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Updated: June 7, 2025
Many were drowned, and others were bruised by rocks, but of this they thought little since she was safe and they had found her again, to have lost whom would have been a shame from generation to generation. She watched the captains reckoning up the number of the dead, and when Tamboosa and some of them came to make report of it to her, a shadow as of pity floated across her stony eyes.
Then she came, and after her Tamboosa, leading the white ox, followed by another guard, which in turn was followed by the entire regiment. Thus royally escorted, asking no questions, and speaking no word, did Rachel make her entry into Zululand.
"Tamboosa," said Rachel, leaning forward and looking him in the eyes, "why did Ibubesi cross this river with soldiers but a few hours ago Ibubesi, who fled from the Great Place when the moon was young that now is full? Look, there goes their spoor in the mud." "I know not," he answered, looking down. "Inkosazana, to-morrow I will bring on the white ox to Ramah, and I will bring it alone."
Indeed, Rachel was glad that there was no time for words, for this parting was more terrible to her than she cared to own, and she feared lest she should break down before the Zulu who was watching her, and thereby be lowered in his eyes and in those of his people. It was over and done. She had entered the water, riding her grey mare while Tamboosa led the white ox at her side.
Tamboosa, if it were he who had spoken with the lad, would not have had time to return to Zululand and collect an impi, and when they did come, the deed might be done. If only these servants of Ibubesi would rise against him and kill him, or carry off Richard and herself! Alas! they feared the man too much, and she could not get at them to persuade them.
Presently she looked, back, and saw her father kneeling in prayer upon the bank. "What does the man?" asked Tamboosa, uneasily. "Is he bewitching us?" "Nay," she answered, "he prays to the Heavens for us." On they went between the two lines of natives, who ceased their beating of the water, and were silent as she passed. The river was shallow, and they crossed it with ease.
"Suffer it not," she cried, "oh! my people, suffer not that I be thus defiled." They rent him from her with blows and execrations, looking up to their chief for his word to tear him to pieces. "No," said Tamboosa, grimly, "he shall to the King to tell this story ere he die." "Save me, Rachel, save me," he moaned. "You don't know what they mean.
Moreover, Mami described the man in the words of the lad, and Rachel thought that he could be none other than Tamboosa, whom she had commanded to follow her with the white ox. Mami added that when he received this message Ibubesi seemed much disturbed, though to his people he declared that it was all nonsense, as Dingaan's Mouth would not come alone, or deliver the King's word to a boy.
Here she slept that night, for they thought that she must be too weary to see the King at once; moreover, he desired first to receive the reports of Tamboosa and the captains, and to learn all that had happened in this strange business. Next morning, whilst Rachel sat by the pool in which, once she had seen the vision of Richard, Tamboosa and an escort came to bring her to Dingaan.
"So be it, Tamboosa, but if by chance you should not find me, ask where Ibubesi is, and if need be, seek for me with an impi, Tamboosa for me and for this white man, Dario," and again she bent forward and looked at him. "I know not what thou meanest, Inkosazana," he replied.
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