nada the lily(百合娜达)-第58节

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protect　you？　Father；　was　it　not？〃　and　I　turned　my　face　towards　the
blaze　of　the　fire；　so　that　the　full　light　fell　upon　it。

〃Yes；　I　called　you　father；　old　man。　It　is　not　strange；　for　a　homeless
wanderer　must　find　fathers　where　she　canand　yet！　no；　it　cannot　be
so　changedand　that　white　hand？　And　yet；　oh！　who　are　you？　Once　there
was　a　man　named　Mopo；　and　he　had　a　little　daughter；　and　she　was　called
NadaOh！　my　father；　my　father；　I　know　you　now！〃

〃Ay；　Nada；　and　I　knew　you　from　the　first；　through　all　your　man's
wrappings　I　knew　you　after　these　many　years。〃

So　the　Lily　fell　upon　my　neck　and　sobbed　there；　and　I　remember　that　I
also　wept。

Now　when　she　had　sobbed　her　fill　of　joy；　Umslopogaas　brought　Nada　the
Lily　mass　to　eat　and　mealie　porridge。　She　ate　the　curdled　milk；　but
the　porridge　she　would　not　eat；　saying　that　she　was　too　weary。

Then　she　told　us　all　the　tale　of　her　wanderings　since　she　had　fled
away　from　the　side　of　Umslopogaas　at　the　stronghold　of　the　Halakazi；
and　it　was　long；　so　long　that　I　will　not　repeat　it；　for　it　is　a　story
by　itself。　This　I　will　say　only：　that　Nada　was　captured　by　robbers；
and　for　awhile　passed　herself　off　among　them　as　a　youth。　But；　in　the
end；　they　found　her　out　and　would　have　given　her　as　a　wife　to　their
chief；　only　she　persuaded　them　to　kill　the　chief　and　make　her　their
ruler。　They　did　this　because　of　that　medicine　of　the　eyes　which　Nada
had　only　among　women；　for　as　she　ruled　the　Halakazi　so　she　ruled　the
robbers。　But；　at　the　last；　they　all　loved　her；　and　she　gave　it　out
that　she　would　wed　the　strongest。　Then　some　of　them　fell　to　fighting；
and　while　they　killed　each　otherfor　it　came　about　that　Nada　brought
death　upon　the　robbers　as　on　all　othersshe　escaped；　for　she　said
that　she　did　not　wish　to　look　upon　their　struggle　but　would　await　the
upshot　in　a　place　apart。

After　that　she　had　many　further　adventures；　but　at　length　she　met　an
old　woman　who　guided　her　on　her　way　to　the　Ghost　Mountain。　And　who
this　old　woman　was　none　could　discover；　but　Galazi　swore　afterwards
that　she　was　the　Stone　Witch　of　the　mountain；　who　put　on　the　shape　of
an　aged　woman　to　guide　Nada　to　Umslopogaas；　to　be　the　sorrow　and　the
joy　of　the　People　of　the　Axe。　I　do　not　know；　my　father；　yet　it　seems
to　me　that　the　old　witch　would　scarcely　have　put　off　her　stone　for　so
small　a　matter。

Now；　when　Nada　had　made　an　end　of　her　tale；　Umslopogaas　told　his；　of
how　things　had　gone　with　Dingaan。　When　he　told　her　how　he　had　given
the　body　of　the　girl　to　the　king；　saying　that　it　was　the　Lily's　stalk；
she　said　it　had　been　well　done；　and　when　he　spoke　of　the　slaying　of
the　traitor　she　clapped　her　hands；　though　Nada；　whose　heart　was
gentle；　did　not　love　to　hear　of　deeds　of　death。　At　last　he　finished；
and　she　was　somewhat　sad；　and　said　it　seemed　that　her　fate　followed
her；　and　that　now　the　People　of　the　Axe　were　in　danger　at　the　hands　of
Dingaan　because　of　her。

〃Ah！　my　brother；〃　she　cried；　taking　Umslopogaas　by　the　hand；　〃it　were
better　I　should　die　than　that　I　should　bring　evil　upon　you　also。〃

〃That　would　not　mend　matters；　Nada；〃　he　answered。　〃For　whether　you　be
dead　or　alive；　the　hate　of　Dingaan。　Also；　Nada；　know　this：　I　am　not
your　brother。〃

When　the　Lily　heard　these　words　she　uttered　a　little　cry；　and；　letting
fall　the　hand　of　Umslopogaas；　clasped　mine；　shrinking　up　against　me。

〃What　is　this　tale；　father？〃　she　asked。　〃He　who　was　my　twin；　he　with
whom　I　have　been　bred　up；　says　that　he　has　deceived　me　these　many
years；　that　he　is　not　my　brother；　who；　then；　is　he；　father？〃

〃He　is　your　cousin；　Nada。〃

〃Ah；〃　she　answered；　〃I　am　glad。　It　would　have　grieved　me　had　he　whom　I
loved　been　shown　to　be　but　a　stranger　in　whom　I　have　no　part；〃　and　she
smiled　a　little　in　the　eyes　and　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth。　〃But　tell
me　this　tale　also。〃

So　I　told　her　the　tale　of　the　birth　of　Umslopogaas；　for　I　trusted　her。

〃Ah；〃　she　said；　when　I　had　finished；　〃ah！　you　come　of　a　bad　stock；
Umslopogaas；　though　it　is　a　kingly　one。　I　shall　love　you　little
henceforth；　child　of　the　hyena　man。〃

〃Then　that　is　bad　news；〃　said　Umslopogaas；　〃for　know；　Nada；　I　desire
now　that　you　should　love　me　more　than　everthat　you　should　be　my　wife
and　love　me　as　your　husband！〃

Now　the　Lily's　face　grew　sad　and　sweet；　and　all　the　hidden　mockery
went　out　of　her　talkfor　Nada　loved　to　mock。

〃Did　you　not　speak　to　me　on　that　night　in　the　Halakazi　caves；
Umslopogaas；　of　one　Zinita；　who　is　your　wife；　and　Inkosikaas　of　the
People　of　the　Axe？〃

Then　the　brow　of　Umslopogaas　darkened：　〃What　of　Zinita？〃　he　said。　〃It
is　true　she　is　my　chieftainess；　is　it　not　allowed　a　man　to　take　more
than　one　wife？〃

〃So　I　trust；〃　answered　Nada；　smiling；　〃else　men　would　go　unwed　for
long；　for　few　maids　would　marry　them　who　then　must　labour　alone　all
their　days。　But；　Umslopogaas；　if　there　are　twenty　wives；　yet　one　must
be　first。　Now　this　has　come　about　hitherto：　that　wherever　I　have　been
it　has　been　thrust　upon　me　to　be　first；　and　perhaps　it　might　be　thus
once　morewhat　then；　Umslopogaas？〃

〃Let　the　fruit　ripen　before　you　pluck　it；　Nada；〃　he　answered。　〃If　you
love　me　and　will　wed　me；　it　is　enough。〃

〃I　pray　that　it　may　not　be　more　than　enough；〃　she　said；　stretching　out
her　hand　to　him。　〃Listen；　Umslopogaas：　ask　my　father　here　what　were
the　words　I　spoke　to　him　many　years　ago；　before　I　was　a　woman；　when；
with　my　mother；　Macropha；　I　left　him　to　go　among　the　Swazi　people。　It
was　after　you　had　been　borne　away　by　the　lion；　Umslopogaas；　I　told　my
father　that　I　would　marry　no　man　all　my　life；　because　I　loved　only
you；　who　were　dead。　My　father　reproached　me；　saying　that　I　must　not
speak　thus　of　my　brother；　but　it　was　my　heart　which　spoke；　and　it
spoke　truly；　for　see；　Umslopogaas；　you　are　no　brother　to　me！　I　have
kept　that　vow。　How　many　men　have　sort　me　in　wedlock　since　I　became　a
woman；　Umslopogaas？　I　tell　you　that　they　are　as　the　leaves　upon　a
tree。　Yet　I　have　given　myself　to　none；　and　this　has　been　my　fortune：
that　none　have　sought　to　constrain　me　to　marriage。　Now　I　have　my
reward；　for　he　whom　I　lost　is　found　again；　and　to　him　alone　I　give　my
love。　Yet；　Umslopogaas；　beware！　Little　luck　has　come　to　those　who　have
loved　me　in　the　past；　no；　not　even　to　those　who　have　but　sought　to
look　on　me。〃

〃I　will　bear　the　risk；　Nada；〃　the　Slaughterer　answered；　and　gathering
her　to　his　great　breast　he　kissed　her。

Presently　she　slipped　from　his　arms　and　bade　him　begone；　for　she　was
weary　and　would　rest。

So　he　went。



CHAPTER　XXXI

THE　WAR　OF　THE　WOMEN

Now　on　the　morrow　at　daybreak；　leaving　his　wolves；　Galazi　came　down
from　the　Ghost　Mountain　and　passed　through　the　gates　of　the　kraal。

In　front　of　my　hut　he　saw　Nada　the　Lily　and　saluted　her；　for　each
remembered　the　other。　Then　he　walked　on　to　the　place　of　assembly　and
spoke　to　me。

〃So　the　Star　of　Death　has　risen　on　the　People　of　the　Axe；　Mopo；〃　he
said。　〃Was　it　because　of　her　coming　that　my　grey　people　howled　so
strangely　last　night？　I　cannot　tell；　but　I　know　this；　the　Star　shone
first　on　me　this　morning；　and　that　is　my　doom。　Well；　she　is　fair
enough　to　be　the　doom　of　many；　Mopo；〃　and　he　laughed　and　passed　on；
swinging　the　Watcher。　But　his　words　troubled　me；　though　they　were
foolish；　for　I　could　not　but　remember　that　wherever　the　beauty　of　Nada
had　pleased　the　sight　of　men；　there　men　had　been　given　to　death。

Then　I　went　to　lead　Nada　to　the　place　of　assembly　and　found　her
awaiting　me。　She　was　dressed　now　in　some　woman's　garments　that　I　had
brought　her；　her　curling　hair　fell　upon　her　shoulders；　on　her　wrist
and　neck　and　knee　were　bracelets　of　ivory；　and　in　her　hand　she　bore　a
lily　bloom　which　she　had　gathered　as　she　went　to　bathe　in　the　river。
Perhaps　she　did　this；　my　father；　because　she　wished　here；　as
elsewhere；　to　be　known　as　the　Lily；　and　it　is　the　Zulu　fashion　to　name
people　from　some　such　trifle。　But　who　can　know　a　woman's　reason；　or
whether　a　thing　is　by　chance　alone；　my　father？　Also　she　had　begged　me
of　a　cape　I　had；　it　was　cunningly　made　by　Basutus；　of　the　whitest
feathers　of　the　ostrich；　this　she　put　about　her　shoulders；　and　it　hung
down　to　her　middle。　It　had　been　a　custom　with　Nada　from　childhood　not
to　go　about　as　do　other　girls；　naked　except　for　their　girdles；　for　she
would　always　find　some　rag　or　skin　to　lie　upon　her　breast。　Perhaps　it
was　because　her　skin　was　fairer　than　that　of　other　women；　or　perhaps
because　she　knew　that　she　who　hides　her　beauty　often　seems　the
loveliest；　or　because　there　was　truth　in　the　tale　of　her　white　blood
and　the　fashion　came　to　her　with　the　blood。　I　do　not　know；　my　father；
at　the　least　she　did　so。

Now　I　took　Nada　by　the　hand　and　led　her　through　the　morning　air　to　the
place　of　assembly；　and　ah！　she　was　sweeter　than　the　air　and　fairer
than　the　dawn。

There　were　many　people　in　the　place　of　assembly；　for　it　was　the　day　of
the　monthly　meeting　of　the　council　of　the　headmen；　and　there　also　were
all　the　women　of　the　kraal；　and　at　their　head　stood　Zinita。　Now　it　had
got　about　that　the　girl　whom　the　Slaughterer　went　to　seek　in　the　caves
of　the　Halakazi　had　come　to　the　kraal　of　the　People　of　the　Axe；　and
all　eyes　watched　for　her。

〃Wow！〃　said　the　men　as　she　passed　smiling；　looking