ear that he held was jerked from it
harmlessly over the white man's head. But still making no sound, the
Zulu came on and gripped him by the throat with his left hand. For a
space they struggled terribly, swaying to and fro, but Hadden was
unhurt and fought with the fury of despair, while Nahoon had been
twice wounded, and there remained to him but one sound arm wherewith to
strike. Presently forced to earth by the white man's iron strength, the
soldier was down, nor could he rise again.

"Now we will make an end," muttered Hadden savagely, and he turned to
seek the assegai, then staggered slowly back with starting eyes and
reeling gait. For there before him, still clad in her white robe, a
spear in her hand, stood the spirit of Nanea!

"Think of it," he said to himself, dimly remembering the words of the
_inyanga_, "when you stand face to face with the ghost of the dead in
the Home of the Dead."

There was a cry and a flash of steel; the broad spear leapt towards him
to bury itself in his breast. He swayed, he fell, and presently Black
Heart clasped that great reward which the word of the Bee had promised
Him.

*****

"Nahoon! Nahoon!" murmured a soft voice, "awake, it is no ghost, but
I--Nanea--I, your living wife, to whom my _Ehlose_[*] has given it me to
save you."

[*] Guardian Spirit.

Nahoon heard and opened his eyes to look and his madness left him.

"Welcome, wife," he said faintly, "now I will live since Death has
brought you back to me in the House of the Dead."

*****

To-day Nahoon is one of the Indunas of the English Government in
Zululand, and there are children about his kraal. It was from the lips
of none other than Nanea his wife that the teller of this tale heard its
substance.

The Bee also lives and practises as much magic as she dares under the
white man's rule. On her black hand shines a golden ring shaped like a
snake with ruby eyes, and of this trinket the Bee is very proud.

End of Project Gutenberg's Black Heart and White Heart, by H. Rider Haggard

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACK HEART AND WHITE HEART ***

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