Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
At the least, the other saying is true, that in the end comes judgment, and that there shall the sin and the atonement strive together; therefore for judgment prepare yourself. And now depart, for I must talk with the king as to this matter of the onslaught of Hafela."
"That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo! Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of his impis shall be countless as the stars of the sky.
Messenger, you desire to draw us to the arms of your God and myself, I am at times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge there but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and the warriors of the north? Already he gathers his clans, and already my captains desert to him.
But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men. "You do but waste your labour, Hafela," said Noma, who stood by him watching the assault. "What then is to be done?" he asked, "for unless we come at them we cannot kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole.
On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in face of the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captain raised a cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seized and brought before him. "Man," he said, "on this my coronation day I will not stain my hand with blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go, taking him this message.
Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women, the silence was great.
"What say you, Hafela?" repeated Nodwengo, addressing the prince, who stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. Hafela turned and looked at Hokosa hanging high in mid-air. "What say I?" he answered in a slow and quiet voice.
In truth, so difficult was the task of marshalling this motley array at night, numbering as it did ten or twelve thousand souls, that a full hour went by before the mob even began to move, slowly and uncertainly, towards the place of refuge, whereof the opening was so narrow that but few of them could pass it at a time. Meanwhile Hafela was developing the attack.
"That may not be," answered Hafela, "since even a wizard cannot throw his thoughts into the heart of another from afar." "Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen to do so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me?
Dismay took hold of the nation, and although they were much loved, there was open talk of killing or driving away the king and Nodwengo who favoured the white man, and of setting up Hafela in their place. At length the crisis came, and in this fashion.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking