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"It is a long story, Zoola," answered Noie, "but here is the heart of it. I told you when first we met that I am not of this people, although my mother was a Zulu. I told you that I am of the Dream-people, the Ghost-people, the little Grey-people, who live away to the north beneath their trees, and worship their trees."
Therefore, as has been said, they gave her a name, a very long name that meant Chieftainess, or Lady of Heaven, Inkosazana-y-Zoola; for Zulu or Zoola, which we know as the title of that people, means Heaven, and Udade-y-Silwana, or Sister of wild beasts.
Then making signs to the dwarfs who sat about above, he vanished between the stones. "You should have killed him, Zoola," said Noie, "for now he will live to kill us." "I think not, Sister," answered Rachel. "Nya said that I should follow my heart, and my heart bid me let him go. Our hands are clean of his blood, but if he had died, who can tell? Blood is a bad seed to sow."
"I pray thee come, Zoola," said the man hurriedly "or he will shoot more of us." So Rachel walked down the steps of the stoep in front of them, holding her head high, leaving behind her the house of Ramah and its dead. At the gate of the garden stood the horses, on one of which, his own, Richard was already mounted, his arms bound, his feet made fast beneath it with a hide rope.
As these appellations proved too lengthy for general use, even among the Bantu races, who have plenty of time for talking, ultimately it was shortened to Zoola alone, so that throughout that part of South-Eastern Africa Rachel came to enjoy the lofty title of "Heaven," the first girl, probably, who was ever so called. With all natives from her childhood up, Rachel was on the best of terms.
Oh! if only she could find him, then she would be glad enough to go wherever it was that he had gone. Now Noie was awake at her side, and they talked together. "We must have dreamt dreams, Noie," she said. "Perhaps the Mother mingled some drug with our food." "I do not know, Zoola," answered Noie; "but, if so, I want no more of those dreams which bode no good to me.
Rachel, watching, saw the man's swarthy face turn pale as he hearkened, then he lifted his hand as though to strike her, let it fall again, and muttering curses in English and in Zulu, turned and walked, or rather staggered away. "What did you tell him, Noie?" asked Rachel. "Never mind, Zoola," she answered. "Perhaps the truth; perhaps what came into my mind. At any rate I frightened him away. Ah!
"Because they fear the sight of blood, Zoola," answered Noie, "which is a very evil omen to them. Death they do not fear who are already among ghosts, but if it is a red death, their souls are spilt with their life, or so they believe."
"I am queen here, Noie; the bars will burst at my word." "It may be so, Zoola, but what if the bird should find that it has no nest to fly to?" "What do you mean?" asked Rachel, paling. "Only that it seems best that you should not anger these Zulus, Lady, lest it should come into their minds to destroy your nest, thinking that so you might come to love this cage.
When I came here a great sorrow had made me mad, and I knew nothing. Now I have found my Spirit again, and presently I go hence." At this answer Eddo grew very angry. "One thing I promise thee, Zoola," he said; "in the name of all the Ghost-people I promise it, that thou shalt not go hence alive.
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