She mocks and hates me worse in death than she did in life, and she says that--that it was not all her fault--because she loves--because she loves--" A look of bewilderment came upon his face--his poor, tormented face; then suddenly Saduko threw his arms wide, and sobbed in an ever-weakening voice: "All--all done in vain! Oh! _Mameena, Ma--mee--na, Ma--meena!_" and fell back dead.
"Saduko has gone away," said Nandie, as she drew a blanket over his face.

"But I wonder," she added with a little hysterical smile, "oh! how I wonder who it was the Spirit of Mameena told him that she loved--Mameena, who was born without a heart ?" I made no answer, for at that moment I heard a very curious sound, which seemed to me to proceed from somewhere above the hut.

Of what did it remind me?
Ah! I knew.

It was like the sound of the dreadful laughter of Zikali, Opener-of-Roads--Zikali, the "Thing-that-should-never-have-been-born." Doubtless, however, it was only the cry of some storm-driven night bird.
Or perhaps it was an hyena that laughed--an hyena that scented death..