ive in the mountain
Umpondwana, and who were the Children of Zwide, but are now the Children
of Chaka."

"Why then do you wander so far from home, Sihamba?"

"For this reason. When Zwide and his people, the Endwandwe, were driven
back, my people, the Umpondwana, who were subject to Zwide, made peace
with Chaka against my will. Therefore, because I would not live as a
Zulu dog, I left them."

"Although your body is small you have a large heart," said the captain,
and one of his people cried out: "The story of Sihamba is true, for
when you sent me as messenger to the Endwandwe, I heard it--it is a tale
there."

Then the captain asked, "And who is the beautiful white woman who sits
upon the great horse?"

"She is my mother and my sister and my mistress, whom I serve till
death, for she saved me from death, and her name is Swallow."

Now at this word _Swallow_, most of those present started, and some
uttered exclamations of wonder, especially a little band of people, men
and women, who stood to the left, and who from their dress and other
tokens it was easy to see were witch-doctors and diviners. Sihamba noted
the movements and words of wonder, but pretending to see nothing she
went on:

"The lady Swallow and I have fled hither from far, hoping to find the
chief Sigwe, for we need his counsel and protection, but he is away,
making war to the north, is it not so?"

"Nay," answered the captain. "I am the chief Sigwe, and I have not yet
begun my war."

"I am glad," said Sihamba. "Chief, listen to my tale and suffer us to
creep into the shadow of your strength----" and in a few words she told
them the story of the capture of Suzanne by Swart Piet and of their
flight from him. Now when she spoke of Van Vooren, or of Bull-Head
rather, for she called him by his native name, she saw that Sigwe and
the captains looked at each other, and when she told how they had swum
the Red Water in flood, the two of them upon one horse, she was sure
that they did not believe her, for such a deed they thought to be
impossible. But still Sihamba went on and ended--"Chief, we seek this
from you; protection from Bull-Head, who doubtless will be here ere
long, and an escort of spears to lead us down the coast to the home
of the Swallow, a hundred miles away, where they and you will be well
rewarded for the service. Answer us quick, chief, I pray you, for our
need is great and we are weary."

CHAPTER XX

THE OMEN OF THE WHITE SWALLO