTER XxI1-Continued.

So Rachel looked long and earnestly, but
saw nothing OF Richard. only many fan
tastic pictures, most Of which she knew
again for scenes from her own past. AT
length. worn out. she thrust away the
howl. and asked in a bitter voice why
they Knocked her. and how ii came about
hat she who had seen the coming of
Richard in the pool in Zululand. and the
fate OF Dingaan the king in the bowl Of
Eddo. could now see nothing OF any
worth.
AS regards the vision of the pool /
cannot say, maiden replied Nya, tor
that was born OF thine own heart, and
Lad nothing 10 do with our magic. AS
i'esards the visions in the bowl or Edo,
they We're his visions, not thine, or rather
my visions that i saw before he started
tHcr. ] passed them on to him, and
~ passed them on 10 thee. and thou didst
pass them on TO King Dingaan. Far
sighted aad pure souled as thou art, yet
not having been instructed in their
j. izard.y. tt.ou wilt see nothing in the
lows - the dwarts unless their blood IS
mingled WITH thy blood
= Their blood mingled with my olood?'
What dGst thou mean, MOTHER
What / say. neither more nor less. II
Edo has his Will, thou wilt rule after
me here as mother OF tho trees. But first
Thy veins must be opened. and the veins
Q. Edo must be opened. and Eddo's blood
must be poured into thee. ana thy blood
.nto him. Then thou wilt he able 10 read
II the bowl as We can, and Edo vii! be
t1y master. and thou must DO his bidding
while sou both shall live"
III So answered Rachel, Il think
neither OF us will live long"
That night Rache. fe't too exhausted to
sleep though why thi. should be she
could not guess. as she had done nothing
Al day save watch the muteS at their
creary tasks, and il was strange. there
fore, that she should feel as though she
lad made a long journey upon her feet.
About an hour before the dawn she saw
Nya rise and glide past her toward the
mouth OF the cave. carrying IN her hand
little drum Ike those used by the mute
women Something impelied her 10 follow,
and waking Mole al her side. she babe
her come also.
Outside OF the cave by the faint star
light they saw the little shape OF Nyar
creeping down the mound, and thence
across the open space toward the wall.
and went after her thinking that she in
tended 10 pass the wall But this she did
not Go. for when she came To its foot
IVA, notwithstanding her feebeness. be
gan TO climb the rough stones as actively
as any cat, and though their ascent SEEM
~d periious enough. reached the crest Of
the wa SHY feet above III safety. and
there sat herself down. Next they heard
her beating upon the drum she bore. sin
gle strokes always. but some OF them
slow, and some rapid. with pause be
tween every i've or ten strokes. ''as
though she was spelling out words
though Rachel
After while Nya ceased her beating,
and in the utter silence ~ the night which
was broken only. as always, ~ the occa-
~ional crash OF falling trees, for no
breath ~ air stirred. and AL The beasts
az prey had sought their LARS before light
came both she and Mole seemed 10 hear.
car. infinitely far away. the faint beat
al an answering drum IL would appear
that Nya heard Il also. for she struck a
Sugle note upon hers as though in ac-
knowledge after which the distant
beating went on. paused as though for a
reply from some other unheard drum and
again from time TO time went ON, per-
laps repeating that reply.
For a long while this continued until
the sky began To grow gray indeed. when
IVA beat for several minutes and was
answered by 4 single far-of note Then
glancing at the heavens she prepared To
descend the wall. while Rachel and Mole
slipped back to the cave and feigned 40
be asleep. Soon she entered and stood
over them shaking her gray head and
asking how il came about that they
thought that she, the mother of the trees,
should be so easily deceived.
so thou SaweSt us" said Rachel, try
ing not To look ashamed.
NO; saw you not with my eyes. either