The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it wasyet deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the whitecross of perished wood that towered above the Tree of Doom and on theblack shape of Hokosa crucified to it living. The camp of the king sawand understood, and from every throat of the thousands of men, womenand children gathered there, went up a roar of rage and horror. Theking lifted his hand, and silence fell upon the place; then he mountedon the wall and cried aloud:--"Do you yet live, Hokosa, or is it your body only that those traitorshave fastened to the tree?"Back came the answer through the clear still air:--"I live, O King!""Endure then a little while," called Nodwengo, "and we will storm thetree and save you.""Nay," answered Hokosa, "you cannot save me; yet before I die I shallsee you saved."Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day's fightingbegan. Desperately the regiments of Hafela rushing across the openspace, hurled themselves upon the fortifications, which, during thenight, had been strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Norwas this all, for suddenly a cry told those in front that the regimentwhich Hafela had despatched across the mountains had travelled up theeastern neck of the valley, and were attacking the position in theirrear. Well was it for Nodwengo now that he had listened to the counselof Hokosa, and, wearied as his soldiers were, had commanded that herealso a great wall should be built.

　　For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fellback, not beaten indeed, though their dead were many, but to rest andtake counsel. But now a new trouble arose: from all the camp ofNodwengo there went up a moan of pain to Heaven, for since the eveningof yesterday the spring had given out, and they had found no waterwherewith to wet their lips. During the night they bore it; but nowthe sun beating down on the black rocks with fearful force scorchedthem to the marrow, till they began to wither like fallen leaves, andalready wounded men and children died, while the warriors cut thethroats of oxen and drank their blood.

　　Hokosa hanging on his cross heard this moaning and divined its cause.

　　"Be of good comfort, children of Nodwengo," he cried; "for I will praythat rain be sent upon you." And he lifted his head and prayed.

　　Now, whether it was by chance or whether his prayer was heard, who cansay? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began togather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rainfell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and thespring being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly.

　　After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a greatgloom and thunder.

　　Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewedtheir attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls,for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused awhile, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women,the silence was great.

　　"Let your hearts be filled up!" cried the voice of Hokosa through thesilence; "for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Placeyonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The /impi/ travels toyour aid, O children of Nodwengo."Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; butHafela called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurledthemselves upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and againthey were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till atlength they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or thosewho remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused torest awhile.

　　"Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!" cried a voice from thecamp, "for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped."Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightningflared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that theking's /impi/ was rushing up the gorge.

　　"Fight on! Fight on!" he called in answer. "I have prayed to Heaven,and your succour is at hand."Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela's regiments hurled themselves uponthe third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front andrear. Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream ofHokosa on high was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders tofight on and fear not, for Heaven had sent them help. They fought asmen have seldom fought before, and with them fought the women and eventhe children. They were few and the foe was still many, but theylistened to the urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in hisdeath-agony upon the cross above them, and still they held their own.

　　Twice portions of the wall were torn down, but they filled the breachwith the corpses of the dead, ay! and with the bodies of the living,for the wounded, the old men and the very women piled themselves therein the place of stones. No such fray was told of in the annals of thePeople of Fire as this, the last stand of Nodwengo against thethousands of Hafela. Now all the shouting had died away, for men hadno breath left wherewith to shout, only from the gloomy place ofbattle came low groans and the deep sobbing sighs of warriors grippedin the death-hug.

　　"/Fight on! Fight on!/" shrilled the voice of Hokosa on high. "Lo! theskies are open to my dying sight, and I see the /impis/ of Heavensweeping to succour you. /Behold!/"They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as theylooked, the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of many-shafted light, they saw, not the legions of Heaven indeed, but theregiments of Nodwengo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogsrush upon a scent, with heads held low and spears outstretched.

　　Hafela saw them also.

　　"Back to the koppie," he cried, "there to die like men, for thewizardries of Hokosa have been too strong for us, and lost is this mylast battle and the crown ............