as was the son of Indabazimbi the Witch-finder, who had long
ago fled the land; nor did he deny it. For when all this game had been
played out he would not have it known that he was the son of Chaka, he
who no longer sought to be a king, lest he should bring down the wrath
of Panda upon him.

When the people heard this they thought that Umslopogaas mocked Zinita,
and yet in his anger he spoke truth when he said first that he was
born of the "heavens above," for so we Zulus name the king, and so the
witch-doctor Indabazimbi named Chaka on the day of the great smelling
out. But they did not take it in this sense. They held that he
spoke truly when he gave it out that he was born of Indabazimbi the
Witch-doctor, who had fled the land, whither I do not know.

Then Nada turned to Zinita and spoke to her in a sweet and gentle voice:
"If I am not sister to Bulalio, yet I shall soon be sister to you who
are the Chief's Inkosikaas, Zinita. Shall that not satisfy you, and will
you not greet me kindly and with a kiss of peace, who have come from
far to be your sister, Zinita?" and Nada held out her hands towards
her, though whether she did this from the heart or because she would
put herself in the right before the people I do not know. But Zinita
scowled, and jerked at her necklace of beads, breaking the string
on which they were threaded, so that the beads rolled upon the black
earthen floor this way and that.

"Keep your kisses for our lord, girl," Zinita said roughly. "As my beads
are scattered so shall you scatter this People of the Axe."

Now Nada turned away with a little sigh, and the people murmured, for
they thought that Zinita had treated her badly. Then she stretched out
her hand again, and gave the lily in it to Umslopogaas, saying:--

"Here is a token of our betrothal, Lord, for never a head of cattle
have my father and I to send--we who are outcasts; and, indeed, the
bridegroom must pay the cattle. May I bring you peace and love, my
Lord!"

Umslopogaas took the flower, and looked somewhat foolish with it--he who
was wont to carry the axe, and not a flower; and so that talk was ended.

Now as it chanced, this was that day of the year when, according to
ancient custom, the Holder of the Axe must challenge all and sundry to
come up against him to fight in single combat for Groan-Maker and
the chieftainship of the people. Therefore, when the talk was done,
Umslopogaas rose and went through the challenge, not thin