Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22
CHAPTER K.
The Omen of the Star.

AS 1t CHANGED and can easily be under
stood, Rachel could not have made a
more effective entry into Zululand. or one
more calculated to confirm her super
natural reputation. When the wild
beast" she rode plunged about she had
remained seated on it as though she grew
there, whereas every warrior knew that
he would have fallen off. When the bull
charged her that bull had died, slain by
the heavens When the Isanuzi, witch
of repute, had lifted voice and hand
against her she had commanded her
death, showing that she feared no rival
magic. True. the woman would have
been killed In any case, for such was the
order Of the king as to all who should
dare to arfront the InkosaZana, yet the
captains had waited to see what Rachel
would do that they might judge her ac
cordlngly. If she mad shown tear, if she
had even neglected to avenge, they might
have marveled whether after all she were
more than a beautiful white maiden filled
with the wisdom of the whites.
Now they knew better; she was a spirit
having the power of a spirit over beast
and man, who smote as spirit should.
The fame of 1t went throughout the land,
and little chance thenceforward had
Rachel of escaping from the shadow Of
her own fearful renown.
Toward SHUTDOWN they came to kraal
set upon hill, and it was asked of her
if she were pleased to spend the night
there. She bowed her head In assent, and
they entered the kraal. 1t was quite
empty, save for certain maidens dressed
In bead petticoats, who waited there 10
serve her. All the other inhabitants had
gone. They took her to a large and beau
tifully clean hut kneeling on their
knees, the maidens presented her with
food-meat and curdled milk and roasted
cobs of corn She ate Of the corn and
milk, but the meat she sent away as a
gift to the captains. Then alone in that
kraal, in which after they had served
her even the girls seemed to fear to stay,
Rachel slept as best she might in such
solitude. while without the fence two
thousand armed savages watched over her
safety.
1t was a troubled sleep. for she dreamed
always of that dreadful-looking Isanuzi
with the fish bladders in her hair. yelling
to her that her path through life was
watered with blood, and bidding her go
back to her own kraal and see whether
the words were true, an ominous saying
of which she could not read the riddle.
She dreamed also Of the woman's coarse.
furious face turned suddenly to one of
abject terror. and then the dreadful end
the red death. without mercy and without
appeal. which she had let loose by mo-
ton Of her hand. Another dream she had
was Of her father and her mother. who
seemed to be lying side by side staring
toward her with wide-open eyes. and that
when she spoke to them they would not
answer.
So the long night wore away, till at
length Rachel woke with a start. think
ing that a hand had been laid upon her
face. to see by the faint light of dawn
which struggled into the hut through
the cracks Of the door-boards that the
hand was only a great rat that had
crawled over her and now nibbled at her
hair. She sat up. frightening it and its
companions away; then rose and washed
herself with water that stood by in great
gourds. while without she heard the
women singing some kind of song or
hymn. Of which she could not catch the
words.
Scarcely was she ready than they en-
tered the hut saluting her and bringing
more food. Rachel ate then bade one
Of they say to the captain of the impi
that she was ready to start. Presently
the girl returned with the message that
all was prepared. She walked from the
kraal to find her mare. which had been
we'll fed and groomed by Tamboosa. who
had seen horses in Natal and knew how
they should be treated. saddled and walt
ing, while before and behind ii, arranged
as on the previous day. stood the war
riors, who received her in dead, respect
full silence.
She mounted. and the procession went
forward. With two hours halt at mid
passing many villages Of beehive-shaped
huts AS they came the inhabitants Of
these places deserted them and fed. cry
ing, Observation-Disclosures! Nomkubulwana!"
1t was evident to Rachel that the tale
Of the death of the Isanuzi had preceded
her, and they feared lest. should they
cross her path. her fate would be their
fate. Indeed. one of the strangest cir
the complete loneliness in which she lived.
Except those who were actually ordered
to wait upon her. none dared come near
Rachel; she was holy. spirit, to ap-