“Indeed,” said Hadden; “and so now you go to tell Nahoon that I have offered to make you my wife.”

“No, Inkoos, why should I tell Nahoon your secrets?  I have said ‘nay’ to you, not ‘yea,’ therefore he has no right to know,” and she stooped to lift the gourd of water.

Hadden considered the situation rapidly, for his repulse only made him the more determined to succeed.  Of a sudden under the emergency he conceived a scheme, or rather its rough outline.  It was not a nice scheme, and some men might have shrunk from it, but as he had no intention of suffering himself to be defeated by a Zulu girl, he decided—­with regret, it is true—­that having failed to attain his ends by means which he considered fair, he must resort to others of more doubtful character.

“Nanea,” he said, “you are a good and honest woman, and I respect you.  As I have told you, I love you also, but if you refuse to listen to me there is nothing more to be said, and after all, perhaps it would be better that you should marry one of your own people.  But, Nanea, you will never marry him, for the king will take you; and, if he does not give you to some other man, either you will become one of his ‘sisters,’ or to be free of him, as you say, you will die.  Now hear me, for it is because I love you and wish your welfare that I speak thus.  Why do you not escape into Natal, taking Nahoon with you, for there as you know you may live in peace out of reach of the arm of Cetywayo?”

“That is my desire, Inkoos, but Nahoon will not consent.  He says that there is to be war between us and you white men, and he will not break the command of the king and desert from his army.”

“Then he cannot love you much, Nahoon, and at least you have to think of yourself.  Whisper into the ear of your father and fly together, for be sure that Nahoon will soon follow you.  Ay! and I myself with fly with you, for I too believe that there must be war, and then a white man in this country will be as a lamb among the eagles.”

“If Nahoon will come, I will go, Inkoos, but I cannot fly without Nahoon; it is better I should stay here and kill myself.”

“Surely then being so fair and loving him so well, you can teach him to forget his folly and to escape with you.  In four days’ time we must start for the king’s kraal, and if you win over Nahoon, it will be easy for us to turn our faces southwards and across the river that lies between the land of the Amazulu and Natal.  For the sake of all of us, but most of all for your own sake, try to do this, Nanea, whom I have loved and whom I now would save.  See him and plead with him as you know how, but as yet do not tell him that I dream of flight, for then I should be watched.”

“In truth, I will, Inkoos,” she answered earnestly, “and oh!  I thank you for your goodness.  Fear not that I will betray you—­first would I die.  Farewell.”

“Farewell, Nanea,” and taking her hand he raised it to his lips.