The Ghost Kings

ned his idea of settling as a missionary in Zululand, and instead, took up his residence at this beautiful spot. He called it Ramah because it was a place of weeping, for here al

e weeping here before ever

r means, and was, moreover, clever in such matters. He hired a mason who had drifted to Natal to cut stone, of which a plenty lay at hand, and two half-breed carpenters to execute the wood-work, whilst the Kaffirs thatched the whole as only they can do. Then he set to work upon

ely by remnants of the Natal tribes whom Chaka had destroyed and who were but too glad to settle under the aegis of the white man, especially when they discovered how good he was. Of the doctrines which he preached to them day and night, most of

to go, demonstrating to him that they had as much right to live there as he had, an argument that he was unable to controvert. So he

ill listen. Mayhap in years to come we shall learn to think

g fashion, as did their families, and soon they were as prosperous as they had been in the good old days before they knew the Zulu assegai, especially as, to their amazement, the Shouter never took from them even a calf or a bundle of corn by way of tax. Only the shadow of that Zulu assegai still lay upon them, for if Chaka was dead Dingaan ruled a few miles away across the Tugela. Moreover, hearing of the rise of this new town, and of certain strange matters connected with i

that this maiden should bear that great name. Some of the Isanusis, the prophetesses, declare that she is our Spirit in the flesh, but that meat sticks in my throat, I cannot swallow it. Still, I invite this maiden to visit me that I may see her and judge of her, and I swear to you, and to her, by the ghosts of my ancestors, that no harm shall come to her then or at any time. He who so much as lays a finger upon her shall die, he and all his house. Because of her name, which I am told she has borne from a child, all the territories of the Zulus are her kraal and all the thousands of the Zulus are

t sundown, he went into the house and repeated it to Rache

ie who was hidden, away lest some of th

ng the Zulus. I, who have some knowledge of this business, say, speak

arrying a light assegai in her hand, to the place where the messengers, six of them, and those who had driven the cattle from Zululand, were encamped in the guest kraal, at the gate of which, as it chanced, lay a great boulder of rock. On this bo

feet and perceiving this beautiful and mysterious figure, by a common impulse lifted t

ried, "Bayète!"

been reported to me that you wished to see me, O Mouths of the King. Behold I am ple

withered hand, stepped forward from the line of his co

Spirit, we would know how thou ea

s turned aside and smote me not; because the waters raged yet drowned me not; because the lions slept wit

believe. We believe that the Heavens above gave thee their own name which is the name of the Spirit

of the King, still I

rds of Dingaan and of his council which to-day we have said in the ears of him who thinks himself thy father. To thee the roads are open; thine are the cattle and the kraals; here

are good. I thank the King for his gift; I wish the King well. I reme

shall meet thee on the river bank and lead thee to his house. Unharmed shalt thou

come, but not now. Go in p

d away she stood no more upon the rock. Then, seeing that she was gone, those

use again Rachel told h

ed, laughing

t, my dear," said Mr. D

ens will really believ

art

t of it, unless it was all talk as I suspect, might be very useful one day. Who knows? And now the Prin

the old man with a withered hand w

White Spirit: the Inkosazana. Thrice he has seen her, or so goes the tale that my father, who knew everything, told to me. That is why Dingaan sent him here to make report of you.

Zulus, an occasion on which her undoubted

ngs. He had lived so long among savages that he had caught something of their mind and dark superstitions. To him, as to them, it seemed a marvellous thing that she should have acquired the title of the legendary Spirit of the Zulu people. The calm courage, too, so unusual in a woman, which she showed when she shot the warrior, and at the risk of her own life saved that of the girl, Noie, impressed him as something almost ultra-human, especially when

, he discarded his garments of hide, including the picturesque zebra-skin trousers, and appeared dressed in smart European clothes which he had contrived to obtain from Durban, and a large hat with a white ostrich feather, that struck Rachel as even more ludicrous than the famous trousers. Also he was continuously sending presents of game and of skins, or of rare karosses, that is, fur rugs, which he ordered to be delivered to her personally-tokens, all of them, that she could not misunderstand. Her father, however, misunderstood them persistently, although her mother saw something of the tr

d to warn her of his advent. Then she would slip away into the bush or down to the seashore, and remain there till he was gone, or if he c

ethod of self-protection

she hated him. He guess

; that it was he, and no

er and all his family, a

she said nothing of it,

l. Moreover, it was she

pon time from having a s

determined to be reveng

nity oc

d none, since if he wer

use her to be killed or

nal breach with the Dov

eautiful orphan maid.

cr

e fiercely for its continued repression, until at lengt

e could command a view of the surrounding country. Presently he saw Rachel, who was alone, for she had not waited to call Noie, hurrying towards the seashore, along the edge of that kloof down which ran the stream where the crocodiles lived. P

is shadow fell upon her. Then she sprang up and saw him, smiling and bowing, the ostrich-plume hat in his hand. Her f

ing here, Mr. Is

nting you. It has been a long chas

d creature, Mr. Ishmael

more beautiful and more dang

ass him, saying that she was going home. Now Ishmael stood

that his fingers touched the

ere to say what I have wanted to tell you for a l

"How can that be? I understood that you

ed, angrily. "I know-that a

ll of Noie, please

r your friend. Those wom

ael. I have no wish to know your private affairs

u a good husband. Also I am well-born, much better than you think, and I am rich, rich enough to take you out of this country, if you like. I have thousands of cattle, and a grea

me; you know that I can defend myself if I choose," and she glanced at the pistol which she always

mad as you have done? I tell you I can't sleep for thinking of you. Oh! Rachel, Rachel, don't be angry with me. Have pity on me. Give me some hope. I know that my life has been

to say anything that will pain you, but please go away, and never try to speak to me again

d hoarsely, and at the question, do what she

ve here, unless it

path, or it will soon be the dream of a ghost. I tell you I'd ki

am tired of this. Let

ne-that is, if you don't change your mind about me.

ed so evil that Rachel shivered a li

ower at all against me; no one h

id, you are tagati, b

t was Noie, draped in her usual white robe, for nothing would induce her to wear Eu

ht that I heard you calling me down here by the seashore, so

't hurt you, I can hurt her. Daughter of Seyapi, you know how runaways die in Zululand, or if you do

nd down with her sof

the daughter also? Well, it is strange, but last night, just before the cock crew, I sat by Seyapi's grave, and he spok

he lifted his hand as though to strike her, let it fall again, and mutterin

tell him, Noie

, the low silwana (wild beast)? Ah! I thought so, for that he has wished to do for long. And he threatened, did he not? Well, you are right; he cannot hurt you

ered Rachel. "Let us g