Noie shook her head.
“I do not think that they will let you go; they will keep you to be their great doctoress. You should not have come. I sent you word—what did my life matter?”
“Keep me,” answered Rachel, stamping her foot. “They dare not; here at least I am the Inkosazana, and I will be obeyed.”
Noie made no answer; only she said:
“Ishmael is here. I have seen him. He wished to have me killed at once because he is afraid of me. But when he was sure that you were coming, Dingaan would not break his word which he had sent to you.”
Rachel’s face fell.
“Ishmael!” she exclaimed in dismay, then recovered herself and added: “Well, I am not afraid of Ishmael, for here his life is in my hand. Oh! I am worn out; I cannot talk of the man to-night. I must sleep, Noie, I must sleep. Come, lie at my side and let us sleep.”
“Nay,” answered the girl; “my place is at the door. But drink this milk and lay you down without fear, for I will watch.”
Rachel obeyed, and Noie sat by her, holding her hand, till presently her eyes shut and she slept. But Noie did not sleep. All that night she sat there watching and listening, till at length the dawn came and she lay down also by the door and rested.
The sun was high in the heavens when Rachel woke.