The indunas seemed to cower at this declaration, but
made no answer. Only the chief of them said:
“The King would know if the Inkosi, thy servant,
brings thee any tidings of the Amaboona, the white
folk with whom he has been journeying.”
“He brings tidings that they seek peace with
the Zulus, to whom they will do no hurt if no hurt
is done to them. Shall I tell them that the Zulus
also seek peace?”
“The King gave us no message on that matter,
Inkosazana,” replied the induna. “He
awaits the coming of the prophets of the Ghost-folk
to interpret the meaning of thy words, and of the
omen of the falling star.”
“So be it,” said Rachel. “When
my servant, Noie, returns, let her be sent on to me
at once, that I may hear and consider the words of
her people,” and she began to rise from her
seat to intimate that the interview was finished.
“Inkosazana,” said the induna hurriedly,
“one question from the King—when
dost thou return to Zululand?”
“I return when it is needful. Fear not,
I think that I shall return, but I say to the King
and to all of you: Be careful when I come that
there is no blood between me and you, lest great evil
fall upon your heads from Heaven. I have spoken.
Good fortune go with you till we meet again.”
The indunas looked at each other, then rose and departed
humbly as they had entered.
* * * *
*
An hour later, surrounded by the impi, and followed
by Richard, Rachel was on the Tugela road. At
the crest of a hill she pulled rein and looked back
at the great kraal, Umgugundhlovu. Then she beckoned
Richard to her side and said:
“I think that before long I shall see that hateful
place again.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because of the way in which those indunas looked
at each other just now. There was some evil secret
in their eyes. Richard, I am afraid.”
WHAT CHANCED AT RAMAH
The news which reached Rachel that Ishmael had been
ill after the rough handling of the captains in her
presence, was true enough. For many days he was
far too ill to travel, and when he recovered sufficiently
to start he could only journey slowly to the Tugela.
It will be remembered that she was told that he had
escaped, as indeed he seemed to do, slipping off at
night, but this escape of his was carefully arranged
beforehand, nor did any attempt to re-capture him upon
his way. When at length he came to the river
he found the small impi awaiting him, not knowing
whither they were to go or what they were to do, their
only orders being that they must obey him in all things.
He found also that the Tugela was in furious flood,
so that to ford it proved quite impossible. Here,
then, he was obliged to remain for ten full days while
the water ran down.
