Three hours later a woman, footsore and utterly exhausted, staggered into the camp, and waving aside the spears that were lifted to stab her, demanded to be led to the prince.  Presently she was there.

“Who is this woman?” asked the great warrior; for, haggard as she was with travel, exhaustion, and the terror of her haunted loneliness, he did not know her in the uncertain firelight.

“Hafela,” she said, “I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for whole nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed before, to tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from your doom.”

“What treachery and what doom?” asked the prince.

“Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price of my news.”

“Let me hear the price, Noma.”

“It is this, Prince:  First, the head of Hokosa, who has divorced me, when you have caught him.”

“That I promise readily.  What more?”

“Secondly, the place of your chief wife to-day; and a week hence, when I shall have made you king, the name and state of Queen of the People of Fire with all that hangs thereto.”

“You are ambitious, woman, and know well how to drive a bargain.  Well, if you can ask, I can give, for I have ever loved you, and your mind is great as your body is beautiful.  If through your help I should become King of the People of Fire, you shall be their Queen, I swear it by the spirits of my fathers and by my own head.  And now—­your tidings.”

“These are they, Hafela.  Hokosa has turned Christian and betrayed the plot to Nodwengo; and the great gorge yonder but three hours march away is ambushed.  To-morrow you and your people would have been cut off there had I not run so fast and far to warn you, after which the impis of Nodwengo were commanded to follow your women and cattle over the mountain pass and capture them.”

“This is news indeed,” said the prince.  “Say now, how many regiments are hidden in the gorge?”

“Eight.”

“Well, I have fourteen; so, being warned, there is little to fear.  I will catch these rats in their own hole.”

“I have a better plan,” said Noma; “it is this:  leave six regiments posted upon the brow of yonder hill and let them stay there.  Then when the generals of Nodwengo see that they do not enter the gorge, they will believe that the ambush is discovered, and, after waiting one day or perhaps two, will move out to give battle, thinking that before them is all your strength.  But command your regiments to run and not to fight, drawing the army of Nodwengo after them.  Meanwhile, yes, this very night, you yourself with all the men that are left to you must march upon the Great Place, which, though it be strong, can be stormed, for it is defended by less than five thousand soldiers.  There, having taken it, you shall slay Nodwengo, proclaiming yourself king, and afterwards, by the help of the impi that you leave here which will march onward to your succour, you can deal with yonder army.”