ces
strange as they were sad.

Naturally, remembering my own experiences, or rather what seemed to be
my experiences, for already I had made up my mind that they were but
a dream, I was most anxious to learn whether these two who had been so
dear to this fierce Zulu, had recognised him.

"Well, and what did they say to you, Umslopogaas?" I asked.

"Macumazahn, they said nothing at all. Hearken! There stood this pair,
or sometimes they moved to and fro; my brother, an even greater man
than he used to be, with the wolfskin girt about him and the club,
Watcher-of-the-Fords, which he alone could wield, upon his shoulder, and
Nada, grown lovelier even than she was of old, so lovely, Macumazahn,
that my heart rose into my throat when I saw her and stopped my breath.
Yes, Macumazahn, there they stood, or walked about arm in arm as lovers
might, and looked into each other's eyes and talked of how they had
known each other on the earth, for I could understand their words or
thoughts, and how it was good to be at rest together where they were."

"You see, they were old friends, Umslopogaas," I said.

"Yes, Macumazahn, very old friends as I thought. So much so that they
had never had a word to say of me who also was the old friend of both
of them. Aye, my brother, whose name I am sworn not to speak, the
woman-hater who vowed he loved nothing save me and the wolves, could
smile into the face of Nada the Lily, Nada the bride of my youth, yet
never a word of me, while she could smile back and tell him how great a
warrior he had been and never a word of me whose deeds she was wont to
praise, who saved her in the Halakazi caves and from Dingaan; no, never
a word of me although I stood there staring at them."

"I suppose that they did not see you, Umslopogaas."

"That is so, Macumazahn; I am sure that they did not see me, for if they
had they would not have been so much at ease. But I saw them and as they
would not take heed when I shouted, I ran up calling to my brother to
defend himself with his club. Then, as he still took no note, I lifted
the axe _Inkosikaas_, making it circle in the light, and smote with all
my strength."

"And what happened, Umslopogaas?"

"Only this, Macumazahn, that the axe went straight through my brother
from the crown of his head to the groin, cutting him in two, and he just
went on talking! Indeed, he did more, for stooping down he gathered a
white lily-bloom which grew there and gave it to Nada,