Part 17 (2/2)

”Yes, Teacher Many people have been murdered here: my father was murdered, and I dare say I shall be”

”Who by?”

Kosa made no answer, but his vacant eyes rested for a little while on Menzi

”Good God! what a country,” said Thohtened Then he turned to lance of contempt at Kosa, of whom he took no further notice, Menzi saluted the new-co his hand above his head Then with the utmost politeness he drew a snuff-box fashi+oned from the tip of a buffalo-horn out of a slit in the lobe of his left ear, extracted the wooden stopper and offered Thomas some snuff

”Thank you, but I do not take that nastiness,” said Thoh in disappoint helped himself to a little, re-stoppered the horn and thrust it back into the lobe of his ear Next he said, speaking in a gentle and refined voice:

”Greeting, Teacher, who, the e and in ours _Inkunzi_ A good nalad to see that you are made much more robust than was the last Teacher, and therefore will live longer in this place than he did Though as for the lady-teacher----” and he glanced at the delicate-looking Dorcas

Tho dislike Then moved thereto either by a very natural outburst of temper, or perchance by a flash of inspiration, he replied:

”Yes, I shall live longer than did er I think than you will”

This personal remark seehtened Recovering himself, however, he said:

”I perceive, Teacher Tombool, that like myself you are a witch-doctor and a prophet At present I do not knohich of us will live the longer, but I will consult my Spirits and tell you afterwards”

”Pray do not trouble to do so on my account, for I do not believe in your Spirits”

”Of course you do not, Teacher No doctor believes in another doctor's Spirits, since each has his own, and there are reet you and tell you at once that we are at war over this , yes, it is split into two The Chief there, Kosa, sits on one half of the log with his Christians; I sit on the other half with the rest, who are as our fathers were So if you wish to fight I shall fight with such weapons as I have No, do not look at the spears--not with spears

But, if you leavealone, we shall leave you alone

If you are wise I think that you will do well to walk your own road and suffer us to walk ours”

”On the contrary,” answered Thomas, ”I intend that all the Sisa people shall walk one road, the road that leads to Heaven”

”Is it so, Teacher?” Menzi replied with a mysterious s river that just here, where it ran beneath an overhanging ledge of the koppie, was very deep and still Thoh what it ht be he did not know Suddenly he remembered that this river was na while, oncethe faces of the three white people, especially Tabitha's, with his drearound also Near to where he stood grew a nulory after the rains in Africa A these was a rare and beautiful white lily This lily Menzi plucked, and stepping forward, presented it to Tabitha, saying:

”A flower for the Flower! A gift to a child from one who is childless!”

Her father saw and meditated interference But he was too late; Tabitha had already taken the lily and was thanking Menzi in his own tongue, which she kneell enough, having been brought up by Zulu nurses He s:

”All Spirits, black or white, love flowers”

Then for a third time he saluted, not the others, but Tabitha, with , departed, followed by his spearmen, who also saluted Tabitha as they filed in front of her

It was a strange sight to see these great pluht-haired child who stood there holding the tall white lily in her hand as though it were a sceptre