re as you know you
may live in peace out of reach of the arm of Cetywayo?"

"That is my desire, _Inkoos_, but Nahoon will not consent. He says that
there is to be war between us and you white men, and he will not break
the command of the king and desert from his army."

"Then he cannot love you much, Nahoon, and at least you have to think of
yourself. Whisper into the ear of your father and fly together, for be
sure that Nahoon will soon follow you. Ay! and I myself with fly with
you, for I too believe that there must be war, and then a white man in
this country will be as a lamb among the eagles."

"If Nahoon will come, I will go, _Inkoos_, but I cannot fly without
Nahoon; it is better I should stay here and kill myself."

"Surely then being so fair and loving him so well, you can teach him
to forget his folly and to escape with you. In four days' time we must
start for the king's kraal, and if you win over Nahoon, it will be
easy for us to turn our faces southwards and across the river that lies
between the land of the Amazulu and Natal. For the sake of all of us,
but most of all for your own sake, try to do this, Nanea, whom I have
loved and whom I now would save. See him and plead with him as you
know how, but as yet do not tell him that I dream of flight, for then I
should be watched."

"In truth, I will, _Inkoos_," she answered earnestly, "and oh! I thank
you for your goodness. Fear not that I will betray you--first would I
die. Farewell."

"Farewell, Nanea," and taking her hand he raised it to his lips.

*****

Late that night, just as Hadden was beginning to prepare himself for
sleep, he heard a gentle tapping at the board which closed the entrance
to his hut.

"Enter," he said, unfastening the door, and presently by the light of
the little lantern that he had with him, he saw Nanea creep into the
hut, followed by the great form of Nahoon.

"_Inkoos_," she said in a whisper when the door was closed again, "I
have pleaded with Nahoon, and he has consented to fly; moreover, my
father will come also."

"Is it so, Nahoon?" asked Hadden.

"It is so," answered the Zulu, looking down shamefacedly; "to save this
girl from the king, and because the love of her eats out my heart, I
have bartered away my honour. But I tell you, Nanea, and you, White
Man, as I told Umgona just now, that I think no good will come of this
flight, and if we are caught or betrayed, we shall be killed every one
of us."

"Caught