. If she could not or would not come, then Ivana must bring
no one else, for if she did he would curse her and die at once.

There were discussions and remonstrances, but in the end Tabitha was
allowed to go, for after all a fellow-creature was dying, and this was
his last wish. She came, and Menzi received her smiling. Yes, he smiled
and saluted her with shaking but uplifted arm, naming her _Inkosikazi_
and _Umame_, or Mother.

"Welcome, Maiden Imba. Welcome, Little Flower," he said. "I wish to say
good-bye to you and to bless you; also to endow you with my Spirit, that
it may guard you throughout your life till you are as I am. I have hated
some of the others, but I have always loved you, Little Flower."

"And I have loved you too, Menzi," said Tabitha, with a sob.

"I know, I know! We witch-doctors read hearts. But do not weep, Little
Flower. Why should you for such as I, a black man, a mere savage cheat,
as your father named me? Yet I have not been altogether a cheat, O Imba,
though sometimes I used tricks like other doctors, for I have a strength
of my own which your white people will never understand, because they
are too young to understand. It only comes to the old folk who have
been since the beginning of the world, and remain as they were at the
beginning. I have been wicked, Little Flower, according to your white
law. I have killed men and done many other things that are according to
the law of my own people, and by that law I look for judgment. Yet, O
Imba, I will say this--that I believe your law to be higher and better
than my law. Has it not been shown to-day, since of all that were
gathered on the rock yonder I alone was struck down and in the hour of
my victory? The strongest law must be the best law, is it not so? Tell
me, Little Flower, would it please you if I died a Christian?"

"Yes, very much," said Tabitha, fixing upon this point at once and by
instinct avoiding all the other very doubtful disputations. "I will
bring my father."

"Nay, nay, Little Flower. Your father, the Teacher Tombool, swore in his
wrath that he would not come to visit me even if I lay dying, and now
that I am dying he shall keep his oath and repent of it day by day till
he too is dying. If I am to die a Christian, you must make me one this
moment; _you_ and no other. Otherwise I go hence a heathen as I have
lived. If you bring your father here I will die at once before he can
touch me, as I have power to do."

Then