"You came--you came to seek the girl, Rachel Dove?"
"Of course. Otherwise why should I have left my farms down in the Cape to risk my neck among these savages?"
"And then," went on Rachel, "you or somebody else sent in the spy, Quabi, who returned to the Boer camp with his story about the Inkosazana-y-Zoola. You remember you brought him in limping to that old fellow with a grey beard and a large pipe, and the others who laughed at the tale. I mean when you said that this Inkosazana seemed very like an English maid, 'the daughter of a teacher,' whom you were looking for, and that you would go to find out the truth of the business."
"Yes, that's all right; but Rachel," he added with a start, "how do you know anything about it--Oom Piet and the rest, and the words I used? Your spies must be very good and quick, for you can't have seen Quabi."
"My spies are good and quick. Did you get my message sent by the King's men? It was that she who stood with you on the rock in the river, greeted you and awaited you?"
"Yes, I could not understand. I do not understand now. Just before that they were going to kill me as a Boer spy. Who told you everything?"
"My heart," she answered smiling. "I dreamed it all. I suppose that I was allowed to save your life that I might bring you here to save me. Listen now, Richard, while I tell you the strangest story that you ever heard; and if you don't believe it, go and ask the King and his indunas."
Then she told him of her vision by the pool and all that happened after it. When she had finished Richard could only shake his head and say: "Still I don't understand; but no wonder these Zulus have made a goddess of you. Well, Rachel, what is to happen now? If you are to stop here they mayn't care for me as a high priest."
"I am not; I am going home, and you must take me. I told them that you were coming to do so. You have your horse, have you not, the black horse with the white forefoot? Well, we will start at once--no, you must eat first, and there are things to arrange. Now stand at a distance from me and look as respectful as you can, for I fill a strange position here."
Then Rachel clapped her hands and the women came running in.
"Bring food for the Inkosi Darrien," she said, "and send hither the captain of the gate."