nada the lily(百合娜达)-第51节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


captives。　And　they　ran　far　that　night。　Nor　did　they　come　together
again　to　be　a　people；　for　they　feared　Galazi　the　Wolf；　who　would　be
chief　over　them；　but　they　were　scattered　wide　in　the　world；　to　sojourn
among　strangers。

Now　when　the　soldiers　had　eaten　abundantly　of　the　store　of　the
Halakazi；　and　guards　had　been　sent　to　ward　the　cattle　and　watch
against　surprise；　Umslopogaas　spoke　long　with　Nada　the　Lily；　taking
her　apart；　and　he　told　her　all　his　story。　She　told　him　also　the　tale
which　you　know；　my　father；　of　how　she　had　lived　with　the　little　people
that　were　subject　to　the　Halakazi；　she　and　her　mother　Macropha；　and
how　the　fame　of　her　beauty　had　spread　about　the　land。　Then　she　told
him　how　the　Halakazi　had　claimed　her；　and　of　how；　in　the　end；　they　had
taken　her　by　force　of　arms；　killing　the　people　of　that　kraal；　and
among　them　her　own　mother。　Thereafter；　she　had　dwelt　among　the
Halakazi；　who　named　her　anew；　calling　her　the　Lily；　and　they　had
treated　her　kindly；　giving　her　reverence　because　of　her　sweetness　and
beauty；　and　not　forcing　her　into　marriage。

〃And　why　would　you　not　wed；　Nada；　my　sister？〃　asked　Umslopogaas；　〃you
who　are　far　past　the　age　of　marriage？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you；〃　she　answered；　hanging　her　head；　〃but　I　have　no
heart　that　way。　I　only　seek　to　be　left　alone。〃

Now　Umslopogaas　thought　awhile　and　spoke。　〃Do　you　not　know　then；　Nada；
why　it　is　that　I　have　made　this　war；　and　why　the　people　of　the
Halakazi　are　dead　and　scattered　and　their　cattle　the　prize　of　my　arm？
I　will　tell　you：　I　am　come　here　to　win　you；　whom　I　knew　only　by　report
as　the　Lily　maid；　the　fairest　of　women；　to　be　a　wife　to　Dingaan。　The
reason　that　I　began　this　war　was　to　win　you　and　make　my　peace　with
Dingaan；　and　now　I　have　carried　it　through　to　the　end。〃

Now　when　she　heard　these　words；　Nada　the　Lily　trembled　and　wept；　and；
sinking　to　the　earth；　she　clasped　the　knees　of　Umslopogaas　in
supplication：　〃Oh；　do　not　this　cruel　thing　by　me；　your　sister；〃　she
prayed；　〃take　rather　that　great　axe　and　make　an　end　of　me；　and　of　the
beauty　which　has　wrought　so　much　woe；　and　most　of　all　to　me　who　wear
it！　Would　that　I　had　not　moved　my　head　behind　the　shield；　but　had
suffered　the　axe　to　fall　upon　it。　To　this　end　I　was　dressed　as　a　man；
that　I　might　meet　the　fate　of　a　man。　Ah！　a　curse　be　on　my　woman's
weakness　that　snatched　me　from　death　to　give　me　up　to　shame！〃

Thus　she　prayed　to　Umslopogaas　in　her　low　sweet　voice；　and　his　heart
was　shaken　in　him；　though；　indeed；　he　did　not　now　purpose　to　give　Nada
to　Dingaan；　as　Baleka　was　given　to　Chaka；　perhaps　in　the　end　to　meet
the　fate　of　Baleka。

〃There　are　many；　Nada；〃　he　said；　〃who　would　think　it　no　misfortune
that　they　should　be　given　as　a　wife　to　the　first　of　chiefs。〃

〃Then　I　am　not　of　their　number；〃　she　answered；　〃nay；　I　will　die　first；
by　my　own　hand　if　need　be。〃

Now　Umslopogaas　wondered　how　it　came　about　that　Nada　looked　upon
marriage　thus；　but　he　did　not　speak　of　the　matter；　he　said　only；　〃Tell
me　then；　Nada；　how　I　can　deliver　myself　of　this　charge。　I　must　go　to
Dingaan　as　I　promised　our　father　Mopo；　and　what　shall　I　say　to　Dingaan
when　he　asks　for　the　Lily　whom　I　went　out　to　pluck　and　whom　his　heart
desires？　What　shall　I　say　to　save　myself　alive　from　the　wrath　of
Dingaan？〃

Then　Nada　thought　and　answered；　〃You　shall　say　this；　my　brother。　You
shall　tell　him　that　the　Lily；　being　clothed　in　the　war…dress　of　a
warrior；　fell　by　chance　in　the　fray。　See；　now；　none　of　your　people
know　that　you　have　found　me；　they　are　thinking　of　other　things　than
maids　in　the　hour　of　their　victory。　This；　then；　is　my　plan：　we　will
search　now　by　the　starlight　till　we　find　the　body　of　a　fair　maid；　for；
doubtless；　some　were　killed　by　hazard　in　the　fight；　and　on　her　we　will
set　a　warrior's　dress；　and　lay　by　her　the　corpse　of　one　of　your　own
men。　To…morrow；　at　the　light；　you　shall　take　the　captains　of　your
soldiers　and；　having　laid　the　body　of　the　girl　in　the　dark　of　the
cave；　you　shall　show　it　to　them　hurriedly；　and　tell　them　that　this　was
the　Lily；　slain　by　one　of　your　own　people；　whom　in　your　wrath　you　slew
also。　They　will　not　look　long　on　so　common　a　sight；　and　if　by　hazard
they　see　the　maid；　and　think　her　not　so　very　fair；　they　will　deem　that
it　is　death　which　has　robbed　her　of　her　comeliness。　So　the　tale　which
you　must　tell　to　Dingaan　shall　be　built　up　firmly；　and　Dingaan　shall
believe　it　to　be　true。〃

〃And　how　shall　this　be；　Nada？〃　asked　Umslopogaas。　〃How　shall　this　be
when　men　see　you　among　the　captives　and　know　you　by　your　beauty？　Are
there；　then；　two　such　Lilies　in　the　land？〃

〃I　shall　not　be　known；　for　I　shall　not　be　seen；　Umslopogaas。　You　must
set　me　free　to…night。　I　will　wander　hence　disguised　as　a　youth　and
covered　with　a　blanket；　and　if　any　meet　me；　who　shall　say　that　I　am
the　Lily？〃

〃And　where　will　you　wander；　Nada？　to　your　death？　Must　we；　then；　meet
after　so　many　years　to　part　again　for　ever？〃

〃Where　was　it　that　you　said　you　lived；　my　brother？　Beneath　the　shade
of　a　Ghost　Mountain；　that　men　may　know　by　a　shape　of　stone　which　is
fashioned　like　an　old　woman　frozen　into　stone；　was　it　not？　Tell　me　of
the　road　thither。〃

So　Umslopogaas　told　her　the　road；　and　she　listened　silently。

〃Good；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　strong　and　my　feet　are　swift；　perhaps　they　may
serve　to　bring　me　so　far；　and　perhaps；　if　I　win　the　shadow　of　that
mountain；　you　will　find　me　a　hut　to　hide　in；　Umslopogaas；　my　brother。〃

〃Surely　it　shall　be　so；　my　sister；〃　answered　Umslopogaas；　〃and　yet　the
way　is　long　and　many　dangers　lie　in　the　path　of　a　maid　journeying
alone；　without　food　or　shelter；〃　and　as　he　spoke　Umslopogaas　thought
of　Zinita　his　wife；　for　he　guessed　that　she　would　not　love　Nada；
although　she　was　only　his　sister。

〃Still；　it　must　be　travelled；　and　the　dangers　must　be　braved；〃　she
answered；　smiling。　〃Alas！　there　is　no　other　way。〃

Then　Umslopogaas　summoned　Galazi　the　Wolf　and　told　him　all　this　story；
for　Galazi　was　the　only　man　whom　he　could　trust。　The　Wolf　listened　in
silence；　marvelling　the　while　at　the　beauty　of　Nada；　as　the　starlight
showed　it。　When　everything　was　told；　he　said　only　that　he　no　longer
wondered　that　the　people　of　the　Halakazi　had　defied　Dingaan　and
brought　death　upon　themselves　for　the　sake　of　this　maid。　Still；　to　be
plain；　his　heart　thought　ill　of　the　matter；　for　death　was　not　done
with　yet：　there　before　them　shone　the　Star　of　Death；　and　he　pointed　to
the　Lily。

Now　Nada　trembled　at　his　words　of　evil　omen；　and　the　Slaughterer　grew
angry；　but　Galazi　would　neither　add　to　them　nor　take　away　from　them。
〃I　have　spoken　that　which　my　heart　hears；〃　he　answered。

Then　they　rose　and　went　to　search　among　the　dead　for　a　girl　who　would
suit　their　purpose；　soon　they　found　one；　a　tall　and　fair　maiden；　and
Galazi　bore　her　in　his　arms　to　the　great　cave。　Here　in　the　cave　were
none　but　the　dead；　and；　tossed　hither　and　thither　in　their　last　sleep；
they　looked　awful　in　the　glare　of　the　torches。

〃They　sleep　sound；〃　said　the　Lily；　gazing　on　them；　〃rest　is　sweet。〃

〃We　shall　soon　win　it；　maiden；〃　answered　Galazi；　and　again　Nada
trembled。

Then；　having　arrayed　her　in　the　dress　of　a　warrior；　and　put　a　shield
and　spear　by　her；　they　laid　down　the　body　of　the　girl　in　a　dark　place
in　the　cave；　and；　finding　a　dead　warrior　of　the　People　of　the　Axe；
placed　him　beside　her。　Now　they　left　the　cave；　and；　pretending　that
they　visited　the　sentries；　Umslopogaas　and　Galazi　passed　from　spot　to
spot；　while　the　Lily　walked　after　them　like　a　guard；　hiding　her　face
with　a　shield；　holding　a　spear　in　her　hand；　and　having　with　her　a　bag
of　corn　and　dried　flesh。

So　they　passed　on；　till　at　length　they　came　to　the　entrance　in　the
mountain　side。　The　stones　that　had　blocked　it　were　pulled　down　so　as
to　allow　those　of　the　Halakazi　to　fly　who　had　been　spared　at　the
entreaty　of　Nada；　but　there　were　guards　by　the　entrance　to　watch　that
none　came　back。　Umslopogaas　challenged　them；　and　they　saluted　him；　but
he　saw　that　they　were　worn　out　with　battle　and　journeying；　and　knew
little　of　what　they　saw　or　said。　Then　he；　Galazi；　and　Nada　and　passed
through　the　opening　on　to　the　plain　beyond。

Here　the　Slaughterer　and　the　Lily　bade　each　other　farewell；　while
Galazi　watched；　and　presently　the　Wolf　saw　Umslopogaas　return　as　one
who　is　heavy　at　heart；　and　caught　sight　of　the　Lily　skimming　across
the　plain　lightly　like　a　swallow。

〃I　do　not　know　when　we　two　shall　meet　again；〃　said　Umslopogaas　so　soon
as　she　had　melted　into　the　shadows　of　the　night。

〃May　you　never　meet；〃　answered　Galazi；　〃for　I　am　sure　that　if　you　meet
that　sister　of　yours　will　bring　death　on　many　more　than　those　who　now
lie　low　because　of　her　loveliness。　She　is　a　Star　of　Death；　and　when
she　sets　the　sky　shall　be　blood　red。〃

Umslopogaas　did　not　answer；　but　walked　slowly　through　the　archway　in
the　mountain　side。

〃How　is　this；　chief？〃　said　he　who　was　captain　of　the　guard。　〃Three
went　out；　but　only　two　return。〃

〃Fool！〃　answered　Umslopogaas。　〃Are　you　drunk　with　Halakazi　beer；　or
blind　with　sleep？　Two　went　out；　and　two　return。　I　sent　him　who　was
with　us　back　to　the　camp。〃

〃So　be　it；　father；〃　said　the　captain。　〃Two　went　out；　and　two　return。
All　is　well！〃



CHAPTER　XX