Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/204

 And silently he follow'd her
 * Far up the mountain-brow;

Far from the white man's glitt'ring tents,
 * Down in the vale below.

At last they reach'd a tow'ring rock,
 * Which cast its cooling shade

Far down the rugged mountain's steep,
 * And there her pace she stay'd.

"Come, father, sit and rest thee now
 * From the fierce heat of strife;

I'll bring thee corn and milk to stay
 * The fainting spring of life."

She hurried to a neighb'ring cave
 * And brought thence milk and corn,

And, kneeling at his feet, she fed
 * The warrior war-worn.

The father look'd down on his child,
 * And smiled to see her care;

Long time he spoke not, silently
 * He stroked her shining hair.

"Sweet Amakeya! I am rich
 * Since thou art left to me—

The white man's Queen's not half so rich
 * As I, when I have thee.

"To-morrow, child, we'll leave this land,
 * Where thou wert born and bred;

To-morrow we must seek a home
 * Unknown to white man's tread.