Zulu (African people) -- Fiction; Zululand (South Africa) -- History -- Fiction
The weary-looking spy answered that he did not know, it was not for him
to answer riddles, all he knew was that there was great excitement
about the coming of this Queen of the Heavens, and he, being desirous
of obtaining first-hand information, slipped out of the town with his
relative, and walked more than a day’s journey on the path that ran to
the Tugela, till they came to a place where they hid themselves to see
her pass. This place he described with minuteness, so minutely, indeed,
that in her dream, Rachel recognised it well. It was the spot where the
witch-doctoress had died. He went on with his story; he told of her
appearance riding on the white horse and surrounded by an impi. He
described her beauty, her white cloak, her hair hanging down her back,
the rod of horn she carried in her hand, the colour of her eyes, the
shape of her features, everything about her, as only a native can. Then
he told of the incident of the cattle rushing across her path, of the
death of the bull that charged her, of the appearance of the furious
witch-doctoress who seized the rein of the horse, of the pointing of
the wand, and the instant execution of the woman.
He told of how he had followed the impi to the Great Place, of the
story of Noie as he had heard it, and the reports that had reached him
concerning the interview between the King and this white Inkosazana,
who, it was said, advised him not to fight the Boers.
“And where is she now?” asked the old Dutchman.
“There, at Umgugundhlovo,” he answered, “ruling the land as its head
Isanuzi, though it is said that she desires to escape, only the Zulus
will not let her go.”
“I think that we should find out more about this woman, especially as
she seems to be a friend to our people,” said the old Boer. “Now, who
dares to go and learn the truth?”
“I will go,” said the young man who had brought in the spy, and as he
spoke he turned, and lo! _his face was the face of Richard Darrien_,
bearded and grown to manhood, but without doubt Richard Darrien and
none other.
“Why do you offer to undertake so dangerous a mission?” asked the Boer,
looking at the young man kindly. “Is it because you wish to see this
beautiful white witch of whom yonder Quabi tells us such lies, Nephew?”
The shadow of Richard nodded, and his face reddened, for the Boers
around him were laughing at him.
“That is right, Uncle,” he answered boldly. “You think me a fool, but I
am not. Many years ago I knew a little maid who was the daughter of a
teacher, and who, if she lives, must have grown into such a woman as
Quabi describes. Well, I joined you Boers last year in order to look
for that maid, and I am going to begin to look for her across the river
yonder.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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