or some secret reason
that had to do with their superstitions. But Heda, who, now that
Nombe was dead, developed a great affection for her not unmixed
with a certain amount of compunction for which really she had no
cause, withstood him to his face and insisted upon a decent
interment. So she was laid to earth still plastered with the
white pigment and wrapped in the bloodstained feather robe. I
may add that on the following morning one of Zikali's servants
informed me solemnly that because of this she had been seen
during the night riding up and down the rocks on a baboon as Zulu
umtagati are supposed to do. I have small doubt that as soon as
we were gone they dug her up again and threw her to the vultures
and the jackals according to their first intention.

On this day we at length escaped from the Black Kloof, and in our
own cart, for during the night our horses arrived mysteriously
from somewhere, in good condition though rather wild. I went to
say good-bye to Zikali, who said little, except that we should
meet once more after many moons. Anscombe and Heda he would not
see at all, but only sent them a message, to the effect that he
hoped they would think kindly of him through the long years to
come, since he had kept his promise and preserved them safe
through many dangers. I might have answered that he had first of
all put them into the dangers, but considered it wise to hold my
tongue. I think, however, that he guessed my thought, if one can
talk of guessing in connection with Zikali, for he said that they
had no reason to thank him, since if he had served their turn
they had served his, adding--

"It will be strange in the times to be for the lady Heddana to
remember that it was she and no other who crumpled up the Zulus
like a frostbitten winter reed, since had she not appeared upon
the rock in the Valley of Bones, there would have been no war."

"She did not do this, you did it, Zikali," I said, "making her
your tool through love and fear."

"Nay, Macumazahn, I did not do it; it was done by what you call
God and I call Fate in whose hand I am the tool. Well, say to
the lady Heddana that in payment I will hold back the ghost of
Nombe from haunting her, if I can. Say also that if I had not
brought her and her lover to Zululand they would have been
killed."

So we went from that hateful kloof which I have never seen since
and hope I shall never see again, two of Zikali's men escorting
us until