“I hear thee, King. Now, as a first fruit, give to me Noie, daughter of Seyapi, my slave whom the soldiers stole away from Ramah beyond the river where I dwell.”
“She is dead, White One, she is dead for her crimes,” answered Dingaan, looking at her.
Now Rachel’s heart sank in her, for it might well be that a trick had been played on her, and that this was true. Or perhaps this tale of Noie’s death was but a trap to test her powers; moreover, it was not likely that the King, who had promised that she should live, would dare to break his word to one whom he believed or half-believed to be a spirit.
For a moment she thought; then, after her nature, determined to be bold and hazard all upon a throw. Therefore she did not argue or reproach, but said:
“She is not dead. I have questioned every spear in Zululand, and none of them is red with her blood.”
“Thou art right,” he answered; “the spears are clean. She died in the river.”
Now Rachel was sure, and answered in her clear voice:
“I have questioned the waters, and I have questioned the crocodiles, and they answer that Noie has passed them safely.”
“Thou art right, White One. She died by a rope in yonder huts.”
“Noie, I hear thee, I see thee, I smell thee out. Come forth, Noie.”
The King and his councillors stared at her, whispering to one another, and before ever they had done their whisperings out from among the gloom of the huts crept Noie.
To Rachel she crept, taking no heed even of the King, and crouching down in the faint shadow of her that the moonlight threw, she flung her arms about her knees and pressed her forehead on her feet. Now Rachel’s heart bounded with joy at the sight of her, and she longed to bend down and kiss her, but did not, lest her great dignity should be lessened in the eyes of the King; only she said:
“I greet you, Noie; be seated in my shadow, where you are safe, and tell me, have these men dealt well by you?”
“Not so ill, Inkosazana, that is since I reached the Great Kraal. But one of them, he who sits yonder,” and she pointed to a certain induna, “struck me on the journey, and took away my food.”
Now Rachel looked at the man angrily, playing with the little wand in her hand, whereon this induna shivered with terror, fearing lest she should point it at him. Rising, he came to Rachel and flung himself down before her.