But Zinita scowled, and jerked at her necklace of beads, breaking the string on which they were threaded, so that the beads rolled upon the black earthen floor this way and that.
"Keep your kisses for our lord, girl," Zinita said roughly.

"As my beads are scattered so shall you scatter this People of the Axe." Now Nada turned away with a little sigh, and the people murmured, for they thought that Zinita had treated her badly.

Then she stretched out her hand again, and gave the lily in it to Umslopogaas, saying:-- "Here is a token of our betrothal, Lord, for never a head of cattle have my father and I to send--we who are outcasts; and, indeed, the bridegroom must pay the cattle.

May I bring you peace and love, my Lord!" Umslopogaas took the flower, and looked somewhat foolish with it--he who was wont to carry the axe, and not a flower; and so that talk was ended.
Now as it chanced, this was that day of the year when, according to ancient custom, the Holder of the Axe must challenge all and sundry to come up against him to fight in single combat for Groan-Maker and the chieftainship of the people.

Therefore, when the talk was done, Umslopogaas rose and went through the challenge, not thinking that any would answer him, since for some years none had dared to stand before his might.