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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 neither to the
right nor to the left； yet seeing all〃Wow！ but this flower is fair！
Little wonder that the Halakazi died for her！〃
The women looked also； but they said nothing of the beauty of Nada；
they scarcely seemed to see it。
〃That is she for whose sake so many of our people lie unburied；〃 said
one。
〃Where； then； does she find her fine clothes？〃 quoth another； 〃she who
came here last night a footsore wanderer？〃
〃Feathers are not enough for her： look！ she must bear flowers also。
Surely they are fitter to her hands than the handle of a hoe；〃 said a
third。
〃Now I think that the chief of the People of the Axe will find one to
worship above the axe； and that some will be left mourning；〃 put in a
fourth； glancing at Zinita and the other women of the household of the
Slaughterer。
Thus they spoke； throwing words like assegais； and Nada heard them
all； and knew their meaning； but she never ceased from smiling。 Only
Zinita said nothing； but stood looking at Nada from beneath her bent
brows； while by one hand she held the little daughter of Umslopogaas；
her child； and with the other played with the beads about her neck。
Presently； we passed her； and Nada； knowing well who this must be；
turned her eyes full upon the angry eyes of Zinita； and held them
there awhile。 Now what there was in the glance of Nada I cannot say；
but I know that Zinita； who was afraid of few things； found something
to fear in it。 At the least； it was she who turned her head away； and
the Lily passed on smiling； and greeted Umslopogaas with a little nod。
〃Hail； Nada！〃 said the Slaughterer。 Then he turned to his headmen and
spoke： 〃This is she whom we went to the caves of the Halakazi to seek
for Dingaan。 Ou！ the story is known now； one told it up at the kraal
Umgugundhlovu who shall tell it no more。 She prayed me to save her
from Dingaan； and so I did； and all would have gone well had it not
been for a certain traitor who is done with； for I took another to
Dingaan。 Look on her now； my friends； and say if I did not well to win
herthe Lily flower； such as there is no other in the world； to be
the joy of the People of the Axe and a wife to me。〃
With one accord the headmen answered： 〃Indeed you did well；
Slaughterer；〃 for the glamour of Nada was upon them and they would
cherish her as others had cherished her。 Only Galazi the Wolf shook
his head。 But he said nothing； for words do not avail against fate。
Now as I found afterwards； since Zinita； the head wife of Umslopogaas；
had learned of what stock he was； she had known that Nada was no
sister to him。 Yet when she heard him declare that he was about to
take the Lily to wife she turned upon him； saying：
〃How can this be； Lord？〃
〃Why do you ask； Zinita？〃 he answered。 〃Is it not allowed to a man to
take another wife if he will？〃
〃Surely； Lord；〃 she said； 〃but men do not wed their sisters； and I
have heard that it was because this Nada was your sister that you
saved her from Dingaan； and brought the wrath of Dingaan upon the
People of the Axe； the wrath that shall destroy them。〃
〃So I