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diff --git a/old/old/ndlly10.txt b/old/old/ndlly10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..038c108 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/ndlly10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12041 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Etext of Nada the Lily, by H. Rider Haggard +#2 in our series by H. Rider Haggard + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Nada the Lily + +by H. 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RIDER HAGGARD + + + +DEDICATION + +Sompseu: + +For I will call you by the name that for fifty years has been honoured +by every tribe between Zambesi and Cape Agulbas,--I greet you! + +Sompseu, my father, I have written a book that tells of men and +matters of which you know the most of any who still look upon the +light; therefore, I set your name within that book and, such as it is, +I offer it to you. + +If you knew not Chaka, you and he have seen the same suns shine, you +knew his brother Panda and his captains, and perhaps even that very +Mopo who tells this tale, his servant, who slew him with the Princes. +You have seen the circle of the witch-doctors and the unconquerable +Zulu impis rushing to war; you have crowned their kings and shared +their counsels, and with your son's blood you have expiated a +statesman's error and a general's fault. + +Sompseu, a song has been sung in my ears of how first you mastered +this people of the Zulu. Is it not true, my father, that for long +hours you sat silent and alone, while three thousand warriors shouted +for your life? And when they grew weary, did you not stand and say, +pointing towards the ocean: "Kill me if you wish, men of Cetywayo, but +I tell you that for every drop of my blood a hundred avengers shall +rise from yonder sea!" + +Then, so it was told me, the regiments turned staring towards the +Black Water, as though the day of Ulundi had already come and they saw +the white slayers creeping across the plains. + +Thus, Sompseu, your name became great among the people of the Zulu, as +already it was great among many another tribe, and their nobles did +you homage, and they gave you the Bayete, the royal salute, declaring +by the mouth of their Council that in you dwelt the spirit of Chaka. + +Many years have gone by since then, and now you are old, my father. It +is many years even since I was a boy, and followed you when you went +up among the Boers and took their country for the Queen. + +Why did you do this, my father? I will answer, who know the truth. You +did it because, had it not been done, the Zulus would have stamped out +the Boers. Were not Cetywayo's impis gathered against the land, and +was it not because it became the Queen's land that at your word he +sent them murmuring to their kraals?[1] To save bloodshed you annexed +the country beyond the Vaal. Perhaps it had been better to leave it, +since "Death chooses for himself," and after all there was killing--of +our own people, and with the killing, shame. But in those days we did +not guess what we should live to see, and of Majuba we thought only as +a little hill! + +Enemies have borne false witness against you on this matter, Sompseu, +you who never erred except through over kindness. Yet what does that +avail? When you have "gone beyond" it will be forgotten, since the +sting of ingratitude passes and lies must wither like the winter +veldt. Only your name will not be forgotten; as it was heard in life +so it shall be heard in story, and I pray that, however humbly, mine +may pass down with it. Chance has taken me by another path, and I must +leave the ways of action that I love and bury myself in books, but the +old days and friends are in my mind, nor while I have memory shall I +forget them and you. + +Therefore, though it be for the last time, from far across the seas I +speak to you, and lifting my hand I give your "Sibonga"[2] and that +royal salute, to which, now that its kings are gone and the "People of +Heaven" are no more a nation, with Her Majesty you are alone +entitled:-- + + Bayete! Baba, Nkosi ya makosi! + Ngonyama! Indhlovu ai pendulwa! + Wen' o wa vela wasi pata! + Wen' o wa hlul' izizwe zonke za patwa nguive! + Wa geina nge la Mabun' o wa ba hlul' u yedwa! + Umsizi we zintandane e ziblupekayo! + Si ya kuleka Baba! + Bayete, T' Sompseu![3] + +and farewell! + +H. RIDER HAGGARD. + + +To Sir Theophilus Shepstone, K.C.M.G., Natal. +13 September, 1891. + +[1] "I thank my father Sompseu for his message. I am glad that he has + sent it, because the Dutch have tired me out, and I intended to + fight them once and once only, and to drive them over the Vaal. + Kabana, you see my impis are gathered. It was to fight the Dutch + I called them together; now I send them back to their homes." + --Message from Cetywayo to Sir. T. Shepstone, April, 1877. + +[2] Titles of praise. + +[3] Bayete, Father, Chief of Chiefs! + Lion! Elephant that is not turned! + You who nursed us from of old! + You who overshadowed all peoples and took charge of them, + And ended by mastering the Boers with your single strength! + Help of the fatherless when in trouble! + Salutation to you, Father! + Bayete, O Sompseu! + + + +PREFACE + +The writer of this romance has been encouraged to his task by a +purpose somewhat beyond that of setting out a wild tale of savage +life. When he was yet a lad,--now some seventeen years ago,--fortune +took him to South Africa. There he was thrown in with men who, for +thirty or forty years, had been intimately acquainted with the Zulu +people, with their history, their heroes, and their customs. From +these he heard many tales and traditions, some of which, perhaps, are +rarely told nowadays, and in time to come may cease to be told +altogether. Then the Zulus were still a nation; now that nation has +been destroyed, and the chief aim of its white rulers is to root out +the warlike spirit for which it was remarkable, and to replace it by a +spirit of peaceful progress. The Zulu military organisation, perhaps +the most wonderful that the world has seen, is already a thing of the +past; it perished at Ulundi. It was Chaka who invented that +organisation, building it up from the smallest beginnings. When he +appeared at the commencement of this century, it was as the ruler of a +single small tribe; when he fell, in the year 1828, beneath the +assegais of his brothers, Umhlangana and Dingaan, and of his servant, +Mopo or Umbopo, as he is called also, all south-eastern Africa was at +his feet, and in his march to power he had slaughtered more than a +million human beings. An attempt has been made in these pages to set +out the true character of this colossal genius and most evil man,--a +Napoleon and a Tiberiius in one,--and also that of his brother and +successor, Dingaan, so no more need be said of them here. The author's +aim, moreover, has been to convey, in a narrative form, some idea of +the remarkable spirit which animated these kings and their subjects, +and to make accessible, in a popular shape, incidents of history which +are now, for the most part, only to be found in a few scarce works of +reference, rarely consulted, except by students. It will be obvious +that such a task has presented difficulties, since he who undertakes +it must for a time forget his civilisation, and think with the mind +and speak with the voice of a Zulu of the old regime. All the horrors +perpetrated by the Zulu tyrants cannot be published in this polite age +of melanite and torpedoes; their details have, therefore, been +suppressed. Still much remains, and those who think it wrong that +massacre and fighting should be written of,--except by special +correspondents,--or that the sufferings of mankind beneath one of the +world's most cruel tyrannies should form the groundwork of romance, +may be invited to leave this book unread. Most, indeed nearly all, of +the historical incidents here recorded are substantially true. Thus, +it is said that Chaka did actually kill his mother, Unandi, for the +reason given, and destroy an entire tribe in the Tatiyana cleft, and +that he prophesied of the coming of the white man after receiving his +death wounds. Of the incident of the Missionary and the furnace of +logs, it is impossible to speak so certainly. It came to the writer +from the lips of an old traveller in "the Zulu"; but he cannot +discover any confirmation of it. Still, these kings undoubtedly put +their soldiers to many tests of equal severity. Umbopo, or Mopo, as he +is named in this tale, actually lived. After he had stabbed Chaka, he +rose to great eminence. Then he disappears from the scene, but it is +not accurately known whether he also went "the way of the assegai," or +perhaps, as is here suggested, came to live near Stanger under the +name of Zweete. The fate of the two lovers at the mouth of the cave is +a true Zulu tale, which has been considerably varied to suit the +purposes of this romance. The late Mr. Leslie, who died in 1874, tells +it in his book "Among the Zulus and Amatongas." "I heard a story the +other day," he says, "which, if the power of writing fiction were +possessed by me, I might have worked up into a first-class sensational +novel." It is the story that has been woven into the plot of this +book. To him also the writer is indebted for the artifice by which +Umslopogaas obtained admission to the Swazi stronghold; it was told to +Mr. Leslie by the Zulu who performed the feat and thereby won a wife. +Also the writer's thanks are due to his friends, Mr. F. B. Fynney,[1] +late Zulu border agent, for much information given to him in bygone +years by word of mouth, and more recently through his pamphlet +"Zululand and the Zulus," and to Mr. John Bird, formerly treasurer to +the Government of Natal, whose compilation, "The Annals of Natal," is +invaluable to all who would study the early history of that colony and +of Zululand. + +As for the wilder and more romantic incidents of this story, such as +the hunting of Umslopogaas and Galazi with the wolves, or rather with +the hyaenas,--for there are no true wolves in Zululand,--the author +can only say that they seem to him of a sort that might well have been +mythically connected with the names of those heroes. Similar beliefs +and traditions are common in the records of primitive peoples. The +club "Watcher of the Fords," or, to give its Zulu name, U-nothlola- +mazibuko, is an historical weapon, chronicled by Bishop Callaway. It +was once owned by a certain Undhlebekazizwa. He was an arbitrary +person, for "no matter what was discussed in our village, he would +bring it to a conclusion with a stick." But he made a good end; for +when the Zulu soldiers attacked him, he killed no less than twenty of +them with the Watcher, and the spears stuck in him "as thick as reeds +in a morass." This man's strength was so great that he could kill a +leopard "like a fly," with his hands only, much as Umslopogaas slew +the traitor in this story. + +Perhaps it may be allowable to add a few words about the Zulu +mysticism, magic, and superstition, to which there is some allusion in +this romance. It has been little if at all exaggerated. Thus the +writer well remembers hearing a legend how the Guardian Spirit of the +Ama-Zulu was seen riding down the storm. Here is what Mr. Fynney says +of her in the pamphlet to which reference has been made: "The natives +have a spirit which they call Nomkubulwana, or the Inkosazana-ye-Zulu +(the Princess of Heaven). She is said to be robed in white, and to +take the form of a young maiden, in fact an angel. She is said to +appear to some chosen person, to whom she imparts some revelation; +but, whatever that revelation may be, it is kept a profound secret +from outsiders. I remember that, just before the Zulu war, +Nomkubulwana appeared, revealing something or other which had a great +effect throughout the land, and I know that the Zulus were quite +impressed that some calamity was about to befall them. One of the +ominous signs was that fire is said to have descended from heaven, and +ignited the grass over the graves of the former kings of Zululand. +. . . On another occasion Nomkubulwana appeared to some one in +Zululand, the result of that visit being, that the native women buried +their young children up to their heads in sand, deserting them for the +time being, going away weeping, but returning at nightfall to unearth +the little ones again." + +For this divine personage there is, therefore, authority, and the same +may be said of most of the supernatural matters spoken of in these +pages. The exact spiritual position held in the Zulu mind by the +Umkulunkulu,--the Old--Old,--the Great--Great,--the Lord of Heavens,-- +is a more vexed question, and for its proper consideration the reader +must be referred to Bishop Callaway's work, the "Religious System of +the Amazulu." Briefly, Umkulunkulu's character seems to vary from the +idea of an ancestral spirit, or the spirit of an ancestor, to that of +a god. In the case of an able and highly intelligent person like the +Mopo of this story, the ideal would probably not be a low one; +therefore he is made to speak of Umkulunkulu as the Great Spirit, or +God. + +It only remains to the writer to express his regret that this story is +not more varied in its hue. It would have been desirable to introduce +some gayer and more happy incidents. But it has not been possible. It +is believed that the picture given of the times is a faithful one, +though it may be open to correction in some of its details. At the +least, the aged man who tells the tale of his wrongs and vengeance +could not be expected to treat his subject in an optimistic or even in +a cheerful vein. + +[1] I grieve to state that I must now say the late Mr. F. B. Fynney. + + + + + +NADA THE LILY + + + +INTRODUCTION + +Some years since--it was during the winter before the Zulu War--a +White Man was travelling through Natal. His name does not matter, for +he plays no part in this story. With him were two wagons laden with +goods, which he was transporting to Pretoria. The weather was cold and +there was little or no grass for the oxen, which made the journey +difficult; but he had been tempted to it by the high rates of +transport that prevailed at that season of the year, which would +remunerate him for any probable loss he might suffer in cattle. So he +pushed along on his journey, and all went well until he had passed the +little town of Stanger, once the site of Duguza, the kraal of Chaka, +the first Zulu king and the uncle of Cetywayo. The night after he left +Stanger the air turned bitterly cold, heavy grey clouds filled the +sky, and hid the light of the stars. + +"Now if I were not in Natal, I should say that there was a heavy fall +of snow coming," said the White Man to himself. "I have often seen the +sky look like that in Scotland before snow." Then he reflected that +there had been no deep snow in Natal for years, and, having drunk a +"tot" of squareface and smoked his pipe, he went to bed beneath the +after-tent of his larger wagon. + +During the night he was awakened by a sense of bitter cold and the low +moaning of the oxen that were tied to the trek-tow, every ox in its +place. He thrust his head through the curtain of the tent and looked +out. The earth was white with snow, and the air was full of it, swept +along by a cutting wind. + +Now he sprang up, huddling on his clothes and as he did so calling to +the Kaffirs who slept beneath the wagons. Presently they awoke from +the stupor which already was beginning to overcome them, and crept +out, shivering with cold and wrapped from head to foot in blankets. + +"Quick! you boys," he said to them in Zulu; "quick! Would you see the +cattle die of the snow and wind? Loose the oxen from the trek-tows and +drive them in between the wagons; they will give them some shelter." +And lighting a lantern he sprang out into the snow. + +At last it was done--no easy task, for the numbed hands of the Kaffirs +could scarcely loosen the frozen reims. The wagons were outspanned +side by side with a space between them, and into this space the mob of +thirty-six oxen was driven and there secured by reims tied crosswise +from the front and hind wheels of the wagons. Then the White Man crept +back to his bed, and the shivering natives, fortified with gin, or +squareface, as it is called locally, took refuge on the second wagon, +drawing a tent-sail over them. + +For awhile there was silence, save for the moaning of the huddled and +restless cattle. + +"If the snow goes on I shall lose my oxen," he said to himself; "they +can never bear this cold." + +Hardly had the words passed his lips when the wagon shook; there was a +sound of breaking reims and trampling hoofs. Once more he looked out. +The oxen had "skrecked" in a mob. There they were, running away into +the night and the snow, seeking to find shelter from the cold. In a +minute they had vanished utterly. There was nothing to be done, except +wait for the morning. + +At last it came, revealing a landscape blind with snow. Such search as +could be made told them nothing. The oxen had gone, and their spoor +was obliterated by the fresh-fallen flakes. The White Man called a +council of his Kaffir servants. "What was to be done?" he asked. + +One said this thing, one that, but all agreed that they must wait to +act until the snow melted. + +"Or till we freeze, you whose mothers were fools!" said the White Man, +who was in the worst of tempers, for had he not lost four hundred +pounds' worth of oxen? + +Then a Zulu spoke, who hitherto had remained silent. He was the driver +of the first wagon. + +"My father," he said to the White Man, "this is my word. The oxen are +lost in the snow. No man knows whither they have gone, or whether they +live or are now but hides and bones. Yet at the kraal yonder," and he +pointed to some huts about two miles away on the hillside, "lives a +witch doctor named Zweete. He is old--very old--but he has wisdom, and +he can tell you where the oxen are if any man may, my father." + +"Stuff!" answered the White Man. "Still, as the kraal cannot be colder +than this wagon, we will go and ask Zweete. Bring a bottle of +squareface and some snuff with you for presents." + +An hour later he stood in the hut of Zweete. Before him was a very +ancient man, a mere bag of bones, with sightless eyes, and one hand-- +his left--white and shrivelled. + +"What do you seek of Zweete, my white father?" asked the old man in a +thin voice. "You do not believe in me and my wisdom; why should I help +you? Yet I will do it, though it is against your law, and you do wrong +to ask me,--yes, to show you that there is truth in us Zulu doctors, I +will help you. My father, I know what you seek. You seek to know where +your oxen have run for shelter from the cold! Is it not so?" + +"It is so, Doctor," answered the White Man. "You have long ears." + +"Yes, my white father, I have long ears, though they say that I grow +deaf. I have keen eyes also, and yet I cannot see your face. Let me +hearken! Let me look!" + +For awhile he was silent, rocking himself to and fro, then he spoke: +"You have a farm, White Man, down near Pine Town, is it not? Ah! I +thought so--and an hour's ride from your farm lives a Boer with four +fingers only on his right hand. There is a kloof on the Boer's farm +where mimosa-trees grow. There, in the kloof, you shall find your oxen +--yes, five days' journey from here you will find them all. I say all, +my father, except three only--the big black Africander ox, the little +red Zulu ox with one horn, and the speckled ox. You shall not find +these, for they have died in the snow. Send, and you will find the +others. No, no! I ask no fee! I do not work wonders for reward. Why +should I? I am rich." + +Now the White Man scoffed. But in the end, so great is the power of +superstition, he sent. And here it may be stated that on the eleventh +day of his sojourn at the kraal of Zweete, those whom he sent returned +with the oxen, except the three only. After that he scoffed no more. +Those eleven days he spent in a hut of the old man's kraal, and every +afternoon he came and talked with him, sitting far into the night. + +On the third day he asked Zweete how it was that his left hand was +white and shrivelled, and who were Umslopogaas and Nada, of whom he +had let fall some words. Then the old man told him the tale that is +set out here. Day by day he told some of it till it was finished. It +is not all written in these pages, for portions may have been +forgotten, or put aside as irrelevant. Neither has it been possible +for the writer of it to render the full force of the Zulu idiom nor to +convey a picture of the teller. For, in truth, he acted rather than +told his story. Was the death of a warrior in question, he stabbed +with his stick, showing how the blow fell and where; did the story +grow sorrowful, he groaned, or even wept. Moreover, he had many +voices, one for each of the actors in his tale. This man, ancient and +withered, seemed to live again in the far past. It was the past that +spoke to his listener, telling of deeds long forgotten, of deeds that +are no more known. + +Yet as he best may, the White Man has set down the substance of the +story of Zweete in the spirit in which Zweete told it. And because the +history of Nada the Lily and of those with whom her life was +intertwined moved him strangely, and in many ways, he has done more, +he has printed it that others may judge of it. + +And now his part is played. Let him who was named Zweete, but who had +another name, take up the story. + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BOY CHAKA PROPHESIES + +You ask me, my father, to tell you the tale of the youth of +Umslopogaas, holder of the iron Chieftainess, the axe Groan-maker, who +was named Bulalio the Slaughterer, and of his love for Nada, the most +beautiful of Zulu women. It is long; but you are here for many nights, +and, if I live to tell it, it shall be told. Strengthen your heart, my +father, for I have much to say that is sorrowful, and even now, when I +think of Nada the tears creep through the horn that shuts out my old +eyes from light. + +Do you know who I am, my father? You do not know. You think that I am +an old, old witch-doctor named Zweete. So men have thought for many +years, but that is not my name. Few have known it, for I have kept it +locked in my breast, lest, thought I live now under the law of the +White Man, and the Great Queen is my chieftainess, an assegai still +might find this heart did any know my name. + +Look at this hand, my father--no, not that which is withered with +fire; look on this right hand of mine. You see it, though I who am +blind cannot. But still, within me, I see it as it was once. Ay! I see +it red and strong--red with the blood of two kings. Listen, my father; +bend your ear to me and listen. I am Mopo--ah! I felt you start; you +start as the regiment of the Bees started when Mopo walked before +their ranks, and from the assegai in his hand the blood of Chaka[1] +dropped slowly to the earth. I am Mopo who slew Chaka the king. I +killed him with Dingaan and Umhlangana the princes; but the wound was +mine that his life crept out of, and but for me he would never have +been slain. I killed him with the princes, but Dingaan, I and one +other slew alone. + +[1] The Zulu Napoleon, one of the greatest geniuses and most wicked + men who ever lived. He was killed in the year 1828, having + slaughtered more than a million human beings.--ED. + +What do you say? "Dingaan died by the Tongola." + +Yes, yes, he died, but not there; he died on the Ghost Mountain; he +lies in the breast of the old Stone Witch who sits aloft forever +waiting for the world to perish. But I also was on the Ghost Mountain. +In those days my feet still could travel fast, and vengeance would not +let me sleep. I travelled by day, and by night I found him. I and +another, we killed him--ah! ah! + +Why do I tell you this? What has it to do with the loves of +Umslopogaas and Nada the Lily? I will tell you. I stabbed Chaka for +the sake of my sister, Baleka, the mother of Umslopogaas, and because +he had murdered my wives and children. I and Umslopogaas slew Dingaan +for the sake of Nada, who was my daughter. + +There are great names in the story, my father. Yes, many have heard +the names: when the Impis roared them out as they charged in battle, I +have felt the mountains shake and seen the waters quiver in their +sound. But where are they now? Silence has them, and the white men +write them down in books. I opened the gates of distance for the +holders of the names. They passed through and they are gone beyond. I +cut the strings that tied them to the world. They fell off. Ha! ha! +They fell off! Perhaps they are falling still, perhaps they creep +about their desolate kraals in the skins of snakes. I wish I knew the +snakes that I might crush them with my heel. Yonder, beneath us, at +the burying place of kings, there is a hole. In that hole lies the +bones of Chaka, the king who died for Baleka. Far away in Zululand +there is a cleft upon the Ghost Mountain. At the foot of that cleft +lie the bones of Dingaan, the king who died for Nada. It was far to +fall and he was heavy; those bones of his are broken into little +pieces. I went to see them when the vultures and the jackals had done +their work. And then I laughed three times and came here to die. + +All that is long ago, and I have not died; though I wish to die and +follow the road that Nada trod. Perhaps I have lived to tell you this +tale, my father, that you may repeat it to the white men if you will. +How old am I? Nay, I do not know. Very, very old. Had Chaka lived he +would have been as old as I.[2] None are living whom I knew when I was +a boy. I am so old that I must hasten. The grass withers, and the +winter comes. Yes, while I speak the winter nips my heart. Well, I am +ready to sleep in the cold, and perhaps I shall awake again in the +spring. + +[2] This would have made him nearly a hundred years old, an age rarely + attained by a native. The writer remembers talking to an aged Zulu + woman, however, who told him that she was married when Chaka was + king.--ED. + +Before the Zulus were a people--for I will begin at the beginning--I +was born of the Langeni tribe. We were not a large tribe; afterwards, +all our able-bodied men numbered one full regiment in Chaka's army, +perhaps there were between two and three thousand of them, but they +were brave. Now they are all dead, and their women and children with +them,--that people is no more. It is gone like last month's moon; how +it went I will tell you by-and-bye. + +Our tribe lived in a beautiful open country; the Boers, whom we call +the Amaboona, are there now, they tell me. My father, Makedama, was +chief of the tribe, and his kraal was built on the crest of a hill, +but I was not the son of his head wife. One evening, when I was still +little, standing as high as a man's elbow only, I went out with my +mother below the cattle kraal to see the cows driven in. My mother was +very fond of these cows, and there was one with a white face that +would follow her about. She carried my little sister Baleka riding on +her hip; Baleka was a baby then. We walked till we met the lads +driving in the cows. My mother called the white-faced cow and gave it +mealie leaves which she had brought with her. Then the boys went on +with the cattle, but the white-faced cow stopped by my mother. She +said that she would bring it to the kraal when she came home. My +mother sat down on the grass and nursed her baby, while I played round +her, and the cow grazed. Presently we saw a woman walking towards us +across the plain. She walked like one who is tired. On her back was a +bundle of mats, and she led by the hand a boy of about my own age, but +bigger and stronger than I was. We waited a long while, till at last +the woman came up to us and sank down on the veldt, for she was very +weary. We saw by the way her hair was dressed that she was not of our +tribe. + +"Greeting to you!" said the woman. + +"Good-morrow!" answered my mother. "What do you seek?" + +"Food, and a hut to sleep in," said the woman. "I have travelled far." + +"How are you named?--and what is your people?" asked my mother. + +"My name is Unandi: I am the wife of Senzangacona, of the Zulu tribe," +said the stranger. + +Now there had been war between our people and the Zulu people, and +Senzangacona had killed some of our warriors and taken many of our +cattle. So, when my mother heard the speech of Unandi she sprang up in +anger. + +"You dare to come here and ask me for food and shelter, wife of a dog +of a Zulu!" she cried; "begone, or I will call the girls to whip you +out of our country." + +The woman, who was very handsome, waited till my mother had finished +her angry words; then she looked up and spoke slowly, "There is a cow +by you with milk dropping from its udder; will you not even give me +and my boy a gourd of milk?" And she took a gourd from her bundle and +held it towards us. + +"I will not," said my mother. + +"We are thirsty with long travel; will you not, then, give us a cup of +water? We have found none for many hours." + +"I will not, wife of a dog; go and seek water for yourself." + +The woman's eyes filled with tears, but the boy folded his arms on his +breast and scowled. He was a very handsome boy, with bright black +eyes, but when he scowled his eyes were like the sky before a +thunderstorm. + +"Mother," he said, "we are not wanted here any more than we were +wanted yonder," and he nodded towards the country where the Zulu +people lived. "Let us be going to Dingiswayo; the Umtetwa people will +protect us." + +"Yes, let us be going, my son," answered Unandi; "but the path is +long, we are weary and shall fall by the way." + +I heard, and something pulled at my heart; I was sorry for the woman +and her boy, they looked so tired. Then, without saying anything to my +mother, I snatched the gourd and ran with it to a little donga that +was hard by, for I knew that there was a spring. Presently I came back +with the gourd full of water. My mother wanted to catch me, for she +was very angry, but I ran past her and gave the gourd to the boy. Then +my mother ceased trying to interfere, only she beat the woman with her +tongue all the while, saying that evil had come to our kraals from her +husband, and she felt in her heart that more evil would come upon us +from her son. Her Ehlose[3] told her so. Ah! my father, her Ehlose +told her true. If the woman Unandi and her child had died that day on +the veldt, the gardens of my people would not now be a wilderness, and +their bones would not lie in the great gulley that is near +U'Cetywayo's kraal. + +[3] Guardian spirit.--ED. + +While my mother talked I and the cow with the white face stood still +and watched, and the baby Baleka cried aloud. The boy, Unandi's son, +having taken the gourd, did not offer the water to his mother. He +drank two-thirds of it himself; I think that he would have drunk it +all had not his thirst been slaked; but when he had done he gave what +was left to his mother, and she finished it. Then he took the gourd +again, and came forward, holding it in one hand; in the other he +carried a short stick. + +"What is your name, boy?" he said to me as a big rich man speaks to +one who is little and poor. + +"Mopo is my name," I answered. + +"And what is the name of your people?" + +I told him the name of my tribe, the Langeni tribe. + +"Very well, Mopo; now I will tell you my name. My name is Chaka, son +of Senzangacona, and my people are called the Amazulu. And I will tell +you something more. I am little to-day, and my people are a small +people. But I shall grow big, so big that my head will be lost in the +clouds; you will look up and you shall not see it. My face will blind +you; it will be bright like the sun; and my people will grow great +with me; they shall eat up the whole world. And when I am big and my +people are big, and we have stamped the earth flat as far as men can +travel, then I will remember your tribe--the tribe of the Langeni, who +would not give me and my mother a cup of milk when we were weary. You +see this gourd; for every drop it can hold the blood of a man shall +flow--the blood of one of your men. But because you gave me the water +I will spare you, Mopo, and you only, and make you great under me. You +shall grow fat in my shadow. You alone I will never harm, however you +sin against me; this I swear. But for that woman," and he pointed to +my mother, "let her make haste and die, so that I do not need to teach +her what a long time death can take to come. I have spoken." And he +ground his teeth and shook his stick towards us. + +My mother stood silent awhile. Then she gasped out: "The little liar! +He speaks like a man, does he? The calf lows like a bull. I will teach +him another note--the brat of an evil prophet!" And putting down +Baleka, she ran at the boy. + +Chaka stood quite still till she was near; then suddenly he lifted the +stick in his hand, and hit her so hard on the head that she fell down. +After that he laughed, turned, and went away with his mother Unandi. + +These, my father, were the first words I heard Chaka speak, and they +were words of prophecy, and they came true. The last words I heard him +speak were words of prophecy also, and I think that they will come +true. Even now they are coming true. In the one he told how the Zulu +people should rise. And say, have they not risen? In the other he +told how they should fall; and they did fall. Do not the white men +gather themselves together even now against U'Cetywayo, as vultures +gather round a dying ox? The Zulus are not what they were to stand +against them. Yes, yes, they will come true, and mine is the song of a +people that is doomed. + +But of these other words I will speak in their place. + +I went to my mother. Presently she raised herself from the ground and +sat up with her hands over her face. The blood from the wound the +stick had made ran down her face on to her breast, and I wiped it away +with grass. She sat for a long while thus, while the child cried, the +cow lowed to be milked, and I wiped up the blood with the grass. At +last she took her hands away and spoke to me. + +"Mopo, my son," she said, "I have dreamed a dream. I dreamed that I +saw the boy Chaka who struck me: he was grown like a giant. He stalked +across the mountains and the veldt, his eyes blazed like the +lightning, and in his hand he shook a little assegai that was red with +blood. He caught up people after people in his hands and tore them, he +stamped their kraals flat with his feet. Before him was the green of +summer, behind him the land was black as when the fires have eaten the +grass. I saw our people, Mopo; they were many and fat, their hearts +laughed, the men were brave, the girls were fair; I counted their +children by the hundreds. I saw them again, Mopo. They were bones, +white bones, thousands of bones tumbled together in a rocky place, and +he, Chaka, stood over the bones and laughed till the earth shook. +Then, Mopo, in my dream, I saw you grown a man. You alone were left of +our people. You crept up behind the giant Chaka, and with you came +others, great men of a royal look. You stabbed him with a little +spear, and he fell down and grew small again; he fell down and cursed +you. But you cried in his ear a name--the name of Baleka, your sister +--and he died. Let us go home, Mopo, let us go home; the darkness +falls." + +So we rose and went home. But I held my peace, for I was afraid, very +much afraid. + + + +CHAPTER II + +MOPO IS IN TROUBLE + +Now, I must tell how my mother did what the boy Chaka had told her, +and died quickly. For where his stick had struck her on the forehead +there came a sore that would not be healed, and in the sore grew an +abscess, and the abscess ate inwards till it came to the brain. Then +my mother fell down and died, and I cried very much, for I loved her, +and it was dreadful to see her cold and stiff, with not a word to say +however loudly I called to her. Well, they buried my mother, and she +was soon forgotten. I only remembered her, nobody else did--not even +Baleka, for she was too little--and as for my father he took another +young wife and was content. After that I was unhappy, for my brothers +did not love me, because I was much cleverer than they, and had +greater skill with the assegai, and was swifter in running; so they +poisoned the mind of my father against me and he treated me badly. But +Baleka and I loved each other, for we were both lonely, and she clung +to me like a creeper to the only tree in a plain, and though I was +young, I learned this: that to be wise is to be strong, for though he +who holds the assegai kills, yet he whose mind directs the battle is +greater than he who kills. Now I saw that the witch-finders and the +medicine-men were feared in the land, and that everybody looked up to +them, so that, even when they had only a stick in their hands, ten men +armed with spears would fly before them. Therefore I determined that I +should be a witch-doctor, for they alone can kill those whom they hate +with a word. So I learned the arts of the medicine-men. I made +sacrifices, I fasted in the veldt alone, I did all those things of +which you have heard, and I learned much; for there is wisdom in our +magic as well as lies--and you know it, my father, else you had not +come here to ask me about your lost oxen. + +So things went on till I was twenty years of age--a man full grown. By +now I had mastered all I could learn by myself, so I joined myself on +to the chief medicine-man of our tribe, who was named Noma. He was +old, had one eye only, and was very clever. Of him I learned some +tricks and more wisdom, but at last he grew jealous of me and set a +trap to catch me. As it chanced, a rich man of a neighbouring tribe +had lost some cattle, and came with gifts to Noma praying him to smell +them out. Noma tried and could not find them; his vision failed him. +Then the headman grew angry and demanded back his gifts; but Noma +would not give up that which he once had held, and hot words passed. +The headman said that he would kill Noma; Noma said that he would +bewitch the headman. + +"Peace," I said, for I feared that blood would be shed. "Peace, and +let me see if my snake will tell me where the cattle are." + +"You are nothing but a boy," answered the headman. "Can a boy have +wisdom?" + +"That shall soon be known," I said, taking the bones in my hand.[1] + +[1] The Kafir witch-doctors use the knuckle-bones of animals in their + magic rites, throwing them something as we throw dice.--ED. + +"Leave the bones alone!" screamed Noma. "We will ask nothing more of +our snakes for the good of this son of a dog." + +"He shall throw the bones," answered the headman. "If you try to stop +him, I will let sunshine through you with my assegai." And he lifted +his spear. + +Then I made haste to begin; I threw the bones. The headman sat on the +ground before me and answered my questions. You know of these matters, +my father--how sometimes the witch-doctor has knowledge of where the +lost things are, for our ears are long, and sometimes his Ehlose tells +him, as but the other day it told me of your oxen. Well, in this case, +my snake stood up. I knew nothing of the man's cattle, but my Spirit +was with me and soon I saw them all, and told them to him one by one, +their colour, their age--everything. I told him, too, where they were, +and how one of them had fallen into a stream and lay there on its back +drowned, with its forefoot caught in a forked root. As my Ehlose told +me so I told the headman. + +Now, the man was pleased, and said that if my sight was good, and he +found the cattle, the gifts should be taken from Noma and given to me; +and he asked the people who were sitting round, and there were many, +if this was not just. "Yes, yes," they said, it was just, and they +would see that it was done. But Noma sat still and looked at me +evilly. He knew that I had made a true divination, and he was very +angry. It was a big matter: the herd of cattle were many, and, if they +were found where I had said, then all men would think me the greater +wizard. Now it was late, and the moon had not yet risen, therefore the +headman said that he would sleep that night in our kraal, and at the +first light would go with me to the spot where I said the cattle were. +After that he went away. + +I too went into my hut and lay down to sleep. Suddenly I awoke, +feeling a weight upon my breast. I tried to start up, but something +cold pricked my throat. I fell back again and looked. The door of the +hut was open, the moon lay low on the sky like a ball of fire far +away. I could see it through the door, and its light crept into the +hut. It fell upon the face of Noma the witch-doctor. He was seated +across me, glaring at me with his one eye, and in his hand was a +knife. It was that which I had felt prick my throat. + +"You whelp whom I have bred up to tear me!" he hissed into my ear, +"you dared to divine where I failed, did you? Very well, now I will +show you how I serve such puppies. First, I will pierce through the +root of your tongue, so that you cannot squeal, then I will cut you to +pieces slowly, bit by bit, and in the morning I will tell the people +that the spirits did it because you lied. Next, I will take off your +arms and legs. Yes, yes, I will make you like a stick! Then I will"-- +and he began driving in the knife under my chin. + +"Mercy, my uncle," I said, for I was frightened and the knife hurt. +"Have mercy, and I will do whatever you wish!" + +"Will you do this?" he asked, still pricking me with the knife. "Will +you get up, go to find the dog's cattle and drive them to a certain +place, and hide them there?" And he named a secret valley that was +known to very few. "If you do that, I will spare you and give you +three of the cows. If you refuse or play my false, then, by my +father's spirit, I will find a way to kill you!" + +"Certainly I will do it, my uncle," I answered. "Why did you not trust +me before? Had I known that you wanted to keep the cattle, I would +never have smelt them out. I only did so fearing lest you should lose +the presents." + +"You are not so wicked as I thought," he growled. "Get up, then, and +do my bidding. You can be back here two hours after dawn." + +So I got up, thinking all the while whether I should try to spring on +him. But I was without arms, and he had the knife; also if, by chance, +I prevailed and killed him, it would have been thought that I had +murdered him, and I should have tasted the assegai. So I made another +plan. I would go and find the cattle in the valley where I had smelt +them out, but I would not bring them to the secret hiding-place. No; I +would drive them straight to the kraal, and denounce Noma before the +chief, my father, and all the people. But I was young in those days, +and did not know the heart of Noma. He had not been a witch-doctor +till he grew old for nothing. Oh! he was evil!--he was cunning as a +jackal, and fierce like a lion.. He had planted me by him like a tree, +but he meant to keep me clipped like a bush. Now I had grown tall and +overshadowed him; therefore he would root me up. + +I went to the corner of my hut, Noma watching me all the while, and +took a kerrie and my small shield. Then I started through the +moonlight. Till I was past the kraal I glided along quietly as a +shadow. After that, I began to run, singing to myself as I went, to +frighten away the ghosts, my father. + +For an hour I travelled swiftly over the plain, till I came to the +hillside where the bush began. Here it was very dark under the shade +of the trees, and I sang louder than ever. At last I found the little +buffalo path I sought, and turned along it. Presently I came to an +open place, where the moonlight crept in between the trees. I knelt +down and looked. Yes! my snake had not lied to me; there was the spoor +of the cattle. Then I went on gladly till I reached a dell through +which the water ran softly, sometimes whispering and sometimes talking +out loud. Here the trail of the cattle was broad: they had broken down +the ferns with their feet and trampled the grass. Presently I came to +a pool. I knew it--it was the pool my snake had shown me. And there at +the edge of the pool floated the drowned ox, its foot caught in a +forked root. All was just as I had seen it in my heart. + +I stepped forward and looked round. My eye caught something; it was +the faint grey light of the dawn glinted on the cattle's horns. As I +looked, one of them snorted, rose and shook the dew from his hide. He +seemed big as an elephant in the mist and twilight. + +Then I collected them all--there were seventeen--and drove them before +me down the narrow path back towards the kraal. Now the daylight came +quickly, and the sun had been up an hour when I reached the spot where +I must turn if I wished to hide the cattle in the secret place, as +Noma had bid me. But I would not do this. No, I would go on to the +kraal with them, and tell all men that Noma was a thief. Still, I sat +down and rested awhile, for I was tired. As I sat, I heard a noise, +and looked up. There, over the slope of the rise, came a crowd of men, +and leading them was Noma, and by his side the headman who owned the +cattle. I rose and stood still, wondering; but as I stood, they ran +towards me shouting and waving sticks and spears. + +"There he is!" screamed Noma. "There he is!--the clever boy whom I +have brought up to bring shame on me. What did I tell you? Did I not +tell you that he was a thief? Yes--yes! I know your tricks, Mopo, my +child! See! he is stealing the cattle! He knew where they were all the +time, and now he is taking them away to hide them. They would be +useful to buy a wife with, would they not, my clever boy?" And he made +a rush at me, with his stick lifted, and after him came the headman, +grunting with rage. + +I understood now, my father. My heart went mad in me, everything began +to swim round, a red cloth seemed to lift itself up and down before my +eyes. I have always seen it thus when I was forced to fight. I +screamed out one word only, "Liar!" and ran to meet him. On came Noma. +He struck at me with his stick, but I caught the blow upon my little +shield, and hit back. Wow! I did hit! The skull of Noma met my kerrie, +and down he fell dead at my feet. I yelled again, and rushed on at the +headman. He threw an assegai, but it missed me, and next second I hit +him too. He got up his shield, but I knocked it down upon his head, +and over he rolled senseless. Whether he lived or died I do not know, +my father; but his head being of the thickest, I think it likely that +he lived. Then, while the people stood astonished, I turned and fled +like the wind. They turned too, and ran after me, throwing spears at +me and trying to cut me off. But none of them could catch me--no, not +one. I went like the wind; I went like a buck when the dogs wake it +from sleep; and presently the sound of their chase grew fainter and +fainter, till at last I was out of sight and alone. + + + +CHAPTER III + +MOPO VENTURES HOME + +I threw myself down on the grass and panted till my breath came back; +then I went and hid in a patch of reeds down by a swamp. All day long +I lay there thinking. What was I to do? Now I was a jackal without a +hole. If I went back to my people, certainly they would kill me, whom +they thought a thief. My blood would be given for Noma's, and that I +did not wish, though my heart was sad. Then there came into my mind +the thought of Chaka, the boy to whom I had given the cup of water +long ago. I had heard of him: his name was known in the land; already +the air was big with it; the very trees and grass spoke it. The words +he had said and the vision that my mother had seen were beginning to +come true. By the help of the Umtetwas he had taken the place of his +father Senzangacona; he had driven out the tribe of the Amaquabe; now +he made war on Zweete, chief of the Endwande, and he had sworn that he +would stamp the Endwande flat, so that nobody could find them any +more. Now I remembered how this Chaka promised that he would make me +great, and that I should grow fat in his shadow; and I thought to +myself that I would arise and go to him. Perhaps he would kill me; +well, what did it matter? Certainly I should be killed if I stayed +ehre. Yes, I would go. But now my heart pulled another way. There was +but one whom I loved in the world--it was my sister Baleka. My father +had betrothed her to the chief of a neighbouring tribe, but I knew +that this marriage was against her wish. Perhaps my sister would run +away with me if I could get near her to tell her that I was going. I +would try--yes, I would try. + +I waited till the darkness came down, then I rose from my bed of weeds +and crept like a jackal towards the kraal. In the mealie gardens I +stopped awhile, for I was very hungry, and filled myself with the +half-ripe mealies. Then I went on till I came to the kraal. Some of my +people were seated outside of a hut, talking together over a fire. I +crept near, silently as a snake, and hid behind a little bush. I knew +that they could not see me outside the ring of the firelight, and I +wanted to hear what they said. As I guessed, they were talking of me +and called me many names. They said that I should bring ill-luck on +the tribe by having killed so great a witch-doctor as Noma; also that +the people of the headman would demand payment for the assault on him. +I learned, moreover, that my father had ordered out all the men of the +tribe to hunt for me on the morrow and to kill me wherever they found +me. "Ah!" I thought, "you may hunt, but you will bring nothing home to +the pot." Just then a dog that was lying by the fire got up and began +to sniff the air. I could not see what dog it was--indeed, I had +forgotten all about the dogs when I drew near the kraal; that is what +comes of want of experience, my father. The dog sniffed and sniffed, +then he began to growl, looking always my way, and I grew afraid. + +"What is the dog growling at?" said one man to another. "Go and see." +But the other man was taking snuff and did not like to move. "Let the +dog go and see for himself," he answered, sneezing, "what is the good +of keeping a dog if you have to catch the thief?" + +"Go on, then," said the first man to the dog. And he ran forward, +barking. Then I saw him: it was my own dog, Koos, a very good dog. +Presently, as I lay not knowing what to do, he smelt my smell, stopped +barking, and running round the bush he found me and began to lick my +face. "Be quiet, Koos!" I whispered to him. And he lay down by my +side. + +"Where has that dog gone now?" said the first man. "Is he bewitched, +that he stops barking suddenly and does not come back?" + +"We will see," said the other, rising, a spear in his hand. + +Now once more I was terribly afraid, for I thought that they would +catch me, or I must run for my life again. But as I sprang up to run, +a big black snake glided between the men and went off towards the +huts. They jumped aside in a great fright, then all of them turned to +follow the snake, saying that this was what the dog was barking at. +That was my good Ehlose, my father, which without any doubt took the +shape of a snake to save my life. + +When they had gone I crept off the other way, and Koos followed me. At +first I thought that I would kill him, lest he should betray me; but +when I called to him to knock him on the head with my kerrie, he sat +down upon the ground wagging his tail, and seemed to smile in my face, +and I could not do it. So I thought that I would take my chance, and +we went on together. This was my purpose: first to creep into my own +hut and get my assegais and a skin blanket, then to gain speech with +Baleka. My hut, I thought, would be empty, for nobody sleeps there +except myself, and the huts of Noma were some paces away to the right. +I came to the reed fence that surrounded the huts. Nobody was to be +seen at the gate, which was not shut with thorns as usual. It was my +duty to close it, and I had not been there to do so. Then, bidding the +dog lie down outside, I stepped through boldly, reached the door of my +hut, and listened. It was empty; there was not even a breath to be +heard. So I crept in and began to search for my assegais, my water- +gourd, and my wood pillow, which was so nicely carved that I did not +like to leave it. Soon I found them. Then I felt about for my skin +rug, and as I did so my hand touched something cold. I started, and +felt again. It was a man's face--the face of a dead man, of Noma, whom +I had killed and who had been laid in my hut to await burial. Oh! then +I was frightened, for Noma dead and in the dark was worse than Noma +alive. I made ready to fly, when suddenly I heard the voices of women +talking outside the door of the hut. I knew the voices; they were +those of Noma's two wives, and one of them said she was coming in to +watch by her husband's body. Now I was in a trap indeed, for before I +could do anything I saw the light go out of a hole in the hut, and +knew by the sound of a fat woman puffing as she bent herself up that +Noma's first wife was coming through it. Presently she was in, and, +squatting by the side of the corpse in such a fashion that I could not +get to the door, she began to make lamentations and to cal down curses +on me. Ah! she did not know that I was listening. I too squatted by +Noma's head, and grew quick-witted in my fear. Now that the woman was +there I was not so much afraid of the dead man, and I remembered, too, +that he had been a great cheat; so I thought I would make him cheat +for the last time. I placed my hands beneath his shoulders and pushed +him up so that he sat upon the ground. The woman heard the noise and +made a sound in her throat. + +"Will you not be quiet, you old hag?" I said in Noma's voice. "Can you +not let me be at peace, even now when I am dead?" + +She heard, and, falling backwards in fear, drew in her breath to +shriek aloud. + +"What! will you also dare to shriek?" I said again in Noma's voice; +"then I must teach you silence." And I tumbled him over on to the top +of her. + +Then her senses left her, and whether she ever found them again I do +not know. At least she grew quiet for that time. For me, I snatched up +the rug--afterwards I found it was Noma's best kaross, made by Basutos +of chosen cat-skins, and worth three oxen--and I fled, followed by +Koos. + +Now the kraal of the chief, my father, Makedama, was two hundred paces +away, and I must go thither, for there Baleka slept. Also I dared not +enter by the gate, because a man was always on guard there. So I cut +my way through the reed fence with my assegai and crept to the hut +where Baleka was with some of her half-sisters. I knew on which side +of the hut it was her custom to lie, and where her head would be. So I +lay down on my side and gently, very gently, began to bore a hole in +the grass covering of the hut. It took a long while, for the thatch +was thick, but at last I was nearly through it. Then I stopped, for it +came into my mind that Baleka might have changed her place, and that I +might wake the wrong girl. I almost gave it over, thinking that I +would fly alone, when suddenly I heard a girl wake and begin to cry on +the other side of the thatch. "Ah," I thought, "that is Baleka, who +weeps for her brother!" So I put my lips where the thatch was thinnest +and whispered:-- + +"Baleka, my sister! Baleka, do not weep! I, Mopo, am here. Say not a +word, but rise. Come out of the hut, bringing your skin blanket. + +Now Baleka was very clever: she did not shriek, as most girls would +have done. No; she understood, and, after waiting awhile, she rose and +crept from the hut, her blanket in her hand. + +"Why are you here, Mopo?" she whispered, as we met. "Surely you will +be killed!" + +"Hush!" I said. And then I told her of the plan which I had made. +"Will you come with me?" I said, when I had done, "or will you creep +back into the hut and bid me farewell?" + +She thought awhile, then she said, "No, my brother, I will come, for I +love you alone among our people, though I believe that this will be +the end of it--that you will lead me to my death." + +I did not think much of her words at the time, but afterwards they +came back to me. So we slipped away together, followed by the dog +Koos, and soon we were running over the veldt with our faces set +towards the country of the Zulu tribe. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE FLIGHT OF MOPO AND BALEKA + +All the rest of that night we journeyed, till even the dog was tired. +Then we hid in a mealie field for the day, as we were afraid of being +seen. Towards the afternoon we heard voices, and, looking through the +stems of the mealies, we saw a party of my father's men pass searching +for us. They went on to a neighbouring kraal to ask if we had been +seen, and after that we saw them no more for awhile. At night we +travelled again; but, as fate would have it, we were met by an old +woman, who looked oddly at us but said nothing. After that we pushed +on day and night, for we knew that the old woman would tell the +pursuers if she met them; and so indeed it came about. On the third +evening we reached some mealie gardens, and saw that they had been +trampled down. Among the broken mealies we found the body of a very +old man, as full of assegai wounds as a porcupine with quills. We +wondered at this, and went on a little way. Then we saw that the kraal +to which the gardens belonged was burnt down. We crept up to it, and-- +ah! it was a sad sight for us to see! Afterwards we became used to +such sights. All about us lay the bodies of dead people, scores of +them--old men, young men, women, children, little babies at the breast +--there they lay among the burnt huts, pierced with assegai wounds. +Red was the earth with their blood, and red they looked in the red +light of the setting sun. It was as though all the land had been +smeared with the bloody hand of the Great Spirit, of the Umkulunkulu. +Baleka saw it and began to cry; she was weary, poor girl, and we had +found little to eat, only grass and green corn. + +"An enemy has been here," I said, and as I spoke I thought that I +heard a groan from the other side of a broken reed hedge. I went and +looked. There lay a young woman: she was badly wounded, but still +alive, my father. A little way from her lay a man dead, and before him +several other men of another tribe: he had died fighting. In front of +the woman were the bodies of three children; another, a little one, +lay on her body. I looked at the woman, and, as I looked, she groaned +again, opened her eyes and saw me, and that I had a spear in my hand. + +"Kill me quickly!" she said. "Have you not tortured me enough?" + +I said that I was a stranger and did not want to kill her. + +"Then bring me water," she said; "there is a spring there behind the +kraal." + +I called to Baleka to come to the woman, and went with my gourd to the +spring. There were bodies in it, but I dragged them out, and when the +water had cleared a little I filled the gourd and brought it back to +the woman. She drank deep, and her strength came back a little--the +water gave her life. + +"How did you come to this?" I asked. + +"It was an impi of Chaka, Chief of the Zulus, that ate us up," she +answered. "They burst upon as at dawn this morning while we were +asleep in our huts. Yes, I woke up to hear the sound of killing. I was +sleeping by my husband, with him who lies there, and the children. We +all ran out. My husband had a spear and shield. He was a brave man. +See! he died bravely: he killed three of the Zulu devils before he +himself was dead. Then they caught me, and killed my children, and +stabbed me till they thought that I was dead. Afterwards, they went +away. I don't know why they came, but I think it was because our chief +would not send men to help Chaka against Zweete." + +She stopped, gave a great cry, and died. + +My sister wept at the sight, and I too was stirred by it. "Ah!" I +thought to myself, "the Great Spirit must be evil. If he is not evil +such things would not happen." That is how I thought then, my father; +now I think differently. I know that we had not found out the path of +the Great Spirit, that is all. I was a chicken in those days, my +father; afterwards I got used to such sights. They did not stir me any +more, not one whit. But then in the days of Chaka the rivers ran blood +--yes, we had to look at the water to see if it was clean before we +drank. People learned how to die then and not make a noise about it. +What does it matter? They would have been dead now anyway. It does not +matter; nothing matters, except being born. That is a mistake, my +father. + +We stopped at the kraal that night, but we could not sleep, for we +heard the Itongo, the ghosts of the dead people, moving about and +calling to each other. It was natural that they should do so; men were +looking for their wives, and mothers for their children. But we were +afraid that they might be angry with us for being there, so we clung +together and trembled in each other's arms. Koos also trembled, and +from time to time he howled loudly. But they did not seem to see us, +and towards morning their cries grew fainter. + +When the first light came we rose and picked our way through the dead +down to the plain. Now we had an easy road to follow to Chaka's kraal, +for there was the spoor of the impi and of the cattle which they had +stolen, and sometimes we came to the body of a warrior who had been +killed because his wounds prevented him from marching farther. But now +I was doubtful whether it was wise for us to go to Chaka, for after +what we had seen I grew afraid lest he should kill us. Still, we had +nowhere to turn, so I said that we would walk along till something +happened. Now we grew faint with hunger and weariness, and Baleka said +that we had better sit down and die, for then there would be no more +trouble. So we sat down by a spring. But I did not wish to die yet, +thought Baleka was right, and it would have been well to do so. As we +sat, the dog Koos went to a bush that was near, and presently I heard +him spring at something and the sound of struggling. I ran to the bush +--he had caught hold of a duiker buck, as big as himself, that was +asleep in it. Then I drove my spear into the buck and shouted for joy, +for here was food. When the buck was dead I skinned him, and we took +bits of the flesh, washed them in the water, and ate them, for we had +no fire to cook them with. It is not nice to eat uncooked flesh, but +we were so hungry that we did not mind, and the good refreshed us. +When we had eaten what we could, we rose and washed ourselves at the +spring; but, as we washed, Baleka looked up and gave a cry of fear. +For there, on the crest of the hill, about ten spear-throws away, was +a party of six armed men, people of my own tribe--children of my +father Makedama--who still pursued us to take us or kill us. They saw +us--they raised a shout, and began to run. We too sprang up and ran-- +ran like bucks, for fear had touched our feet. + +Now the land lay thus. Before us the ground was open and sloped down +to the banks of the White Umfolozi, which twisted through the plain +like a great and shining snake. On the other side the ground rose +again, and we did not know what was beyond, but we thought that in +this direction lay the kraal of Chaka. We ran for the river--where +else were we to run? And after us came the warriors. They gained on +us; they were strong, and they were angry because they had come so +far. Run as we would, still they gained. Now we neared the banks of +the river; it was full and wide. Above us the waters ran angrily, +breaking into swirls of white where they passed over sunken rocks; +below was a rapid, in which none might live; between the two a deep +pool, where the water was quiet but the stream strong. + +"Ah! my brother, what shall we do?" gasped Baleka. + +"There is this to choose," I answered; "perish on the spears of our +people or try the river." + +"Easier to die by water than on iron," she answered. + +"Good!" I said. "Now may our snakes look towards us and the spirits of +our fathers be with us! At the least we can swim." And I led her to +the head of the pool. We threw away our blankets--everything except an +assegai, which I held in my teeth--and we plunged in, wading as far as +we could. Now we were up to our breasts; now we had lost the earth and +were swimming towards the middle of the river, the dog Koos leading +the way. + +Then it was that the soldiers appeared upon the bank. "Ah! little +people," one cried, "you swim, do you? Well, you will drown; and if +you do not drown we know a ford, and we will catch you and kill you-- +yes! if we must run over the edge of the world after you we will catch +you." And he hurled an assegai after us, which fell between us like a +flash of light. + +While he spoke we swam hard, and now we were in the current. It swept +us downwards, but still we made way, for we could swim well. It was +just this: if we could reach the bank before we were swept into the +rapids we were safe; if not, then--good-night! Now we were near the +other side, but, alas! we were also near the lip of the foaming water. +We strained, we struggled. Baleka was a brave girl, and she swam +bravely; but the water pushed her down below me, and I could do +nothing to help her. I got my foot upon the rock and looked round. +There she was, and eight paces from her the broken water boiled. I +could not go back. I was too weak, and it seemed that she must perish. +But the dog Koos saw. He swam towards her, barking, then turned round, +heading for the shore. She grasped him by the tail with her right +hand. Then he put out his strength--he was very strong. She took +struck out with her feet and left hand, and slowly--very slowly--drew +near. Then I stretched out the handle of my assegai towards her. She +caught it with her left hand. Already her feet were over the brink of +the rapids, but I pulled and Koos pulled, and we brought her safe into +the shadows, and from the shallows to the bank, and there she fell +gasping. + +Now when the soldiers on the other bank saw that we had crossed, they +shouted threats at us, then ran away down the bank. + +"Arise, Baleka!" I said: "they have gone to see a ford." + +"Ah, let me die!" she answered. + +But I forced her to rise, and after awhile she got her breath again, +and we walked on as fast as we could up the long rise. For two hours +we walked, or more, till at last we came to the crest of the rise, and +there, far away, we saw a large kraal. + +"Keep heart," I said. "See, there is the kraal of Chaka." + +"Yes, brother," she answered, "but what waits us there? Death is +behind us and before us--we are in the middle of death." + +Presently we came to a path that ran to the kraal from the ford of the +Umfolozi. It was by it that the Impi had travelled. We followed the +path till at last we were but half an hour's journey from the kraal. +Then we looked back, and lo! there behind us were the pursuers--five +of them--one had drowned in crossing the river. + +Again we ran, but now we were weak, and they gained upon us. Then once +more I thought of the dog. He was fierce and would tear any one on +whom I set him. I called him and told him what to do, though I knew +that it would be his death. He understood, and flew towards the +soldiers growling, his hair standing up on his spine. They tried to +kill him with spears and kerries, but he jumped round them, biting at +them, and kept them back. At last a man hit him, and he sprang up and +seized the man by the throat. There he clung, man and dog rolling over +and over together, till the end of it was that they both died. Ah! he +was a dog! We do not see such dogs nowadays. His father was a Boer +hound, the first that came into the country. That dog once killed a +leopard all by himself. Well, this was the end of Koos! + +Meanwhile, we had been running. Now we were but three hundred paces +from the gate of the kraal, and there was something going on inside +it; that we could see from the noise and the dust. The four soldiers, +leaving the dead dog and the dying man, came after us swiftly. I saw +that they must catch us before we reached the gate, for now Baleka +could go but slowly. Then a thought came into my head. I had brought +her here, I would save her life if I could. Should she reach the kraal +without me, Chaka would not kill a girl who was so young and fair. + +"Run on, Baleka! run on!" I said, dropping behind. Now she was almost +blind with weariness and terror, and, not seeing my purpose, staggered +towards the gate of the kraal. But I sat down on the veldt to get my +breath again, for I was about to fight four men till I was killed. My +heart beat and the blood drummed in my ears, but when they drew near +and I rose--the assegai in my hand--once more the red cloth seemed to +go up and down before my eyes, and all fear left me. + +The men were running, two and two, with the length of a spear throw +between them. But of the first pair one was five or six paces in front +of the other. This man shouted out loud and charged me, shield and +spear up. Now I had no shield--nothing but the assegai; but I was +crafty and he was overbold. On he came. I stood waiting for him till +he drew back the spear to stab me. Then suddenly I dropped to my knees +and thrust upward with all my strength, beneath the rim of his shield, +and he also thrust, but over me, his spear only cutting the flesh of +my shoulder--see! here is its scar; yes, to this day. And my assegai? +Ah! it went home; it ran through and through his middle. He rolled +over and over on the plain. The dust hid him; only I was now +weaponless, for the haft of my spear--it was but a light throwing +assegai--broke in two, leaving nothing but a little bit of stick in my +hand. And the other one was upon me. Then in the darkness I saw a +light. I fell on to my hands and knees and flung myself over sideways. +My body struck the legs of the man who was about to stab me, lifting +his feet from beneath him. Down he came heavily. Before he had touched +the ground I was off it. His spear had fallen from his hand. I +stooped, seized it, and as he rose I stabbed him through the back. It +was all done in the shake of a leaf, my father; in the shake of a leaf +he also was dead. Then I ran, for I had no stomach for the other two; +my valour was gone. + +About a hundred paces from me Baleka was staggering along with her +arms out like one who has drunk too much beer. By the time I caught +her she was some forty paces from the gate of the kraal. But then her +strength left her altogether. Yes! there she fell senseless, and I +stood by her. And there, too, I should have been killed, had not this +chanced, since the other two men, having stayed one instant by their +dead fellows, came on against me mad with rage. For at that moment the +gate of the kraal opened, and through it ran a party of soldiers +dragging a prisoner by the arms. After them walked a great man, who +wore a leopard skin on his shoulders, and was laughing, and with him +were five or six ringed councillors, and after them again came a +company of warriors. + +The soldiers saw that killing was going on, and ran up just as the +slayers reached us. + +"Who are you?" they cried, "who day to kill at the gate of the +Elephant's kraal? Here the Elephant kills alone." + +"We are of the children of Makedama," they answered, "and we follow +these evildoers who have done wickedness and murder in our kraal. See! +but now two of us are dead at their hands, and others lie dead along +the road. Suffer that we slay them." + +"Ask that of the Elephant," said the soldiers; "ask too that he suffer +you should not be slain." + +Just then the tall chief saw blood and heard words. He stalked up; and +he was a great man to look at, though still quite young in years. For +he was taller by a head than any round him, and his chest was big as +the chests of two; his face was fierce and beautiful, and when he grew +angry his eye flashed like a smitten brand. + +"Who are these that dare to stir up dust at the gates of my kraal?" he +asked, frowning. + +"O Chaka, O Elephant!" answered the captain of the soldiers, bending +himself double before him, "the men say that these are evildoers and +that they pursue them to kill them." + +"Good!" he answered. "Let them slay the evildoers." + +"O great chief! thanks be to thee, great chief!" said those men of my +people who sought to kill us. + +"I hear you," he answered, then spoke once more to the captain. "And +when they have slain the evildoers, let themselves be blinded and +turned loose to seek their way home, because they have dared to lift a +spear within the Zulu gates. Now praise on, my children!" And he +laughed, while the soldiers murmured, "Ou! he is wise, he is great, +his justice is bright and terrible like the sun!" + +But the two men of my people cried out in fear, for they did not seek +such justice as this. + +"Cut out their tongues also," said Chaka. "What? shall the land of the +Zulus suffer such a noise? Never! lest the cattle miscarry. To it, ye +black ones! There lies the girl. She is asleep and helpless. Kill her! +What? you hesitate? Nay, then, if you will have time for thought, I +give it. Take these men, smear them with honey, and pin them over ant- +heaps; by to-morrow's sun they will know their own minds. But first +kill these two hunted jackals," and he pointed to Baleka and myself. +"They seem tired and doubtless they long for sleep." + +Then for the first time I spoke, for the soldiers drew near to slay +us. + +"O Chaka," I cried, "I am Mopo, and this is my sister Baleka." + +I stopped, and a great shout of laughter went up from all who stood +round. + +"Very well, Mopo and thy sister Baleka," said Chaka, grimly. "Good- +morning to you, Mopo and Baleka--also, good-night!" + +"O Chaka," I broke in, "I am Mopo, son of Makedama of the Langeni +tribe. It was I who gave thee a gourd of water many years ago, when we +were both little. Then thou badest me come to thee when thou hadst +grown great, vowing that thou wouldst protect me and never do me harm. +So I have come, bringing my sister with me; and now, I pray thee, do +not eat up the words of long ago." + +As I spoke, Chaka's face changed, and he listened earnestly, as a man +who holds his hand behind his ear. "Those are no liars," he said. +"Welcome, Mopo! Thou shalt be a dog in my hut, and feed from my hand. +But of thy sister I said nothing. Why, then, should she not be slain +when I swore vengeance against all thy tribe, save thee alone?" + +"Because she is too fair to slay, O Chief!" I answered, boldly; "also +because I love her, and ask her life as a boon!" + +"Turn the girl over," said Chaka. And they did so, showing her face. + +"Again thou speakest no lie, son of Makedama," said the chief. "I +grant thee the boon. She also shall lie in my hut, and be of the +number of my 'sisters.' Now tell me thy tale, speaking only the +truth." + +So I sat down and told him all. Nor did he grow weary of listening. +But, when I had done, he said but one thing--that he would that the +dog Koos had not been killed; since, if he had still been alive, he +would have set him on the hut of my father Makedama, and made him +chief over the Langeni. + +Then he spoke to the captain of the soldiers. "I take back my words," +he said. "Let not these men of the Langeni be mutilated. One shall die +and the other shall go free. Here," and he pointed to the man whom we +had seen led out of the kraal-gate, "here, Mopo, we have a man who has +proved himself a coward. Yesterday a kraal of wizards yonder was eaten +up by my order--perhaps you two saw it as you travelled. This man and +three others attacked a soldier of that kraal who defended his wife +and children. The man fought well--he slew three of my people. Then +this dog was afraid to meet him face to face. He killed him with a +throwing assegai, and afterwards he stabbed the woman. That is +nothing; but he should have fought the husband hand to hand. Now I +will do him honour. He shall fight to the death with one of these pigs +from thy sty," and he pointed with his spear to the men of my father's +kraal, "and the one who survives shall be run down as they tried to +run you down. I will send back the other pig to the sty with a +message. Choose, children of Makedama, which of you will live." + +Now the two men of my tribe were brothers, and loved one another, and +each of them was willing to die that the other might go free. +Therefore, both of them stepped forward, saying that they would fight +the Zulu. + +"What, is there honour among pigs?" said Chaka. "Then I will settle +it. See this assegai? I throw it into the air; if the blade falls +uppermost the tall man shall go free; if the shaft falls uppermost, +then life is to the short one, so!" And he sent the little spear +whirling round and round in the air. Every eye watched it as it +wheeled and fell. The haft struck the ground first. + +"Come hither, thou," said Chaka to the tall brother. "Hasten back to +the kraal of Makedama, and say to him, Thus says Chaka, the Lion of +the Zulu-ka-Malandela, 'Years ago thy tribe refused me milk. To-day +the dog of thy son Mopo howls upon the roof of thy hut.' Begone!"[1] + +[1] Among the Zulus it is a very bad omen for a dog to climb the roof + of a hut. The saying conveyed a threat to be appreciated by every + Zulu.--ED. + +The man turned, shook his brother by the hand, and went, bearing the +words of evil omen. + +Then Chaka called to the Zulu and the last of those who had followed +us to kill us, bidding them fight. So, when they had praised the +prince they fought fiercely, and the end of it was that the man of my +people conquered the Zulu. But as soon as he had found his breath +again he was set to run for his life, and after him ran five chosen +men. + +Still, it came about that he outran them, doubling like a hare, and +got away safely. Nor was Chaka angry at this; for I think that he bade +the men who hunted him to make speed slowly. There was only one good +thing in the cruel heart of Chaka, that he would always save the life +of a brave man if he could do so without making his word nothing. And +for my part, I was glad to think that the man of my people had +conquered him who murdered the children of the dying woman that we +found at the kraal beyond the river. + + + +CHAPTER V + +MOPO BECOMES THE KING'S DOCTOR + +These, then, my father, were the events that ended in the coming of +me, Mopo, and of my sister Baleka to the kraal of Chaka, the Lion of +the Zulu. Now you may ask why have I kept you so long with this tale, +which is as are other tales of our people. But that shall be seen, for +from these matters, as a tree from a seed, grew the birth of +Umslopogaas Bulalio, Umslopogaas the Slaughterer, and Nada the +Beautiful, of whose love my story has to tell. For Nada was my +daughter, and Umslopogaas, though few knew it, was none other than the +son of Chaka, born of my sister Baleka. + +Now when Baleka recovered from the weariness of our flight, and had +her beauty again, Chaka took her to wife, numbering her among his +women, whom he named his "sisters." And me Chaka took to be one of his +doctors, of his izinyanga of medicine, and he was so well pleased with +my medicine that in the end I became his head doctor. Now this was a +great post, in which, during the course of years, I grew fat in cattle +and in wives; but also it was one of much danger. For when I rose +strong and well in the morning, I could never know but that at night I +should sleep stiff and red. Many were the doctors whom Chaka slew; +doctored they never so well, they were killed at last. For a day would +surely come when the king felt ill in his body or heavy in his mind, +and then to the assegai or the torment with the wizard who had +doctored him! Yet I escaped, because of the power of my medicine, and +also because of that oath which Chaka had sworn to me as a child. So +it came about that where the king went there I went with him. I slept +near his hut, I sat behind him at council, in the battle I was ever at +his side. + +Ah! the battle! the battle! In those days we knew how to fight, my +father! In those days the vultures would follow our impis by +thousands, the hyenas would steal along our path in packs, and none +went empty away. Never may I forget the first fight I stood in at the +side of Chaka. It was just after the king had built his great kraal on +the south bank of the Umhlatuze. Then it was that the chief Zwide +attacked his rival Chaka for the third time and Chaka moved out to +meet him with ten full regiments,[1] now for the first time armed with +the short stabbing-spear. + +[1] About 30,000 men.--ED. + +The ground lay this: On a long, low hill in front of our impi were +massed the regiments of Zwide; there were seventeen of them; the earth +was black with their number; their plumes filled the air like snow. +We, too, were on a hill, and between us lay a valley down which there +ran a little stream. All night our fires shone out across the valley; +all night the songs of soldiers echoed down the hills. Then the grey +dawning came, the oxen lowed to the light, the regiments arose from +their bed of spears; they sprang up and shook the dew from hair and +shield--yes! they arose! the glad to die! The impi assumed its array +regiment by regiment. There was the breast of spears, there were the +horns of spears, they were numberless as the stars, and like the stars +they shone. The morning breeze came up and fanned them, their plumes +bent in the breeze; like a plain of seeding grass they bent, the +plumes of the soldiers ripe for the assegai. Up over the shoulder of +the hill came the sun of Slaughter; it glowed red upon the red +shields, red grew the place of killing; the white plumes of the chiefs +were dipped in the blood of heaven. They knew it; they saw the omen of +death, and, ah! they laughed in the joy of the waking of battle. What +was death? Was it not well to die on the spear? What was death? Was it +not well to die for the king? Death was the arms of Victory. Victory +would be their bride that night, and oh! her breast is fair. + +Hark! the war-song, the Ingomo, the music of which has the power to +drive men mad, rose far away to the left, and was thrown along from +regiment to regiment--a rolling ball of sound-- + +We are the king's kine, bred to be butchered, + You, too, are one of us! +We are the Zulu, children of the Lion, + What! did you tremble? + +Suddenly Chaka was seen stalking through the ranks, followed by his +captains, his indunas, and by me. He walked along like a great buck; +death was in his eyes, and like a buck he sniffed the air, scenting +the air of slaughter. He lifted his assegai, and a silence fell; only +the sound of chanting still rolled along the hills. + +"Where are the children of Zwide?" he shouted, and his voice was like +the voice of a bull. + +"Yonder, father," answered the regiments. And every spear pointed +across the valley. + +"They do not come," he shouted again. "Shall we then sit here till we +grow old?" + +"No, father," they answered. "Begin! begin!" + +"Let the Umkandhlu regiment come forward!" he shouted a third time, +and as he spoke the black shields of the Umkandhlu leaped from the +ranks of the impi. + +"Go, my children!" cried Chaka. "There is the foe. Go and return no +more!" + +"We hear you, father!" they answered with one voice, and moved down +the slope like a countless herd of game with horns of steel. + +Now they crossed the stream, and now Zwide awoke. A murmur went +through his companies; lines of light played above his spears. + +Ou! they are coming! Ou! they have met! Hearken to the thunder of the +shields! Hearken to the song of battle! + +To and fro they swing. The Umkandhlu gives way--it flies! They pour +back across the stream--half of them; the rest are dead. A howl of +rage goes up from the host, only Chaka smiles. + +"Open up! open up!" he cries. "Make room for the Umkandhlu GIRLS!" And +with hanging heads they pass us. + +Now he whispers a word to the indunas. The indunas run; they whisper +to Menziwa the general and to the captains; then two regiments rush +down the hill, two more run to the right, and yet another two to the +left. But Chaka stays on the hill with the three that are left. Again +comes the roar of the meeting shields. Ah! these are men: they fight, +they do not run. Regiment after regiment pours upon them, but still +they stand. They fall by hundreds and by thousands, but no man shows +his back, and on each man there lie two dead. Wow! my father, of those +two regiments not one escaped. They were but boys, but they were the +children of Chaka. Menziwa was buried beneath the heaps of his +warriors. Now there are no such men. + +They are all dead and quiet. Chaka still holds his hand! He looks to +the north and to the south. See! spears are shining among the trees. +Now the horns of our host close upon the flanks of the foe. They slay +and are slain, but the men of Zwide are many and brave, and the battle +turns against us. + +Then again Chaka speaks a word. The captains hear, the soldiers +stretch out their necks to listen. + +It has come at last. "Charge! Children of the Zulu!" + +There is a roar, a thunder of feet, a flashing of spears, a bending of +plumes, and, like a river that has burnt its banks, like storm-clouds +before the gale, we sweep down upon friend and foe. They form up to +meet us; the stream is passed; our wounded rise upon their haunches +and wave us on. We trample them down. What matter? They can fight no +more. Then we meet Zwide rushing to greet us, as bull meets bull. Ou! +my father, I know no more. Everything grows red. That fight! that +fight! We swept them away. When it was done there was nothing to be +seen, but the hillside was black and red. Few fled; few were left to +fly. We passed over them like fire; we ate them up. Presently we +paused, looking for the foe. All were dead. The host of Zwide was no +more. Then we mustered. Ten regiments had looked upon the morning sun; +three regiments saw the sun sink; the rest had gone where no suns +shine. + +Such were our battles in the days of Chaka! + +You ask of the Umkandhlu regiment which fled. I will tell you. When we +reached our kraal once more, Chaka summoned that regiment and mustered +it. He spoke to them gently, gently. He thanked them for their +service. He said it was natural that "girls" should faint at the sight +of blood and turn to seek their kraals. Yet he had bid them come back +no more and they had come back! What then was there now left for him +to do? And he covered his face with his blanket. Then the soldiers +killed them all, nearly two thousand of them--killed them with taunts +and jeers. + +That is how we dealt with cowards in those days, my father. After +that, one Zulu was a match for five of any other tribe. If ten came +against him, still he did not turn his back. "Fight and fall, but fly +not," that was our watchword. Never again while Chaka lived did a +conquered force pass the gates of the king's kraal. + +That fight was but one war out of many. With every moon a fresh impi +started to wash its spears, and came back few and thin, but with +victory and countless cattle. Tribe after tribe went down before us. +Those of them who escaped the assegai were enrolled into fresh +regiments, and thus, though men died by thousands every month, yet the +army grew. Soon there were no other chiefs left. Umsuduka fell, and +after him Mancengeza. Umzilikazi was driven north; Matiwane was +stamped flat. Then we poured into this land of Natal. When we entered, +its people could not be numbered. When we left, here and there a man +might be found in a hole in the earth--that was all. Men, women, and +children, we wiped them out; the land was clean of them. Next came the +turn of U'Faku, chief of the Amapondos. Ah! where is U'faku now? + +And so it went on and on, till even the Zulus were weary of war and +the sharpest assegais grew blunt. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BIRTH OF UMSLOPOGAAS + +This was the rule of the life of Chaka, that he would have no +children, though he had many wives. Every child born to him by his +"sisters" was put away at once. + +"What, Mopo," he said to me, "shall I rear up children to put me to +the assegai when they grow great? They call me tyrant. Say, how do +those chiefs die whom men name tyrants? They die at the hands of those +whom they have bred. Nay, Mopo, I will rule for my life, and when I +join the spirits of my fathers let the strongest take my power and my +place!" + +Now it chanced that shortly after Chaka had spoken thus, my sister +Baleka, the king's wife, fell in labour; and on that same day my wife +Macropha was brought to bed of twins, and this but eight days after my +second wife, Anadi, had given birth to a son. You ask, my father, how +I came to be married, seeing that Chaka forbade marriage to all his +soldiers till they were in middle life and had put the man's ring upon +their heads. It was a boon he granted me as inyanga of medicine, +saying it was well that a doctor should know the sicknesses of women +and learn how to cure their evil tempers. As though, my father, that +were possible! + +When the king heard that Baleka was sick he did not kill her outright, +because he loved her a little, but he sent for me, commanding me to +attend her, and when the child was born to cause its body to be +brought to him, according to custom, so that he might be sure that it +was dead. I bent to the earth before him, and went to do his bidding +with a heavy heart, for was not Baleka my sister? and would not her +child be of my own blood? Still, it must be so, for Chaka's whisper +was as the shout of other kings, and, if we dared to disobey, then our +lives and the lives of all in our kraals would answer for it. Better +that an infant should die than that we should become food for jackals. +Presently I came to the Emposeni, the place of the king's wives, and +declared the king's word to the soldiers on guard. They lowered their +assegais and let me pass, and I entered the hut of Baleka. In it were +others of the king's wives, but when they saw me they rose and went +away, for it was not lawful that they should stay where I was. Thus I +was left alone with my sister. + +For awhile she lay silent, and I did not speak, though I saw by the +heaving of her breast that she was weeping. + +"Hush, little one!" I said at length; "your sorrow will soon be done." + +"Nay," she answered, lifting her head, "it will be but begun. Oh, +cruel man! I know the reason of your coming. You come to murder the +babe that shall be born of me." + +"It is the king's word, woman." + +"It is the king's word, and what is the king's word? Have I, then, +naught to say in this matter?" + +"It is the king's child, woman." + +"It is the king's child, and it is not also my child? Must my babe be +dragged from my breast and be strangled, and by you, Mopo? Have I not +loved you, Mopo? Did I not flee with you from our people and the +vengeance of our father? Do you know that not two moons gone the king +was wroth with you because he fell sick, and would have caused you to +be slain had I not pleaded for you and called his oath to mind? And +thus you pay me: you come to kill my child, my first-born child!" + +"It is the king's word, woman," I answered sternly; but my heart was +split in two within me. + +Then Baleka said no more, but, turning her face to the wall of the +hut, she wept and groaned bitterly. + +Now, as she wept I heard a stir without the hut, and the light in the +doorway was darkened. A woman entered alone. I looked round to see who +it was, then fell upon the ground in salutation, for before me was +Unandi, mother of the king, who was named "Mother of the Heavens," +that same lady to whom my mother had refused the milk. + +"Hail, Mother of the Heavens!" I said. + +"Greeting, Mopo," she answered. "Say, why does Baleka weep? Is it +because the sorrow of women is upon her?" + +"Ask of her, great chieftainess," I said. + +Then Baleka spoke: "I weep, mother of a king, because this man, who is +my brother, has come from him who is my lord and they son, to murder +that which shall be born of me. O thou whose breasts have given suck, +plead for me! Thy son was not slain at birth." + +"Perhaps it were well if he had been so slain, Baleka," said Unandi; +"then had many another man lived to look upon the sun who is now +dead." + +"At the least, as an infant he was good and gentle, and thou mightest +love him, Mother of the Zulu." + +"Never, Baleka! As a babe he bit my breast and tore my hair; as the +man is so was the babe." + +"Yet may his child be otherwise, Mother of the Heavens! Think, thou +hast no grandson to comfort thee in thy age. Wilt thou, then, see all +thy stock wither? The king, our lord, lives in war. He too may die, +and what then?" + +"Then the root of Senzangacona is still green. Has the king no +brothers?" + +"They are not of they flesh, mother. What? thou dost not hearken! Then +as a woman to woman I plead with thee. Save my child or slay me with +my child!" + +Now the heart of Unandi grew gentle, and she was moved to tears. + +"How may this be done, Mopo?" she said. "The king must see the dead +infant, and if he suspect, and even reeds have ears, you know the +heart of Chaka and where we shall lie to-morrow." + +"Are there then no other new-born babes in Zululand?" said Baleka, +sitting up and speaking in a whisper like the hiss of a snake. +"Listen, Mopo! Is not your wife also in labour? Now hear me, Mother of +the Heavens, and, my brother, hear me also. Do not think to play with +me in this matter. I will save my child or you twain will perish with +it. For I will tell the king that you came to me, the two of you, and +whispered plots into my ear--plots to save the child and kill the +king. Now choose, and swiftly!" + +She sank bank, there was silence, and we looked one upon another. Then +Unandi spoke. + +"Give me your hand, Mopo, and swear that you will be faithful to me in +this secret, as I swear to you. A day may come when this child who has +not seen the light rules as king in Zululand, and then in reward you +shall be the greatest of the people, the king's voice, whisperer in +the king's ear. But if you break your oath, then beware, for I shall +not die alone!" + +"I swear, Mother of the Heavens," I answered. + +"It is well, son of Makedama." + +"It is well, my brother," said Baleka. "Now go and do that which must +be done swiftly, for my sorrow is upon me. Go, knowing that if you +fail I will be pitiless, for I will bring you to your death, yes, even +if my own death is the price!" + +So I went. "Whither to you go?" asked the guard at the gate. + +"I go to bring my medicines, men of the king," I answered. + +So I said; but, oh! my heart was heavy, and this was my plan--to fly +far from Zululand. I could not, and I dared not do this thing. What? +should I kill my own child that its life might be given for the life +of the babe of Baleka? And should I lift up my will against the will +of the king, saving the child to look upon the sun which he had doomed +to darkness? Nay, I would fly, leaving all, and seek out some far +tribe where I might begin to live again. Here I could not live; here +in the shadow of Chaka was nothing but death. + +I reached my own huts, there to find that my wife Macropha was +delivered of twins. I sent away all in the hut except my other wife, +Anadi, she who eight days gone had born me a son. The second of the +twins was born; it was a boy, born dead. The first was a girl, she who +lived to be Nada the Beautiful, Nada the Lily. Then a thought came +into my heart. Here was a path to run on. + +"Give me the boy," I said to Anadi. "He is not dead. Give him to me +that I may take him outside the kraal and wake him to life by my +medicine." + +"It is of no use--the child is dead," said Anadi. + +"Give him to me, woman!" I said fiercely. And she gave me the body. + +Then I took him and wrapped him up in my bundle of medicines, and +outside of all I rolled a mat of plaited grass. + +"Suffer none to enter the hut till I return," I said; "and speak no +word of the child that seems to be dead. If you allow any to enter, or +if you speak a word, then my medicine will not work and the babe will +be dead indeed." + +So I went, leaving the women wondering, for it is not our custom to +save both when twins are born; but I ran swiftly to the gates of the +Emposeni. + +"I bring the medicines, men of the king!" I said to the guards. + +"Pass in," they answered. + +I passed through the gates and into the hut of Baleka. Unandi was +alone in the hut with my sister. + +"The child is born," said the mother of the king. "Look at him, Mopo, +son of Makedama!" + +I looked. He was a great child with large black eyes like the eyes of +Chaka the king; and Unandi, too, looked at me. "Where is it?" she +whispered. + +I loosed the mat and drew the dead child from the medicines, glancing +round fearfully as I did so. + +"Give me the living babe," I whispered back. + +They gave it to me and I took of a drug that I knew and rubbed it on +the tongue of the child. Now this drug has the power to make the +tongue it touches dumb for awhile. Then I wrapped up the child in my +medicines and again bound the mat about the bundle. But round the +throat of the still-born babe I tied a string of fibre as though I had +strangled it, and wrapped it loosely in a piece of matting. + +Now for the first time I spoke to Baleka: "Woman," I said, "and thou +also, Mother of the Heavens, I have done your wish, but know that +before all is finished this deed shall bring about the death of many. +Be secret as the grave, for the grave yawns for you both." + +I went again, bearing the mat containing the dead child in my right +hand. But the bundle of medicines that held the living one I fastened +across my shoulders. I passed out of the Emposeni, and, as I went, I +held up the bundle in my right hand to the guards, showing them that +which was in it, but saying nothing. + +"It is good," they said, nodding. + +But now ill-fortune found me, for just outside the Emposeni I met +three of the king's messengers. + +"Greeting, son of Makedama!" they said. "The king summons you to the +Intunkulu"--that is the royal house, my father. + +"Good!" I answered. "I will come now; but first I would run to my own +place to see how it goes with Macropha, my wife. Here is that which +the king seeks," and I showed them the dead child. "Take it to him if +you will." + +"That is not the king's command, Mopo," they answered. "His word is +that you should stand before him at once." + +Now my heart turned to water in my breast. Kings have many ears. Could +he have heard? And how dared I go before the Lion bearing his living +child hidden on my back? Yet to waver was to be lost, to show fear was +to be lost, to disobey was to be lost. + +"Good! I come," I answered. And we walked to the gate of the +Intunkulu. + +It was sundown. Chaka was sitting in the little courtyard in front of +his hut. I went down on my knees before him and gave the royal salute, +Bayete, and so I stayed. + +"Rise, son of Makedama!" he said. + +"I cannot rise, Lion of the Zulu," I answered, "I cannot rise, having +royal blood on my hands, till the king has pardoned me." + +"Where is it?" he asked. + +I pointed to the mat in my hand. + +"Let me look at it." + +Then I undid the mat, and he looked on the child, and laughed aloud. + +"He might have been a king," he said, as he bade a councillor take it +away. "Mopo, thou hast slain one who might have been a king. Art thou +not afraid?" + +"No, Black One," I answered, "the child is killed by order of one who +is a king." + +"Sit down, and let us talk," said Chaka, for his mood was idle. "To- +morrow thou shalt have five oxen for this deed; thou shalt choose them +from the royal herd." + +"The king is good; he sees that my belt is drawn tight; he satisfies +my hunger. Will the king suffer that I go? My wife is in labour and I +would visit her." + +"Nay, stay awhile; say how it is with Baleka, my sister and thine?" + +"It is well." + +"Did she weep when you took the babe from her?" + +"Nay, she wept not. She said, 'My lord's will is my will.'" + +"Good! Had she wept she had been slain also. Who was with her?" + +"The Mother of the Heavens." + +The brow of Chaka darkened. "Unandi, my mother, what did she there? My +myself I swear, though she is my mother--if I thought"--and he ceased. + +Thee was a silence, then he spoke again. "Say, what is in that mat?" +and he pointed with his little assegai at the bundle on my shoulders. + +"Medicine, king." + +"Thou dost carry enough to doctor an impi. Undo the mat and let me +look at it." + +Now, my father, I tell you that the marrow melted in my bones with +terror, for if I undid the mat I feared he must see the child and +then--" + +"It is tagati, it is bewitched, O king. It is not wise to look on +medicine." + +"Open!" he answered angrily. "What? may I not look at that which I am +forced to swallow--I, who am the first of doctors?" + +"Death is the king's medicine," I answered, lifting the bundle, and +laying it as far from him in the shadow of the fence as I dared. Then +I bent over it, slowly undoing the rimpis with which it was tied, +while the sweat of terror ran down by face blinding me like tears. +What would I do if he saw the child? What if the child awoke and +cried? I would snatch the assegai from his hand and stab him! Yes, I +would kill the king and then kill myself! Now the mat was unrolled. +Inside were the brown leaves and roots of medicine; beneath them was +the senseless bade wrapped in dead moss. + +"Ugly stuff," said the king, taking snuff. "Now see, Mopo, what a good +aim I have! This for thy medicine!" And he lifted his assegai to throw +it through the bundle. But as he threw, my snake put it into the +king's heart to sneeze, and thus it came to pass that the assegai only +pierced the outer leaves of the medicine, and did not touch the child. + +"May the heavens bless the king!" I said, according to custom. + +"Thanks to thee, Mopo, it is a good omen," he answered. "And now, +begone! Take my advice: kill thy children, as I kill mine, lest they +live to worry thee. The whelps of lions are best drowned." + +I did up the bundle fast--fast, though my hands trembled. Oh! what if +the child should wake and cry. It was done; I rose and saluted the +king. Then I doubled myself up and passed from before him. Scarcely +was I outside the gates of the Intunkulu when the infant began to +squeak in the bundle. If it had been one minute before! + +"What," said a soldier, as I passed, "have you got a puppy hidden +under your moocha,[1] Mopo?" + +[1] Girdle composed of skin and tails of oxen.-ED. + +I made no answer, but hurried on till I came to my huts. I entered; +there were my two wives alone. + +"I have recovered the child, women," I said, as I undid the bundle. + +Anadi took him and looked at him. + +"The boy seems bigger than he was," she said. + +"The breath of life has come into him and puffed him out," I answered. + +"His eyes are not as his eyes were," she said again. "Now they are big +and black, like the eyes of the king." + +"My spirit looked upon his eyes and made them beautiful," I answered. + +"This child has a birth-mark on his thigh," she said a third time. +"That which I gave you had no mark." + +"I laid my medicine there," I answered. + +"It is not the same child," she said sullenly. "It is a changeling who +will lay ill-luck at our doors." + +Then I rose up in my rage and cursed her heavily, for I saw that if +she was not stopped this woman's tongue would bring us all to ruin. + +"Peace, witch!" I cried. "How dare you to speak thus from a lying +heart? Do you wish to draw down a curse upon our roof? Would you make +us all food for the king's spear? Say such words again, and you shall +sit within the circle--the Ingomboco shall know you for a witch!" + +So I stormed on, threatening to bring her to death, till at length she +grew fearful, and fell at my feet praying for mercy and forgiveness. +But I was much afraid because of this woman's tongue, and not without +reason. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +UMSLOPOGAAS ANSWERS THE KING + +Now the years went on, and this matter slept. Nothing more was heard +of it, but still it only slept; and, my father, I feared greatly for +the hour when it should awake. For the secret was known by two women-- +Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, and Baleka, my sister, wife of the +king; and by two more--Macropha and Anadi, my wives--it was guessed +at. How, then, should it remain a secret forever? Moreover, it came +about that Unandi and Baleka could not restrain their fondness for +this child who was called my son and named Umslopogaas, but who was +the son of Chaka, the king, and of the Baleka, and the grandson of +Unandi. So it happened that very often one or the other of them would +come into my hut, making pretence to visit my wives, and take the boy +upon her lap and fondle it. In vain did I pray them to forbear. Love +pulled at their heart-strings more heavily than my words, and still +they came. This was the end of it--that Chaka saw the child sitting on +the knee of Unandi, his mother. + +"What does my mother with that brat of thine, Mopo?" he asked of me. +"Cannot she kiss me, if she will find a child to kiss?" And he laughed +like a wolf. + +I said that I did not know, and the matter passed over for awhile. But +after that Chaka caused his mother to be watched. Now the boy +Umslopogaas grew great and strong; there was no such lad of his years +for a day's journey round. But from a babe he was somewhat surly, of +few words, and like his father, Chaka, afraid of nothing. In all the +world there were but two people whom he loved--these were I, Mopo, who +was called his father, and Nada, she who was said to be his twin +sister. + +Now it must be told of Nada that as the boy Umslopogaas was the +strongest and bravest of children, so the girl Nada was the gentlest +and most fair. Of a truth, my father, I believe that her blood was not +all Zulu, though this I cannot say for certain. At the least, her eyes +were softer and larger than those of our people, her hair longer and +less tightly curled, and her skin was lighter--more of the colour of +pure copper. These things she had from her mother, Macropha; though +she was fairer than Macropha--fairer, indeed, than any woman of my +people whom I have seen. Her mother, Macropha, my wife, was of Swazi +blood, and was brought to the king's kraal with other captives after a +raid, and given to me as a wife by the king. It was said that she was +the daughter of a Swazi headman of the tribe of the Halakazi, and that +she was born of his wife is true, but whether he was her father I do +not know; for I have heard from the lips of Macropha herself, that +before she was born there was a white man staying at her father's +kraal. He was a Portuguese from the coast, a handsome man, and skilled +in the working of iron. This white man loved the mother of my wife, +Macropha, and some held that Macropha was his daughter, and not that +of the Swazi headman. At least I know this, that before my wife's +birth the Swazi killed the white man. But none can tell the truth of +these matters, and I only speak of them because the beauty of Nada was +rather as is the beauty of the white people than of ours, and this +might well happen if her grandfather chanced to be a white man. + +Now Umslopogaas and Nada were always together. Together they ate, +together they slept and wandered; they thought one thought and spoke +with one tongue. Ou! it was pretty to see them! Twice while they were +still children did Umslopogaas save the life of Nada. + +The first time it came about thus. The two children had wandered far +from the kraal, seeking certain berries that little ones love. On they +wandered and on, singing as they went, till at length they found the +berries, and ate heartily. Then it was near sundown, and when they had +eaten they fell asleep. In the night they woke to find a great wind +blowing and a cold rain falling on them, for it was the beginning of +winter, when fruits are ripe. + +"Up, Nada!" said Umslopogaas, "we must seek the kraal or the cold will +kill us." + +So Nada rose, frightened, and hand in hand they stumbled through the +darkness. But in the wind and the night they lost their path, and when +at length the dawn came they were in a forest that was strange to +them. They rested awhile, and finding berries ate them, then walked +again. All that day they wandered, till at last the night came down, +and they plucked branches of trees and piled the branches over them +for warmth, and they were so weary that they fell asleep in each +other's arms. At dawn they rose, but now they were very tired and +berries were few, sot hat by midday they were spent. Then they lay +down on the side of a steep hill, and Nada laid her head upon the +breast of Umslopogaas. + +"Here let us die, my brother," she said. + +But even then the boy had a great spirit, and he answered, "Time to +die, sister, when Death chooses us. See, now! Do you rest here, and I +will climb the hill and look across the forest." + +So he left her and climbed the hill, and on its side he found many +berries and a root that is good for food, and filled himself with +them. At length he came to the crest of the hill and looked out across +the sea of green. Lo! there, far away to the east, he saw a line of +white that lay like smoke against the black surface of a cliff, and +knew it for the waterfall beyond the royal town. Then he came down the +hill, shouting for joy and bearing roots and berries in his hand. But +when he reached the spot where Nada was, he found that her senses had +left her through hunger, cold, and weariness. She lay upon the ground +like one asleep, and over her stood a jackal that fled as he drew +nigh. Now it would seem that there but two shoots to the stick of +Umslopogaas. One was to save himself, and the other to lie down and +die by Nada. Yet he found a third, for, undoing the strips of his +moocha, he made ropes of them, and with the ropes he bound Nada on his +back and started for the king's kraal. He could never have reached it, +for the way was long, yet at evening some messengers running through +the forest came upon a naked lad with a girl bound to his back and a +staff in his hand, who staggered along slowly with starting eyes and +foam upon his lips. He could not speak, he was so weary, and the ropes +had cut through the skin of his shoulders; yet one of the messengers +knew him for Umslopogaas, the son of Mopo, and they bore him to the +kraal. They would have left the girl Nada, thinking her dead, but he +pointed to her breast, and, feeling it, they found that her heart +still beat, so they brought her also; and the end of it was that both +recovered and loved each other more than ever before. + +Now after this, I, Mopo, bade Umslopogaas stay at home within the +kraal, and not lead his sister to the wilds. But the boy loved roaming +like a fox, and where he went there Nada followed. So it came about +that one day they slipped from the kraal when the gates were open, and +sought out a certain deep glen which had an evil name, for it was said +that spirits haunted it and put those to death who entered there. +Whether this was true I do not know, but I know that in the glen dwelt +a certain woman of the woods, who had her habitation in a cave and +lived upon what she could kill or steal or dig up with her hands. Now +this woman was mad. For it had chanced that her husband had been +"smelt out" by the witch-doctors as a worker of magic against the +king, and slain. Then Chaka, according to custom, despatched the +slayers to eat up his kraal, and they came to the kraal and killed his +people. Last of all they killed his children, three young girls, and +would have assegaied their mother, when suddenly a spirit entered into +her at the sight, and she went mad, so that they let her go, being +afraid to touch her afterwards. So she fled and took up her abode in +the haunted glen; and this was the nature of her madness, that +whenever she saw children, and more especially girl children, a +longing came upon her to kill them as her own had been killed. This, +indeed, she did often, for when the moon was full and her madness at +its highest, she would travel far to find children, snatching them +away from the kraals like a hyena. Still, none would touch her because +of the spirit in her, not even those whose children she had murdered. + +So Umslopogaas and Nada came to the glen where the child-slayer lived, +and sat down by a pool of water not far from the mouth of her cave, +weaving flowers into a garland. Presently Umslopogaas left Nada, to +search for rock lilies which she loved. As he went he called back to +her, and his voice awoke the woman who was sleeping in her cave, for +she came out by night only, like a jackal. Then the woman stepped +forth, smelling blood and having a spear in her hand. Presently she +saw Nada seated upon the grass weaving flowers, and crept towards her +to kill her. Now as she came--so the child told me--suddenly a cold +wind seemed to breathe upon Nada, and fear took hold of her, though +she did not see the woman who would murder her. She let fall the +flowers, and looked before her into the pool, and there, mirrored in +the pool, she saw the greedy face of the child-slayer, who crept down +upon her from above, her hair hanging about her brow and her eyes +shining like the eyes of a lion. + +Then with a cry Nada sprang up and fled along the path which +Umslopogaas had taken, and after her leapt and ran the mad woman. +Umslopogaas heard her cry. He turned and rushed back over the brow of +the hill, and, lo! there before him was the murderess. Already she had +grasped Nada by the hair, already her spear was lifted to pierce her. +Umslopogaas had no spear, he had nothing but a little stick without a +knob; yet with it he rushed at the mad woman and struck her so smartly +on the arm that she let go of the girl and turned on him with a yell. +Then, lifting her spear, she struck at him, but he leapt aside. Again +she struck; but he sprang into the air, and the spear passed beneath +him. A third time the woman struck, and, though he fell to earth to +avoid the blow, yet the assegai pierced his shoulder. But the weight +of his body as he fell twisted it from her hand, and before she could +grasp him he was up, and beyond her reach, the spear still fast in his +shoulder. + +Then the woman turned, screaming with rage and madness, and ran at +Nada to kill her with her hands. But Umslopogaas set his teeth, and, +drawing the spear from his wound, charged her, shouting. She lifted a +great stone and hurled it at him--so hard that it flew into fragments +against another stone which it struck; yet he charged on, and smote at +her so truly that he drove the spear through her, and she fell down +dead. After that Nada bound up his wound, which was deep, and with +much pain he reached the king's kraal and told me this story. + +Now there were some who cried that the boy must be put to death, +because he had killed one possessed with a spirit. But I said no, he +should not be touched. He had killed the woman in defence of his own +life and the life of his sister; and every one had a right to slay in +self-defence, except as against the king or those who did the king's +bidding. Moreover, I said, if the woman had a spirit, it was an evil +one, for no good spirit would ask the lives of children, but rather +those of cattle, for it is against our custom to sacrifice human +beings to the Amatonga even in war, though the Basuta dogs do so. +Still, the tumult grew, for the witch-doctors were set upon the boy's +death, saying that evil would come of it if he was allowed to live, +having killed one inspired, and at last the matter came to the ears of +the king. Then Chaka summoned me and the boy before him, and he also +summoned the witch-doctors. + +First, the witch-doctors set out their case, demanding the death of +Umslopogaas. Chaka asked them what would happen if the boy was not +killed. They answered that the spirit of the dead woman would lead him +to bring evil on the royal house. Chaka asked if he would bring evil +on him, the king. They in turn asked the spirits, and answered no, not +on him, but on one of the royal house who should be after him. Chaka +said that he cared nothing what happened to those who came after him, +or whether good or evil befell them. Then he spoke to Umslopogaas, who +looked him boldly in the face, as an equal looks at an equal. + +"Boy," he said, "what hast thou to say as to why thou shouldst not be +killed as these men demand?" + +"This, Black One," answered Umslopogaas; "that I stabbed the woman in +defence of my own life." + +"That is nothing," said Chaka. "If I, the king, wished to kill thee, +mightest thou therefore kill me or those whom I sent? The Itongo in +the woman was a Spirit King and ordered her to kill thee; thou +shouldst then have let thyself be killed. Hast thou no other reason?" + +"This, Elephant," answered Umslopogaas; "the woman would have murdered +my sister, whom I love better than my life." + +"That is nothing," said Chaka. "If I ordered thee to be killed for any +cause, should I not also order all within thy gates to be killed with +thee? May not, then, a Spirit King do likewise? If thou hast nothing +more to say thou must die." + +Now I grew afraid, for I feared lest Chaka should slay him who was +called my son because of the word of the doctors. But the boy +Umslopogaas looked up and answered boldly, not as one who pleads for +his life, but as one who demands a right:-- + +"I have this to say, Eater-up of Enemies, and if it is not enough, let +us stop talking, and let me be killed. Thou, O king, didst command +that this woman should be slain. Those whom thou didst send to destroy +her spared her, because they thought her mad. I have carried out the +commandment of the king; I have slain her, mad or sane, whom the king +commanded should be killed, and I have earned not death, but a +reward." + +"Well said, Umslopogaas!" answered Chaka. "Let ten head of cattle be +given to this boy with the heart of a man; his father shall guard them +for him. Art thou satisfied now, Umslopogaas?" + +"I take that which is due to me, and I thank the king because he need +not pay unless he will," Umslopogaas answered. + +Chaka stared awhile, began to grow angry, then burst out laughing. + +"Why, this calf is such another one as was dropped long ago in the +kraal of Senzangacona!" he said. "As I was, so is this boy. Go on, +lad, in that path, and thou mayst find those who shall cry the royal +salute of Bayete to thee at the end of it. Only keep out of my way, +for two of a kind might not agree. Now begone!" + +So we went out, but as we passed them I saw the doctors muttering +together, for they were ill-pleased and foreboded evil. Also they were +jealous of me, and wished to smite me through the heart of him who was +called my son. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE GREAT INGOMBOCO + +After this there was quiet until the Feast of the First-fruits was +ended. But few people were killed at these feast, though there was a +great Ingomboco, or witch-hunt, and many were smelt out by the witch- +doctors as working magic against the king. Now things had come to this +pass in Zululand--that the whole people cowered before the witch- +doctors. No man might sleep safe, for none knew but that on the morrow +he would be touched by the wand of an Isanusi, as we name a finder of +witches, and led away to his death. For awhile Chaka said nothing, and +so long as the doctors smelt out those only whom he wished to get rid +of--and they were many--he was well pleased. But when they began to +work for their own ends, and to do those to death whom he did not +desire to kill, he grew angry. Yet the custom of the land was that he +whom the witch-doctor touched must die, he and all his house; +therefore the king was in a cleft stick, for he scarcely dared to save +even those whom he loved. One night I came to doctor him, for he was +sick in his mind. On that very day there had been an Ingomboco, and +five of the bravest captains of the army had been smelt out by the +Abangoma, the witch-finders, together with many others. All had been +destroyed, and men had been sent to kill the wives and children of the +dead. Now Chaka was very angry at this slaying, and opened his heart +to me. + +"The witch-doctors rule in Zululand, and not I, Mopo, son of +Makedama," he said to me. "Where, then, is it to end? Shall I myself +be smelt out and slain? These Isanusis are too strong for me; they lie +upon the land like the shadow of night. Tell me, how may I be free of +them?" + +"Those who walk the Bridge of Spears, O king, fall off into Nowhere," +I answered darkly; "even witch-doctors cannot keep a footing on that +bridge. Has not a witch-doctor a heart that can cease to beat? Has he +not blood that can be made to flow?" + +Chaka looked at me strangely. "Thou art a bold man who darest to speak +thus to me, Mopo," he said. "Dost thou not know that it is sacrilege +to touch an Isanusi?" + +"I speak that which is in the king's mind," I answered. "Hearken, O +king! It is indeed sacrilege to touch a true Isanusi, but what if the +Isanusi be a liar? What if he smell out falsely, bringing those to +death who are innocent of evil? Is it then sacrilege to bring him to +that end which he has given to many another? Say, O king!" + +"Good words!" answered Chaka. "Now tell me, son of Makedama, how may +this matter be put to proof?" + +Then I leaned forward, whispering into the ear of the Black One, and +he nodded heavily. + +Thus I spoke then, because I, too, saw the evil of the Isanusis, I who +knew their secrets. Also, I feared for my own life and for the lives +of all those who were dear to me. For they hated me as one instructed +in their magic, one who had the seeing eye and the hearing ear. + +One morning thereafter a new thing came to pass in the royal kraal, +for the king himself ran out, crying aloud to all people to come and +see the evil that had been worked upon him by a wizard. They came +together and saw this. On the door-posts of the gateway of the +Intunkulu, the house of the king, were great smears of blood. The +knees of men strong in the battle trembled when they saw it; women +wailed aloud as they wail over the dead; they wailed because of the +horror of the omen. + +"Who has done this thing?" cried Chaka in a terrible voice. "Who has +dared to bewitch the king and to strike blood upon his house?" + +There was no answer, and Chaka spoke again. "This is no little +matter," he said, "to be washed away with the blood of one or two and +be forgotten. The man who wrought it shall not die alone or travel +with a few to the world of spirits. All his tribe shall go with him, +down to the baby in his hut and cattle in his kraal! Let messengers go +out east and west, and north and south, and summon the witch-doctors +from every quarter! Let them summon the captains from every regiment +and the headmen from every kraal! On the tenth day from now the circle +of the Ingomboco must be set, and there shall be such a smelling out +of wizards and of witches as has not been known in Zululand!" + +So the messengers went out to do the bidding of the king, taking the +names of those who should be summoned from the lips of the indunas, +and day by day people flocked up to the gates of the royal kraal, and, +creeping on their knees before the majesty of the king, praised him +aloud. But he vouchsafed an answer to none. One noble only he caused +to be killed, because he carried in his hand a stick of the royal red +wood, which Chaka himself had given him in bygone years.[1] + +[1] This beautiful wood is known in Natal as "red ivory."--ED. + +On the last night before the forming of the Ingomboco, the witch- +doctors, male and female, entered the kraal. There were a hundred and +a half of them, and they were made hideous and terrible with the white +bones of men, with bladders of fish and of oxen, with fat of wizards, +and with skins of snakes. They walked in silence till they came in +front of the Intunkulu, the royal house; then they stopped and sang +this song for the king to hear:-- + + We have come, O king, we have come from the caves and the rocks + and the swamps, + To wash in the blood of the slain; + We have gathered our host from the air as vultures are gathered in + war. + When they scent the blood of the slain. + + We come not alone, O king: with each Wise One there passes a + ghost, + Who hisses the name of the doomed. + We come not alone, for we are the sons and Indunas of Death, + And he guides our feet to the doomed. + + Red rises the moon o'er the plain, red sinks the sun in the west, + Look, wizards, and bid them farewell! + We count you by hundreds, you who cried for a curse on the king. + Ha! soon shall we bid YOU farewell! + +Then they were silent, and went in silence to the place appointed for +them, there to pass the night in mutterings and magic. But those who +were gathered together shivered with fear when they heard their words, +for they knew well that many a man would be switched with the gnu's +tail before the sun sank once more. And I, too, trembled, for my heart +was full of fear. Ah! my father, those were evil days to live in when +Chaka ruled, and death met us at every turn! Then no man might call +his life his own, or that of his wife or child, or anything. All were +the king's, and what war spared that the witch-doctors took. + +The morning dawned heavily, and before it was well light the heralds +were out summoning all to the king's Ingomboco. Men came by hundreds, +carrying short sticks only--for to be seen armed was death--and seated +themselves in the great circle before the gates of the royal house. +Oh! their looks were sad, and they had little stomach for eating that +morning, they who were food for death. They seated themselves; then +round them on the outside of the circle gathered knots of warriors, +chosen men, great and fierce, armed with kerries only. These were the +slayers. + +When all was ready, the king came out, followed by his indunas and by +me. As he appeared, wrapped in the kaross of tiger-skins and towering +a head higher than any man there, all the multitude--and it was many +as the game on the hills--cast themselves to earth, and from every lip +sharp and sudden went up the royal salute of Bayete. But Chaka took no +note; his brow was cloudy as a mountain-top. He cast one glance at the +people and one at the slayers, and wherever his eye fell men turned +grey with fear. Then he stalked on, and sat himself upon a stool to +the north of the great ring looking toward the open space. + +For awhile there was silence; then from the gates of the women's +quarters came a band of maidens arrayed in their beaded dancing- +dresses, and carrying green branches in their hands. As they came, +they clapped their hands and sang softly:-- + + We are the heralds of the king's feast. Ai! Ai! + Vultures shall eat it. Ah! Ah! + It is good--it is good to die for the king! + +They ceased, and ranged themselves in a body behind us. Then Chaka +held up his hand, and there was a patter of running feet. Presently +from behind the royal huts appeared the great company of the Abangoma, +the witch-doctors--men to the right and women to the left. In the left +hand of each was the tail of a vilderbeeste, in the right a bundle of +assegais and a little shield. They were awful to see, and the bones +about them rattled as they ran, the bladders and the snake-skins +floated in the air behind them, their faces shone with the fat of +anointing, their eyes started like the eyes of fishes, and their lips +twitched hungrily as they glared round the death-ring. Ha! ha! little +did those evil children guess who should be the slayers and who should +be the slain before that sun sank! + +On they came, like a grey company of the dead. On they came in silence +broken only by the patter of their feet and the dry rattling of their +bony necklets, till they stood in long ranks before the Black One. +Awhile they stood thus, then suddenly every one of them thrust forward +the little shield in his hand, and with a single voice they cried, +"Hail, Father!" + +"Hail, my children!" answered Chaka. + +"What seekest thou, Father?" they cried again. "Blood?" + +"The blood of the guilty," he answered. + +They turned and spoke each to each; the company of the men spoke to +the company of the women. + +"The Lion of the Zulu seeks blood." + +"He shall be fed!" screamed the women. + +"The Lion of the Zulu smells blood." + +"He shall see it!" screamed the women. + +"His eyes search out the wizards." + +"He shall count their dead!" screamed the women. + +"Peace!" cried Chaka. "Waste not the hours in talk, but to the work. +Hearken! Wizards have bewitched me! Wizards have dared to smite blood +upon the gateways of the king. Dig in the burrows of the earth and +find them, ye rats! Fly through the paths of the air and find them, ye +vultures! Smell at the gates of the people and name them, ye jackals! +ye hunters in the night! Drag them from the caves if they be hidden, +from the distance if they be fled, from the graves if they be dead. To +the work! to the work! Show them to me truly, and your gifts shall be +great; and for them, if they be a nation, they shall be slain. Now +begin. Begin by companies of ten, for you are many, and all must be +finished ere the sun sink." + +"It shall be finished, Father," they answered. + +Then ten of the women stood forward, and at their head was the most +famous witch-doctress of that day--an aged woman named Nobela, a woman +to whose eyes the darkness was no evil, whose scent was keen as a +dog's, who heard the voices of the dead as they cried in the night, +and spoke truly of what she heard. All the other Isanusis, male and +female, sat down in a half-moon facing the king, but this woman drew +forward, and with her came nine of her sisterhood. They turned east +and west, north and south, searching the heavens; they turned east and +west, north and south, searching the earth; they turned east and west, +north and south, searching the hears of men. Then they crept round and +round the great ring like cats; then they threw themselves upon the +earth and smelt it. And all the time there was silence, silence deep +as midnight, and in it men hearkened to the beating of their hearts; +only now and again the vultures shrieked in the trees. + +At length Nobela spoke:-- + +"Do you smell him, sisters?" + +"We smell him," they answered. + +"Does he sit in the east, sisters?" + +"He sits in the east," they answered. + +"Is he the son of a stranger, sisters?" + +"He is the son of a stranger." + +Then they crept nearer, crept on their hands and knees, till they were +within ten paces of where I sat among the indunas near to the king. +The indunas looked on each other and grew grey with fear; and for me, +my father, my knees were loosened and my marrow turned to water in my +bones. For I knew well who was that son of a stranger of whom they +spoke. It was I, my father, I who was about to be smelt out; and if I +was smelt out I should be killed with all my house, for the king's +oath would scarcely avail me against the witch-doctors. I looked at +the fierce faces of the Isanusis before me, as they crept, crept like +snakes. I glanced behind and saw the slayers grasping their kerries +for the deed of death, and I say I felt like one for whom the +bitterness is overpast. Then I remembered the words which the king and +I had whispered together of the cause for which this Ingomboco was +set, and hope crept back to me like the first gleam of the dawn upon a +stormy night. Still I did not hope overmuch, for it well might happen +that the king had but set a trap to catch me. + +Now they were quite near and halted. + +"Have we dreamed falsely, sisters?" asked Nobela, the aged. + +"What we dreamed in the night we see in the day," they answered. + +"Shall I whisper his name in your ears, sisters?" + +They lifted their heads from the ground like snakes and nodded, and as +they nodded the necklets of bones rattled on their skinny necks. Then +they drew their heads to a circle, and Nobela thrust hers into the +centre of the circle and said a word. + +"Ha! ha!" they laughed, "we hear you! His is the name. Let him be +named by it in the face of Heaven, him and all his house; then let him +hear no other name forever!" + +And suddenly they sprang up and rushed towards me, Nobela, the aged +Isanusi, at their head. They leaped at me, pointing to me with the +tails of the vilderbeestes in their hands. Then Nobela switched me in +the face with the tail of the beast, and cried aloud:-- + +"Greeting, Mopo, son of Makedama! Thou art the man who smotest blood +on the door-posts of the king to bewitch the king. Let thy house be +stamped flat!" + +I saw her come, I felt the blow on my face as a man feels in a dream. +I heard the feet of the slayers as they bounded forward to hale me to +the dreadful death, but my tongue clave to the roof of my mouth--I +could not say a word. I glanced at the king, and, as I did so, I +thought that I heard him mutter: "Near the mark, not in it." + +Then he held up his spear, and all was silence. The slayers stopped in +their stride, the witch-doctors stood with outstretched arms, the +world of men was as though it had been frozen into sleep. + +"Hold!" he said. "Stand aside, son of Makedama, who art named an +evildoer! Stand aside, thou, Nobela, and those with thee who have +named him evildoer! What? Shall I be satisfied with the life of one +dog? Smell on, ye vultures, company by company, smell on! For the day +the labour, at night the feast!" + +I rose, astonished, and stood on one side. The witch-doctresses also +stood on one side, wonderstruck, since no such smelling out as this +had been seen in the land. For till this hour, when a man was swept +with the gnu's tail of the Isanusi that was the instant of his death. +Why, then, men asked in their hearts, was the death delayed? The +witch-doctors asked it also, and looked to the king for light, as men +look to a thunder-cloud for the flash. But from the Black One there +came no word. + +So we stood on one side, and a second party of the Isanusi women began +their rites. As the others had done, so they did, and yet they worked +otherwise, for this is the fashion of the Isanusis, that no two of +them smell out in the same way. And this party swept the faces of +certain of the king's councillors, naming them guilty of the witch- +work. + +"Stand ye on one side!" said the king to those who had been smelt out; +"and ye who have hunted out their wickedness, stand ye with those who +named Mopo, son of Makedama. It well may be that all are guilty." + +So these stood on one side also, and a third party took up the tale. +And they named certain of the great generals, and were in turn bidden +to stand on one side together with those whom they had named. + +So it went on through all the day. Company by company the women doomed +their victims, till there were no more left in their number, and were +commanded to stand aside together with those whom they had doomed. +Then the male Isanusis began, and I could see well that by this time +their hearts were fearful, for they smelt a snare. Yet the king's +bidding must be done, and though their magic failed them here, victims +must be found. So they smelt out this man and that man till we were a +great company of the doomed, who sat in silence on the ground looking +at each other with sad eyes and watching the sun, which we deemed our +last, climb slowly down the sky. And ever as the day waned those who +were left untried of the witch-doctors grew madder and more fierce. +They leaped into the air, they ground their teeth, and rolled upon the +ground. They drew forth snakes and devoured them alive, they shrieked +out to the spirits and called upon the names of ancient kings. + +At length it drew on to evening, and the last company of the witch- +doctors did their work, smelling out some of the keepers of the +Emposeni, the house of the women. But there was one man of their +company, a young man and a tall, who held back and took no share in +the work, but stood by himself in the centre of the great circle, +fixing his eyes on the heavens. + +And when this company had been ordered to stand aside also together +with those whom they had smelt out, the king called aloud to the last +of the witch-doctors, asking him of his name and tribe, and why he +alone did not do his office. + +"My name is Indabazimbi, the son of Arpi, O king," he answered, "and I +am of the tribe of the Maquilisini. Does the king bid me to smell out +him of whom the spirits have spoken to me as the worker of this deed?" + +"I bid thee," said the king. + +Then the young man Indabazimbi stepped straight forward across the +ring, making no cries or gestures, but as one who walks from his gate +to the cattle kraal, and suddenly he struck the king in the face with +the tail in his hand, saying, "I smell out the Heavens above me!"[2] + +[2] A Zulu title for the king.--ED. + +Now a great gasp of wonder went up from the multitude, and all looked +to see this fool killed by torture. But Chaka rose and laughed aloud. + +"Thou hast said it," he cried, "and thou alone! Listen, ye people! I +did the deed! I smote blood upon the gateways of my kraal; with my own +hand I smote it, that I might learn who were the true doctors and who +were the false! Now it seems that in the land of the Zulu there is one +true doctor--this young man--and of the false, look at them and count +them, they are like the leaves. See! there they stand, and by them +stand those whom they have doomed--the innocent whom, with their wives +and children, they have doomed to the death of the dog. Now I ask you, +my people, what reward shall be given to them?" + +Then a great roar went up from all the multitude, "Let them die, O +king!" + +"Ay!" he answered. "Let them die as liars should!" + +Now the Isanusis, men and women, screamed aloud in fear, and cried for +mercy, tearing themselves with their nails, for least of all things +did they desire to taste of their own medicine of death. But the king +only laughed the more. + +"Hearken ye!" he said, pointing to the crowd of us who had been smelt +out. "Ye were doomed to death by these false prophets. Now glut +yourselves upon them. Slay them, my children! slay them all! wipe them +away! stamp them out!--all! all, save this young man!" + +Then we bounded from the ground, for our hearts were fierce with hate +and with longing to avenge the terrors we had borne. The doomed slew +the doomers, while from the circle of the Ingomboco a great roar of +laughter went up, for men rejoiced because the burden of the witch- +doctors had fallen from them. + +At last it was done, and we drew back from the heap of the dead. +Nothing was heard there now--no more cries or prayers or curses. The +witch-fingers travelled the path on which they had set the feet of +many. The king drew near to look. He came alone, and all who had done +his bidding bent their heads and crept past him, praising him as they +went. Only I stood still, covered, as I was with mire and filth, for I +did not fear to stand in the presence of the king. Chaka drew near, +and looked at the piled-up heaps of the slain and the cloud of dust +that yet hung over them. + +"There they lie, Mopo," he said. "There lie those who dared to +prophecy falsely to the king! That was a good word of thine, Mopo, +which taught me to set the snare for them; yet methought I saw thee +start when Nobela, queen of the witch-doctresses, switched death on +thee. Well, they are dead, and the land breathes more freely; and for +the evil which they have done, it is as yonder dust, that shall soon +sink again to earth and there be lost." + +Thus he spoke, then ceased--for lo! something moved beneath the cloud +of dust, something broke a way through the heap of the dead. Slowly it +forced its path, pushing the slain this way and that, till at length +it stood upon its feet and tottered towards us--a thing dreadful to +look on. The shape was the shape of an aged woman, and even through +the blood and mire I knew her. It was Nobela, she who had doomed me, +she whom but now I had smitten to earth, but who had come back from +the dead to curse me! + +On she tottered, her apparel hanging round her in red rags, a hundred +wounds upon her face and form. I saw that she was dying, but life +still flickered in her, and the fire of hate burned in her snaky eyes. + +"Hail, king!" she screamed. + +"Peace, liar!" he answered; "thou art dead!" + +"Not yet, king. I heard thy voice and the voice of yonder dog, whom I +would have given to the jackals, and I will not die till I have +spoken. I smelt him out this morning when I was alive; now that I am +as one already dead, I smell him out again. He shall bewitch thee with +blood indeed, Chaka--he and Unandi, thy mother, and Baleka, thy wife. +Think of my words when the assegai reddens before thee for the last +time, king! Farewell!" And she uttered a great cry and rolled upon the +ground dead. + +"The witch lies hard and dies hard," said the king carelessly, and +turned upon his heel. But those words of dead Nobela remained fixed in +his memory, or so much of them as had been spoken of Unandi and +Baleka. There they remained like seeds in the earth, there they grew +to bring forth fruit in their season. + +And thus ended the great Ingomboco of Chaka, the greatest Ingomboco +that ever was held in Zululand. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE LOSS OF UMSLOPOGAAS + +Now, after the smelling out of the witch-doctors, Chaka caused a watch +to be kept upon his mother Unandi, and his wife Baleka, my sister, and +report was brought to him by those who watched, that the two women +came to my huts by stealth, and there kissed and nursed a boy--one of +my children. Then Chaka remembered the prophecy of Nobela, the dead +Isanusi, and his heart grew dark with doubt. But to me he said nothing +of the matter, for then, as always, his eyes looked over my head. He +did not fear me or believe that I plotted against him, I who was his +dog. Still, he did this, though whether by chance or design I do not +know: he bade me go on a journey to a distant tribe that lived near +the borders of the Amaswazi, there to take count of certain of the +king's cattle which were in the charge of that tribe, and to bring him +account of the tale of their increase. So I bowed before the king, and +said that I would run like a dog to do his bidding, and he gave me men +to go with me. + +Then I returned to my huts to bid farewell to my wives and children, +and there I found that my wife, Anadi, the mother of Moosa, my son, +had fallen sick with a wandering sickness, for strange things came +into her mind, and what came into her mind that she said, being, as I +did not doubt, bewitched by some enemy of my house. + +Still, I must go upon the king's business, and I told this to my wife +Macropha, the mother of Nada, and, as it was thought, of Umslopogaas, +the son of Chaka. But when I spoke to Macropha of the matter she burst +into tears and clung to me. I asked her why she wept thus, and she +answered that the shadow of evil lay upon her heart, for she was sure +that if I left her at the king's kraal, when I returned again I should +find neither her nor Nada, my child, nor Umslopogaas, who was named my +son, and whom I loved as a son, still in the land of life. Then I +tried to calm her; but the more I strove the more she wept, saying +that she knew well that these things would be so. + +Now I asked her what could be done, for I was stirred by her tears, +and the dread of evil crept from her to me as shadows creep from the +valley to the mountain. + +She answered, "Take me with you, my husband, that I may leave this +evil land, where the very skies rain blood, and let me rest awhile in +the place of my own people till the terror of Chaka has gone by." + +"How can I do this?" I said. "None may leave the king's kraal without +the king's pass." + +"A man may put away his wife," she replied. "The king does not stand +between a man and his wife. Say, my husband, that you love me no +longer, that I bear you no more children, and that therefore you send +me back whence I came. By-and-bye we will come together again if we +are left among the living." + +"So be it," I answered. "Leave the kraal with Nada and Umslopogaas +this night, and to-morrow morning meet me at the river bank, and we +shall go on together, and for the rest may the spirits of our fathers +hold us safe." + +So we kissed each other, and Macropha went on secretly with the +children. + +Now at the dawning on the morrow I summoned the men whom the king had +given me, and we started upon our journey. When the sun was well up we +came to the banks of the river, and there I found my wife Macropha, +and with her the two children. They rose as I came, but I frowned at +my wife and she gave me no greeting. Those with me looked at her +askance. + +"I have divorced this woman," I said to them. "She is a withered tree, +a worn out old hag, and now I take her with me to send her to the +country of the Swazis, whence she came. Cease weeping," I added to +Macropha, "it is my last word." + +"What says the king?" asked the men. + +"I will answer to the king," I said. And we went on. + +Now I must tell how we lost Umslopogaas, the son of Chaka, who was +then a great lad drawing on to manhood, fierce in temper, well grown +and broad for his years. + +We had journeyed seven days, for the way was long, and on the night of +the seventh day we came to a mountainous country in which there were +few kraals, for Chaka had eaten them all up years before. Perhaps you +know the place, my father. In it is a great and strange mountain. It +is haunted also, and named the Ghost Mountain, and on the top of it is +a grey peak rudely shaped like the head of an aged woman. Here in this +wild place we must sleep, for darkness drew on. Now we soon learned +that there were many lions in the rocks around, for we heard their +roaring and were much afraid, all except Umslopogaas, who feared +nothing. So we made a circle of thorn-bushes and sat in it, holding +our assegais ready. Presently the moon came up--it was a full-grown +moon and very bright, so bright that we could see everything for a +long way round. Now some six spear-throws from where we sat was a +cliff, and at the top of the cliff was a cave, and in this cave lived +two lions and their young. When the moon grew bright we saw the lions +come out and stand upon the edge of the cliff, and with them were two +little ones that played about like kittens, so that had we not been +frightened it would have been beautiful to see them. + +"Oh! Umslopogaas," said Nada, "I wish that I had one of the little +lions for a dog." + +The boy laughed, saying, "Then, shall I fetch you one, sister?" + +"Peace, boy," I said. "No man may take young lions from their lair and +live." + +"Such things have been done, my father," he answered, laughing. And no +more was said of the matter. + +Now when the cubs had played awhile, we saw the lioness take up the +cubs in her mouth and carry them into the cave. Then she came out +again, and went away with her mate to seek food, and soon we heard +them roaring in the distance. Now we stacked up the fire and went to +sleep in our enclosure of thorns without fear, for we knew that the +lions were far away eating game. But Umslopogaas did not sleep, for he +had determined that he would fetch the cub which Nada had desired, +and, being young and foolhardy, he did not think of the danger which +he would bring upon himself and all of us. He knew no fear, and now, +as ever, if Nada spoke a word, nay, even if she thought of a thing to +desire it, he would not rest till it was won for her. So while we +slept Umslopogaas crept like a snake from the fence of thorns, and, +taking an assegai in his hand, he slipped away to the foot of the +cliff where the lions had their den. Then he climbed the cliff, and, +coming to the cave, entered there and groped his way into it. The cubs +heard him, and, thinking that it was their mother who returned, began +to whine and purr for food. Guided by the light of their yellow eyes, +he crept over the bones, of which there were many in the cave, and +came to where they lay. Then he put out his hands and seized one of +the cubs, killing the other with his assegai, because he could not +carry both of them. Now he made haste thence before the lions +returned, and came back to the thorn fence where we lay just as dawn +as breaking. + +I awoke at the coming of the dawn, and, standing up, I looked out. Lo! +there, on the farther side of the thorn fence, looking large in the +grey mist, stood the lad Umslopogaas, laughing. In his teeth he held +the assegai, yet dripping with blood, and in his hands the lion cub +that, despite its whines and struggles, he grasped by the skin of the +neck and the hind legs. + +"Awake, my sister!" he cried; "here is the dog you seek. Ah! he bites +now, but he will soon grow tame." + +Nada awoke, and rising, cried out with joy at the sight of the cub, +but for a moment I stood astonished. + +"Fool!" I cried at last, "let the cub go before the lions come to rend +us!" + +"I will not let it go, my father," he answered sullenly. "Are there +not five of us with spears, and can we not fight two cats? I was not +afraid to go alone into their den. Are you all afraid to meet them in +the open?" + +"You are mad," I said; "let the cub go!" And I ran towards Umslopogaas +to take it from him. But he sprang aside and avoided me. + +"I will never let that go of which I have got hold," he said, "at +least not living!" And suddenly he seized the head of the cub and +twisted its neck; then threw it on to the ground, and added, "See, now +I have done your bidding, my father!" + +As he spoke we heard a great sound of roaring from the cave in the +cliff. The lions had returned and found one cub dead and the other +gone. + +"Into the fence!--back into the fence!" I cried, and we sprang over +the thorn-bushes where those with us were making ready their spears, +trembling as they handled them with fear and the cold of the morning. +We looked up. There, down the side of the cliff, came the lions, +bounding on the scent of him who had robbed them of their young. The +lion ran first, and as he came he roared; then followed the lioness, +but she did not roar, for in her mouth was the cub that Umslopogaas +had assegaied in the cave. Now they drew near, mad with fury, their +manes bristling, and lashing their flanks with their long tails. + +"Curse you for a fool, son of Mopo," said one of the men with me to +Umslopogaas; "presently I will beat you till the blood comes for this +trick." + +"First beat the lions, then beat me if you can," answered the lad, +"and wait to curse till you have done both." + +Now the lions were close to us; they came to the body of the second +cub, that lay outside the fence of thorns. The lion stopped and +sniffed it. Then he roared--ah! he roared till the earth shook. As for +the lioness, she dropped the dead cub which she was carrying, and took +the other into her mouth, for she could not carry both. + +"Get behind me, Nada," cried Umslopogaas, brandishing his spear, "the +lion is about to spring." + +As the words left his mouth the great brute crouched to the ground. +Then suddenly he sprang from it like a bird, and like a bird he +travelled through the air towards us. + +"Catch him on the spears!" cried Umslopogaas, and by nature, as it +were, we did the boy's bidding; for huddling ourselves together, we +held out the assegais so that the lion fell upon them as he sprang, +and their blades sank far into him. But the weight of his charge +carried us to the ground, and he fell on to us, striking at us and at +the spears, and roaring with pain and fury as he struck. Presently he +was on his legs biting at the spears in his breast. Then Umslopogaas, +who alone did not wait his onslaught, but had stepped aside for his +own ends, uttered a loud cry and drove his assegai into the lion +behind the shoulder, so that with a groan the brute rolled over dead. + +Meanwhile, the lioness stood without the fence, the second dead cub in +her mouth, for she could not bring herself to leave either of them. +But when she heard her mate's last groan she dropped the cub and +gathered herself together to spring. Umslopogaas alone stood up to +face her, for he only had withdrawn his assegai from the carcass of +the lion. She swept on towards the lad, who stood like a stone to meet +her. Now she met his spear, it sunk in, it snapped, and down fell +Umslopogaas dead or senseless beneath the mass of the lioness. She +sprang up, the broken spear standing in her breast, sniffed at +Umslopogaas, then, as though she knew that it was he who had robbed +her, she seized him by the loins and moocha, and sprang with him over +the fence. + +"Oh, save him!" cried the girl Nada in bitter woe. And we rushed after +the lioness shouting. + +For a moment she stood over her dead cubs, Umslopogaas hanging from +her mouth, and looked at them as though she wondered; and we hoped +that she might let him fall. Then, hearing our cries, she turned and +bounded away towards the bush, bearing Umslopogaas in her mouth. We +seized our spears and followed; but the ground grew stony, and, search +as we would, we could find no trace of Umslopogaas or of the lioness. +They had vanished like a cloud. So we came back, and, ah! my heart was +sore, for I loved the lad as though he had indeed been my son. But I +knew that he was dead, and there was an end. + +"Where is my brother?" cried Nada when we came back. + +"Lost," I answered. "Lost, never to be found again." + +Then the girl gave a great and bitter cry, and fell to the earth +saying, "I would that I were dead with my brother!" + +"Let us be going," said Macropha, my wife. + +"Have you no tears to weep for your son?" asked a man of our company. + +"What is the use of weeping over the dead? Does it, then, bring them +back?" she answered. "Let us be going!" + +The man thought these words strange, but he did not know that +Umslopogaas was not born of Macropha. + +Still, we waited in that place a day, thinking that, perhaps, the +lioness would return to her den and that, at least, we might kill her. +But she came back no more. So on the next morning we rolled up our +blankets and started forward on our journey, sad at heart. In truth, +Nada was so weak from grief that she could hardly travel, but I never +heard the name of Umslopogaas pass her lips again during that journey. +She buried him in her heart and said nothing. And I too said nothing, +but I wondered why it had been brought about that I should save the +life of Umslopogaas from the jaws of the Lion of Zulu, that the +lioness of the rocks might devour him. + +And so the time went on till we reached the kraal where the king's +business must be done, and where I and my wife should part. + +On the morning after we came to the kraal, having kissed in secret, +though in public we looked sullenly on one another, we parted as those +part who meet no more, for it was in our thoughts, that we should +never see each other's face again, nor, indeed, did we do so. And I +drew Nada aside and spoke to her thus: "We part, my daughter; nor do I +know when we shall meet again, for the times are troubled and it is +for your safety and that of your mother that I rob my eyes of the +sight of you. Nada, you will soon be a woman, and you will be fairer +than any woman among our people, and it may come about that many great +men will seek you in marriage, and, perhaps, that I, your father, +shall not be there to choose for you whom you shall wed, according to +the custom of our land. But I charge you, as far as may be possible +for you to do so, take only a man whom you can love, and be faithful +to him alone, for thus shall a woman find happiness." + +Here I stopped, for the girl took hold of my hand and looked into my +face. "Peace, my father," she said, "do not speak to me of marriage, +for I will wed no man, now that Umslopogaas is dead because of my +foolishness. I will live and die alone, and, oh! may I die quickly, +that I may go to seek him whom I love only!" + +"Nay, Nada," I said, "Umslopogaas was your brother, and it is not +fitting that you should speak of him thus, even though he is dead." + +"I know nothing of such matters, my father," she said. "I speak what +my heart tells me, and it tells me that I loved Umslopogaas living, +and, though he is dead, I shall love him alone to the end. Ah! you +think me but a child, yet my heart is large, and it does not lie to +me." + +Now I upbraided the girl no more, because I knew that Umslopogaas was +not her brother, but one whom she might have married. Only I marvelled +that the voice of nature should speak so truly in her, telling her +that which was lawful, even when it seemed to be most unlawful. + +"Speak no more of Umslopogaas," I said, "for surely he is dead, and +though you cannot forget him, yet speak of him no more, and I pray of +you, my daughter, that if we do not meet again, yet you should keep me +in your memory, and the love I bear you, and the words which from time +to time I have said to you. The world is a thorny wilderness, my +daughter, and its thorns are watered with a rain of blood, and we +wander in our wretchedness like lost travellers in a mist; nor do I +know why our feet are set on this wandering. But at last there comes +an end, and we die and go hence, none know where, but perhaps where we +go the evil may change to the good, and those who were dear to each +other on the earth may become yet dearer in the heavens; for I believe +that man is not born to perish altogether, but is rather gathered +again to the Umkulunkulu who sent him on his journeyings. Therefore +keep hope, my daughter, for if these things are not so, at least sleep +remains, and sleep is soft, and so farewell." + +Then we kissed and parted, and I watched Macropha, my wife, and Nada, +my daughter, till they melted into the sky, as they walked upon their +journey to Swaziland, and was very sad, because, having lost +Umslopogaas, he who in after days was named the Slaughterer and the +Woodpecker, I must lose them also. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE TRIAL OF MOPO + +Now I sat four days in the huts of the tribe whither I had been sent, +and did the king's business. And on the fifth morning I rose up, +together with those with me, and we turned our faces towards the +king's kraal. But when we had journeyed a little way we met a party of +soldiers, who commanded us to stand. + +"What is it, king's men?" I asked boldly. + +"This, son of Makedama," answered their spokesman: "give over to us +your wife Macropha and your children Umslopogaas and Nada, that we may +do with them as the king commands." + +"Umslopogaas," I answered, "has gone where the king's arm cannot +stretch, for he is dead; and for my wife Macropha and my daughter +Nada, they are by now in the caves of the Swazis, and the king must +seek them there with an army if he will find them. To Macropha he is +welcome, for I hate her, and have divorced her; and as for the girl, +well, there are many girls, and it is no great matter if she lives or +dies, yet I pray him to spare her." + +Thus I spoke carelessly, for I knew well that my wife and child were +beyond the reach of Chaka. + +"You do well to ask the girl's life," said the soldier, laughing, "for +all those born to you are dead, by order of the king." + +"Is it indeed so?" I answered calmly, though my knees shook and my +tongue clove to my lips. "The will of the king be done. A cut stick +puts out new leaves; I can have more children." + +"Ay, Mopo; but first you must get new wives, for yours are dead also, +all five of them." + +"Is it indeed so?" I answered. "The king's will be done. I wearied of +those brawling women." + +"So, Mopo," said the soldier; "but to get other wives and have more +children born to you, you must live yourself, for no children are born +to the dead, and I think that Chaka has an assegai which you shall +kiss." + +"Is it so?" I answered. "The king's will be done. The sun is hot, and +I tire of the road. He who kisses the assegai sleeps sound." + +Thus I spoke, my father, and, indeed, in that hour I desired to die. +The world was empty for me. Macropha and Nada were gone, Umslopogaas +was dead, and my other wives and children were murdered. I had no +heart to begin to build up a new house, none were left for me to love, +and it seemed well that I should die also. + +The soldiers asked those with me if that tale was true which I told of +the death of Umslopogaas and of the going of Macropha and Nada into +Swaziland. They said, Yes, it was true. Then the soldiers said that +they would lead me back to the king, and I wondered at this, for I +thought that they would kill me where I stood. So we went on, and +piece by piece I learned what had happened at the king's kraal. + +On the day after I left, it came to the ears of Chaka, by the mouth of +his spies, that my second wife--Anadi--was sick and spoke strange +words in her sickness. Then, taking three soldiers with him, he went +to my kraal at the death of the day. He left the three soldiers by the +gates of the kraal, bidding them to suffer none to come in or go out, +but Chaka himself entered the large hut where Anadi lay sick, having +his toy assegai, with the shaft of the royal red wood, in his hand. +Now, as it chanced, in the hut were Unandi, the mother of Chaka, and +Baleka, my sister, the wife of Chaka, for, not knowing that I had +taken away Umslopogaas, the son of Baleka, according to their custom, +these two foolish women had come to kiss and fondle the lad. But when +they entered the hut they found it full of my other wives and +children. These they sent away, all except Moosa, the son of Anadi-- +that boy who was born eight days before Umslopogaas, the son of Chaka. +But they kept Moosa in the hut, and kissed him, giving him imphi[1] to +eat, fearing lest it should seem strange to the women, my wives, if, +Umslopogaas being gone, they refused to take notice of any other +child. + +[1] A variety of sugar-cane.--ED. + +Now as they sat this, presently the doorway was darkened, and, behold! +the king himself crept through it, and saw them fondling the child +Moosa. When they knew who it was that entered, the women flung +themselves upon the ground before him and praised him. But he smiled +grimly, and bade them be seated. Then he spoke to them, saying, "You +wonder, Unandi, my mother, and Baleka, my wife, why it is that I am +come here into the hut of Mopo, son of Makedama. I will tell you: it +is because he is away upon my business, and I hear that his wife Anadi +is sick--it is she who lies there, is it not? Therefore, as the first +doctor in the land, I am come to cure her, Unandi, my mother, and +Baleka, my sister." + +Thus he spoke, eyeing them as he did so, and taking snuff from the +blade of his little assegai, and though his words were gentle they +shook with fear, for when Chaka spoke thus gently he meant death to +many. But Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, answered, saying that it was +well that the king had come, since his medicine would bring rest and +peace to her who lay sick. + +"Yes," he answered; "it is well. It is pleasant, moreover, my mother +and sister, to see you kissing yonder child. Surely, were he of your +own blood you could not love him more." + +Now they trembled again, and prayed in their hearts that Anadi, the +sick woman, who lay asleep, might not wake and utter foolish words in +her wandering. But the prayer was answered from below and not from +above, for Anadi woke, and, hearing the voice of the king, her sick +mind flew to him whom she believed to be the king's child. + +"Ah!" she said, sitting upon the ground and pointing to her own son, +Moosa, who squatted frightened against the wall of the hut. "Kiss him, +Mother of the Heavens, kiss him! Whom do they call him, the young cub +who brings ill-fortune to our doors? They call him the son of Mopo and +Macropha!" And she laughed wildly, stopped speaking, and sank back +upon the bed of skins. + +"They call him the son of Mopo and Macropha," said the king in a low +voice. "Whose son is he, then, woman?" + +"Oh, ask her not, O king," cried his mother and his wife, casting +themselves upon the ground before him, for they were mad with fear. +"Ask her not; she has strange fancies such as are not meet for your +ears to hear. She is bewitched, and has dreams and fancies." + +"Peace!" he answered. "I will listen to this woman's wanderings. +Perhaps some star of truth shines in her darkness, and I would see +light. Who, then, is he, woman?" + +"Who is he?" she answered. "Are you a fool that ask who he is? He is-- +hush!--put your ear close--let me speak low lest the reeds of the hut +speak it to the king. He is--do you listen? He is--the son of Chaka +and Baleka, the sister of Mopo, the changeling whom Unandi, Mother of +the Heavens, palmed off upon this house to bring a curse on it, and +whom she would lead out before the people when the land is weary of +the wickedness of the king, her son, to take the place of the king." + +"It is false, O king!" cried the two women. "Do not listen to her; it +is false. The boy is her own son, Moosa, whom she does not know in her +sickness." + +But Chaka stood up in the hut and laughed terribly. "Truly, Nobela +prophesied well," he cried, "and I did ill to slay her. So this is the +trick thou hast played upon me, my mother. Thou wouldst give a son to +to me who will have no son: thou wouldst give me a son to kill me. +Good! Mother of the Heavens, take thou the doom of the Heavens! Thou +wouldst give me a son to slay me and rule in my place; now, in turn, +I, thy son, will rob me of a mother. Die, Unandi!--die at the hand +thou didst bring forth!" And he lifted the little assegai and smote it +through her. + +For a moment Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, wife of Senzangacona, +stood uttering no cry. Then she put up her hand, and drew the assegai +from her side. + +"So shalt thou die also, Chaka the Evil!" she cried, and fell down +dead there in the hut. + +Thus, then, did Chaka murder his mother Unandi. + +Now when Baleka saw what had been done, she turned and fled from the +hut into the Emposeni, and so swiftly that the guards at the gates +could not stop her. But when she reached her own hut Baleka's strength +failed her, and she fell senseless on the ground. But the boy Moosa, +my son, being overcome with terror, stayed where he was, and Chaka, +believing him to be his son, murdered him also, and with his own hand. + +Then he stalked out of the hut, and leaving the three guards at the +gate, commanded a company of soldiers to surround the kraal and fire +it. This they did, and as the people rushed out they killed them, and +those who did not run out were burned in the fire. Thus, then, +perished all my wives, my children, my servants, and those who were +within the gates in their company. The tree was burned, and the bees +in it, and I alone was left living--I and Macropha and Nada, who were +far away. + +Nor was Chaka yet satisfied with blood, for, as has been told, he sent +messengers bidding them kill Macropha, my wife, and Nada, my daughter, +and him who was named by son. But he commanded the messengers that +they should not slay me, but bring me living before them. + +Now when the soldiers did not kill me I took counsel with myself, for +it was my belief that I was saved alive only that I might die later, +and in a more cruel fashion. Therefore for awhile I thought that it +would be well if I did that for myself which another purposed to do +for me. Why should I, who was already doomed, wait to meet my doom? +What had I left to keep me in the place of life, seeing that all whom +I loved were dead or gone? To die would be easy, for I knew the ways +of death. In my girdle I carried a secret medicine; he who eats of it, +my father, will see the sun's shadow move no more, and will never look +upon the stars again. But I was minded to know the assegai or the +kerrie; nor would I perish more slowly beneath the knives of the +tormentors, nor be parched by the pangs of thirst, or wander eyeless +to my end. Therefore it was that, since I had sat in the doom ring +looking hour after hour into the face of death, I had borne this +medicine with me by night and by day. Surely now was the time to use +it. + +So I thought as I sat through the watches of the night, ay! and drew +out the bitter drug and laid it on my tongue. But as I did so I +remembered my daughter Nada, who was left to me, though she sojourned +in a far country, and my wife Macropha and my sister Baleka, who still +lived, so said the soldiers, though how it came about that the king +had not killed her I did not know then. Also another thought was born +in my heart. While life remained to me, I might be revenged upon him +who had wrought me this woe; but can the dead strike? Alas! the dead +are strengthless, and if they still have hearts to suffer, they have +no hands to give back blow for blow. Nay, I would live on. Time to die +when death could no more be put away. Time to die when the voice of +Chaka spoke my doom. Death chooses for himself and answers no +questions; he is a guest to whom none need open the door of his hut, +for when he wills he can pass through the thatch like air. Not yet +would I taste of that medicine of mine. + +So I lived on, my father, and the soldiers led me back to the kraal of +Chaka. Now when we came to the kraal it was night, for the sun had +sunk as we passed through the gates. Still, as he had been commanded, +the captain of those who watched me went in before the king and told +him that I lay without in bonds. And the king said, "Let him be +brought before me, who was my physician, that I may tell him how I +have doctored those of his house." + +So they took me and led me to the royal house, and pushed me through +the doorway of the great hut. + +Now a fire burned in the hut, for the night was cold, and Chaka sat on +the further side of the fire, looking towards the opening of the hut, +and the smoke from the fire wreathed him round, and its light shone +upon his face and flickered in his terrible eyes. + +At the door of the hut certain councillors seized me by the arms and +dragged me towards the fire. But I broke from them, and prostrating +myself, for my arms were free, I praised the king and called him by +his royal names. The councillors sprang towards me to seize me again, +but Chaka said, "Let him be; I would talk with my servant." Then the +councillors bowed themselves on either side, and laid their hands on +their sticks, their foreheads touching the ground. But I sat down on +the floor of the hut over against the king, and we talked through the +fire. + +"Tell me of the cattle that I sent thee to number, Mopo, son of +Makedama," said Chaka. "Have my servants dealt honestly with my +cattle?" + +"They have dealt honestly, O king," I answered. + +"Tell me, then, of the number of the cattle and of their markings, +Mopo, forgetting none." + +So I sat and told him, ox by ox, cow by cow, and heifer by heifer, +forgetting none; and Chaka listened silently as one who is asleep. But +I knew that he did not sleep, for all the while the firelight +flickered in his fierce eyes. Also I knew that he did but torment me, +or that, perhaps, he would learn of the cattle before he killed me. At +length all the tale was told. + +"So," said the king, "it goes well. There are yet honest men left in +the land. Knowest thou, Mopo, that sorrow has come upon thy house +while thou wast about my business." + +"I have heard it, O king!" I answered, as one who speaks of a small +matter. + +"Yes, Mopo, sorrow has come upon thy house, the curse of Heaven has +fallen upon thy kraal. They tell me, Mopo, that the fire from above +ran briskly through they huts." + +"I have heard it, I king!" + +"They tell me, Mopo, that those within thy gates grew mad at the sight +of the fire, and dreaming there was no escape, that they stabbed +themselves with assegais or leaped into the flames." + +"I have heard it, O king! What of it? Any river is deep enough to +drown a fool!" + +"Thou hast heard these things, Mopo, but thou hast not yet heard all. +Knowest thou, Mopo, that among those who died in thy kraal was she who +bore me, she who was named Mother of the Heavens?" + +Then, my father, I, Mopo, acted wisely, because of the thought which +my good spirit gave me, for I cast myself upon the ground, and wailed +aloud as though in utter grief. + +"Spare my ears, Black One!" I wailed. "Tell me not that she who bore +thee is dead, O Lion of the Zulu. For the others, what is it? It is a +breath of wind, it is a drop of water; but this trouble is as the gale +or as the sea." + +"Cease, my servant, cease!" said the mocking voice of Chaka; "but know +this, thou hast done well to grieve aloud, because the Mother of the +Heavens is no more, and ill wouldst thou have done to grieve because +the fire from above has kissed thy gates. For hadst thou done this +last thing or left the first undone, I should have known that thy +heart was wicked, and by now thou wouldst have wept indeed--tears of +blood, Mopo. It is well for thee, then, that thou hast read my riddle +aright." + +Now I saw the depths of the pit that Chaka had dug for me, and blessed +my Ehlose who had put into my heart those words which I should answer. +I hoped also that Chaka would now let me go; but it was not to be, for +this was but the beginning of my trial. + +"Knowest thou, Mopo," said the king, "that as my mother died yonder in +the flames of thy kraal she cried out strange and terrible words which +came to my ears through the singing of the fire. These were her words: +that thou, Mopo, and thy sister Baleka, and thy wives, had conspired +together to give a child to me who would be childless. These were her +words, the words that came to me through the singing of the fire. Tell +me now, Mopo, where are those children that thou leddest from thy +kraal, the boy with the lion eyes who is named Umslopogaas, and the +girl who is named Nada?" + +"Umslopogaas is dead by the lion's mouth, O king!" I answered, "and +Nada sits in the Swazi caves." And I told him of the death of +Umslopogaas and of how I had divorced Macropha, my wife. + +"The boy with the lion eyes to the lion's mouth!" said Chaka. "Enough +of him; he is gone. Nada may yet be sought for with the assegai in the +Swazi caves; enough of her. Let us speak of this song that my mother-- +who, alas! is dead, Mopo--this song she sang through the singing of +the flames. Tell me, Mopo, tell me now, was it a true tale." + +"Nay, O king! surely the Mother of the Heavens was maddened by the +Heavens when she sang that song," I answered. "I know nothing of it, O +king." + +"Thou knowest naught of it, Mopo?" said the king. And again he looked +at me terribly through the reek of the fire. "Thou knowest naught of +it, Mopo? Surely thou art a-cold; thy hands shake with cold. Nay, man, +fear not--warm them, warm them, Mopo. See, now, plunge that hand of +thine into the heart of the flame!" And he pointed with his little +assegai, the assegai handled with the royal wood, to where the fire +glowed reddest--ay, he pointed and laughed. + +Then, my father, I grew cold indeed--yes, I grew cold who soon should +be hot, for I saw the purpose of Chaka. He would put me to the trial +by fire. + +For a moment I sat silent, thinking. Then the king spoke again in a +great voice: "Nay, Mopo, be not so backward; shall I sit warm and see +thee suffer cold? What, my councillors, rise, take the hand of Mopo, +and hold it to the flame, that his heart may rejoice in the warmth of +the flame while we speak together of this matter of the child that +was, so my mother sang, born to Baleka, my wife, the sister of Mopo, +my servant." + +"There is little need for that, O king," I answered, being made bold +by fear, for I saw that if I did nothing death would swiftly end my +doubts. Once, indeed, I bethought me of the poison that I bore, and +was minded to swallow it and make an end, but the desire to live is +great, and keen is the thirst for vengeance, so I said to my heart, +"Not yet awhile; I will endure this also; afterwards, if need be, I +can die." + +"I thank the king for his graciousness, and I will warm me at the +fire. Speak on, O king, while I warm myself, and thou shalt hear true +words," I said boldly. + +Then, my father, I stretched out my left hand and plunged it into the +fire--not into the hottest of the fire, but where the smoke leapt from +the flame. Now my flesh was wet with the sweat of fear, and for a +little moment the flames curled round it and did not burn me. But I +knew that the torment was to come. + +For a short while Chaka watched me, smiling. Then he spoke slowly, +that the fire might find time to do its work. + +"Say, then, Mopo, thou knowest nothing of this matter of the birth of +a son to thy sister Baleka?" + +"I know this only, O king!" I answered, "that a son was born in past +years to thy wife Baleka, that I killed the child in obedience to thy +word, and laid its body before thee." + +Now, my father, the steam from my flesh had been drawn from my hand by +the heat, and the flame got hold of me and ate into my flesh, and its +torment was great. But of this I showed no sign upon my face, for I +knew well that if I showed sign or uttered cry, then, having failed in +the trial, death would be my portion. + +Then the king spoke again, "Dost thou swear by my head, Mopo, that no +son of mine was suckled in thy kraals?" + +"I swear it, O king! I swear it by thy head," I answered. + +And now, my father, the agony of the fire was such as may not be told. +I felt my eyes start forward in their sockets, my blood seemed to boil +within me, it rushed into my head, and down my face their ran two +tears of blood. But yet I held my hand in the fire and made no sign, +while the king and his councillors watched me curiously. Still, for a +moment Chaka said nothing, and that moment seemed to me as all the +years of my life. + +"Ah!" he said at length, "I see that thou growest warm, Mopo! Withdraw +thy hand from the flame. I am answered; thou hast passed the trial; +thy heart is clean; for had there been lies in it the fire had given +them tongue, and thou hadst cried aloud, making thy last music, Mopo!" + +Now I took my hand from the flame, and for awhile the torment left me. + +"It is well, O king," I said calmly. "Fire has no power of hurt on +those whose heart is pure." + +But as I spoke I looked at my left hand. It was black, my father-- +black as a charred stick, and the nails were gone from the twisted +fingers. Look at it now, my father; you can see, though my eyes are +blind. The hand is white, like yours--it is white and dead and +shrivelled. These are the marks of the fire in Chaka's hut--the fire +that kissed me many, many years ago; I have had but little use of that +hand since this night of torment. But my right arm yet remained to me, +my father, and, ah! I used it. + +"It seems that Nobela, the doctress, who is dead, lied when she +prophesied evil on me from thee, Mopo," said Chaka again. "It seems +that thou art innocent of this offence, and that Baleka, thy sister, +is innocent, and that the song which the Mother of the Heavens sang +through the singing flames was no true song. It is well for thee, +Mopo, for in such a matter my oath had not helped thee. But my mother +is dead--dead in the flames with thy wives and children, Mopo, and in +this there is witchcraft. We will have a mourning, Mopo, thou and I, +such a mourning as has not been seen in Zululand, for all the people +on the earth shall weep at it. And there shall be a 'smelling out' at +this mourning, Mopo. But we will summon no witch-doctors, thou and I +will be witch-doctors, and ourselves shall smell out those who have +brought these woes upon us. What! shall my mother die unavenged, she +who bore me and has perished by witchcraft, and shall thy wives and +children die unavenged--thou being innocent? Go forth, Mopo, my +faithful servant, whom I have honoured with the warmth of my fire, go +forth!" And once again he stared at me through the reek of the flame, +and pointed with his assegai to the door of the hut. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE COUNSEL OF BALEKA + +I rose, I praised the king with a loud voice, and I went from the +Intunkulu, the house of the king. I walked slowly through the gates, +but when I was without the gates the anguish that took me because of +my burnt hand was more than I could bear. I ran to and fro groaning +till I came to the hut of one whom I knew. There I found fat, and +having plunged my hand in the fat, I wrapped it round with a skin and +passed out again, for I could not stay still. I went to and fro, till +at length I reached the spot where my huts had been. The outer fence +of the huts still stood; the fire had not caught it. I passed through +the fence; there within were the ashes of the burnt huts--they lay +ankle-deep. I walked in among the ashes; my feet struck upon things +that were sharp. The moon was bright, and I looked; they were the +blackened bones of my wives and children. I flung myself down in the +ashes in bitterness of heart; I covered myself over with the ashes of +my kraal and with the bones of my wives and children. Yes, my father, +there I lay, and on me were the ashes, and among the ashes were the +bones. Thus, then, did I lie for the last time in my kraal, and was +sheltered from the frost of the night by the dust of those to whom I +had given life. Such were the things that befell us in the days of +Chaka, my father; yes, not to me alone, but to many another also. + +I lay among the ashes and groaned with the pain of my burn, and +groaned also from the desolation of my heart. Why had I not tasted the +poison, there in the hut of Chaka, and before the eyes of Chaka? Why +did I not taste it now and make an end? Nay, I had endured the agony; +I would not give him this last triumph over me. Now, having passed the +fire, once more I should be great in the land, and I would become +great. Yes, I would bear my sorrows, and become great, that in a day +to be I might wreak vengeance on the king. Ah! my father, there, as I +rolled among the ashes, I prayed to the Amatongo, to the ghosts of my +ancestors. I prayed to my Ehlose, to the spirit that watches me--ay, +and I even dared to pray to the Umkulunkulu, the great soul of the +world, who moves through the heavens and the earth unseen and unheard. +And thus I prayed, that I might yet live to kill Chaka as he had +killed those who were dear to me. And while I prayed I slept, or, if I +did not sleep, the light of thought went out of me, and I became as +one dead. Then there came a vision to me, a vision that was sent in +answer to my prayer, or, perchance, it was a madness born of my +sorrows. For, my father, it seemed to me that I stood upon the bank of +a great and wide river. It was gloomy there, the light lay low upon +the face of the river, but far away on the farther side was a glow +like the glow of a stormy dawn, and in the glow I saw a mighty bed of +reeds that swayed about in the breath of dawn, and out of the reeds +came men and women and children, by hundreds and thousands, and +plunged into the waters of the river and were buffeted about by them. +Now, my father, all the people that I saw in the water were black +people, and all those who were torn out of the reeds were black--they +wee none of them white like your people, my father, for this vision +was a vision of the Zulu race, who alone are "torn out of the reeds." +Now, I saw that of those who swam in the river some passed over very +quickly and some stood still, as it were, still in the water--as in +life, my father, some die soon and some live for many years. And I saw +the countless faces of those in the water, among them were many that I +knew. There, my father, I saw the face of Chaka, and near him was my +own face; there, too, I saw the face of Dingaan, the prince, his +brother, and the face of the boy Umslopogaas and the face of Nada, my +daughter, and then for the first time I knew that Umslopogaas was not +dead, but only lost. + +Now I turned in my vision, and looked at that bank of the river on +which I stood. Then I saw that behind the bank was a cliff, mighty and +black, and in the cliff were doors of ivory, and through them came +light and the sound of laughter; there were other doors also, black as +though fashioned of coal, and through them came darkness and the +sounds of groans. I saw also that in front of the doors was set a +seat, and on the seat was the figure of a glorious woman. She was +tall, and she alone was white, and clad in robes of white, and her +hair was like gold which is molten in the fire, and her face shone +like the midday sun. Then I saw that those who came up out of the +river stood before the woman, the water yet running from them, and +cried aloud to her. + +"Hail, Inkosazana-y-Zulu! Hail, Queen of the Heavens!" + +Now the figure of the glorious woman held a rod in either hand, and +the rod in her right hand was white and of ivory, and the rod in her +left hand was black and of ebony. And as those who came up before her +throne greeted her, so she pointed now with the wand of ivory in her +right hand, and now with the wand of ebony in her left hand. And with +the wand of ivory she pointed to the gates of ivory, through which +came light and laughter, and with the wand of ebony she pointed to the +gates of coal, through which came blackness and groans. And as she +pointed, so those who greeted her turned, and went, some through the +gates of light and some through the gates of blackness. + +Presently, as I stood, a handful of people came up from the bank of +the river. I looked on them and knew them. There was Unandi, the +mother of Chaka, there was Anadi, my wife, and Moosa, my son, and all +my other wives and children, and those who had perished with them. + +They stood before the figure of the woman, the Princess of the +Heavens, to whom the Umkulunkulu has given it to watch over the people +of the Zulu, and cried aloud, "Hail, Inkosazana-y-Zulu! Hail!" + +Then she, the Inkosazana, pointed with the rod of ivory to the gates +of ivory; but still they stood before her, not moving. Now the woman +spoke for the first time, in a low voice that was sad and awful to +hear. + +"Pass in, children of my people, pass in to the judgment. Why tarry +ye? Pass in through the gates of light." + +But still they tarried, and in my vision Unandi spoke: "We tarry, +Queen of the Heavens--we tarry to pray for justice on him who murdered +us. I, who on earth was named Mother of the Heavens, on behalf of all +this company, pray to thee, Queen of the Heavens, for justice on him +who murdered us." + +"How is he named?" asked the voice that was low and awful. + +"Chaka, king of the Zulus," answered the voice of Unandi. "Chaka, my +son." + +"Many have come to ask for vengeance on that head," said the voice of +the Queen of the Heavens, "and many more shall come. Fear not, Unandi, +it shall fall. Fear not, Anadi and ye wives and children of Mopo, it +shall fall, I say. With the spear that pierced thy breast, Unandi, +shall the breast of Chaka be also pierced, and, ye wives and children +of Mopo, the hand that pierces shall be the hand of Mopo. As I guide +him so shall he go. Ay, I will teach him to wreak my vengeance on the +earth! Pass in, children of my people--pass in to the judgment, for +the doom of Chaka is written." + +Thus I dreamed, my father. Ay, this was the vision that was sent me as +I lay in pain and misery among the bones of my dead in the ashes of my +kraal. Thus it was given me to see the Inkosazana of the Heavens as +she is in her own place. Twice more I saw her, as you shall hear, but +that was on the earth and with my waking eyes. Yes, thrice has it been +given to me in all to look upon that face that I shall now see no more +till I am dead, for no man may look four times on the Inkosazana and +live. Or am I mad, my father, and did I weave these visions from the +woof of my madness? I do not know, but it is true that I seemed to see +them. + +I woke when the sky was grey with the morning light; it was the pain +of my burnt hand that aroused me from my sleep or from my stupor. I +rose shaking the ashes from me, and went without the kraal to wash +away their defilement. Then I returned, and sat outside the gates of +the Emposeni, waiting till the king's women, whom he named his +sisters, should come to draw water according to their custom. At last +they came, and, sitting with my kaross thrown over my face to hide it, +looked for the passing of Baleka. Presently I saw her; she was sad- +faced, and walked slowly, her pitcher on her head. I whispered her +name, and she drew aside behind an aloe bush, and, making pretence +that her foot was pierced with a thorn, she lingered till the other +women had gone by. Then she came up to me, and we greeted one another, +gazing heavily into each other's eyes. + +"In an ill day did I hearken to you, Baleka," I said, "to you and to +the Mother of the Heavens, and save your child alive. See now what has +sprung from this seed! Dead are all my house, dead is the Mother of +the Heavens--all are dead--and I myself have been put to the torment +by fire," and I held out my withered hand towards her. + +"Ay, Mopo, my brother," she answered, "but flesh is nearest to flesh, +and I should think little of it were not my son Umslopogaas also dead, +as I have heard but now." + +"You speak like a woman, Baleka. Is it, then, nothing to you that I, +your brother, have lost--all I love?" + +"Fresh seed can yet be raised up to you, my brother, but for me there +is no hope, for the king looks on me no more. I grieve for you, but I +had this one alone, and flesh is nearest to flesh. Think you that I +shall escape? I tell you nay. I am but spared for a little, then I go +where the others have gone. Chaka has marked me for the grave; for a +little while I may be left, then I die: he does but play with me as a +leopard plays with a wounded buck. I care not, I am weary, but I +grieve for the boy; there was no such boy in the land. Would that I +might die swiftly and go to seek him." + +"And if the boy is not dead, Baleka, what then?" + +"What is that you said?" she answered, turning on me with wild eyes. +"Oh, say it again--again, Mopo! I would gladly die a hundred deaths to +know that Umslopogaas still lives." + +"Nay, Baleka, I know nothing. But last night I dreamed a dream," and I +told her all my dream, and also of that which had gone before the +dream. + +She listened as one listens to the words of a king when he passes +judgement for life or for death. + +"I think that there is wisdom in your dreams, Mopo," she said at +length. "You were ever a strange man, to whom the gates of distance +are no bar. Now it is borne in upon my heart that Umslopogaas still +lives, and now I shall die happy. Yes, gainsay me not; I shall die, I +know it. I read it in the king's eyes. But what is it? It is nothing, +if only the prince Umslopogaas yet lives." + +"Your love is great, woman," I said; "and this love of yours has +brought many woes upon us, and it may well happen that in the end it +shall all be for nothing, for there is an evil fate upon us. Say now, +what shall I do? Shall I fly, or shall I abide here, taking the chance +of things?" + +"You must stay here, Mopo. See, now! This is in the king's mind. He +fears because of the death of his mother at his own hand--yes, even +he; he is afraid lest the people should turn upon him who killed his +own mother. Therefore he will give it out that he did not kill her, +but that she perished in the fire which was called down upon your +kraals by witchcraft; and, though all men know the lie, yet none shall +dare to gainsay him. As he said to you, there will be a smelling out, +but a smelling out of a new sort, for he and you shall be the witch- +finders, and at that smelling out he will give to death all those whom +he fears, all those whom he knows hate him for his wickedness and +because with his own hand he slew his mother. For this cause, then, he +will save you alive, Mopo--yes, and make you great in the land, for +if, indeed, his mother Unandi died through witchcraft, as he shall +say, are you not also wronged by him, and did not your wives and +children also perish by witchcraft? Therefore, do not fly; abide here +and become great--become great to the great end of vengeance, Mopo, my +brother. You have much wrong to wreak; soon you will have more, for I, +too, shall be gone, and my blood also shall cry for vengeance to you. +Hearken, Mopo. Are there not other princes in the land? What of +Dingaan, what of Umhlangana, what of Umpanda, brothers to the king? Do +not these also desire to be kings? Do they not day by day rise from +sleep feeling their limbs to know if they yet live, do they not night +by night lie down to sleep not knowing if it shall be their wives that +they shall kiss ere dawn or the red assegai of the king? Draw near to +them, my brother; creep into their hearts and learn their counsel or +teach them yours; so in the end shall Chaka be brought to that gate +through which your wives have passed, and where I also am about to +tread." + +Thus Baleka spoke and she was gone, leaving me pondering, for her +words were heavy with wisdom. I knew well that the brothers of the +king went heavily and in fear of death, for his shadow was on them. +With Panda, indeed, little could be done, for he lived softly, +speaking always as one whose wits are few. But Dingaan and Umhlangana +were of another wood, and from them might be fashioned a kerrie that +should scatter the brains of Chaka to the birds. But the time to speak +was not now; not yet was the cup of Chaka full. + +Then, having finished my thought, I rose, and, going to the kraal of +my friend, I doctored my burnt hand, that pained me, and as I was +doctoring it there came a messenger to me summoning me before the +king. + +I went in before the king, and prostrated myself, calling him by his +royal names; but he took me by the hand and raised me up, speaking +softly. + +"Rise, Mopo, my servant!" he said. "Thou hast suffered much woe +because of the witchcraft of thine enemies. I, I have lost my mother, +and thou, thou hast lost thy wives and children. Weep, my councillors, +weep, because I have lost my mother, and Mopo, my servant, as lost his +wives and children, by the witchcraft of our foes!" + +Then all the councillors wept aloud, while Chaka glared at them. + +"Hearken, Mopo!" said the king, when the weeping was done. "None can +give me back my mother; but I can give thee more wives, and thou shalt +find children. Go in among the damsels who are reserved to the king, +and choose thee six; go in among the cattle of the king, and choose +thee ten times ten of the best; call upon the servants of the king +that they build up thy kraal greater and fairer than it was before! +These things I give thee freely; but thou shalt have more, Mopo--yes! +thou shalt have vengeance! On the first day of the new moon I summon a +great meeting, a bandhla of all the Zulu people: yes, thine own tribe, +the Langeni, shall be there also. Then we will mourn together over our +woes; then, too, we will learn who brought these woes upon us. Go now, +Mopo, go! And go ye also, my councillors, leaving me to weep alone +because my mother is dead!" + +Thus, then, my father, did the words of Baleka come true, and thus, +because of the crafty policy of Chaka, I grew greater in the land than +ever I had been before. I chose the cattle, they were fat; I chose the +wives, they were fair; but I took no pleasure in them, nor were any +more children born to me. For my heart was like a withered stick; the +sap and strength had gone from my heart--it was drawn out in the fire +of Chaka's hut, and lost in my sorrow for those whom I had loved. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TALE OF GALAZI THE WOLF + +Now, my father, I will go back a little, for my tale is long and winds +in and out like a river in a plain, and tell of the fate of +Umslopogaas when the lion had taken him, as he told it to me in the +after years. + +The lioness bounded away, and in her mouth was Umslopogaas. Once he +struggled, but she bit him hard, so he lay quiet in her mouth, and +looking back he saw the face of Nada as she ran from the fence of +thorns, crying "Save him!" He saw her face, he heard her words, then +he saw and heard little more, for the world grew dark to him and he +passed, as it were, into a deep sleep. Presently Umslopogaas awoke +again, feeling pain in his thigh, where the lioness had bitten him, +and heard a sound of shouting. He looked up; near to him stood the +lioness that had loosed him from her jaws. She was snorting with rage, +and in front of her was a lad long and strong, with a grim face, and a +wolf's hide, black and grey, bound about his shoulders in such fashion +that the upper jar and teeth of the wolf rested on his head. He stood +before the lioness, shouting, and in one hand he held a large war- +shield, and in the other he grasped a heavy club shod with iron. + +Now the lioness crouched herself to spring, growling terribly, but the +lad with the club did not wait for her onset. He ran in upon her and +struck her on the head with the club. He smote hard and well, but this +did not kill her, for she reared herself upon her hind legs and struck +at him heavily. He caught the blow upon his shield, but the shield was +driven against his breast so strongly that he fell backwards beneath +it, and lay there howling like a wolf in pain. Then the lioness sprang +upon him and worried him. Still, because of the shield, as yet she +could not come at him to slay him; but Umslopogaas saw that this might +not endure, for presently the shield would be torn aside and the +stranger must be killed. Now in the breast of the lioness still stood +the half of Umslopogaas's broken spear, and its blade was a span deep +in her breast. Then this thought came into the mind of Umslopogaas, +that he would drive the spear home or die. So he rose swiftly, for +strength came back to him in his need, and ran to where the lioness +worried at him who lay beneath the shield. She did not heed him, so he +flung himself upon his knees before her, and, seizing the haft of the +broken spear, drive it deep into her and wrenched it round. Now she +saw Umslopogaas and turned roaring, and clawed at him, tearing his +breast and arms. Then, as he lay, he heard a mighty howling, and, +behold! grey wolves and black leaped upon the lioness and rent and +worried her till she fell and was torn to pieces by them. After this +the senses of Umslopogaas left him again, and the light went out of +his eyes so that he was as one dead. + +At length his mind came back to him, and with it his memory, and he +remembered the lioness and looked up to find her. But he did not find +her, and he saw that he lay in a cave upon a bed of grass, while all +about him were the skins of beasts, and at his side was a pot filled +with water. He put out his hand and, taking the pot, drank of the +water, and then he saw that his arm was wasted as with sickness, and +that his breast was thick with scars scarcely skinned over. + +Now while he lay and wondered, the mouth of the cave was darkened, and +through it entered that same lad who had done battle with the lioness +and been overthrown by her, bearing a dead buck upon his shoulders. He +put down the buck upon the ground, and, walking to where Umslopogaas +lay, looked at him. + +"Ou!" he said, "your eyes are open--do you, then, live, stranger?" + +"I live," answered Umslopogaas, "and I am hungry." + +"It is time," said the other, "since with toil I bore you here through +the forest, for twelve days you have lain without sense, drinking +water only. So deeply had the lion clawed you that I thought of you as +dead. Twice I was near to killing you, that you might cease to suffer +and I to be troubled; but I held my hand, because of a word which came +to me from one who is dead. Now eat, that your strength may return to +you. Afterwards, we will talk." + +So Umslopogaas ate, and little by little his health returned to him-- +every day a little. And afterwards, as they sat at night by the fire +in the cave they spoke together. + +"How are you named?" asked Umslopogaas of the other. + +"I am named Galazi the Wolf," he answered, "and I am of Zulu blood-- +ay, of the blood of Chaka the king; for the father of Senzangacona, +the father of Chaka, was my great-grandfather." + +"Whence came you, Galazi?" + +"I came from Swaziland--from the tribe of the Halakazi, which I should +rule. This is the story: Siguyana, my grandfather, was a younger +brother of Senzangacona, the father of Chaka. But he quarrelled with +Senzangacona, and became a wanderer. With certain of the people of the +Umtetwa he wandered into Swaziland, and sojourned with the Halakazi +tribe in their great caves; and the end of it was that he killed the +chief of the tribe and took his place. After he was dead, my father +ruled in his place; but there was a great party in the tribe that +hated his rule because he was of the Zulu race, and it would have set +up a chief of the old Swazi blood in his place. Still, they could not +do this, for my father's hand was heavy on the people. Now I was the +only son of my father by his head wife, and born to be chief after +him, and therefore those of the Swazi party, and they were many and +great, hated me also. So matters stood till last year in the winter, +and then my father set his heart on killing twenty of the headmen, +with their wives and children, because he knew that they plotted +against him. But the headmen learned what was to come, and they +prevailed upon a wife of my father, a woman of their own blood, to +poison him. So she poisoned him in the night and in the morning it was +told me that my father lay sick and summoned me, and I went to him. In +his hut I found him, and he was writhing with pain. + +"'What is it, my father?' I said. 'Who has done this evil?' + +"'It is this, my son,' he gasped, 'that I am poisoned, and she stands +yonder who has done the deed.' And he pointed to the woman, who stood +at the side of the hut near the door, her chin upon her breast, +trembling as she looked upon the fruit of her wickedness. + +"Now the girl was young and fair, and we had been friends, yet I say +that I did not pause, for my heart was mad within me. I did not pause, +but, seizing my spear, I ran at her, and, though she cried for mercy, +I killed her with the spear. + +"'That was well done, Galazi!' said my father. 'But when I am gone, +look to yourself, my son, for these Swazi dogs will drive you out and +rob you of your place! But if they drive you out and you still live, +swear this to me--that you will not rest till you have avenged me.' + +"'I swear it, my father,' I answered. 'I swear that I will stamp out +the men of the tribe of Halakazi, every one of them, except those of +my own blood, and bring their women to slavery and their children to +bonds!' + +"'Big words for a young mouth,' said my father. 'Yet shall you live to +bring these things about, Galazi. This I know of you now in my hour of +death: you shall be a wanderer for a few years of your life, child of +Siguyana, and wandering in another land you shall die a man's death, +and not such a death as yonder witch has given to me.' Then, having +spoken thus, he lifted up his head, looked at me, and with a great +groan he died. + +"Now I passed out of the hut dragging the body of the dead girl after +me. In front of the hut were gathered many headmen waiting for the +end, and I saw that their looks were sullen. + +"'The chief, my father, is dead!' I cried in a loud voice, 'and I, +Galazi, who am the chief, have slain her who murdered him!' And I +rolled the body of the girl over on to her back so that they might +look upon her face. + +"Now the father of the girl was among those who stood before me, he +who had persuaded her to the deed, and he was maddened at the sight. + +"'What, my brothers?' he cried. 'Shall we suffer that this young Zulu +dog, this murderer of a girl, be chief over us? Never! The old lion is +dead, now for the cub!' And he ran at me with spear aloft. + +"'Never!' shouted the others, and they, too, ran towards me, shaking +their spears. + +"I waited, I did not hasten, for I knew well that I should not die +then, I knew it from my father's last words. I waited till the man was +near me; he thrust, I sprang aside and drove my spear through him, and +on the daughter's body the father fell dead. Then I shouted aloud and +rushed through them. None touched me; none could catch me; the man +does not live who can overtake me when my feet are on the ground and I +am away." + +"Yet I might try," said Umslopogaas, smiling, for of all lads among +the Zulus he was the swiftest of foot. + +"First walk again, then run," answered Galazi. + +"Take up the tale," quoth Umslopogaas; "it is a merry one." + +"Something is left to tell, stranger. I fled from the country of the +Halakazi, nor did I linger at all in the land of the Swazis, but came +on swiftly into the Zulu. Now, it was in my mind to go to Chaka and +tell him of my wrongs, asking that he would send an impi to make an +end of the Halakazi. But while I journeyed, finding food and shelter +as I might, I came one night to the kraal of an old man who knew +Chaka, and had known Siguyana, my grandfather, and to him, when I had +stayed there two days, I told my tale. But the old man counselled me +against my plan, saying that Chaka, the king, did not love to welcome +new shoots sprung from the royal stock, and would kill me; moreover, +the man offered me a place in his kraal. Now, I held that there was +wisdom in his words, and thought no more of standing before the king +to cry for justice, for he who cries to kings for justice sometimes +finds death. Still, I would not stay in the kraal of the old man, for +he had sons to come after him who looked on me with no liking; +moreover, I wished to be a chief myself, even if I lived alone. So I +left the kraal by night and walked on, not knowing where I should go. + +"Now, on the third night, I came to a little kraal that stands on the +farther side of the river at the foot of the mountain. In front of the +kraal sat a very old woman basking in the rays of the setting sun. She +saw me, and spoke to me, saying, 'Young man, you are tall and strong +and swift of foot. Would you earn a famous weapon, a club, that +destroys all who stand before it?' + +"I said that I wished to have such a club, and asked what I should do +to win it. + +"'You shall do this,' said the old woman: 'to-morrow morning, at the +first light, you shall go up to yonder mountain,' and she pointed to +the mountain where you are now, stranger, on which the stone Witch +sits forever waiting for the world to die. 'Two-thirds of the way up +the mountain you will come to a path that is difficult to climb. You +shall climb the path and enter a gloomy forest. It is very dark in the +forest, but you must push through it till you come to an open place +with a wall of rock behind it. In the wall of rock is a cave, and in +the cave you will find the bones of a man. Bring down the bones in a +bag, and I will give you the club!' + +"While she spoke thus people came out of the kraal and listened. + +"'Do not heed her, young man,' they said, 'unless you are weary of +life. Do not heed her: she is crazy. The mountain is haunted; it is a +place of ghosts. Look at the stone Witch who sits upon it! Evil +spirits live in that forest, and no man has walked there for many +years. This woman's son was foolish: he went to wander in the forest, +saying that he cared nothing for ghosts, and the Amatongo, the ghost- +folk, killed him. That was many years ago, and none have dared to seek +his bones. Ever she sits here and asks of the passers by that they +should bring him to her, offering the great club for a reward; but +they dare not!' + +"'They lie!' said the old woman. 'There are no ghosts there. The +ghosts live only in their cowardly hearts; there are but wolves. I +know that the bones of my son lie in the cave, for I have seen them in +a dream; but, alas! my old limbs are too weak to carry me up the +mountain path, and all these are cowards; there is no man among them +since the Zulus killed my husband, covering him with wounds!' + +"Now, I listened, answering nothing; but when all had done, I asked to +see the club which should be given to him who dared to face the +Amatongo, the spirits who lived in the forest upon the Ghost Mountain. +Then the old woman rose, and creeping on her hands went into the hut. +Presently she returned again, dragging the great club after her. + +"Look at it, stranger! look at it! Was there ever such a club?" And +Galazi held it up before the eyes of Umslopogaas. + +In truth, my father, that was a club, for I, Mopo, saw it in after +days. It was great and knotty, black as iron that had been smoked in +the fire, and shod with metal that was worn smooth with smiting. + +"I looked at it," went on Galazi, "and I tell you, stranger, a great +desire came into my heart to possess it. + +"'How is this club named?' I asked of the old woman. + +"'It is named Watcher of the Fords,' she answered, 'and it has not +watched in vain. Five men have held that club in war and a hundred- +and-seventy-three have given up their lives beneath its strokes. He +who held it last slew twenty before he was slain himself, for this +fortune goes with the club--that he who owns it shall die holding it, +but in a noble fashion. There is but one other weapon to match with it +in Zululand, and that is the great axe of Jikiza, the chief of the +People of the Axe, who dwells in the kraal yonder; the ancient horn- +hafted Imbubuzi, the Groan-Maker, that brings victory. Were axe, +Groan-Maker, and club, Watcher of the Fords, side by side, there are +no thirty men in Zululand who could stand before them. I have said. +Choose!' And the aged woman watched me cunningly through her horny +eyes. + +"'She speaks truly now,' said one of those who stood near. 'Let the +club be, young man: he who owns it smites great blows indeed, but in +the end he dies by the assegai. None dare own the Watcher of the +Fords.' + +"'A good death and a swift!' I answered. And pondered a time, while +still the old woman watched me through her horny eyes. At length she +rose, 'La!, la!' she said, 'the Watcher is not for this one. This is +but a child, I must seek me a man, I must seek me a man!' + +"'Not so fast, old wife,' I said. 'Will you lend me this club to hold +in my hand while I go to find the bones of your son and to snatch them +from the people of the ghosts?' + +"'Lend you the Watcher, boy? Nay, nay! I should see little of you +again or of the good club either.' + +"'I am no thief,' I answered. 'If the ghosts kill me, you will see me +no more, or the club either; but if I live I will bring you back the +bones, or, if I do not find them, I will render the Watcher into your +hands again. At the least I say that if you will not lend me the club, +then I will not go into the haunted place.' + +"'Boy, your eyes are honest,' she said, still peering at me. 'Take the +Watcher, go seek the bones. If you die, let the club be lost with you; +if you fail, bring it back to me; but if you win the bones, then it is +yours, and it shall bring you glory and you shall die a man's death at +last holding him aloft among the dead.' + +"So on the morrow at dawn I took the club Watcher in my hand and a +little dancing shield, and made ready to start. The old woman blessed +me and bade me farewell, but the other people of the kraal mocked, +saying: 'A little man for so big a club! Beware, little man, lest the +ghosts use the club on you!' So they spoke, but one girl in the kraal +--she is a granddaughter of the old woman--led me aside, praying me +not to go, for the forest on the Ghost Mountain had an evil name: none +dared walk there, since it was certainly full of spirits, who howled +like wolves. I thanked the girl, but to the others I said nothing, +only I asked of the path to the Ghost Mountain. + +"Now stranger, if you have strength, come to the mouth of the cave and +look out, for the moon is bright." + +So Umslopogaas rose and crept through the narrow mouth of the cave. +There, above him, a great grey peak towered high into the air, shaped +like a seated woman, her chin resting upon her breast, the place where +the cave was being, as it were, on the lap of the woman. Below this +place the rock sloped sharply, and was clothed with little bushes. +Lower down yet was a forest, great and dense, that stretched to the +top of a cliff, and at the foot of the cliff, beyond the waters of the +river, lay the wide plains of Zululand. + +"Yonder, stranger," said Galazi, pointing with the club Watcher of the +Fords far away to the plain beneath; "yonder is the kraal where the +aged woman dwelt. There is a cliff rising from the plain, up which I +must climb; there is the forest where dwell the Amatongo, the people +of the ghosts; there, on the hither side of the forest, runs the path +to the cave, and here is the cave itself. See this stone lying at the +mouth of the cave, it turns thus, shutting up the entrance hole--it +turns gently; though it is so large, a child may move it, for it rests +upon a sharp point of rock. Only mark this, the stone must be pushed +too far; for, look! if it came to here," and he pointed to a mark in +the mouth of the cave, "then that man need be strong who can draw it +back again, though I have done it myself, who am not a man full grown. +But if it pass beyond this mark, then, see, it will roll down the neck +of the cave like a pebble down the neck of a gourd, and I think that +two men, one striving from within and one dragging from without, +scarcely could avail to push it clear. Look now, I close the stone, as +is my custom of a night, so,"--and he grasped the rock and swung it +round upon its pivot, on which it turned as a door turns. "Thus I +leave it, and though, except those to whom the secret is know, none +would guess that a cave was here, yet it can be rolled back again with +a push of the hand. But enough of the stone. Enter again, wanderer, +and I will go forward with my tale, for it is long and strange. + +"I started from the kraal of the old woman, and the people of the +kraal followed me to the brink of the river. It was in flood, and few +had dared to cross it. + +"'Ha! ha!' they cried, 'now your journey is done, little man; watch by +the ford you who would win the Watcher of the Ford! Beat the water +with the club, perhaps so it shall grow gentle that your feet may pass +it!' + +"I answered nothing to their mocking, only I bound the shield upon my +shoulders with a string, and the bag that I had brought I made fast +about my middle, and I held the great club in my teeth by the thong. +Then I plunged into the river and swam. Twice, stranger, the current +bore me under, and those on the bank shouted that I was lost; but I +rose again, and in the end I won the farther shore. + +"Now those on the bank mocked no more; they stood still wondering, and +I walked on till I came to the foot of the cliff. That cliff is hard +to climb, stranger; when you are strong upon your feet, I will show +you the path. Yet I found a way up it, and by midday I came to the +forest. Here, on the edge of the forest, I rested awhile, and ate a +little food that I had brought with me in the bag, for now I must +gather up my strength to meet the ghosts, if ghosts there were. Then I +rose and plunged into the forest. The trees were great that grow +there, stranger, and their leaves are so think that in certain places +the light is as that of night when the moon is young. Still, I wended +on, often losing my path. But from time to time between the tops of +the trees I saw the figure of the grey stone woman who sits on the top +of Ghost Mountain, and shaped my course towards her knees. My heart +beat as I travelled through the forest in dark and loneliness like +that of the night, and ever I looked round searching for the eyes of +the Amatongo. But I saw no spirits, though at times great spotted +snakes crept from before my feet, and perhaps these were the Amatongo. +At times, also, I caught glimpses of some grey wolf as he slunk from +tree to tree watching me, and always high above my head the wind +sighed in the great boughs with a sound like the sighing of women. + +"Still, I went on, singing to myself as I went, that my heart might +not be faint with fear, and at length, towards the end of the second +hour, the trees grew fewer, the ground sloped upwards, and the light +poured down from the heavens again. But, stranger, you are weary, and +the night wears on; sleep now, and to-morrow I will end the tale. Say, +first, how are you named?" + +"I am named Umslopogaas, son of Mopo," he answered, "and my tale shall +be told when yours is done; let us sleep!" + +Now when Galazi heard this name he started and was troubled, but said +nothing. So they laid them down to sleep, and Galazi wrapped +Umslopogaas with the skins of bucks. + +But Galazi the Wolf was so hardy that he lay on the bare ground and +had no covering. So they slept, and without the door of the cave the +wolves howled, scenting the blood of men. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +GALAZI BECOMES KING OF THE WOLVES + +On the morrow Umslopogaas awoke, and knew that strength was growing on +him fast. Still, all that day he rested in the cave, while Galazi went +out to hunt. In the evening he returned, bearing a buck upon his +shoulders, and they skinned the buck and ate of it as they sat by the +fire. And when the sun was down Galazi took up his tale. + +"Now Umslopogaas, son of Mopo, hear! I had passed the forest, and had +come, as it were, to the legs of the old stone Witch who sits up aloft +there forever waiting for the world to die. Here the sun shone +merrily, here lizards ran and birds flew to and fro, and though it +grew towards the evening--for I had wandered long in the forest--I was +afraid no more. So I climbed up the steep rock, where little bushes +grow like hair on the arms of a man, till at last I came to the knees +of the stone Witch, which are the space before the cave. I lifted by +head over the brink of the rock and looked, and I tell you, +Umslopogaas, my blood ran cold and my heart turned to water, for +there, before the cave, rolled wolves, many and great. Some slept and +growled in their sleep, some gnawed at the skulls of dead game, some +sat up like dogs and their tongues hung from their grinning jaws. I +looked, I saw, and beyond I discovered the mouth of the cave, where +the bones of the boy should be. But I had no wish to come there, being +afraid of the wolves, for now I knew that these were the ghosts who +live upon the mountain. So I bethought me that I would fly, and turned +to go. And, Umslopogaas, even as I turned, the great club Watcher of +the Fords swung round and smote me on the back with such a blow as a +man smites upon a coward. Now whether this was by chance or whether +the Watcher would shame him who bore it, say you, for I do not know. +At the least, shame entered into me. Should I go back to be mocked by +the people of the kraal and by the old woman? And if I wished to go, +should I not be killed by the ghosts at night in the forest? Nay, it +was better to die in the jaws of the wolves, and at once. + +"Thus I thought in my heart; then, tarrying not, lest fear should come +upon me again, I swung up the Watcher, and crying aloud the war-cry of +the Halakazi, I sprang over the brink of the rock and rushed upon the +wolves. They, too, sprang up and stood howling, with bristling hides +and fiery eyes, and the smell of them came into my nostrils. Yet when +they saw it was a man that rushed upon them, they were seized with +sudden fear and fled this way and that, leaping by great bounds from +the place of rock, which is the knees of the stone Witch, so that +presently I stood alone in front of the cave. Now, having conquered +the wolf ghosts and no blow struck, my heart swelled within me, and I +walked to the mouth of the cave proudly, as a cock walks upon a roof, +and looked in through the opening. As it chanced, the sinking sun +shone at this hour full into the cave, so that all its darkness was +made red with light. Then, once more, Umslopogaas, I grew afraid +indeed, for I could see the end of the cave. + +"Look now! There is a hole in the wall of the cave, where the +firelight falls below the shadow of the roof, twice the height of a +man from the floor. It is a narrow hole and a high, is it not?--as +though one had cut it with iron, and a man might sit in it, his legs +hanging towards the floor of the cave. Ay, Umslopogaas, a man might +sit in it, might he not? And there a man sat, or that which had been a +man. There sat the bones of a man, and the black skin had withered on +his bones, holding them together, and making him awful to see. His +hands were open beside him, he leaned upon them, and in the right hand +was a piece of hide from his moocha. It was half eaten, Umslopogaas; +he had eaten it before he died. His eyes also were bound round with a +band of leather, as though to hide something from their gaze, one foot +was gone, one hung over the edge of the niche towards the floor, and +beneath it on the floor, red with rust, lay the blade of a broken +spear. + +"Now come hither, Umslopogaas, place your hand upon the wall of the +cave, just here; it is smooth, is it not?--smooth as the stones on +which women grind their corn. 'What made it so smooth?' you ask. I +will tell you. + +"When I peered through the door of the cave I saw this: on the floor +of the cave lay a she-wolf panting, as though she had galloped many a +mile; she was great and fierce. Near to her was another wolf--he was a +dog--old and black, bigger than any I have seen, a very father of +wolves, and all his head and flanks were streaked with grey. But this +wolf was on his feet. As I watched he drew back nearly to the mouth of +the cave, then of a sudden he ran forward and bounded high into the +air towards the withered foot of that which hung from the cleft of the +rock. His pads struck upon the rock here where it is smooth, and there +for a second he seemed to cling, while his great jaws closed with a +clash but a spear's breadth beneath the dead man's foot. Then he fell +back with a howl of rage, and drew slowly down the cave. Again he ran +and leaped, again the great jaws closed, again he fell down howling. +Then the she-wolf rose, and they sprang together, striving to pull +down him who sat above. But it was all in vain; they could never come +nearer than within a spear's breadth of the dead man's foot. And now, +Umslopogaas, you know why the rock is smooth and shines. From month to +month and year to year the wolves had ravened there, seeking to devour +the bones of him who sat above. Night upon night they had leaped thus +against the wall of the cave, but never might their clashing jaws +close upon his foot. One foot they had, indeed, but the other they +could not come by. + +"Now as I watched, filled with fear and wonder, the she-wolf, her +tongue lolling from her jaws, made so mighty a bound that she almost +reached the hanging foot, and yet not quite. She fell back, and then I +saw that the leap was her last for that time, for she had oversprung +herself, and lay there howling, the black blood flowing from her +mouth. The wolf saw also: he drew near, sniffed at her, then, knowing +that she was hurt, seized her by the throat and worried her. Now all +the place was filled with groans and choking howls, as the wolves +rolled over and over beneath him who sat above, and in the blood-red +light of the dying sun the sight and sounds were so horrid that I +trembled like a child. The she-wolf grew faint, for the fangs of her +mate were buried in her throat. Then I saw that now was the time to +smite him, lest when he had killed her he should kill me also. So I +lifted the Watcher and sprang into the cave, having it in my mind to +slay the wolf before he lifted up his head. But he heard my footsteps, +or perhaps my shadow fell upon him. Loosing his grip, he looked up, +this father of wolves; then, making no sound, he sprang straight at my +throat. + +"I saw him, and whirling the Watcher aloft, I smote with all my +strength. The blow met him in mid-air; it fell full on his chest and +struck him backwards to the earth. But there he would not say, for, +rising before I could smite again, once more he sprang at me. This +time I leaped aside and struck downwards, and the blow fell upon his +right leg and broke it, so that he could spring no more. Yet he ran at +me on three feet, and, though the club fell on his side, he seized me +with his teeth, biting through that leather bag, which was wound about +my middle, into the flesh behind. Then I yelled with pain and rage, +and lifting the Watcher endways, drove it down with both hands, as a +man drives a stake into the earth, and that with so great a stroke +that the skull of the wolf was shattered like a pot, and he fell dead, +dragging me with him. Presently I sat up on the ground, and, placing +the handle of the Watcher between his jaws, I forced them open, +freeing my flesh from the grip of his teeth. Then I looked at my +wounds; they were not deep, for the leather bag had saved me, yet I +feel them to this hour, for there is poison in the mouth of a wolf. +Presently I glanced up, and saw that the she-wolf had found her feet +again, and stood as though unhurt; for this is the nature of these +ghosts, Umslopogaas, that, though they fight continually, they cannot +destroy each other. They may be killed by man alone, and that hardly. +There she stood, and yet she did not look at me or on her dead mate, +but at him who sat above. I saw, and crept softly behind her, then, +lifting the Watcher, I dashed him down with all my strength. The blow +fell on her neck and broke it, so that she rolled over and at once was +dead. + +"Now I rested awhile, then went to the mouth of the cave and looked +out. The sun was sinking: all the depth of the forest was black, but +the light still shone on the face of the stone woman who sits forever +on the mountain. Here, then, I must bide this night, for, though the +moon shone white and full in the sky, I dared not wend towards the +plains alone with the wolves and the ghosts. And if I dared not go +alone, how much less should I dare to go bearing with me him who sat +in the cleft of the rock! Nay, here I must bide, so I went out of the +cave to the spring which flows from the rock on the right yonder and +washed my wounds and drank. Then I came back and sat in the mouth of +the cave, and watched the light die away from the face of the world. +While it was dying there was silence, but when it was dead the forest +awoke. A wind sprang up and tossed it till the green of its boughs +waved like troubled water on which the moon shines faintly. From the +heart of it, too, came howlings of ghosts and wolves, that were +answered by howls from the rocks above--hearken, Umslopogaas, such +howlings as we hear to-night! + +"It was awful here in the mouth of the cave, for I had not yet learned +the secret of the stone, and if I had known it, should I have dared to +close it, leaving myself alone with the dead wolves and him whom the +wolves had struggled to tear down? I walked out yonder on to the +platform and looked up. The moon shone full upon the face of the stone +Witch who sits aloft forever. She seemed to grin at me, and, oh! I +grew afraid, for now I knew that this was a place of dead men, a place +where spirits perch like vultures in a tree, as they sweep round and +round the world. I went back to the cave, and feeling that I must do +something lest I should go mad, I drew to me the carcase of the great +dog-wolf which I had killed, and, taking my knife of iron, I began to +skin it by the light of the moon. For an hour or more I skinned, +singing to myself as I worked, and striving to forget him who sat in +the cleft above and the howlings which ran about the mountains. But +ever the moonlight shone more clearly into the cave: now by it I could +see his shape of bone and skin, ay, and even the bandage about his +eyes. Why had he tied it there? I wondered--perhaps to hide the faces +of the fierce wolves as they sprang upwards to grip him. And always +the howlings drew nearer; now I could see grey forms creeping to and +fro in the shadows of the rocky place before me. Ah! there before me +glared two red eyes: a sharp snout sniffed at the carcase which I +skinned. With a yell, I lifted the Watcher and smote. There came a +scream of pain, and something galloped away into the shadows. + +"Now the skin was off. I cast it behind me, and seizing the carcase +dragged it to the edge of the rock and left it. Presently the sound of +howlings drew near again, and I saw the grey shapes creep up one by +one. Now they gathered round the carcase, now they fell upon it and +rent it, fighting horribly till all was finished. Then, licking their +red chops, they slunk back to the forest. + +"Did I sleep or did I wake? Nay, I cannot tell. But I know this, that +of a sudden I seemed to look up and see. I saw a light--perchance, +Umslopogaas, it was the light of the moon, shining upon him that sat +aloft at the end of the cave. It was a red light, and he glowed in it +as glows a thing that is rotten. I looked, or seemed to look, and then +I thought that the hanging jaw moved, and from it came a voice that +was harsh and hollow as of one who speaks from an empty belly, through +a withered throat. + +"'Hail, Galazi, child of Siguyana!' said the voice, 'Galazi the Wolf! +Say, what dost thou here in the Ghost Mountain, where the stone Witch +sits forever, waiting for the world to die?' + +"Then, Umslopogaas, I answered, or seemed to answer, and my voice, +too, sounded strange and hollow:-- + +"'Hail, Dead One, who sittest like a vulture on a rock! I do this on +the Ghost Mountain. I come to seek thy bones and bear them to thy +mother for burial.' + +"'Many and many a year have I sat aloft, Galazi,' answered the voice, +'watching the ghost-wolves leap and leap to drag me down, till the +rock grew smooth beneath the wearing of their feet. So I sat seven +days and nights, being yet alive, the hungry wolves below, and hunger +gnawing at my heart. So I have sat many and many a year, being dead in +the heart of the old stone Witch, watching the moon and the sun and +the stars, hearkening to the howls of the ghost-wolves as they ravened +beneath me, and learning the wisdom of the old witch who sits above in +everlasting stone. Yet my mother was young and fair when I trod the +haunted forest and climbed the knees of stone. How seems she now, +Galazi?' + +"'She is white and wrinkled and very aged,' I answered. 'They call her +mad, yet at her bidding I came to seek thee, Dead One, bearing the +Watcher that was thy father's and shall be mine.' + +"'It shall be thine, Galazi,' said the voice, 'for thou alone hast +dared the ghosts to me sleep and burial. Hearken, thine also shall be +the wisdom of the old witch who sits aloft forever, frozen into +everlasting stone--thine and one other's. These are not wolves that +thou hast seen, that is no wolf which thou hast slain; nay, they are +ghosts--evil ghosts of men who lived in ages gone, and who must now +live till they be slain by men. And knowest thou how they lived, +Galazi, and what was the food they ate? When the light comes again, +Galazi, climb to the breasts of the stone Witch, and look in the cleft +which is between her breasts. There shalt thou see how these men +lived. And now this doom is on them: they must wander gaunt and hungry +in the shape of wolves, haunting that Ghost Mountain where they once +fed, till they are led forth to die at the hands of men. Because of +their devouring hunger they have leapt from year to year, striving to +reach my bones; and he whom thou hast slain was the king of them, and +she at his side was their queen. + +"'Now, Galazi the Wolf, this is the wisdom that I give thee: thou +shalt be king of the ghost-wolves, thou and another, whom a lion shall +bring thee. Gird the black skin upon thy shoulders, and the wolves +shall follow thee; all the three hundred and sixty and three of them +that are left, and let him who shall be brought to thee gird on the +skin of grey. Where ye twain lead them, there shall they raven, +bringing you victory till all are dead. But know this, that there only +may they raven where in life they ravened, seeking for their food. +Yet, that was an ill gift thou tookest from my mother--the gift of the +Watcher, for though without the Watcher thou hadst never slain the +king of the ghost-wolves, yet, bearing the Watcher, thou shalt thyself +be slain. Now, on the morrow carry me back to my mother, so that I may +sleep where the ghost-wolves leap no more. I have spoken, Galazi.' + +"Now the Dead One's voice seemed to grow ever fainter and more hollow +as he spoke, till at the last I could scarcely hear his words, yet I +answered him, asking him this:-- + +"'Who is it, then, that the lion shall bring to me to rule with me +over the ghost-wolves, and how is he named?' + +"Then the Dead One spoke once more very faintly, yet in the silence of +the place I heard his words:-- + +"'He is named Umslopogaas the Slaughterer, son of Chaka, Lion of the +Zulu." + +Now Umslopogaas started up from his place by the fire. + +"I am named Umslopogaas," he said, "but the Slaughterer I am not +named, and I am the son of Mopo, and not the son of Chaka, Lion of the +Zulu; you have dreamed a dream, Galazi, or, if it was no dream, then +the Dead One lied to you." + +"Perchance this was so, Umslopogaas," answered Galazi the Wolf. +"Perhaps I dreamed, of perhaps the Dead One lied; nevertheless, if he +lied in this matter, in other matters he did not lie, as you shall +hear. + +"After I had heard these words, or had dreamed that I heard them, I +slept indeed, and when I woke the forest beneath was like the clouds +of mist, but the grey light glinted upon the face of her who sits in +stone above. Now I remembered the dream that I had dreamed, and I +would see if it were all a dream. So I rose, and leaving the cave, +found a place where I might climb up to the breasts and head of the +stone Witch. I climbed, and as I went the rays of the sun lit upon her +face, and I rejoiced to see them. But, when I drew near, the likeness +to the face of a woman faded away, and I saw nothing before me but +rugged heaps of piled-up rock. For this, Umslopogaas, is the way of +witches, be they of stone or flesh--when you draw near to them they +change their shape. + +"Now I was on the breast of the mountain, and wandered to and for +awhile between the great heaps of stone. At length I found, as it +were, a crack in the stone thrice as wide as a man can jump, and in +length half a spear's throw, and near this crack stood great stones +blackened by fire, and beneath them broken pots and a knife of flint. +I looked down into the crack--it was very deep, and green with moss, +and tall ferns grew about in it, for the damp gathered there. There +was nothing else. I had dreamed a lying dream. I turned to go, then +found another mind, and climbed down into the cleft, pushing aside the +ferns. Beneath the ferns was moss; I scraped it away with the Watcher. +Presently the iron of the club struck on something that was yellow and +round like a stone, and from the yellow thing came a hollow sound. I +lifted it, Umslopogaas; it was the skull of a child. + +"I dug deeper and scraped away more moss, till presently I saw. +Beneath the moss was nothing but the bones of men--old bones that had +lain there many years; the little ones had rotted, the larger ones +remained--some were yellow, some black, and others still white. They +were not broken, as are those that hyenas and wolves have worried, yet +on some of them I could see the marks of teeth. Then, Umslopogaas, I +went back to the cave, never looking behind me. + +"Now when I was come to the cave I did this: I skinned the she-wolf +also. When I had finished the sun was up, and I knew that it was time +to go. But I could not go alone--he who sat aloft in the cleft of the +cave must go with me. I greatly feared to touch him--this Dead One, +who had spoken to me in a dream; yet I must do it. So I brought stones +and piled them up till I could reach him; then I lifted him down, for +he was very light, being but skin and bones. When he was down, I bound +the hides of the wolves about me, then leaving the leather bag, into +which he could not enter, I took the Dead One and placed him on my +shoulders as a man might carry a child, for his legs were fixed +somewhat apart, and holding him by the foot which was left on him, I +set out for the kraal. Down the slope I went as swiftly as I could, +for now I knew the way, seeing and hearing nothing, except once, when +there came a rush of wings, and a great eagle swept down at that which +sat upon my shoulders. I shouted, and the eagle flew away, then I +entered the dark of the forest. Here I must walk softly, lest the head +of him I carried should strike against the boughs and be smitten from +him. + +"For awhile I went on thus, till I drew near to the heart of the +forest. Then I heard a wolf howl on my right, and from the left came +answering howls, and these, again, were answered by others in front of +and behind me. I walked on boldly, for I dared not stay, guiding +myself by the sun, which from time to time shone down on me redly +through the boughs of the great trees. Now I could see forms grey and +black slinking near my path, sniffing at the air as they went, and now +I came to a little open place, and, behold! all the wolves in the +world were gathered together there. My heart melted, my legs trembled +beneath me. On every side were the brutes, great and hungry. And I +stood still, with club aloft, and slowly they crept up, muttering and +growling as they came, till they formed a deep circle round me. Yet +they did not spring on me, only drew nearer and ever nearer. Presently +one sprang, indeed, but not at me; he sprang at that which sat upon my +shoulders. I moved aside, and he missed his aim, and, coming to the +ground again, stood there growling and whining like a beast afraid. +Then I remembered the words of my dream, if dream it were, how that +the Dead One had given me wisdom that I should be king of the ghost- +wolves--I and another whom a lion should bear to me. Was it not so? If +it was not so, how came it that the wolves did not devour me? + +"For a moment I stood thinking, then I lifted up my voice and howled +like a wolf, and lo! Umslopogaas, all the wolves howled in answer with +a mighty howling. I stretched out my hand and called to them. They ran +to me, gathering round me as though to devour me. But they did not +harm me; they licked my legs with their red tongues, and fighting to +come near me, pressed themselves against me as does a cat. One, +indeed, snatched at him who sat on my shoulder, but I struck him with +the Watcher and he slunk back like a whipped hound; moreover, the +others bit him so that he yelled. Now I knew that I had no more to +fear, for I was king of the ghost-wolves, so I walked on, and with me +came all the great pack of them. I walked on and on, and they trotted +beside me silently, and the fallen leaves crackled beneath their feet, +and the dust rose up about them, till at length I reached the edge of +the forest. + +"Now I remembered that I must not be seen thus by men, lest they +should think me a wizard and kill me. Therefore, at the edge of the +forest I halted and made signs to the wolves to go back. At this they +howled piteously, as though in grief, but I called to them that I +would come again and be their king, and it seemed as though their +brute hearts understood my words. Then they all went, still howling, +till presently I was alone. + +"And now, Umslopogaas, it is time to sleep; to-morrow night I will end +my tale." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE WOLF-BRETHREN + +Now, my father, on the morrow night, once again Umslopogaas and Galazi +the wolf sat by the fire in the mouth of their cave, as we sit to- +night, my father, and Galazi took up his tale. + +"I passed on till I came to the river; it was still full, but the +water had run down a little, so that my feet found foothold. I waded +into the river, using the Watcher as a staff, and the stream reached +to my elbows, but no higher. Now one on the farther bank of the river +saw that which sat upon my shoulders, and saw also the wolf's skin on +my head, and ran to the kraal crying, 'Here comes one who walks the +waters on the back of a wolf.' + +"So it came about that when I drew towards the kraal all the people of +the kraal were gathered together to meet me, except the old woman, who +could not walk so far. But when they saw me coming up the slope of the +hill, and when they knew what it was that sat upon my shoulders, they +were smitten with fear. Yet they did not run, because of their great +wonder, only they walked backward before me, clinging each to each and +saying nothing. I too came on silently, till at length I reached the +kraal, and before its gates sat the old woman basking in the sun of +the afternoon. Presently she looked up and cried:-- + +"'What ails you, people of my house, that you walk backwards like men +bewitched, and who is that tall and deathly man who comes toward you?' + +"But still they drew on backward, saying no word, the little children +clinging to the women, the women clinging to the men, till they had +passed the old wife and ranged themselves behind her like a regiment +of soldiers. Then they halted against the fence of the kraal. But I +came on to the old woman, and lifted him who sat upon my shoulders, +and placed him on the ground before her, saying, 'Woman, here is your +son; I have snatched him with much toil from the jaws of the ghosts-- +and they are many up yonder--all save one foot, which I could not +find. Take him now and bury him, for I weary of his fellowship.' + +"She looked upon that which sat before her. She put out her withered +hand and drew the bandage from his sunken eyes. Then she screamed +aloud a shrill scream, and, flinging her arms about the neck of the +Dead One, she cried: 'It is my son whom I bore--my very son, whom for +twice ten years and half a ten I have not looked upon. Greeting, my +son, greeting! Now shalt thou find burial, and I with three--ay, I +with thee!' + +"And once more she cried aloud, standing upon her feet with arms +outstretched. Then of a sudden foam burst from her lips, and she fell +forward upon the body of her son, and was dead. + +"Now silence came upon the place again, for all were fearful. At last +one cried: 'How is this man named who has won the body from the +ghosts?' + +"'I am named Galazi,' I answered. + +"'Nay,' said he. 'The Wolf you are named. Look at the wolf's red hide +upon his head!' + +"'I am named Galazi, and the Wolf you have named me,' I said again. +'So be it: I am named Galazi the Wolf.' + +"'Methinks he is a wolf,' said he. 'Look, now, at his teeth, how they +grin! This is no man, my brothers, but a wolf.' + +"'No wolf and no man,' said another, 'but a wizard. None but a wizard +could have passed the forest and won the lap of her who sits in stone +forever.' + +"'Yes, yes! he is a wolf--he is a wizard!' they screamed. 'Kill him! +Kill the wolf-wizard before he brings the ghosts upon us!' And they +ran towards me with uplifted spears. + +"'I am a wolf indeed,' I cried, 'and I am a wizard indeed, and I will +bring wolves and ghosts upon you ere all is done.' And I turned and +fled so swiftly that soon they were left behind me. Now as I ran I met +a girl; a basket of mealies was on her head, and she bore a dead kid +in her hand. I rushed at her howling like a wolf, and I snatched the +mealies from her head and the kid from her hand. Then I fled on, and +coming to the river, I crossed it, and for that night I hid myself in +the rocks beyond, eating the mealies and the flesh of the kid. + +"On the morrow at dawn I rose and shook the dew from the wolf-hide. +Then I went on into the forest and howled like a wolf. They knew my +voice, the ghost-wolves, and howled in answer from far and near. Then +I heard the pattering of their feet, and they came round me by tens +and by twenties, and fawned upon me. I counted their number; they +numbered three hundred and sixty and three. + +"Afterwards, I went on to the cave, and I have lived there in the +cave, Umslopogaas, for nigh upon twelve moons, and I have become a +wolf-man. For with the wolves I hunt and raven, and they know me, and +what I bid them that they do. Stay, Umslopogaas, now you are strong +again, and, if your courage does not fail you, you shall see this very +night. Come now, have you the heart, Umslopogaas?" + +Then Umslopogaas rose and laughed aloud. "I am young in years," he +cried, "and scarcely come to the full strength of men; yet hitherto I +have not turned my back on lion or witch, on wolf or man. Now let us +see this impi of yours--this impi black and grey, that runs on four +legs with fangs for spears!" + +"You must first bind on the she-wolf's hide, Umslopogaas," quoth +Galazi, "else, before a man could count his fingers twice there would +be little enough left of you. Bind it about the neck and beneath the +arms, and see that the fastenings do not burst, lest it be the worse +for you." + +So Umslopogaas took the grey wolf's hide and bound it on with thongs +of leather, and its teeth gleamed upon his head, and he took a spear +in his hand. Galazi also bound on the hide of the king of the wolves, +and they went out on to the space before the cave. Galazi stood there +awhile, and the moonlight fell upon him, and Umslopogaas saw that his +face grew wild and beastlike, that his eyes shone, and his teeth +grinned beneath his curling lips. He lifted up his head and howled out +upon the night. Thrice Galazi lifted his head and thrice he howled +loudly, and yet more loud. But before ever the echoes had died in the +air, from the heights of the rocks above and the depths of the forest +beneath, there came howlings in answer. Nearer they grew and nearer; +now there was a sound of feet, and a wolf, great and grey, bounded +towards them, and after him many another. They came to Galazi, they +sprang upon him, fawning round him, but he beat them down with the +Watcher. Then of a sudden they saw Umslopogaas, and rushed at him +open-mouthed. + +"Stand and do not move!" cried Galazi. "Be not afraid!" + +"I have always fondled dogs," answered Umslopogaas, "shall I learn to +fear them now?" + +Yet though he spoke boldly, in his heart he was afraid, for this was +the most terrible of all sights. The wolves rushed on him open- +mouthed, from before and from behind, so that in a breath he was well- +nigh hidden by their forms. Yet no fang pierced him, for as they leapt +they smelt the smell of the skin upon him. Then Umslopogaas saw that +the wolves leapt at him no more, but the she-wolves gathered round him +who wore the she-wolf's skin. They were great and gaunt and hungry, +all were full-grown, there were no little ones, and their number was +so many that he could not count them in the moonlight. Umslopogaas, +looking into their red eyes, felt his heart become as the heart of a +wolf, and he, too, lifted up his head and howled, and the she-wolves +howled in answer. + +"The pack is gathered; now for the hunt!" cried Galazi. "Make your +feet swift, my brother, for we shall journey far to-night. Ho, +Blackfang! ho, Greysnout! Ho, my people black and grey, away! away!" + +He spoke and bounded forward, and with him went Umslopogaas, and after +him streamed the ghost-wolves. They fled down the mountain sides, +leaping from boulder to boulder like bucks. Presently they stood by a +kloof that was thick with trees. Galazi stopped, holding up the +Watcher, and the wolves stopped with him. + +"I smell a quarry," he cried; "in, my people, in!" + +Then the wolves plunged silently into the great kloof, but Galazi and +Umslopogaas drew to the foot of it and waited. Presently there came a +sound of breaking boughs, and lo! before them stood a buffalo, a bull +who lowed fiercely and sniffed the air. + +"This one will give us a good chase, my brother; see, he is gaunt and +thin! Ah! that meat is tender which my people have hunted to the +death!" + +As Galazi spoke, the first of the wolves drew from the covert and saw +the buffalo; then, giving tongue, they sprang towards it. The bull saw +also, and dashed down the hill, and after him came Galazi and +Umslopogaas, and with them all their company, and the rocks shook with +the music of their hunting. They rushed down the mountain side, and it +came into the heart of Umslopogaas, that he, too, was a wolf. They +rushed madly, yet his feet were swift as the swiftest; no wolf could +outstrip him, and in him was but one desire--the desire of prey. Now +they neared the borders of the forest, and Galazi shouted. He shouted +to Greysnout and to Blackfang, to Blood and to Deathgrip, and these +four leaped forward from the pack, running so swiftly that their +bellies seemed to touch the ground. They passed about the bull, +turning him from the forest and setting his head up the slope of the +mountain. Then the chase wheeled, the bull leaped and bounded up the +mountain side, and on one flank lay Greysnout and Deathgrip and on the +other lay Blood and Blackfang, while behind came the Wolf-Brethren, +and after them the wolves with lolling tongues. Up the hill they sped, +but the feet of Umslopogaas never wearied, his breath did not fail +him. Once more they drew near the lap of the Grey Witch where the cave +was. On rushed the bull, mad with fear. He ran so swiftly that the +wolves were left behind, since here for a space the ground was level +to his feet. Galazi looked on Umslopogaas at his side, and grinned. + +"You do not run so ill, my brother, who have been sick of late. See +now if you can outrun me! Who shall touch the quarry first?" + +Now the bull was ahead by two spear-throws. Umslopogaas looked and +grinned back at Galazi. "Good!" he cried, "away!" + +They sped forward with a bound, and for awhile it seemed to +Umslopogaas as though they stood side by side, only the bull grew +nearer and nearer. Then he put out his strength and the swiftness of +his feet, and lo! when he looked again he was alone, and the bull was +very near. Never were feet so swift as those of Umslopogaas. Now he +reached the bull as he laboured on. Umslopogaas placed his hands upon +the back of the bull and leaped; he was on him, he sat him as you +white men sit a horse. Then he lifted the spear in his hand, and drove +it down between the shoulders to the spine, and of a sudden the great +buffalo staggered, stopped, and fell dead. + +Galazi came up. "Who now is the swiftest, Galazi?" cried Umslopogaas, +"I, or you, or your wolf host?" + +"You are the swiftest, Umslopogaas," said Galazi, gasping for his +breath. "Never did a man run as you run, nor ever shall again." + +Now the wolves streamed up, and would have torn the carcase, but +Galazi beat them back, and they rested awhile. Then Galazi said, "Let +us cut meat from the bull with a spear." + +So they cut meat from the bull, and when they had finished Galazi +motioned to the wolves, and they fell upon the carcase, fighting +furiously. In a little while nothing was left except the larger bones, +and yet each wolf had but a little. + +Then they went back to the cave and slept. + +Afterwards Umslopogaas told Galazi all his tale, and Galazi asked him +if he would abide with him and be his brother, and rule with him over +the wolf-kind, or seek his father Mopo at the kraal of Chaka. + +Umslopogaas said that it was rather in his mind to seek his sister +Nada, for he was weary of the kraal of Chaka, but he thought of Nada +day and night. + +"Where, then, is Nada, your sister?" asked Galazi. + +"She sleeps in the caves of your people, Galazi; she tarries with the +Halakazi." + +"Stay awhile, Umslopogaas," cried Galazi; "stay till we are men +indeed. Then we will seek this sister of yours and snatch her from the +caves of the Halakazi." + +Now the desire of this wolf-life had entered into the heart of +Umslopogaas, and he said that it should be so, and on the morrow they +made them blood-brethren, to be one till death, before all the company +of ghost-wolves, and the wolves howled when they smelt the blood of +men. In all things thenceforth these two were equal, and the ghost- +wolves hearkened to the voice of both of them. And on many a moonlight +night they and the wolves hunted together, winning their food. At +times they crossed the river, hunting in the plains, for game was +scarce on the mountain, and the people of the kraal would come out, +hearing the mighty howling, and watch the pack sweep across the veldt, +and with them a man or men. Then they would say that the ghosts were +abroad and creep into their huts shivering with fear. But as yet the +Wolf-Brethren and their pack killed no men, but game only, or, at +times, elephants and lions. + +Now when Umslopogaas had abode some moons in the Watch Mountain, on a +night he dreamed of Nada, and awakening soft at heart, bethought +himself that he would learn tidings concerning me, his father, Mopo, +and what had befallen me and her whom he deemed his mother, and Nada, +his sister, and his other brethren. So he clothed himself, hiding his +nakedness, and, leaving Galazi, descended to that kraal where the old +woman had dwelt, and there gave it out that he was a young man, a +chief's son from a far place, who sought a wife. The people of the +kraal listened to him, though they held that his look was fierce and +wild, and one asked if this were Galazi the Wolf, Galazi the Wizard. +But another answered that this was not Galazi, for their eyes had seen +him. Umslopogaas said that he knew nothing of Galazi, and little of +wolves, and lo! while he spoke there came an impi of fifty men and +entered the kraal. Umslopogaas looked at the leaders of the impi and +knew them for captains of Chaka. At first he would have spoken to +them, but his Ehlose bade him hold his peace. So he sat in a corner of +the big hut and listened. Presently the headman of the kraal, who +trembled with fear, for he believed that the impi had been sent to +destroy him and all that were his, asked the captain what was his +will. + +"A little matter, and a vain," said the captain. "We are sent by the +king to search for a certain youth, Umslopogaas, the son of Mopo, the +king's doctor. Mopo gave it out that the youth was killed by a lion +near these mountains, and Chaka would learn if this is true." + +"We know nothing of the youth," said the headman. "But what would ye +with him?" + +"Only this," answered the captain, "to kill him." + +"That is yet to do," thought Umslopogaas. + +"Who is this Mopo?" asked the headman. + +"An evildoer, whose house the king has eaten up--man, woman, and +child," answered the captain. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE DEATH OF THE KING'S SLAYERS + +When Umslopogaas heard these words his heart was heavy, and a great +anger burned in his breast, for he thought that I, Mopo, was dead with +the rest of his house, and he loved me. But he said nothing; only, +watching till none were looking, he slipped past the backs of the +captains and won the door of the hut. Soon he was clear of the kraal, +and, running swiftly, crossed the river and came to the Ghost +Mountain. Meanwhile, the captain asked the headman of the kraal if he +knew anything of such a youth as him for whom they sought. The headman +told the captain of Galazi the Wolf, but the captain said that this +could not be the lad, for Galazi had dwelt many moons upon the Ghost +Mountain. + +"There is another youth," said the headman; "a stranger, fierce, +strong and tall, with eyes that shine like spears. He is in the hut +now; he sits yonder in the shadow." + +The captain rose and looked into the shadow, but Umslopogaas was gone. + +"Now this youth is fled," said the headman, "and yet none saw him fly! +Perhaps he also is a wizard! Indeed, I have heard that now there are +two of them upon the Ghost Mountain, and that they hunt there at night +with the ghost-wolves, but I do not know if it is true." + +"Now I am minded to kill you," said the captain in wrath, "because you +have suffered this youth to escape me. Without doubt it is +Umslopogaas, son of Mopo." + +"It is no fault of mine," said the headmen. "These young men are +wizards, who can pass hither and thither at will. But I say this to +you, captain of the king, if you will go on the Ghost Mountain, you +must go there alone with your soldiers, for none in these parts dare +to tread upon that mountain." + +"Yet I shall dare to-morrow," said the captain. "We grow brave at the +kraal of Chaka. There men do not fear spears or ghosts or wild beasts +or magic, but they fear the king's word alone. The sun sets--give us +food. To-morrow we will search the mountain." + +Thus, my father, did this captain speak in his folly,--he who should +never see another sun. + +Now Umslopogaas reached the mountain, and when he had passed the +forest--of which he had learned every secret way--the darkness +gathered, and the wolves awoke in the darkness and drew near howling. +Umslopogaas howled in answer, and presently that great wolf Deathgrip +came to him. Umslopogaas saw him and called him by his name; but, +behold! the brute did not know him, and flew at him, growling. Then +Umslopogaas remembered that the she-wolf's skin was not bound about +his shoulders, and therefore it was that the wolf Deathgrip knew him +not. For though in the daytime, when the wolves slept, he might pass +to and fro without the skin, at night it was not so. He had not +brought the skin, because he dared not wear it in the sight of the men +of the kraal, lest they should know him for one of the Wolf-Brethren, +and it had not been his plan to seek the mountain again that night, +but rather on the morrow. Now Umslopogaas knew that his danger was +great indeed. He beat back Deathgrip with his kerrie, but others were +behind him, for the wolves gathered fast. Then he bounded away towards +the cave, for he was so swift of foot that the wolves could not catch +him, though they pressed him hard, and once the teeth of one of them +tore his moocha. Never before did he run so fast, and in the end he +reached the cave and rolled the rock to, and as he did so the wolves +dashed themselves against it. Then he clad himself in the hide of the +she-wolf, and, pushing aside the stone, came out. And, lo! the eyes of +the wolves were opened, and they knew him for one of the brethren who +ruled over them, and slunk away at his bidding. + +Now Umslopogaas sat himself down at the mouth of the cave waiting for +Galazi, and he thought. Presently Galazi came, and in few words +Umslopogaas told him all his tale. + +"You have run a great risk, my brother," said Galazi. "What now?" + +"This," said Umslopogaas: "these people of ours are hungry for the +flesh of men; let us feed them full on the soldiers of Chaka, who sit +yonder at the kraal seeking my life. I would take vengeance for Mopo, +my father, and all my brethren who are dead, and for my mothers, the +wives of Mopo. What say you?" + +Galazi laughed aloud. "That will be merry, my brother," he said. "I +weary of hunting beasts, let us hunt men to-night." + +"Ay, to-night," said Umslopogaas, nodding. "I long to look upon that +captain as a maid longs for her lover's kiss. But first let us rest +and eat, for the night is young; then, Galazi, summon our impi." + +So they rested and ate, and afterwards went out armed, and Galazi +howled to the wolves, and they came in tens and twenties till all were +gathered together. Galazi moved among them, shaking the Watcher, as +they sat upon their haunches, and followed him with their fiery eyes. + +"We do not hunt game to-night, little people," he cried, "but men, and +you love the flesh of men." + +Now all the wolves howled as though they understood. Then the pack +divided itself as was its custom, the she-wolves following +Umslopogaas, the dog-wolves following Galazi, and in silence they +moved swiftly down towards the plain. They came to the river and swam +it, and there, eight spear throws away, on the farther side of the +river stood the kraal. Now the Wolf-Brethren took counsel together, +and Galazi, with the dog-wolves, went to the north gate, and +Umslopogaas with the she-wolves to the south gate. They reached them +safely and in silence, for at the bidding of the brethren the wolves +ceased from their howlings. The gates were stopped with thorns, but +the brethren pulled out the thorns and made a passage. As they did +this it chanced that certain dogs in the kraal heard the sound of the +stirred boughs, and awakening, caught the smell of the wolves that +were with Umslopogaas, for the wind blew from that quarter. These dogs +ran out barking, and presently they came to the south gate of the +kraal, and flew at Umslopogaas, who pulled away the thorns. Now when +the wolves saw the dogs they could be restrained no longer, but sprang +on them and tore them to fragments, and the sound of their worrying +came to the ears of the soldiers of Chaka and of the dwellers in the +kraal, so that they sprang from sleep, snatching their arms. And as +they came out of the huts they saw in the moonlight a man wearing a +wolf's hide rushing across the empty cattle kraal, for the grass was +long and the cattle were out at graze, and with him countless wolves, +black and grey. Then they cried aloud in terror, saying that the +ghosts were on them, and turned to flee to the north gate of the +kraal. But, behold! here also they met a man clad in a wolf's skin +only, and with him countless wolves, black and grey. + +Now, some flung themselves to earth screaming in their fear, and some +strove to run away, but the greater part of the soldiers, and with +them many of the men of the kraal, came together in knots, being +minded to die like men at teeth of the ghosts, and that though they +shook with fear. Then Umslopogaas howled aloud, and howled Galazi, and +they flung themselves upon the soldiers and the people of the kraal, +and with them came the wolves. Then a crying and a baying rose up to +heaven as the grey wolves leaped and bit and tore. Little they heeded +the spears and kerries of the soldiers. Some were killed, but the rest +did not stay. Presently the knots of men broke up, and to each man +wolves hung by twos and threes, dragging him to earth. Some few fled, +indeed, but the wolves hunted them by gaze and scent, and pulled them +down before they passed the gates of the kraal. + +The Wolf-Brethren also ravened with the rest. Busy was the Watcher, +and many bowed beneath him, and often the spear of Umslopogaas flashed +in the moonlight. It was finished; none were left living in that +kraal, and the wolves growled sullenly as they took their fill, they +who had been hungry for many days. Now the brethren met, and laughed +in their wolf joy, because they had slaughtered those who were sent +out to slaughter. They called to the wolves, bidding them search the +huts, and the wolves entered the huts as dogs enter a thicket, and +killed those who lurked there, or drove them forth to be slain +without. Presently a man, great and tall, sprang from the last of the +huts, where he had hidden himself, and the wolves outside rushed on +him to drag him down. But Umslopogaas beat them back, for he had seen +the face of the man: it was that captain whom Chaka had sent out to +kill him. He beat them back, and stalked up to the captain, saying: +"Greeting to you, captain of the king! Now tell us what is your errand +here, beneath the shadow of her who sits in stone?" And he pointed +with his spear to the Grey Witch on the Ghost Mountain, on which the +moon shone bright. + +Now the captain had a great heart, though he had hidden from the +wolves, and answered boldly:-- + +"What is that to you, wizard? Your ghost wolves had made an end of my +errand. Let them make an end of me also." + +"Be not in haste, captain," said Umslopogaas. "Say, did you not seek a +certain youth, the son of Mopo?" + +"That is so," answered the captain. "I sought one youth, and I have +found many evil spirits." And he looked at the wolves tearing their +prey, and shuddered. + +"Say, captain," quoth Umslopogaas, drawing back his hood of wolf's +hide so that the moonlight fell upon his face, "is this the face of +that youth whom you sought?" + +"It is the face," answered the captain, astonished. + +"Ay," laughed Umslopogaas, "it is the face. Fool! I knew your errand +and heard your words, and thus have I answered them." And he pointed +to the dead. "Now choose, and swiftly. Will you run for your life +against my wolves? Will you do battle for your life against these +four?" And he pointed to Greysnout and to Blackfang, to Blood and to +Deathgrip, who watched him with slavering lips; "or will you stand +face to face with me, and if I am slain, with him who bears the club, +and with whom I rule this people black and grey?" + +"I fear ghosts, but of men I have no fear, though they be wizards," +answered the captain. + +"Good!" cried Umslopogaas, shaking his spear. + +Then they rushed together, and that fray was fierce. For presently the +spear of Umslopogaas was broken in the shield of the captain and he +was left weaponless. Now Umslopogaas turned and fled swiftly, bounding +over the dead and the wolves who preyed upon them, and the captain +followed with uplifted spear, and mocked him as he came. Galazi also +wondered that Umslopogaas should fly from a single man. Hither and +thither fled Umslopogaas, and always his eyes were on the earth. Of a +sudden, Galazi, who watched, saw him sweep forward like a bird and +stoop to the ground. Then he wheeled round, and lo! there was an axe +in his hand. The captain rushed at him, and Umslopogaas smote as he +rushed, and the blade of the great spear that was lifted to pierce him +fell to the ground hewn from its haft. Again Umslopogaas smote: the +moon-shaped axe sank through the stout shield deep into the breast +beyond. Then the captain threw up his arms and fell to the earth. + +"Ah!" cried Umslopogaas, "you sought a youth to slay him, and have +found an axe to be slain by it! Sleep softly, captain of Chaka." + +Then Umslopogaas spoke to Galazi, saying: "My brother, I will fight no +more with the spear, but with the axe alone; it was to seek an axe +that I ran to and fro like a coward. But this is a poor thing! See, +the haft is split because of the greatness of my stroke! Now this is +my desire--to win that great axe of Jikiza, which is called Groan- +Maker, of which we have heard tell, so that axe and club may stand +together in the fray." + +"That must be for another night," said Galazi. "We have not done so +ill for once. Now let us search for pots and corn, of which we stand +in need, and then to the mountain before dawn finds us." + +Thus, then, did the Wolf-Brethren bring death on the impi of Chaka, +and this was but the first of many deaths that they wrought with the +help of the wolves. For ever they ravened through the land at night, +and, falling on those they hated, they ate them up, till their name +and the name of the ghost-wolves became terrible in the ears of men, +and the land was swept clean. But they found that the wolves would not +go abroad to worry everywhere. Thus, on a certain night, they set out +to fall upon the kraals of the People of the Axe, where dwelt the +chief Jikiza, who was named the Unconquered, and owned the axe Groan- +Maker, but when they neared the kraal the wolves turned back and fled. +Then Galazi remembered the dream that he had dreamed, in which the +Dead One in the cave had seemed to speak, telling him that there only +where the men-eaters had hunted in the past might the wolves hunt to- +day. So they returned home, but Umslopogaas set himself to find a plan +to win the axe. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +UMSLOPOGAAS VENTURES OUT TO WIN THE AXE + +Now many moons had gone by since Umslopogaas became a king of the +wolves, and he was a man full grown, a man fierce and tall and keen; a +slayer of men, fleet of foot and of valour unequalled, seeing by night +as well as by day. But he was not yet named the Slaughterer, and not +yet did he hold that iron chieftainess, the axe Groan-Maker. Still, +the desire to win the axe was foremost in his mind, for no woman had +entered there, who when she enters drives out all other desire--ay, my +father, even that of good weapons. At times, indeed, Umslopogaas would +lurk in the reeds by the river looking at the kraal of Jikiza the +Unconquered, and would watch the gates of his kraal, and once as he +lurked he saw a man great, broad and hairy, who bore upon his shoulder +a shining axe, hafted with the horn of a rhinoceros. After that his +greed for this axe entered into Umslopogaas more and more, till at +length he scarcely could sleep for thinking of it, and to Galazi he +spoke of little else, wearying him much with his talk, for Galazi +loved silence. But for all his longing he could find no means to win +it. + +Now it befell that as Umslopogaas hid one evening in the reeds, +watching the kraal of Jikiza, he saw a maiden straight and fair, whose +skin shone like the copper anklets on her limbs. She walked slowly +towards the reeds where he lay hidden. Nor did she top at the brink of +the reeds; she entered them and sat herself down within a spear's +length of where Umslopogaas was seated, and at once began to weep, +speaking to herself as she wept. + +"Would that the ghost-wolves might fall on him and all that is his," +she sobbed, "ay, and on Masilo also! I would hound them on, even if I +myself must next know their fangs. Better to die by the teeth of the +wolves than to be sold to this fat pig of a Masilo. Oh! if I must wed +him, I will give him a knife for the bride's kiss. Oh! that I were a +lady of the ghost-wolves, there should be a picking of bones in the +kraal of Jikiza before the moon grows young again." + +Umslopogaas heard, and of a sudden reared himself up before the maid, +and he was great and wild to look on, and the she-wolf's fangs shone +upon his brow. + +"The ghost-wolves are at hand, damsel," he said. "They are ever at +hand for those who need them." + +Now the maid saw him and screamed faintly, then grew silent, wondering +at the greatness and the fierce eyes of the man who spoke to her. + +"Who are you?" she asked. "I fear you not, whoever you are." + +"There you are wrong, damsel, for all men fear me, and they have cause +to fear. I am one of the Wolf-Brethren, whose names have been told of; +I am a wizard of the Ghost Mountain. Take heed, now, lest I kill you. +It will be of little avail to call upon your people, for my feet are +fleeter than theirs." + +"I have no wish to call upon my people, Wolf-Man," she answered. "And +for the rest, I am too young to kill." + +"That is so, maiden," answered Umslopogaas, looking at her beauty. +"What were the words upon your lips as to Jikiza and a certain Masilo? +Were they not fierce words, such as my heart likes well?" + +"It seems that you heard them," answered the girl. "What need to waste +breath in speaking them again?" + +"No need, maiden. Now tell me your story; perhaps I may find a way to +help you." + +"There is little to tell," she answered. "It is a small tale and a +common. My name is Zinita, and Jikiza the Unconquered is my step- +father. He married my mother, who is dead, but none of his blood is in +me. Now he would give me in marriage to a certain Masilo, a fat man +and an old, whom I hate, because Masilo offers many cattle for me." + +"Is there, then, another whom you would wed, maiden?" asked +Umslopogaas. + +"There is none," answered Zinita, looking him in the eyes. + +"And is there no path by which you may escape from Masilo?" + +"There is only one path, Wolf-Man--by death. If I die, I shall escape; +if Masilo dies, I shall escape; but to little end, for I shall be +given to another; but if Jikiza dies, then it will be well. What of +that wolf-people of yours, are they not hungry, Wolf-Man?" + +"I cannot bring them here," answered Umslopogaas. "Is there no other +way?" + +"There is another way," said Zinita, "if one can be found to try it." +And again she looked at him strangely, causing the blood to beat +within him. "Hearken! do you not know how our people are governed? +They are governed by him who holds the axe Groan-Maker. He that can +win the axe in war from the hand of him who holds it, shall be our +chief. But if he who holds the axe dies unconquered, then his son +takes his place and with it the axe. It has been thus, indeed, for +four generations, since he who held Groan-Maker has always been +unconquerable. But I have heard that the great-grandfather of Jikiza +won the axe from him who held it in his day; he won it by fraud. For +when the axe had fallen on him but lightly, he fell over, feigning +death. Then the owner of the axe laughed, and turned to walk away. But +the forefather of Jikiza sprang up behind him and pierced him through +with a spear, and thus he became chief of the People of the Axe. +Therefore, it is the custom of Jikiza to hew off the heads of those +whom he kills with the axe." + +"Does he, then, slay many?" asked Umslopogaas. + +"Of late years, few indeed," she said, "for none dare stand against +him--no, not with all to win. For, holding the axe Groan-Maker, he is +unconquerable, and to fight with him is sure death. Fifty-and-one have +tried in all, and before the hut of Jikiza there are piled fifty-and- +one white skulls. And know this, the axe must be won in fight; if it +is stolen or found, it has no virtue--nay, it brings shame and death +to him who holds it." + +"How, then, may a man give battle to Jikiza?" he asked again. + +"Thus: Once in every year, on the first day of the new moon of the +summer season, Jikiza holds a meeting of the headmen. Then he must +rise and challenge all or any to come forward and do battle with him +to win the axe and become chief in his place. Now if one comes +forward, they go into the cattle kraal, and there the matter is ended. +Afterwards, when the head is hewn from his foe, Jikiza goes back to +the meeting of the headmen, and they talk as before. All are free to +come to the meeting, and Jikiza must fight with them if they wish it, +whoever they be." + +"Perhaps I shall be there," said Umslopogaas. + +"After this meeting at the new moon, I am to be given in marriage to +Masilo," said the maid. "But should one conquer Jikiza, then he will +be chief, and can give me in marriage to whom he will." + +Now Umslopogaas understood her meaning, and knew that he had found +favour in her sight; and the thought moved him a little, for women +were strange to him as yet. + +"If perchance I should be there," he said, "and if perchance I should +win the iron chieftainess, the axe Groan-Maker, and rule over the +People of the Axe, you should not live far from the shadow of the axe +thenceforward, maid Zinita." + +"It is well, Wolf-Man, though some might not wish to dwell in that +shadow; but first you must win the axe. Many have tried, and all have +failed." + +"Yet one must succeed at last," he said, "and so, farewell!" and he +leaped into the torrent of the river, and swam it with great strokes. + +Now the maid Zinita watched him till he was gone, and love of him +entered into her heart--a love that was fierce and jealous and strong. +But as he wended to the Ghost Mountain Umslopogaas thought rather of +axe Groan-Maker than of Maid Zinita; for ever, at the bottom, +Umslopogaas loved war more than women, though this has been his fate, +that women have brought sorrow on his head. + +Fifteen days must pass before the day of the new moon, and during this +time Umslopogaas thought much and said little. Still, he told Galazi +something of the tale, and that he was determined to do battle with +Jikiza the Unconquered for the axe Groan-Maker. Galazi said that he +would do well to let it be, and that it was better to stay with the +wolves than to go out seeking strange weapons. He said also that even +if he won the axe, the matter might not stay there, for he must take +the girl also, and his heart boded no good of women. It had been a +girl who poisoned his father in the kraals of the Halakazi. To all of +which Umslopogaas answered nothing, for his heart was set both on the +axe and the girl, but more on the first than the last. + +So the time wore on, and at length came the day of the new moon. At +the dawn of that day Umslopogaas arose and clad himself in a moocha, +binding the she-wolf's skin round his middle beneath the moocha. In +his hand he took a stout fighting-shield, which he had made of buffalo +hide, and that same light moon-shaped axe with which he had slain the +captain of Chaka. + +"A poor weapon with which to kill Jikiza the Unconquerable," said +Galazi, eyeing it askance. + +"It shall serve my turn," answered Umslopogaas. + +Now Umslopogaas ate, and then they moved together slowly down the +mountain and crossed the river by a ford, for he wished to save his +strength. On the farther side of the river Galazi hid himself in the +reeds, because his face was known, and there Umslopogaas bade him +farewell, not knowing if he should look upon him again. Afterwards he +walked up to the Great Place of Jikiza. Now when he reached the gates +of the kraal, he saw that many people were streaming through them, and +mingled with the people. Presently they came to the open space in +front of the huts of Jikiza, and there the headmen were gathered +together. In the centre of them, and before a heap of the skulls of +men which were piled up against his doorposts, sat Jikiza, a huge man, +a hairy and a proud, who glared about him rolling his eyes. Fastened +to his arm by a thong of leather was the great axe Groan-Maker, and +each man as he came up saluted the axe, calling it "Inkosikaas," or +chieftainess, but he did not salute Jikiza. Umslopogaas sat down with +the people in front of the councillors, and few took any notice of +him, except Zinita, who moved sullenly to and fro bearing gourds of +beer to the councillors. Near to Jikiza, on his right hand, sat a fat +man with small and twinkling eyes, who watched the maid Zinita +greedily. + +"Yon man," thought Umslopogaas, "is Masilo. The better for blood- +letting will you be, Masilo." + +Presently Jikiza spoke, rolling his eyes: "This is the matter before +you, councillors. I have settled it in my mind to give my step- +daughter Zinita in marriage to Masilo, but the marriage gift is not +yet agreed on. I demand a hundred head of cattle from Masilo, for the +maid is fair and straight, a proper maid, and, moreover, my daughter, +though not of my blood. But Masilo offers fifty head only, therefore I +ask you to settle it." + +"We hear you, Lord of the Axe," answered one of the councillors, "but +first, O Unconquered, you must on this day of the year, according to +ancient custom, give public challenge to any man to fight you for the +Groan-Maker and for your place as chief of the People of the Axe." + +"This is a wearisome thing," grumbled Jikiza. "Can I never have done +in it? Fifty-and-three have I slain in my youth without a wound, and +now for many years I have challenged, like a cock on a dunghill, and +none crow in answer." + +"Ho, now! Is there any man who will come forward and do battle with +me, Jikiza, for the great axe Groan-Maker? To him who can win it, it +shall be, and with it the chieftainship of the People of the Axe." + +Thus he spoke very fast, as a man gabbles a prayer to a spirit in whom +he has little faith, then turned once more to talk of the cattle of +Masilo and of the maid Zinita. But suddenly Umslopogaas stood up, +looking at him over the top of his war shield, and crying, "Here is +one, O Jikiza, who will do battle with you for the axe Groan-Maker and +for the chieftainship that is to him who holds the axe." + +Now, all the people laughed, and Jikiza glared at him. + +"Come forth from behind that big shield of yours," he said. "Come out +and tell me your name and lineage--you who would do battle with the +Unconquered for the ancient axe." + +Then Umslopogaas came forward, and he looked so fierce, though he was +but young, that the people laughed no more. + +"What is my name and lineage to you, Jikiza?" he said. "Let it be, and +hasten to do me battle, as you must by the custom, for I am eager to +handle the Groan-Maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter +of the cattle of Masilo the Pig. When I have killed you I will take a +name who now have none." + +Now once more the people laughed, but Jikiza grew mad with wrath, and +sprang up gasping. + +"What!" he said, "you dare to speak thus to me, you babe unweaned, to +me the Unconquered, the holder of the axe! Never did I think to live +to hear such talk from a long-legged pup. On to the cattle kraal, to +the cattle kraal, People of the Axe, that I may hew this braggart's +head from his shoulders. He would stand in my place, would he?--the +place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue +of the axe. I tell you all, that presently I will stand upon his head, +and then we will settle the matter of Masilo." + +"Babble not so fast, man," quoth Umslopogaas, "or if you must babble, +speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell." + +Now, Jikiza choked with rage, and foam came from his lips so that he +could not speak, but the people found this sport--all except Masilo, +who looked askance at the stranger, tall and fierce, and Zinita, who +looked at Masilo, and with no love. So they moved down to the cattle +kraal, and Galazi, seeing it from afar, could keep away no longer, but +drew near and mingled with the crowd. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE AXE + +Now, when Umslopogaas and Jikiza the Unconquered had come to the +cattle kraal, they were set in its centre and there were ten paces +between them. Umslopogaas was armed with the great shield and the +light moon-shaped axe, Jikiza carried the Groan-Maker and a small +dancing shield, and, looking at the weapons of the two, people thought +that the stranger would furnish no sport to the holder of the axe. + +"He is ill-armed," said an old man, "it should be otherwise--large +axe, small shield. Jikiza is unconquerable, and the big shield will +not help this long-legged stranger when Groan-Maker rattles on the +buffalo hide." The old man spoke thus in the hearing of Galazi the +Wolf, and Galazi thought that he spoke wisely, and sorrowed for the +fate of his brother. + +Now, the word was given, and Jikiza rushed on Umslopogaas, roaring, +for his rage was great. But Umslopogaas did not stir till his foe was +about to strike, then suddenly he leaped aside, and as Jikiza passed +he smote him hard upon the back with the flat of his axe, making a +great sound, for it was not his plan to try and kill Jikiza with this +axe. Now, a shout of laughter went up from the hundreds of the people, +and the laughter went up from the hundreds of the people, and the +heart of Jikiza nearly burst with rage because of the shame of that +blow. Round he came like a bull that is mad, and once more rushed at +Umslopogaas, who lifted his shield to meet him. Then, of a sudden, +just when the great axe leapt on high, Umslopogaas uttered a cry as of +fear, and, turning, fled before the face of Jikiza. Now once more the +shout of laughter went up, while Umslopogaas fled swiftly, and after +him rushed Jikiza, blind with fury. Round and about the kraal sped +Umslopogaas, scarcely a spear's length ahead of Jikiza, and he ran +keeping his back to the sun as much as might be, that he might watch +the shadow of Jikiza. A second time he sped round, while the people +cheered the chase as hunters cheer a dog which pursues a buck. So +cunningly did Umslopogaas run, that, though he seemed to reel with +weakness in such fashion that men thought his breath was gone, yet he +went ever faster and faster, drawing Jikiza after him. + +Now, when Umslopogaas knew by the breathing of his foe and by the +staggering of his shadow that his strength was spent, suddenly he made +as though he were about to fall himself, and stumbled out of the path +far to the right, and as he stumbled he let drop his great shield full +in the way of Jikiza's feet. Then it came about that Jikiza, rushing +on blindly, caught his feet in the shield and fell headlong to earth. +Umslopogaas saw, and swooped on him like an eagle to a dove. Before +men could so much as think, he had seized the axe Groan-Maker, and +with a blow of the steel he held had severed the thong of leather +which bound it to the wrist of Jikiza, and sprung back, holding the +great axe aloft, and casting down his own weapon upon the ground. Now, +the watchers saw all the cunning of his fight, and those of them who +hated Jikiza shouted aloud. But others were silent. + +Slowly Jikiza gathered himself from the ground, wondering if he were +still alive, and as he rose he grasped the little axe of Umslopogaas, +and, looking at it, he wept. But Umslopogaas held up the great Groan- +Maker, the iron chieftainess, and examined its curved points of blue +steel, the gouge that stands behind it, and the beauty of its haft, +bound about with wire of brass, and ending in a knob like the knob of +a stick, as a lover looks upon the beauty of his bride. Then before +all men he kissed the broad blade and cried aloud:-- + +"Greeting to thee, my Chieftainess, greeting to thee, Wife of my +youth, whom I have won in war. Never shall we part, thou and I, and +together will we die, thou and I, for I am not minded that others +should handle thee when I am gone." + +Thus he cried in the hearing of men, then turned to Jikiza, who stood +weeping, because he had lost all. + +"Where now is your pride, O Unconquered?" laughed Umslopogaas. "Fight +on. You are as well armed as I was a while ago, when I did not fear to +stand before you." + +Jikiza looked at him for a moment, then with a curse he hurled the +little axe at him, and, turning, fled swiftly towards the gates of the +cattle kraal. + +Umslopogaas stooped, and the little axe sped over him. Then he stood +for a while watching, and the people thought that he meant to let +Jikiza go. But that was not his desire; he waited, indeed, until +Jikiza had covered nearly half the space between him and the gate, +then with a roar he leaped forward, as light leaps from a cloud, and +so fast did his feet fly that the watchers could scarce see them move. +Jikiza fled fast also, yet he seemed but as one who stands still. Now +he reached the gate of the kraal, now there was rush, a light of +downward falling steel, and something swept past him. Then, behold! +Jikiza fell in the gateway of the cattle kraal, and all saw that he +was dead, smitten to death by that mighty axe Groan-Maker, which he +and his fathers had held for many years. + +A great shout went up from the crowd of watchers when they knew that +Jikiza the Unconquered was killed at last, and there were many who +hailed Umslopogaas, naming him Chief and Lord of the People of the +Axe. But the sons of Jikiza to the number of ten, great men and brave, +rushed on Umslopogaas to kill him. Umslopogaas ran backwards, lifting +up the Groan-Maker, when certain councillors of the people flung +themselves in between them, crying, "Hold!" + +"Is not this your law, ye councillors," said Umslopogaas, "that, +having conquered the chief of the People of the Axe, I myself am +chief?" + +"That is our law indeed, stranger," answered an aged councillor, "but +this also is our law: that now you must do battle, one by one, with +all who come against you. So it was in my father's time, when the +grandfather of him who now lies dead won the axe, and so it must be +again to-day." + +"I have nothing to say against the rule," said Umslopogaas. "Now who +is there who will come up against me to do battle for the axe Groan- +Maker and the chieftainship of the People of the Axe?" + +Then all the ten sons of Jikiza stepped forward as one man, for their +hearts were made with wrath because of the death of their father and +because the chieftainship had gone from their race, so that in truth +they cared little if they lived or died. But there were none besides +these, for all men feared to stand before Umslopogaas and the Groan- +Maker. + +Umslopogaas counted them. "There are ten, by the head of Chaka!" he +cried. "Now if I must fight all these one by one, no time will be left +to me this day to talk of the matter of Masilo and of the maid Zinita. +Hearken! What say you, sons of Jikiza the Conquered? If I find one +other to stand beside me in the fray, and all of you come on at once +against us twain, ten against two, to slay us or be slain, will that +be to your minds?" + +The brethren consulted together, and held that so they should be in +better case than if they went up one by one. + +"So be it," they said, and the councillors assented. + +Now, as he fled round and round, Umslopogaas had seen the face of +Galazi, his brother, in the throng, and knew that he hungered to share +the fight. So he called aloud that he whom he should choose, and who +would stand back to back with him in the fray, if victory were theirs, +should be the first after him among the People of the Axe, and as he +called, he walked slowly down the line scanning the faces of all, till +he came to where Galazi stood leaning on the Watcher. + +"Here is a great fellow who bears a great club," said Umslopogaas. +"How are you named, fellow?" + +"I am named Wolf," answered Galazi. + +"Say, now, Wolf, are you willing to stand back to back with me in this +fray of two against ten? If victory is ours, you shall be next to me +amongst this people." + +"Better I love the wild woods and the mountain's breast than the +kraals of men and the kiss of wives, Axebearer," answered Galazi. +"Yet, because you have shown yourself a warrior of might, and to taste +again of the joy of battle, I will stand back to back with you, +Axebearer, and see this matter ended." + +"A bargain, Wolf!" cried Umslopogaas. And they walked side by side--a +mighty pair!--till they came to the centre of the cattle kraal. All +there looked on them wondering, and it came into the thoughts of some +of them that these were none other than the Wolf-Brethren who dwelt +upon the Ghost Mountain. + +"Now axe Groan-maker and club Watcher are come together, Galazi," said +Umslopogaas as they walked, "and I think that few can stand before +them." + +"Some shall find it so," answered Galazi. "At the least, the fray will +be merry, and what matter how frays end?" + +"Ah," said Umslopogaas, "victory is good, but death ends all and is +best of all." + +Then they spoke of the fashion in which they would fight, and +Umslopogaas looked curiously at the axe he carried, and at the point +on its hammer, balancing it in his hand. When he had looked long, the +pair took their stand back to back in the centre of the kraal, and +people saw that Umslopogaas held the axe in a new fashion, its curved +blade being inwards towards his breast, and the hollow point turned +towards the foe. The ten brethren gathered themselves together, +shaking their assegais; five of them stood before Umslopogaas and five +before Galazi the Wolf. They were all great men, made fierce with rage +and shame. + +"Now nothing except witchcraft can save these two," said a councillor +to one who stood by him. + +"Yet there is virtue in the axe," answered the other, "and for the +club, it seems that I know it: I think it is named Watcher of the +Fords, and woe to those who stand before the Watcher. I myself have +seen him aloft when I was young; moreover, these are no cravens who +hold the axe and the club. They are but lads, indeed, yet they have +drunk wolf's milk." + +Meanwhile, an aged man drew near to speak the word of onset; it was +that same man who had set out the law to Umslopogaas. He must give the +signal by throwing up a spear, and when it struck the ground, then the +fight would begin. The old man took the spear and threw it, but his +hand was weak, and he cast so clumsily that it fell among the sons of +Jikiza, who stood before Umslopogaas, causing them to open up to let +it pass between them, and drawing the eyes of all ten of them to it. +but Umslopogaas watched for the touching of the spear only, being +careless where it touched. As the point of it kissed the earth, he +said a word, and lo! Umslopogaas and Galazi, not waiting for the +onslaught of the ten, as men had thought they must, sprang forward, +each at the line of foes who were before him. While the ten still +stood confused, for it had been their plan to attack, the Wolf- +Brethren were upon them. Groan-Maker was up, but as for no great +stroke. He did but peck, as a bird pecks with his bill, and yet a man +dropped dead. The Watcher also was up, but he fell like a falling +tree, and was the death of one. Through the lines of the ten passed +the Wolf-Brethren in the gaps that each had made. Then they turned +swiftly and charged towards each other again; again Groan-Maker +pecked, again the Watcher thundered, and lo! once more Umslopogaas +stood back to back unhurt, but before them lay four men dead. + +The onslaught and the return were so swift, that men scarcely +understood what had been done; even those of the sons of Jikiza who +were left stared at each other wondering. Then they knew that they +were but six, for four of them were dead. With a shout of rage they +rushed upon the pair from both sides, but in either case one was the +most eager, and outstepped the other two, and thus it came about that +time was given the Wolf-Brethren to strike at him alone, before his +fellows were at his side. He who came at Umslopogaas drove at him with +his spear, but he was not to be caught this, for he bent his middle +sideways, so that the spear only cut his skin, and as he bent tapped +with the point of the axe at the head of the smiter, dealing death on +him. + +"Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of steel, and he can use it well," said +the councillor to him who stood by him. + +"This is a Slaughterer indeed," the man answered, and the people heard +the names. Thenceforth they knew Umslopogaas as the Woodpecker, and as +Bulalio, or the Slaughterer, and by no other names. Now, he who came +at Galazi the Wolf rushed on wildly, holding his spear short. But +Galazi was cunning in war. He took one step forward to meet him, then, +swinging the Watcher backward, he let him fall at the full length of +arms and club. The child of Jikiza lifted his shield to catch the +blow, but the shield was to the Watcher what a leaf is to the wind. +Full on its hide the huge club fell, making a loud sound; the war- +shield doubled up like a raw skin, and he who bore it fell crushed to +the earth. + +Now for a moment, the four who were left of the sons of Jikiza hovered +round the pair, feinting at them from afar, but never coming within +reach of axe or club. One threw a spear indeed, and though Umslopogaas +leaped aside, and as it sped towards him smote the haft in two with +the blade of Groan-Maker, yet its head flew on, wounding Galazi in the +flank. Then he who had thrown the spear turned to fly, for his hands +were empty, and the others followed swiftly, for the heart was out of +them, and they dared to do battle with these two no more. + +Thus the fight was ended, and from its beginning till the finish was +not longer than the time in which men might count a hundred slowly. + +"It seems that none are left for us to kill, Galazi," said +Umslopogaas, laughing aloud. "Ah, that was a cunning fight! Ho! you +sons of the Unconquered, who run so fast, stay your feet. I give you +peace; you shall live to sweep my huts and to plough my fields with +the other women of my kraal. Now, councillors, the fighting is done, +so let us to the chief's hut, where Masilo waits us," and he turned +and went with Galazi, and after him followed all the people, wondering +and in silence. + +When he reached the hut Umslopogaas sat himself down in the place +where Jikiza had sat that morning, and the maid Zinita came to him +with a wet cloth and washed the wound that the spear had made. He +thanked her; then she would have washed Galazi's wound also, and this +was deeper, but Galazi bade her to let him be roughly, as he would +have no woman meddling with his wounds. For neither then nor at any +other time did Galazi turn to women, but he hated Zinita most of them +all. + +Then Umslopogaas spoke to Masilo the Pig, who sat before him with a +frightened face, saying, "It seems, O Masilo, that you have sought +this maid Zinita in marriage, and against her will, persecuting her. +Now I had intended to kill you as an offering to her anger, but there +has been enough blood-letting to-day. Yet you shall have a marriage +gift to this girl, whom I myself will take in marriage: you shall give +a hundred head of cattle. Then get you gone from among the People of +the Axe, lest a worse thing befall you, Masilo the Pig." + +So Masilo rose up and went, and his face was green with fear, but he +paid the hundred head of cattle and fled towards the kraal of Chaka. +Zinita watched him go, and she was glad of it, and because the +Slaughterer had named her for his wife. + +"I am well rid of Masilo," she said aloud, in the hearing of Galazi, +"but I had been better pleased to see him dead before me." + +"This woman has a fierce heart," thought Galazi, "and she will bring +no good to Umslopogaas, my brother." + +Now the councillors and the captains of the People of the Axe konzaed +to him whom they named the Slaughterer, doing homage to him as chief +and holder of the axe, and also they did homage to the axe itself. So +Umslopogaas became chief over this people, and their number was many, +and he grew great and fat in cattle and wives, and none dared to +gainsay him. From time to time, indeed, a man ventured to stand up +before him in fight, but none could conquer him, and in a little while +no one sought to face Groan-Maker when he lifted himself to peck. + +Galazi also was great among the people, but dwelt with them little, +for best he loved the wild woods and the mountain's breast, and often, +as of old, he swept at night across the forest and the plains, and the +howling of the ghost-wolves went with him. + +But henceforth Umslopogaas the Slaughterer hunted very rarely with the +wolves at night; he slept at the side of Zinita, and she loved him +much and bore him children. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE CURSE OF BALEKA + +Now, my father, my story winds back again as the river bends towards +its source, and I tell of those events which happened at the king's +kraal of Gibamaxegu, which you white people name Gibbeclack, the kraal +that is called "Pick-out-the-old-men," for it was there that Chaka +murdered all the aged who were unfit for war. + +After I, Mopo, had stood before the king, and he had given me new +wives and fat cattle and a kraal to dwell in, the bones of Unandi, the +Great Mother Elephant, Mother of the Heavens, were gathered together +from the ashes of my huts, and because all could not be found, some of +the bones of my wives were collected also to make up the number. But +Chaka never knew this. When all were brought together, a great pit was +dug and the bones were set out in order in the pit and buried; but not +alone, for round them were placed twelve maidens of the servants of +Unandi, and these maidens were covered over with the earth, and left +to die in the pit by the bones of Unandi, their mistress. Moreover, +all those who were present at the burial were made into a regiment and +commanded that they should dwell by the grave for the space of a year. +They were many, my father, but I was not one of them. Also Chaka gave +orders that no crops should be sown that year, that the milk of the +cows should be spilled upon the ground, and that no woman should give +birth to a child for a full year, and that if any should dare to bear +children, then that they should be slain and their husbands with them. +And for a space of some months these things were done, my father, and +great sorrow came upon the land. + +Then for a little while there was quiet, and Chaka went about heavily, +and he wept often, and we who waited on him wept also as we walked, +till at length it came about by use that we could weep without ceasing +for many hours. No angry woman can weep as we wept in those days; it +was an art, my father, for the teaching of which I received many +cattle, for woe to him who had no tears in those days. Then it was +also that Chaka sent out the captain and fifty soldiers to search for +Umslopogaas, for, though he said nothing more to me of this matter, he +did not believe all the tale that I had told him of the death of +Umslopogaas in the jaws of a lion and the tale of those who were with +me. How that company fared at the hands of Umslopogaas and of Galazi +the Wolf, and at the fangs of the people black and grey, I have told +you, my father. None of them ever came back again. In after days it +was reported to the king that these soldiers were missing, never +having returned, but he only laughed, saying that the lion which ate +Umslopogaas, son of Mopo, was a fierce one, and had eaten them also. + +At last came the night of the new moon, that dreadful night to be +followed by a more dreadful morrow. I sat in the kraal of Chaka, and +he put his arm about my neck and groaned and wept for his mother, whom +he had murdered, and I groaned also, but I did not weep, because it +was dark, and on the morrow I must weep much in the sight of king and +men. Therefore, I spared my tears, lest they should fail me in my +need. + +All night long the people drew on from every side towards the kraal, +and, as they came in thousands and tens of thousands, they filled the +night with their cries, till it seemed as though the whole world were +mourning, and loudly. None might cease their crying, and none dared to +drink so much as a cup of water. The daylight came, and Chaka rose, +saying, "Come, let us go forth, Mopo, and look on those who mourn with +us." So we went out, and after us came men armed with clubs to do the +bidding of the king. + +Outside the kraal the people were gathered, and their number was +countless as the leaves upon the trees. On every side the land was +black with them, as at times the veldt is black with game. When they +saw the king they ceased from their howling and sang the war-song, +then once again they howled, and Chaka walked among them weeping. Now, +my father, the sight became dreadful, for, as the sun rose higher the +day grew hot, and utter weariness came upon the people, who were +packed together like herds of cattle, and, though oxen slain in +sacrifice lay around, they might neither eat nor drink. Some fell to +the ground, and were trampled to death, others took too much snuff to +make them weep, others stained their eyes with saliva, others walked +to and fro, their tongues hanging from their jaws, while groans broke +from their parched throats. + +"Now, Mopo, we shall learn who are the wizards that have brought these +ills upon us," said the king, "and who are the true-hearted men." + +As we spoke we cam upon a man, a chief of renown. He was named +Zwaumbana, chief of the Amabovus, and with him were his wives and +followers. This man could weep no more; he gasped with thirst and +heat. The king looked at him. + +"See, Mopo," he said, "see that brute who has no tears for my mother +who is dead! Oh, the monster without a heart! Shall such as he live to +look upon the sun, while I and thou must weep, Mopo? Never! never! +Take him away, and all those who are with him! Take them away, the +people without hearts, who do not weep because my mother is dead by +witchcraft!" + +And Chaka walked on weeping, and I followed also weeping, but the +chief Zwaumbana and those with him were all slain by those who do the +bidding of the king, and the slayers also must weep as they slew. +Presently we came upon another man, who, seeing the king, took snuff +secretly to bring tears to his eyes. But the glance of Chaka was +quick, and he noted it. + +"Look at him, Mopo," he said, "look at the wizard who has no tears, +though my mother is dead by witchcraft. See, he takes snuff to bring +tears to his eyes that are dry with wickedness. Take him away, the +heartless brute! Oh, take him away!" + +So this one also was killed, and these were but the first of +thousands, for presently Chaka grew mad with wickedness, with fury, +and with the lust of blood. He walked to and fro, weeping, going now +and again into his hut to drink beer, and I with him, for he said that +we who sorrowed must have food. And ever as he walked he would wave +his arm or his assegai, saying, "Take them away, the heartless brutes, +who do not weep because my mother is dead," and those who chanced to +stand before his arm were killed, till at length the slayers could +slay no more, and themselves were slain, because their strength had +failed them, and they had no more tears. And I also, I must slay, lest +if I slew not I should myself be slain. + +And now, at length, the people also went mad with their thirst and the +fury of their fear. They fell upon each other, killing each other; +every man who had a foe sought him out and killed him. None were +spared, the place was but a shambles; there on that day died full +seven thousand men, and still Chaka walked weeping among them, saying, +"Take them away, the heartless brutes, take them away!" Yet, my +father, there was cunning in his cruelty, for though he destroyed many +for sport alone, also he slew on this day all those whom he hated or +whom he feared. + +At length the night came down, the sun sank red that day, all the sky +was like blood, and blood was all the earth beneath. Then the killing +ceased, because none had now the strength to kill, and the people lay +panting in heaps upon the ground, the living and the dead together. I +looked at them, and saw that if they were not allowed to eat and +drink, before day dawned again the most of them would be dead, and I +spoke to the king, for I cared little in that hour if I lived or died; +even my hope of vengeance was forgotten in the sickness of my heart. + +"A mourning indeed, O King," I said, "a merry mourning for true- +hearted men, but for wizards a mourning such as they do not love. I +think that thy sorrows are avenged, O King, thy sorrows and mine +also." + +"Not so, Mopo," answered the king, "this is but the beginning; our +mourning was merry to-day, it shall be merrier to-morrow." + +"To-morrow, O King, few will be left to mourn; for the land will be +swept of men." + +"Why, Mopo, son of Makedama? But a few have perished of all the +thousands who are gathered together. Number the people and they will +not be missed." + +"But a few have died beneath the assegai and the kerrie, O King. Yet +hunger and thirst shall finish the spear's work. The people have +neither eaten nor drunk for a day and a night, and for a day and a +night they have wailed and moaned. Look without, Black One, there they +lie in heaps with the dead. By to-morrow's light they also will be +dead or dying." + +Now, Chaka thought awhile, and he saw that the work would go too far, +leaving him but a small people over whom to rule. + +"It is hard, Mopo," he said, "that thou and I must mourn alone over +our woes while these dogs feast and make merry. Yet, because of the +gentleness of my heart, I will deal gently with them. Go out, son of +Makedama, and bid my children eat and drink if they have the heart, +for this mourning is ended. Scarcely will Unandi, my mother, sleep +well, seeing that so little blood has been shed on her grave--surely +her spirit will haunt my dreams. Yet, because of the gentleness of my +heart, I declare this mourning ended. Let my children eat and drink, +if, indeed, they have the heart." + +"Happy are the people over whom such a king is set," I said in answer. +Then I went out and told the words of Chaka to the chiefs and +captains, and those of them who had the voice left to them praised the +goodness of the king. But the most gave over sucking the dew from +their sticks, and rushed to the water like cattle that have wandered +five days in the desert, and drank their fill. Some of them were +trampled to death in the water. + +Afterwards I slept as I might best; it was not well, my father, for I +knew that Chaka was not yet gutted with slaughter. + +On the morrow many of the people went back to their homes, having +sought leave from the king, others drew away the dead to the place of +bones, and yet others were sent out in impis to kill such as had not +come to the mourning of the king. When midday was past, Chaka said +that he would walk, and ordered me and other of his indunas and +servants to walk with him. We went on in silence, the king leaning on +my shoulder as on a stick. "What of thy people, Mopo," he said at +length, "what of the Langeni tribe? Were they at my mourning? I did +not see them." + +Then I answered that I did not know, they had been summoned, but the +way was long and the time short for so many to march so far. + +"Dogs should run swiftly when their master calls, Mopo, my servant," +said Chaka, and the dreadful light came into his eyes that never shone +in the eyes of any other man. Then I grew sick at heart, my father-- +ay, though I loved my people little, and they had driven me away, I +grew sick at heart. Now we had come to a spot where there is a great +rift of black rock, and the name of that rift is U'Donga-lu-ka- +Tatiyana. On either side of this donga the ground slopes steeply down +towards its yawning lips, and from its end a man may see the open +country. Here Chaka sat down at the end of the rift, pondering. +Presently he looked up and saw a vast multitude of men, women, and +children, who wound like a snake across the plain beneath towards the +kraal Gibamaxegu. + +"I think, Mopo," said the king, "that by the colour of their shields, +yonder should be the Langeni tribe--thine own people, Mopo." + +"It is my people, O King," I answered. + +Then Chaka sent messengers, running swiftly, and bade them summon the +Langeni people to him where he sat. Other messengers he sent also to +the kraal, whispering in their ears, but what he said I did not know +then. + +Now, for a while, Chaka watched the long black snake of men winding +towards him across the plain till the messengers met them and the +snake began to climb the slope of the hill. + +"How many are these people of thine, Mopo?" asked the king. + +"I know not, O Elephant," I answered, "who have not seen them for many +years. Perhaps they number three full regiments." + +"Nay, more," said the king; "what thinkest thou, Mopo, would this +people of thine fill the rift behind us?" and he nodded at the gulf of +stone. + +Now, my father, I trembled in all my flesh, seeing the purpose of +Chaka; but I could find no words to say, for my tongue clave to the +roof of my mouth. + +"The people are many," said Chaka, "yet, Mopo, I bet thee fifty head +of cattle that they will not fill the donga." + +"The king is pleased to jest," I said. + +"Yea, Mopo, I jest; yet as a jest take thou the bet." + +"As the king wills," I murmured--who could not refuse. Now the people +of my tribe drew near: at their head was an old man, with white hair +and beard, and, looking at him, I knew him for my father, Makedama. +When he came within earshot of the king, he gave him the royal salute +of Bayete, and fell upon his hands and knees, crawling towards him, +and konzaed to the king, praising him as he came. All the thousands of +the people also fell on their hands and knees, and praised the king +aloud, and the sound of their praising was like the sound of a great +thunder. + +At length Makedama, my father, writhing on his breast like a snake, +lay before the majesty of the king. Chaka bade him rise, and greeted +him kindly; but all the thousands of the people yet lay upon their +breasts beating the dust with their heads. + +"Rise, Makedama, my child, father of the people of the Langeni," said +Chaka, "and tell me why art thou late in coming to my mourning?" + +"The way was far, O King," answered Makedama, my father, who did not +know me. "The way was far and the time short. Moreover, the women and +the children grew weary and footsore, and they are weary in this +hour." + +"Speak not of it, Makedama, my child," said the king. "Surely thy +heart mourned and that of thy people, and soon they shall rest from +their weariness. Say, are they here every one?" + +"Every one, O Elephant!--none are wanting. My kraals are desolate, the +cattle wander untended on the hills, birds pick at the unguarded +crops." + +"It is well, Makedama, thou faithful servant! Yet thou wouldst mourn +with me an hour--is it not so? Now, hearken! Bid thy people pass to +the right and to the left of me, and stand in all their numbers upon +the slopes of the grass that run down to the lips of the rift." + +So Makedama, my father, bade the people do the bidding of the king, +for neither he nor the indunas saw his purpose, but I, who knew his +wicked heart, I saw it. Then the people filed past to the right and to +the left by hundreds and by thousands, and presently the grass of the +slopes could be seen no more, because of their number. When all had +passed, Chaka spoke again to Makedama, my father, bidding him climb +down to the bottom of the donga, and thence lift up his voice in +mourning. The old man obeyed the king. Slowly, and with much pain, he +clambered to the bottom of the rift and stood there. It was so deep +and narrow that the light scarcely seemed to reach to where he stood, +for I could only see the white of his hair gleaming far down in the +shadows. + +Then, standing far beneath, he lifted up his voice, and it reached the +thousands of those who clustered upon the slopes. It seemed still and +small, yet it came to them faintly like the voice of one speaking from +a mountain-top in a time of snow:-- + +"Mourn, children of Makedama!" + +And all the thousands of the people--men, women, and children--echoed +his words in a thunder of sound, crying:-- + +"Mourn, children of Makedama!" + +Again he cried:-- + +"Mourn, people of the Langeni, mourn with the whole world!" + +And the thousands answered:-- + +"Mourn, people of the Langeni, mourn with the whole world!" + +A third time came his voice:-- + +"Mourn, children of Makedama, mourn, people of the Langeni, mourn with +the whole world! + +"Howl, ye warriors; weep, ye women; beat your breasts, ye maidens; +sob, ye little children! + +"Drink of the water of tears, cover yourselves with the dust of +affliction. + +"Mourn, O tribe of the Langeni, because the Mother of the Heavens is +no more. + +"Mourn, children of Makedama, because the Spirit of Fruitfulness is no +more. + +"Mourn, O ye people, because the Lion of the Zulu is left so desolate. + +"Let your tears fall as the rain falls, let your cries be as the cries +of women who bring forth. + +"For sorrow is fallen like the rain, the world has conceived and +brought forth death. + +"Great darkness is upon us, darkness and the shadow of death. + +"The Lion of the Zulu wanders and wanders in desolation, because the +Mother of the Heavens is no more. + +"Who shall bring him comfort? There is comfort in the crying of his +children. + +"Mourn, people of the Langeni; let the voice of your mourning beat +against the skies and rend them. + +"Ou-ai! Ou-ai! Ou-ai!" + +Thus sang the old man, my father Makedama, far down in the deeps of +the cleft. He sang it in a still, small voice, but, line after line, +his song was caught up by the thousands who stood on the slopes above, +and thundered to the heavens till the mountains shook with its sound. +Moreover, the noise of their crying opened the bosom of a heavy rain- +cloud that had gathered as they mourned, and the rain fell in great +slow drops, as though the sky also wept, and with the rain came +lightning and the roll of thunder. + +Chaka listened, and large tears coursed down his cheeks, whose heart +was easily stirred by the sound of song. Now the rain hissed fiercely, +making as it were a curtain about the thousands of the people; but +still their cry went up through the rain, and the roll of the thunder +was lost in it. Presently there came a hush, and I looked to the +right. There, above the heads of the people, coming over the brow of +the hill, were the plumes of warriors, and in their hands gleamed a +hedge of spears. I looked to the left; there also I saw the plumes of +warriors dimly through the falling rain, and in their hands a hedge of +spears. I looked before me, towards the end of the cleft; there also +loomed the plumes of warriors, and in their hands was a hedge of +spears. + +Then, from all the people there arose another cry, a cry of terror and +of agony. + +"Ah! now they mourn indeed, Mopo," said Chaka in my ear; "now thy +people mourn from the heart and not with the lips alone." + +As he spoke the multitude of the people on either side of the rift +surged forward like a wave, surged back again, once more surged +forward, then, with a dreadful crying, driven on by the merciless +spears of the soldiers, they began to fall in a torrent of men, women, +and children, far into the black depths below. + +* * * * * + +My father, forgive me the tears that fall from these blind eyes of +mine; I am very aged, I am but as a little child, and as a little +child I weep. I cannot tell it. At last it was done, and all grew +still. + +* * * * * + +Thus was Makedama buried beneath the bodies of his people; thus was +ended the tribe of the Langeni; as my mother had dreamed, so it came +about; and thus did Chaka take vengeance for that cup of milk which +was refused to him many a year before. + +"Thou hast not won thy bet, Mopo," said the king presently. "See there +is a little space where one more may find room to sleep. Full to the +brim is this corn-chamber with the ears of death, in which no living +grain is left. Yet there is one little space, and is there not one to +fill it? Are all the tribe of the Langeni dead indeed?" + +"There is one, O King!" I answered. "I am of the tribe of the Langeni, +let my carcase fill the place." + +"Nay, Mopo, nay! Who then should take the bet? Moreover, I slay thee +not, for it is against my oath. Also, do we not mourn together, thou +and I?" + +"There is no other left living of the tribe of the Langeni, O King! +The bet is lost; it shall be paid." + +"I think that there is another," said Chaka. "There is a sister to +thee and me, Mopo. Ah, see, she comes!" + +I looked up, my father, and I saw this: I saw Baleka, my sister, +walking towards us, and on her shoulders was a kaross of wild-cat +skins, and behind her were two soldiers. She walked proudly, holding +her head high, and her step was like the step of a queen. Now she saw +the sight of death, for the dead lay before her like black water in a +sunless pool. A moment she stood shivering, having guessed all, then +walked on and stood before Chaka. + +"What is thy will with me, O King?" she said. + +"Thou art come in a good hour, sister," said Chaka, turning his eyes +from hers. "It is thus: Mopo, my servant and thy brother, made a bet +with me, a bet of cattle. It was a little matter that we wagered on-- +as to whether the people of the Langeni tribe--thine own tribe, +Baleka, my sister--would fill yonder place, U'Donga-lu-ka-Tatiyana. +When they heard of the bet, my sister, the people of the Langeni +hurled themselves into the rift by thousands, being eager to put the +matter to the proof. And now it seems that thy brother has lost the +bet, for there is yet place for one yonder ere the donga is full. +Then, my sister, thy brother Mopo brought it to my mind that there was +still one of the Langeni tribe left upon the earth, who, should she +sleep in that place, would turn the bet in his favour, and prayed me +to send for her. So, my sister, as I would not take that which I have +not won, I have done so, and now do thou go apart and talk with Mopo, +thy brother, alone upon this matter, as once before thou didst talk +when a child was born to thee, my sister!" + +Now Baleka took no heed of the words of Chaka which he spoke of me, +for she knew his meaning well. Only she looked him in the eyes and +said:-- + +"Ill shalt thou sleep from this night forth, Chaka, till thou comest +to a land where no sleep is. I have spoken." + +Chaka saw and heard, and of a sudden he quailed, growing afraid in his +heart, and turned his head away. + +"Mopo, my brother," said Baleka, "let us speak together for the last +time; it is the king's word." + +So I drew apart with Baleka, my sister, and a spear was in my hand. We +stood together alone by the people of the dead and Baleka threw the +corner of the kaross about her brows and spoke to me swiftly from +beneath its shadow. + +"What did I say to you a while ago, Mopo? It has come to pass. Swear +to me that you will live on and that this same hand of yours shall +taken vengeance for me." + +"I swear it, my sister." + +"Swear to me that when the vengeance is done you will seek out my son +Umslopogaas if he still lives, and bless him in my name." + +"I swear it, my sister." + +"Fare you well, Mopo! We have always loved each other much, and now +all fades, and it seems to me that once more we are little children +playing about the kraals of the Langeni. So may we play again in +another land! Now, Mopo"--and she looked at me steadily, and with +great eyes--"I am weary. I would join the spirits of my people. I hear +them calling in my ears. It is finished." + +* * * * * + +For the rest, I will not tell it to you, my father. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +MASILO COMES TO THE KRAAL DUGUZA + +That night the curse of Baleka fell upon Chaka, and he slept ill. So +ill did he sleep that he summoned me to him, bidding me walk abroad +with him. I went, and we walked alone and in silence, Chaka leading +the way and I following after him. Now I saw that his feet led him +towards the U'Donga-lu-ka-Tatiyana, that place where all my people lay +dead, and with them Baleka, my sister. We climbed the slope of the +hill slowly, and came to the mouth of the cleft, to that same spot +where Chaka had stood when the people fell over the lips of the rock +like water. Then there had been noise and crying, now there was +silence, for the night was very still. The moon was full also, and +lighted up the dead who lay near to us, so that I could see them all; +yes, I could see even the face of Baleka, my sister--they had thrown +her into the midst of the dead. Never had it looked so beautiful as in +this hour, and yet as I gazed I grew afraid. Only the far end of the +donga was hid in shadow. + +"Thou wouldst not have won thy bet now, Mopo, my servant," said Chaka. +"See, they have sunk together! The donga is not full by the length of +a stabbing-spear." + +I did not answer, but at the sound of the king's voice jackals stirred +and slunk away. + +Presently he spoke again, laughing loudly as he spoke: "Thou shouldst +sleep well this night, my mother, for I have sent many to hush thee to +rest. Ah, people of the Langeni tribe, you forgot, but I remembered! +You forgot how a woman and a boy came to you seeking food and shelter, +and you would give them none--no, not a gourd of milk. What did I +promise you on that day, people of the Langeni tribe? Did I not +promise you that for every drop the gourd I craved would hold I would +take the life of a man? And have I not kept my promise? Do not men lie +here more in number than the drops of water in a gourd, and with them +woman and children countless as the leaves? O people of the Langeni +tribe, who refused me milk when I was little, having grown great, I am +avenged upon you! Having grown great! Ah! who is there so great as I? +The earth shakes beneath my feet; when I speak the people tremble, +when I frown they die--they die in thousands. I have grown great, and +great I shall remain! The land is mine, far as the feet of man can +travel the land is mine, and mine are those who dwell in it. And I +shall grow greater yet--greater, ever greater. Is it thy face, Baleka, +that stares upon me from among the faces of the thousands whom I have +slain? Thou didst promise me that I should sleep ill henceforth. +Baleka, I fear thee not--at the least, thou sleepest sound. Tell me, +Baleka--rise from thy sleep and tell me whom there is that I should +fear!"--and suddenly he ceased the ravings of his pride. + +Now, my father, while Chaka the king spoke thus, it came into my mind +to make an end of things and kill him, for my heart was made with rage +and the thirst of vengeance. Already I stood behind him, already the +stick in my hand was lifted to strike out his brains, when I stopped +also, for I saw something. There, in the midst of the dead, I saw an +arm stir. It stirred, it lifted itself, it beckoned towards the shadow +which hid the head of the cleft and the piled-up corpses that lay +there, and it seemed to me that the arm was the arm of Baleka. +Perchance it was not her arm, perchance it was but the arm of one who +yet lived among the thousands of the dead, say you, my father! At the +least, the arm rose at her side, and was ringed with such bracelets as +Baleka wore, and it beckoned from her side, though her cold face +changed not at all. Thrice the arm rose, thrice it stood awhile in +air, thrice it beckoned with crooked finger, as though it summoned +something from the depths of the shadow, and from the multitudes of +the dead. Then it fell down, and in the utter silence I heard its fall +and a clank of brazen bracelets. And as it fell there rose from the +shadow a sound of singing, of singing wild and sweet, such as I had +never heard. The words of that song came to me then, my father; but +afterwards they passed from me, and I remember them no more. Only I +know this, that the song was of the making of Things, and of the +beginning and the end of Peoples. It told of how the black folk grew, +and of how the white folk should eat them up, and wherefore they were +and wherefore they should cease to be. It told of Evil and of Good, of +Woman and of Man, and of how these war against each other, and why it +is that they war, and what are the ends of the struggle. It told also +of the people of the Zulu, and it spoke of a place of a Little Hand +where they should conquer, and of a place where a White Hand should +prevail against them, and how they shall melt away beneath the shadow +of the White Hand and be forgotten, passing to a land where things do +not die, but live on forever, the Good with the Good, the Evil with +the Evil. It told of Life and of Death, of Joy and of Sorrow, of Time +and of that sea in which Time is but a floating leaf, and of why all +these things are. Many names also came into the song, and I knew but a +few of them, yet my own was there, and the name of Baleka and the name +of Umslopogaas, and the name of Chaka the Lion. But a little while did +the voice sing, yet all this was in the song--ay, and much more; but +the meaning of the song is gone from me, though I knew it once, and +shall know it again when all is done. The voice in the shadow sang on +till the whole place was full of the sound of its singing, and even +the dead seemed to listen. Chaka heard it and shook with fear, but his +ears were deaf to its burden, though mine were open. + +The voice came nearer, and now in the shadow there was a faint glow of +light, like the glow that gathers on the six-days' dead. Slowly it +drew nearer, through the shadow, and as it came I saw that the shape +of the light was the shape of a woman. Now I could see it well, and I +knew the face of glory. My father, it was the face of the Inkosazana- +y-Zulu, the Queen of Heaven! She came towards us very slowly, gliding +down the gulf that was full of dead, and the path she trod was paved +with the dead; and as she came it seemed to me that shadows rose from +the dead, following her, the Queen of the Dead--thousands upon +thousands of them. And, ah! her glory, my father--the glory of her +hair of molten gold--of her eyes, that were as the noonday sky--the +flash of her arms and breast, that were like the driven snow, when it +glows in the sunset. Her beauty was awful to look on, but I am glad to +have lived to see it as it shone and changed in the shifting robe of +light which was her garment. + +Now she drew near to us, and Chaka sank upon the earth, huddled up in +fear, hiding his face in his hands; but I was not afraid, my father-- +only the wicked need fear to look on the Queen of Heaven. Nay, I was +not afraid: I stood upright and gazed upon her glory face to face. In +her hand she held a little spear hafted with the royal wood: it was +the shadow of the spear that Chaka held in his hand, the same with +which he had slain his mother and wherewith he should himself be +slain. Now she ceased her singing, and stood before the crouching king +and before me, who was behind the king, so that the light of her glory +shone upon us. She lifted the little spear, and with it touched Chaka, +son of Senzangacona, on the brow, giving him to doom. Then she spoke; +but, though Chaka felt the touch, he did not hear the words, that were +for my ears alone. + +"Mopo, son of Makedama," said the low voice, "stay thy hand, the cup +of Chaka is not full. When, for the third time, thou seest me riding +down the storm, then SMITE, Mopo, my child." + +Thus she spoke, and a cloud swept over the face of the moon. When it +passed she was gone, and once more I was alone with Chaka, with the +night and the dead. + +Chaka looked up, and his face was grey with the sweat of fear. + +"Who was this, Mopo?" he said in a hollow voice. + +"This was the Inkosazana of the Heavens, she who watches ever over the +people of our race, O King, and who from time to time is seen of men +ere great things shall befall." + +"I have heard speak of this queen," said Chaka. "Wherefore came she +now, what was the song she sang, and why did she touch me with a +spear?" + +"She came, O King, because the dead hand of Baleka summoned her, as +thou sawest. The song she sang was of things too high for me; and why +she touched thee on the forehead with the spear I do not know, O King! +Perchance it was to crown thee chief of a yet greater realm." + +"Yea, perchance to crown me chief of a realm of death." + +"That thou art already, Black One," I answered, glancing at the silent +multitude before us and the cold shape of Baleka. + +Again Chaka shuddered. "Come, let us be going, Mopo," he said; "now I +have learnt what it is to be afraid." + +"Early or late, Fear is a guest that all must feast, even kings, O +Earth-Shaker!" I answered; and we turned and went homewards in +silence. + +Now after this night Chaka gave it out that the kraal of Gibamaxegu +was bewitched, and bewitched was the land of the Zulus, because he +might sleep no more in peace, but woke ever crying out with fear, and +muttering the name of Baleka. Therefore, in the end he moved his kraal +far away, and built the great town of Duguza here in Natal. + +Look now, my father! There on the plain far away is a place of the +white men--it is called Stanger. There, where is the white man's town, +stood the great kraal Duguza. I cannot see, for my eyes are dark; but +you can see. Where the gate of the kraal was built there is a house; +it is the place where the white man gives out justice; that is the +place of the gate of the kraal, through which Justice never walked. +Behind is another house, where the white men who have sinned against +Him pray to the King of Heaven for forgiveness; there on that spot +have I seen many a one who had done no wrong pray to a king of men for +mercy, but I have never seen but one who found it. Ou! the words of +Chaka have come true: I will tell them to you presently, my father. +The white man holds the land, he goes to and fro about his business of +peace where impis ran forth to kill; his children laugh and gather +flowers where men died in blood by hundreds; they bathe in the waters +of the Imbozamo, where once the crocodiles were fed daily with human +flesh; his young men woo the maidens where other maids have kissed the +assegai. It is changed, nothing is the same, and of Chaka are left +only a grave yonder and a name of fear. + +Now, after Chaka had come to the Duguza kraal, for a while he sat +quiet, then the old thirst of blood came on him, and he sent his impis +against the people of the Pondos, and they destroyed that people, and +brought back their cattle. But the warriors might not rest; again they +were doctored for war, and sent out by tens of thousands to conquer +Sotyangana, chief of the people who live north of the Limpopo. They +went singing, after the king had looked upon them and bidden them +return victorious or not at all. Their number was so great that from +the hour of dawn till the sun was high in the heavens they passed the +gates of the kraal like countless herds of cattle--they the +unconquered. Little did they know that victory smiled on them no more; +that they must die by thousands of hunger and fever in the marshes of +the Limpopo, and that those of them who returned should come with +their shields in their bellies, having devoured their shields because +of their ravenous hunger! But what of them? They were nothing. "Dust" +was the name of one of the great regiments that went out against +Sotyangana, and dust they were--dust to be driven to death by the +breath of Chaka, Lion of the Zulu. + +Now few men remained in the kraal Duguza, for nearly all had gone with +the impi, and only women and aged people were left. Dingaan and +Umhlangana, brothers of the king, were there, for Chaka would not +suffer them to depart, fearing lest they should plot against him, and +he looked on them always with an angry eye, so that they trembled for +their lives, though they dared not show their fear lest fate should +follow fear. But I guessed it, and like a snake I wound myself into +their secrets, and we talked together darkly and in hints. But of that +presently, my father, for I must tell of the coming of Masilo, he who +would have wed Zinita, and whom Umslopogaas the Slaughterer had driven +out from the kraals of the People of the Axe. + +It was on the day after the impi had left that Masilo came to the +kraal Duguza, craving leave to speak with the king. Chaka sat before +his hut, and with him were Dingaan and Umhlangana, his royal brothers. +I was there also, and certain of the indunas, councillors of the king. +Chaka was weary that morning, for he had slept badly, as now he always +did. Therefore, when one told him that a certain wanderer named Masilo +would speak with him, he did not command that the man should be +killed, but bade them bring him before him. Presently there was a +sound of praising, and I saw a fat man, much worn with travel, who +crawled through the dust towards us giving the sibonga, that is, +naming the king by his royal names. Chaka bade him cease from praising +and tell his business. Then the man sat up and told all that tale +which you have heard, my father, of how a young man, great and strong, +came to the place of the People of the Axe and conquered Jikiza, the +holder of the axe, and become chief of that people, and of how he had +taken the cattle of Masilo and driven him away. Now Chaka knew nothing +of this People of the Axe, for the land was great in those days, my +father, and there were many little tribes in it, living far away, of +whom the king had not even heard; so he questioned Masilo about them, +and of the number of their fighting-men, of their wealth in cattle, of +the name of the young man who ruled them, and especially as to the +tribute which they paid to the king. + +Masilo answered, saying that the number of their fighting-men was +perhaps the half of a full regiment, that their cattle were many, for +they were rich, that they paid no tribute, and that the name of the +young man was Bulalio the Slaughterer--at the least, he was known by +that name, and he had heard no other. + +Then the king grew wroth. "Arise, Masilo," he said, "and run to this +people, and speak in the ear of the people, and of him who is named +the Slaughterer, saying: 'There is another Slaughterer, who sits in a +kraal that is named Duguza, and this is his word to you, O People of +the Axe, and to thee, thou who holdest the axe. Rise up with all the +people, and with all the cattle of your people, and come before him +who sits in the kraal Duguza, and lay in his hands the great axe +Groan-Maker. Rise up swiftly and do this bidding, lest ye sit down +shortly and for the last time of all.'"[1] + +[1] The Zulu are buried sitting. + +Masilo heard, and said that it should be so, though the way was far, +and he feared greatly to appear before him who was called the +Slaughterer, and who sat twenty days' journey to the north, beneath +the shadow of the Witch Mountain. + +"Begone," said the king, "and stand before me on the thirtieth day +from now with the answer of this boy with an axe! If thou standest not +before me, then some shall come to seek thee and the boy with an axe +also." + +So Masilo turned and fled swiftly to do the bidding of the king, and +Chaka spoke no more of that matter. But I wondered in my heart who +this young man with an axe might be; for I thought that he had dealt +with Jikiza and with the sons of Jikiza as Umslopogaas would have +dealt with them had he come to the years of his manhood. But I also +said nothing of the matter. + +Now on this day also there came to me news that my wife Macropha and +my daughter Nada were dead among their people in Swaziland. It was +said that the men of the chief of the Halakazi tribe had fallen on +their kraal and put all in it to the assegai, and among them Macropha +and Nada. I heard the news, but I wept no tear, for, my father, I was +so lost in sorrows that nothing could move me any more. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MOPO BARGAINS WITH THE PRINCES + +Eight-and-twenty days went by, my father, and on the nine-and- +twentieth it befell that Chaka, having dreamed a dream in his troubled +sleep, summoned before him certain women of the kraal, to the number +of a hundred or more. Some of these were his women, whom he named his +"sisters," and some were maidens not yet given in marriage; but all +were young and fair. Now what this dream of Chaka may have been I do +not know, or have forgotten, for in those days he dreamed many dreams, +and all his dreams led to one end, the death of men. He sat in front +of his hut scowling, and I was with him. To the left of him were +gathered the girls and women, and their knees were weak with fear. One +by one they were led before him, and stood before him with bowed +heads. Then he would bid them be of good cheer, and speak softly to +them, and in the end would ask them this question: "Hast thou, my +sister, a cat in thy hut?" + +Now, some would say that they had a cat, and some would say that they +had none, and some would stand still and make no answer, being dumb +with fear. But, whatever they said, the end was the same, for the king +would sigh gently and say: "Fare thee well, my sister; it is +unfortunate for thee that there is a cat in thy hut," or "that there +is no cat in thy hut," or "that thou canst not tell me whether there +be a cat in thy hut or no." + +Then the woman would be taken by the slayers, dragged without the +kraal, and their end was swift. So it went on for the most part of +that day, till sixty-and-two women and girls had been slaughtered. But +at last a maiden was brought before the king, and to this one her +snake had given a ready wit; for when Chaka asked her whether or no +there was a cat in her hut, she answered, saying that she did not +know, "but that there was a half a cat upon her," and she pointed to a +cat's-skin which was bound about her loins. + +Then the king laughed, and clapped his hands, saying that at length +his dream was answered; and he killed no more that day nor ever again +--save once only. + +That evening my heart was heavy within me, and I cried in my heart, +"How long?"--nor might I rest. So I wandered out from the kraal that +was named Duguza to the great cleft in the mountains yonder, and sat +down upon a rock high up in the cleft, so that I could see the wide +lands rolling to the north and the south, to my right and to my left. +Now, the day was drawing towards the night, and the air was very +still, for the heat was great and a tempest was gathering, as I, who +am a Heaven-Herd, knew well. The sun sank redly, flooding the land +with blood; it was as though all the blood that Chaka had shed flowed +about the land which Chaka ruled. Then from the womb of the night +great shapes of cloud rose up and stood before the sun, and he crowned +them with his glory, and in their hearts the lightning quivered like a +blood of fire. The shadow of their wings fell upon the mountain and +the plains, and beneath their wings was silence. Slowly the sun sank, +and the shapes of cloud gathered together like a host at the word of +its captain, and the flicker of the lightning was as the flash of the +spears of a host. I looked, and my heart grew afraid. The lightning +died away, the silence deepened and deepened till I could hear it, no +leaf moved, no bird called, the world seemed dead--I alone lived in +the dead world. + +Now, of a sudden, my father, a bright star fell from the height of +heaven and lit upon the crest of the storm, and as it lit the storm +burst. The grey air shivered, a moan ran about the rocks and died +away, then an icy breath burst from the lips of the tempest and rushed +across the earth. It caught the falling star and drove it on towards +me, a rushing globe of fire, and as it came the star grew and took +shape, and the shape it took was the shape of a woman. I knew her now, +my father; while she was yet far off I knew her--the Inkosazana who +came as she had promised, riding down the storm. On she swept, borne +forward by the blast, and oh! she was terrible to see, for her garment +was the lightning, lightnings shone from her wide eyes and lightnings +were in her streaming hair, while in her hand was a spear of fire, and +she shook it as she came. Now she was at the mouth of the pass; before +her was stillness, behind her beat the wings of the storm, the thunder +roared, the rain hissed like snakes; she rushed on past me, and as she +passed she turned her awful eyes upon me, withering me. She was there! +she was gone! but she spoke no word, only shook her flaming spear. Yet +it seemed to me that the storm spoke, that the rocks cried aloud, that +the rain hissed out a word in my ear, and the word was:-- + +"Smite, Mopo!" + +I heard it in my heart, or with my ears, what does it matter? Then I +turned to look; through the rush of the tempest and the reek of the +rain, still I could see her sweeping forward high in air. Now the +kraal Duguza was beneath her feet, and the flaming spear fell from her +hand upon the kraal and fire leaped up in answer. + +Then she passed on over the edge of the world, seeking her own place. +Thus, my father, for the third and last time did my eyes see the +Inkosazana-y-Zulu, or mayhap my heart dreamed that I saw her. Soon I +shall see her again, but it will not be here. + +For a while I sat there in the cleft, then I rose and fought my way +through the fury of the storm back to the kraal Duguza. As I drew near +the kraal I heard cries of fear coming through the roaring of the wind +and the hiss of the rain. I entered and asked one of the matter, and +it was told me that fire from above had fallen on the hut of the king +as he lay sleeping, and all the roof of the hut was burned away, but +that the rain had put out the fire. + +Then I went on till I came to the front of the great hut, and I saw by +the light of the moon, which now shone out in the heavens, that there +before it stood Chaka, shaking with fear, and the water of the rain +was running down him, while he stared at the great hut, of which all +the thatch was burned. + +I saluted the king, asking him what evil thing had happened. Seeing +me, he seized me by the arm, and clung to me as, when the slayers are +at hand, a child clings to his father, drawing me after him into a +small hut that was near. + +"What evil thing has befallen, O King?" I said again, when light had +been made. + +"Little have I known of fear, Mopo," said Chaka, "yet I am afraid now; +ay, as much afraid as when once on a bygone night the dead hand of +Baleka summoned something that walked upon the faces of the dead." + +"And what fearest thou, O King, who art the lord of all the earth?" + +Now Chaka leaned forward and whispered to me: "Hearken, Mopo, I have +dreamed a dream. When the judgment of those witches was done with, I +went and laid me down to sleep while it was yet light, for I can +scarcely sleep at all when darkness has swallowed up the world. My +sleep has gone from me--that sister of thine, Baleka, took my sleep +with her to the place of death. I laid me down and I slept, but a +dream arose and sat by me with a hooded face, and showed me a picture. +It seemed to me that the wall of my hut fell down, and I saw an open +place, and in the centre of the place I lay dead, covered with many +wounds, while round my corpse my brothers Dingaan and Umhlangana +stalked in pride like lions. On the shoulders of Umhlangana was my +royal kaross, and there was blood on the kaross; and in the hand of +Dingaan was my royal spear, and there was blood upon the spear. Then, +in the vision of my dream, Mopo, thou didst draw near, and, lifting +thy hand, didst give the royal salute of Bayete to these brothers of +mine, and with thy foot didst spurn the carcase of me, thy king. Then +the hooded Dream pointed upwards and was gone, and I awoke, and lo! +fire burned in the roof of my hut. Thus I dreamed, Mopo, and now, my +servant, say thou, wherefore should I not slay thee, thou who wouldst +serve other kings than I, thou who wouldst give my royal salute to the +princes, my brothers?" and he glared upon me fiercely. + +"As thou wilt, O King!" I answered gently. "Doubtless thy dream was +evil, and yet more evil was the omen of the fire that fell upon thy +hut. And yet--" and I ceased. + +"And yet--Mopo, thou faithless servant?" + +"And yet, O King, it seems to me in my folly that it were well to +strike the head of the snake and not its tail, for without the tail +the head may live, but not the tail without the head." + +"Thou wouldst say, Mopo, that if these princes die never canst thou or +any other man give them the royal names. Do I hear aright, Mopo?" + +"Who am I that I should lift up my voice asking for the blood of +princes?" I answered. "Judge thou, O King!" + +Now, Chaka brooded awhile, then he spoke: "Say, Mopo, can it be done +this night?" + +"There are but few men in the kraal, O King. All are gone out to war; +and of those few many are the servants of the princes, and perhaps +they might give blow for blow." + +"How then, Mopo?" + +"Nay, I know not, O King; yet at the great kraal beyond the river sits +that regiment which is named the Slayers. By midday to-morrow they +might be here, and then--" + +"Thou speakest wisely, my child Mopo; it shall be for to-morrow. Go +summon the regiment of the Slayers, and, Mopo, see that thou fail me +not." + +"If I fail thee, O King, then I fail myself, for it seems that my life +hangs on this matter." + +"If all the words that ever passed thy lips are lies, yet is that word +true, Mopo," said Chaka: "moreover, know this, my servant: if aught +miscarries thou shalt die no common death. Begone!" + +"I hear the king," I answered, and went out. + +Now, my father, I knew well that Chaka had doomed me to die, though +first he would use me to destroy the princes. But I feared nothing, +for I knew this also, that the hour of Chaka was come at last. + +For a while I sat in my hut pondering, then when all men slept I arose +and crept like a snake by many paths to the hut of Dingaan the prince, +who awaited me on that night. Following the shadow of the hut, I came +to the door and scratched upon it after a certain fashion. Presently +it was opened, and I crawled in, and the door was shut again. Now +there was a little light in the hut, and by its flame I saw the two +princes sitting side by side, wrapped about with blankets which hung +before their brows. + +"Who is this that comes?" said the Prince Dingaan. + +Then I lifted the blanket from my head so that they might see my face, +and they also drew the blankets from their brows. I spoke, saying: +"Hail to you, Princes, who to-morrow shall be dust! Hail to you, sons +of Senzangacona, who to-morrow shall be spirits!" and I pointed +towards them with my withered hand. + +Now the princes were troubled, and shook with fear. + +"What meanest thou, thou dog, that thou dost speak to us words of such +ill-omen?" said the Prince Dingaan in a low voice. + +"Where dost thou point at us with that white and withered hand of +thine, Wizard?" hissed the Prince Umhlangana. + +"Have I not told you, O ye Princes!" I whispered, "that ye must strike +or die, and has not your heart failed you? Now hearken! Chaka has +dreamed another dream; now it is Chaka who strikes, and ye are already +dead, ye children of Senzangacona." + +"If the slayers of the king be without the gates, at least thou shalt +die first, thou who hast betrayed us!" quoth the Prince Dingaan, and +drew an assegai from under his kaross. + +"First hear the king's dream, O Prince," I said; "then, if thou wilt, +kill me, and die. Chaka the king slept and dreamed that he lay dead, +and that one of you, the princes, wore his royal kaross." + +"Who wore the royal kaross?" asked Dingaan, eagerly; and both looked +up, waiting on my words. + +"The Prince Umhlangana wore it--in the dream of Chaka--O Dingaan, +shoot of a royal stock!" I answered slowly, taking snuff as I spoke, +and watching the two of them over the edge of my snuff-spoon. + +Now Dingaan scowled heavily at Umhlangana; but the face of Umhlangana +was as the morning sky. + +"Chaka dreamed this also," I went on: "that one of you, the princes, +held his royal spear." + +"Who held the royal spear?" asked Umhlangana. + +"The Prince Dingaan held it--in the dream of Chaka--O Umhlangana, +sprung from the root of kings!--and it dripped blood." + +Now the face of Umhlangana grew dark as night, but that of Dingaan +brightened like the dawn. + +"Chaka dreamed this also: that I, Mopo, your dog, who am not worthy +to be mentioned with such names, came up and gave the royal salute, +even the Bayete." + +"To whom didst thou give the Bayete, O Mopo, son of Makedama?" asked +both of the princes as with one breath, waiting on my words. + +"I gave it to both of you, O twin stars of the morning, princes of the +Zulu--in the dream of Chaka I gave it to both of you." + +Now the princes looked this way and that, and were silent, not knowing +what to say, for these princes hated each other, though adversity and +fear had brought them to one bed. + +"But what avails it to talk thus, ye lords of the land," I went on, +"seeing that, both of you, ye are already as dead men, and that +vultures which are hungry to-night to-morrow shall be filled with meat +of the best? Chaka the king is now a Doctor of Dreams, and to clear +away such a dream as this he has a purging medicine." + +Now the brows of these brothers grew black indeed, for they saw that +their fate was on them. + +"These are the words of Chaka the king, O ye bulls who lead the herd! +All are doomed, ye twain and I, and many another man who loves us. In +the great kraal beyond the river there sits a regiment: it is summoned +--and then--good-night! Have ye any words to say to those yet left +upon the earth? Perhaps it will be given to me to live a little while +after ye are gone, and I may bring them to their ears." + +"Can we not rise up now and fall upon Chaka?" asked Dingaan. + +"It is not possible," I said; "the king is guarded." + +"Hast thou no plan, Mopo?" groaned Umhlangana. "Methinks thou hast a +plan to save us." + +"And if I have a plan, ye Princes, what shall be my reward? It must be +great, for I am weary of life, and I will not use my wisdom for a +little thing." + +Now both the princes offered me good things, each of them promising +more than the other, as two young men who are rivals promise to the +father of a girl whom both would wed. I listened, saying always that +it was not enough, till in the end both of them swore by their heads, +and by the bones of Senzangacona, their father, and by many other +things, that I should be the first man in the land, after them, its +kings, and should command the impis of the land, if I would but show +them a way to kill Chaka and become kings. Then, when they had done +swearing, I spoke, weighing my words:-- + +"In the great kraal beyond the river, O ye Princes, there sit, not one +regiment but two. One is named the Slayers and loves Chaka the king, +who has done well by them, giving them cattle and wives. The other is +named the Bees, and that regiment is hungry and longs for cattle and +girls; moreover, of that regiment the Prince Umhlangana is the +general, and it loves him. Now this is my plan--to summon the Bees in +the name of Umhlangana, not the Slayers in the name of Chaka. Bend +forward, O Princes, that I may whisper in your ears." + +So they bent forward, and I whispered awhile of the death of a king, +and the sons of Senzangacona nodded their heads as one man in answer. +Then I rose up, and crept from the hut as I had entered it, and +rousing certain trusty messengers, I dispatched them, running swiftly +through the night. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE DEATH OF CHAKA + +Now, on the morrow, two hours before midday, Chaka came from the hut +where he had sat through the night, and moved to a little kraal +surrounded by a fence that was some fifty paces distant from the hut. +For it was my duty, day by day, to choose that place where the king +should sit to hear the counsel of his indunas, and give judgment on +those whom he would kill, and to-day I had chosen this place. Chaka +went alone from his hut to the kraal, and, for my own reasons, I +accompanied him, walking after him. As we went the king glanced back +at me over his shoulder, and said in a low voice:-- + +"Is all prepared, Mopo?" + +"All is prepared, Black One," I answered. "The regiment of the Slayers +will be here by noon." + +"Where are the princes, Mopo?" asked the king again. + +"The princes sit with their wives in the houses of their women, O +King," I answered; "they drink beer and sleep in the laps of their +wives." + +Chaka smiled grimly, "For the last time, Mopo!" + +"For the last time, O King." + +We came to the kraal, and Chaka sat down in the shade of the reed +fence, upon an ox-hide that was brayed soft. Near to him stood a girl +holding a gourd of beer; there were also present the old chief +Inguazonca, brother of Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, and the chief +Umxamama, whom Chaka loved. When we had sat a little while in the +kraal, certain men came in bearing cranes' feathers, which the king +had sent them to gather a month's journey from the kraal Duguza, and +they were admitted before the king. These men had been away long upon +their errand, and Chaka was angry with them. Now the leader of the men +was an old captain of Chaka's, who had fought under him in many +battles, but whose service was done, because his right hand had been +shorn away by the blow of an axe. He was a great man and very brave. + +Chaka asked the man why he had been so long in finding the feathers, +and he answered that the birds had flown from that part of the country +whither he was sent, and he must wait there till they returned, that +he might snare them. + +"Thou shouldst have followed the cranes, yes, if they flew through the +sunset, thou disobedient dog!" said the king. "Let him be taken away, +and all those who were with him." + +Now some of the men prayed a little for mercy, but the captain did but +salute the king, calling him "Father," and craving a boon before he +died. + +"What wouldst thou?" asked Chaka. + +"My father," said the man, "I would ask thee two things. I have fought +many times at thy side in battle while we both were young; nor did I +ever turn my back upon the foe. The blow that shore the hand from off +this arm was aimed at thy head, O King; I stayed it with my naked arm. +It is nothing; at thy will I live, and at thy will I die. Who am I +that I should question the word of the king? Yet I would ask this, +that thou wilt withdraw the kaross from about thee, O King, that for +the last time my eyes may feast themselves upon the body of him whom, +above all men, I love." + +"Thou art long-winded," said the king, "what more?" + +"This, my father, that I may bid farewell to my son; he is a little +child, so high, O King," and he held his hand above his knee. + +"Thy first boon is granted," said the king, slipping the kaross from +his shoulders and showing the great breast beneath. "For the second it +shall be granted also, for I will not willingly divide the father and +the son. Bring the boy here; thou shalt bid him farewell, then thou +shalt slay him with thine own hand ere thou thyself art slain; it will +be good sport to see." + +Now the man turned grey beneath the blackness of his skin, and +trembled a little as he murmured, "The king's will is the will of his +servant; let the child be brought." + +But I looked at Chaka and saw that the tears were running down his +face, and that he only spoke thus to try the captain who loved him to +the last. + +"Let the man go," said the king, "him and those with him." + +So they went glad at heart, and praising the king. + +I have told you this, my father, though it has not to do with my +story, because then, and then only, did I ever see Chaka show mercy to +one whom he had doomed to die. + +As the captain and his people left the gate of the kraal, it was +spoken in the ear of the king that a man sought audience with him. He +was admitted crawling on his knees. I looked and saw that this was +that Masilo whom Chaka had charged with a message to him who was named +Bulalio, or the Slaughterer, and who ruled over the People of the Axe. +It was Masilo indeed, but he was no longer fat, for much travel had +made him thin; moreover, on his back were the marks of rods, as yet +scarcely healed over. + +"Who art thou?" said Chaka. + +"I am Masilo, of the People of the Axe, to whom command was given to +run with a message to Bulalio the Slaughterer, their chief, and to +return on the thirtieth day. Behold, O King, I have returned, though +in a sorry plight!" + +"It seems so!" said the king, laughing aloud. "I remember now: speak +on, Masilo the Thin, who wast Masilo the Fat; what of this +Slaughterer? Does he come with his people to lay the axe Groan-Maker +in my hands?" + +"Nay, O King, he comes not. He met me with scorn, and with scorn he +drove me from his kraal. Moreover, as I went I was seized by the +servants of Zinita, she whom I wooed, but who is now the wife of the +Slaughterer, and laid on my face upon the ground and beaten cruelly +while Zinita numbered the strokes." + +"Hah!" said the king. "And what were the words of this puppy?" + +"These were his words, O King: 'Bulalio the Slaughterer, who sits +beneath the shadow of the Witch Mountain, to Bulalio the Slaughterer +who sits in the kraal Duguza--To thee I pay no tribute; if thou +wouldst have the axe Groan-Maker, come to the Ghost Mountain and take +it. This I promise thee: thou shalt look on a face thou knowest, for +there is one there who would be avenged for the blood of a certain +Mopo.'" + +Now, while Masilo told this tale I had seen two things--first, that a +little piece of stick was thrust through the straw of the fence, and, +secondly, that the regiment of the Bees was swarming on the slope +opposite to the kraal in obedience to the summons I had sent them in +the name of Umhlangana. The stick told me that the princes were hidden +behind the fence waiting the signal, and the coming of the regiment +that it was time to do the deed. + +When Masilo had spoken Chaka sprang up in fury. His eyes rolled, his +face worked, foam flew from his lips, for such words as these had +never offended his ears since he was king, and Masilo knew him little, +else he had not dared to utter them. + +For a while he gasped, shaking his small spear, for at first he could +not speak. At length he found words:-- + +"The dog," he hissed, "the dog who dares thus to spit in my face! +Hearken all! As with my last breath I command that this Slaughterer be +torn limb from limb, he and all his tribe! And thou, thou darest to +bring me this talk from a skunk of the mountains. And thou, too, Mopo, +thy name is named in it. Well, of thee presently. Ho! Umxamama, my +servant, slay me this slave of a messenger, beat out his brains with +thy stick. Swift! swift!" + +Now, the old chief Umxamama sprang up to do the king's bidding, but he +was feeble with age, and the end of it was that Masilo, being mad with +fear, killed Umxamama, not Umxamama Masilo. Then Inguazonca, brother +of Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, fell upon Masilo and ended him, but +was hurt himself in so doing. Now I looked at Chaka, who stood shaking +the little red spear, and thought swiftly, for the hour had come. + +"Help!" I cried, "one is slaying the King!" + +As I spoke the reed fence burst asunder, and through it plunged the +princes Umhlangana and Dingaan, as bulls plunge through a brake. + +Then I pointed to Chaka with my withered hand, saying, "Behold your +king!" + +Now, from beneath the shelter of his kaross, each Prince drew out a +short stabbing spear, and plunged it into the body of Chaka the king. +Umhlangana smote him on the left shoulder, Dingaan struck him in the +right side. Chaka dropped the little spear handled with the red wood +and looked round, and so royally that the princes, his brothers, grew +afraid and shrank away from him. + +Twice he looked on each; then he spoke, saying: "What! do you slay me, +my brothers--dogs of mine own house, whom I have fed? Do you slay me, +thinking to possess the land and to rule it? I tell you it shall not +be for long. I hear a sound of running feet--the feet of a great white +people. They shall stamp you flat, children of my father! They shall +rule the land that I have won, and you and your people shall be their +slaves!" + +Thus Chaka spoke while the blood ran down him to the ground, and again +he looked on them royally, like a buck at gaze. + +"Make an end, O ye who would be kings!" I cried; but their hearts had +turned to water and they could not. Then I, Mopo, sprang forward and +picked from the ground that little assegai handled with the royal wood +--the same assegai with which Chaka had murdered Unandi, his mother, +and Moosa, my son, and lifted it on high, and while I lifted it, my +father, once more, as when I was young, a red veil seemed to wave +before my eyes. + +"Wherefore wouldst thou kill me, Mopo?" said the king. + +"For the sake of Baleka, my sister, to whom I swore the deed, and of +all my kin," I cried, and plunged the spear through him. He sank down +upon the tanned ox-hide, and lay there dying. Once more he spoke, and +once only, saying: "Would now that I had hearkened to the voice of +Nobela, who warned me against thee, thou dog!" + +Then he was silent for ever. But I knelt over him and called in his +ear the names of all those of my blood who had died at his hands--the +names of Makedama, my father, of my mother, of Anadi my wife, of Moosa +my son, and all my other wives and children, and of Baleka my sister. +His eyes and ears were open, and I think, my father, that he saw and +understood; I think also that the hate upon my face as I shook my +withered hand before him was more fearful to him that the pain of +death. At the least, he turned his head aside, shut his eyes, and +groaned. Presently they opened again, and he was dead. + +Thus then, my father, did Chaka the King, the greatest man who has +ever lived in Zululand, and the most evil, pass by my hand to those +kraals of the Inkosazana where no sleep is. In blood he died as he had +lived in blood, for the climber at last falls with the tree, and in +the end the swimmer is borne away by the stream. Now he trod that path +which had been beaten flat for him by the feet of people whom he had +slaughtered, many as the blades of grass upon a mountain-side; but it +is a lie to say, as some do, that he died a coward, praying for mercy. +Chaka died, as he had lived, a brave man. Ou! my father, I know it, +for these eyes saw it and this hand let out his life. + +Now he was dead and the regiment of the Bees drew near, nor could I +know how they would take this matter, for, though the Prince +Umhlangana was their general, yet all the soldiers loved the king, +because he had no equal in battle, and when he gave he gave with an +open hand. I looked round; the princes stood like men amazed; the girl +had fled; the chief Umxamama was dead at the hands of dead Masilo; and +the old chief Inguazonca, who had killed Masilo, stood by, hurt and +wondering; there were no others in the kraal. + +"Awake, ye kings," I cried to the brothers, "the impi is at the gates! +Swift, now stab that man!"--and I pointed to the old chief--"and leave +the matter to my wit." + +Then Dingaan roused himself, and springing upon Inguazonca, the +brother of Unandi, smote him a great blow with his spear, so that he +sank down dead without a word. Then again the princes stood silent and +amazed. + +"This one will tell no tales," I cried, pointing at the fallen chief. + +Now a rumour of the slaying had got abroad among the women, who had +heard cries and seen the flashing of spears above the fence, and from +the women it had come to the regiment of the Bees, who advanced to the +gates of the kraal singing. Then of a sudden they ceased their singing +and rushed towards the hut in front of which we stood. + +Then I ran to meet them, uttering cries of woe, holding in my hand the +little assegai of the king red with the king's blood, and spoke with +the captain's in the gate, saying:-- + +"Lament, ye captains and ye soldiers, weep and lament, for your father +is no more! He who nursed you is no more! The king is dead! now earth +and heaven will come together, for the king is dead!" + +"How so, Mopo?" cried the leader of the Bees. "How is our father +dead?" + +"He is dead by the hand of a wicked wanderer named Masilo, who, when +he was doomed to die by the king, snatched this assegai from the +king's hand and stabbed him; and afterwards, before he could be cut +down himself by us three, the princes and myself, he killed the chiefs +Inguazonca and Umxamama also. Draw near and look on him who was the +king; it is the command of Dingaan and Umhlangana, the kings, that you +draw near and look on him who was the king, that his death at the hand +of Masilo may be told through all the land." + +"You are better at making of kings, Mopo, than at the saving of one +who was your king from the stroke of a wanderer," said the leader of +the Bees, looking at me doubtfully. + +But his words passed unheeded, for some of the captains went forward +to look on the Great One who was dead, and some, together with most of +the soldiers, ran this way and that, crying in their fear that now the +heaven and earth would come together, and the race of man would cease +to be, because Chaka, the king, was dead. + +Now, my father, how shall I, whose days are few, tell you of all the +matters that happened after the dead of Chaka? Were I to speak of them +all they would fill many books of the white men, and, perhaps, some of +them are written down there. For this reason it is, that I may be +brief, I have only spoken of a few of those events which befell in the +reign of Chaka; for my tale is not of the reign of Chaka, but of the +lives of a handful of people who lived in those days, and of whom I +and Umslopogaas alone are left alive--if, indeed, Umslopogaas, the son +of Chaka, is still living on the earth. Therefore, in a few words I +will pass over all that came about after the fall of Chaka and till I +was sent down by Dingaan, the king, to summon him to surrender to the +king who was called the Slaughterer and who ruled the People of the +Axe. Ah! would that I had known for certain that this was none other +than Umslopogaas, for then had Dingaan gone the way that Chaka went +and which Umhlangana followed, and Umslopogaas ruled the people of the +Zulus as their king. But, alas! my wisdom failed me. I paid no heed to +the voice of my heart which told me that this was Umslopogaas who sent +the message to Chaka threatening vengeance for one Mopo, and I knew +nothing till too late; surely, I thought, the man spoke of some other +Mopo. For thus, my father, does destiny make fools of us men. We think +that we can shape our fate, but it is fate that shapes us, and nothing +befalls except fate will it. All things are a great pattern, my +father, drawn by the hand of the Umkulunkulu upon the cup whence he +drinks the water of his wisdom; and our lives, and what we do, and +what we do not do, are but a little bit of the pattern, which is so +big that only the eyes of Him who is above, the Umkulunkulu, can see +it all. Even Chaka, the slayer of men, and all those he slew, are but +as a tiny grain of dust in the greatness of that pattern. How, then, +can we be wise, my father, who are but the tools of wisdom? how can be +build who are but pebbles in a wall? how can we give life who are +babes in the womb of fate? or how can we slay who are but spears in +the hands of the slayer? + +This came about, my father. Matters were made straight in the land +after the death of Chaka. At first people said that Masilo, the +stranger, had stabbed the king; then it was known that Mopo, the wise +man, the doctor and the body-servant of the king, had slain the king, +and that the two great bulls, his brothers Umhlangana and Dingaan, +children of Senzangacona, had also lifted spears against him. But he +was dead, and earth and heaven had not come together, so what did it +matter? Moreover, the two new kings promised to deal gently with the +people, and to lighten the heavy yoke of Chaka, and men in a bad case +are always ready to home for a better. So it came about that the only +enemies the princes found were each other and Engwade, the son of +Unandi, Chaka's half-brother. But I, Mopo, who was now the first man +in the land after the kings, ceasing to be a doctor and becoming a +general, went up against Engwade with the regiment of the Bees and the +regiment of the Slayers and smote him in his kraals. It was a hard +fight, but in the end I destroyed him and all his people: Engwade +killed eight men with his own hand before I slew him. Then I came back +to the kraal with the few that were left alive of the two regiments. + +After that the two kings quarrelled more and more, and I weighed them +both in my balance, for I would know which was the most favourable to +me. In the end I found that both feared me, but that Umhlangana would +certainly put me to death if he gained the upper hand, whereas this +was not yet in the mind of Dingaan. So I pressed down the balance of +Umhlangana and raised that of Dingaan, sending the fears of Umhlangana +to sleep till I could cause his hut to be surrounded. Then Umhlangana +followed upon the road of Chaka his brother, the road of the assegai; +and Dingaan ruled alone for awhile. Such are the things that befall +princes of this earth, my father. See, I am but a little man, and my +lot is humble at the last, yet I have brought about the death of three +of them, and of these two died by my hand. + +It was fourteen days after the passing away of the Prince Umhlangana +that the great army came back in a sorry plight from the marshes of +the Limpopo, for half of them were left dead of fever and the might of +the foe, and the rest were starving. It was well for them who yet +lived that Chaka was no more, else they had joined their brethren who +were dead on the way; since never before for many years had a Zulu +impi returned unvictorious and without a single head of cattle. Thus +it came about that they were glad enough to welcome a king who spared +their lives, and thenceforth, till his fate found him, Dingaan reigned +unquestioned. + +Now, Dingaan wa a prince of the blood of Chaka indeed; for, like +Chaka, he was great in presence and cruel at heart, but he had not the +might and the mind of Chaka. Moreover, he was treacherous and a liar, +and these Chaka was not. Also, he loved women much, and spent with +them the time that he should have given to matters of the State. Yet +he reigned awhile in the land. I must tell this also; that Dingaan +would have killed Panda, his half-brother, so that the house of +Senzangacona, his father, might be swept out clean. Now Panda was a +man of gentle heart, who did not love war, and therefore it was +thought that he was half-witted; and, because I loved Panda, when the +question of his slaying came on, I and the chief Mapita spoke against +it, and pleaded for him, saying that there was nothing to be feared at +his hands who was a fool. So in the end Dingaan gave way, saying, +"Well, you ask me to spare this dog, and I will spare him, but one day +he will bite me." + +So Panda was made governor of the king's cattle. Yet in the end the +words of Dingaan came true, for it was the grip of Panda's teeth that +pulled him from the throne; only, if Panda was the dog that bit, I, +Mopo, was the man who set him on the hunt. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +MOPO GOES TO SEEK THE SLAUGHTERER + +Now Dingaan, deserting the kraal Duguza, moved back to Zululand, and +built a great kraal by the Mahlabatine, which he named "Umgugundhlovu" +--that is, "the rumbling of the elephant." Also, he caused all the +fairest girls in the land to be sought out as his wives, and though +many were found yet he craved for more. And at this time a rumour came +to the ears of the King Dingaan that there lived in Swaziland among +the Halakazi tribe a girl of the most wonderful beauty, who was named +the Lily, and whose skin was whiter than are the skins of our people, +and he desired greatly to have this girl to wife. So Dingaan sent an +embassy to the chief of the Halakazi, demanding that the girl should +be given to him. At the end of a month the embassy returned again, and +told the king that they had found nothing but hard words at the kraal +of the Halakazi, and had been driven thence with scorn and blows. + +This was the message of the chief of the Halakazi to Dingaan, king of +the Zulus: That the maid who was named the Lily, was, indeed, the +wonder of the earth, and as yet unwed; for she had found no man upon +whom she looked with favour, and she was held in such love by this +people that it was not their wish to force any husband on her. +Moreover, the chief said that he and his people defied Dingaan and the +Zulus, as their fathers had defied Chaka before him, and spat upon his +name, and that no maid of theirs should go to be the wife of a Zulu +dog. + +Then the chief of the Halakazi caused the maid who was named the Lily +to be led before the messengers of Dingaan, and they found her +wonderfully fair, for so they said: she was tall as a reed, and her +grace was the grace of a reed that is shaken in the wind. Moreover, +her hair curled, and hung upon her shoulders, her eyes were large and +brown, and soft as a buck's, her colour was the colour of rich cream, +her smile was like a ripple on the waters, and when she spoke her +voice was low and sweeter than the sound of an instrument of music. +They said also that the girl wished to speak with them, but the chief +forbade it, and caused her to be led thence with all honour. + +Now, when Dingaan heard this message he grew mad as a lion in a net, +for he desired this maid above everything, and yet he who had all +things could not win the maid. This was his command, that a great impi +should be gathered and sent to Swaziland against the Halakazi tribe, +to destroy them and seize the maid. But when the matter came on to be +discussed with the indunas in the presence of the king, at the +Amapakati or council, I, as chief of the indunas, spoke against it, +saying that the tribe of the Halakazi were great and strong, and that +war with them would mean war with the Swazis also; moreover, they had +their dwelling in caves which were had to win. Also, I said, that this +was no time to send impis to seek a single girl, for few years had +gone by since the Black One fell; and foes were many, and the soldiers +of the land had waxed few with slaughter, half of them having perished +in the marshes of the Limpopo. Now, time must be given them to grow up +again, for to-day they were as a little child, or like a man wasted +with hunger. Maids were many, let the king take them and satisfy his +heart, but let him make no war for this one. + +Thus I spoke boldly in the face of the king, as none had dared to +speak before Chaka; and courage passed from me to the hearts of the +other indunas and generals, and they echoed my words, for they knew +that, of all follies, to begin a new war with the Swazi people would +be the greatest. + +Dingaan listened, and his brow grew dark, yet he was not so firmly +seated on the throne that he dared put away our words, for still there +were many in the land who loved the memory of Chaka, and remembered +that Dingaan had murdered him and Umhlangana also. For now that Chaka +was dead, people forgot how evilly he had dealt with them, and +remembered only that he was a great man, who had made the Zulu people +out of nothing, as a smith fashions a bright spear from a lump of +iron. Also, though they had changed masters, yet their burden was not +lessened, for, as Chaka slew, so Dingaan slew also, and as Chaka +oppressed, so did Dingaan oppress. Therefore Dingaan yielded to the +voice of his indunas and no impi was sent against the Halakazi to seek +the maid that was named the Lily. But still he hankered for her in his +heart, and from that hour he hated me because I had crossed his will +and robbed him of his desire. + +Now, my father, there is this to be told: though I did not know it +then, the maid who was named the Lily was no other than my daughter +Nada. The thought, indeed, came into my mind, that none but Nada could +be so fair. Yet I knew for certain that Nada and her mother Macropha +were dead, for he who brought me the news of their death had seen +their bodies locked in each other's arms, killed, as it were, by the +same spear. Yet, as it chanced, he was wrong; for though Macropha +indeed was killed, it was another maid who lay in blood beside her; +for the people whither I had sent Macropha and Nada were tributary to +the Halakazi tribe, and that chief of the Halakazi who sat in the +place of Galazi the Wolf had quarrelled with them, and fallen on them +by night and eaten them up. + +As I learned afterwards, the cause of their destruction, as in later +days it was the cause of the slaying of the Halakazi, was the beauty +of Nada and nothing else, for the fame of her loveliness had gone +about the land, and the old chief of the Halakazi had commanded that +the girl should be sent to his kraal to live there, that her beauty +might shine upon his place like the sun, and that, if so she willed, +she should choose a husband from the great men of the Halakazi. But +the headmen of the kraal refused, for none who had looked on her would +suffer their eyes to lose sight of Nada the Lily, though there was +this fate about the maid that none strove to wed her against her will. +Many, indeed, asked her in marriage, both there and among the Halakazi +people, but ever she shook her head and said, "Nay, I would wed no +man," and it was enough. + +For it was the saying among men, that it was better that she should +remain unmarried, and all should look on her, than that she should +pass from their sight into the house of a husband; since they held +that her beauty was given to be a joy to all, like the beauty of the +dawn and of the evening. Yet this beauty of Nada's was a dreadful +thing, and the mother of much death, as shall be told; and because of +her beauty and the great love she bore, she, the Lily herself, must +wither, and the cup of my sorrows must be filled to overflowing, and +the heart of Umslopogaas the Slaughterer, son of Chaka the king, must +become desolate as the black plain when fire has swept it. So it was +ordained, my father, and so it befell, seeing that thus all men, white +and black, seek that which is beautiful, and when at last they find +it, then it passes swiftly away, or, perchance, it is their death. For +great joy and great beauty are winged, nor will they sojourn long upon +the earth. They come down like eagles out of the sky, and into the sky +they return again swiftly. + +Thus then it came about, my father, that I, Mopo, believing my +daughter Nada to be dead, little guessed that it was she who was named +the Lily in the kraals of the Halakazi, and whom Dingaan the king +desired for a wife. + +Now after I had thwarted him in this matter of the sending of an impi +to pluck the Lily from the gardens of the Halakazi, Dingaan learned to +hate me. Also I was in his secrets, and with me he had killed his +brother Chaka and his brother Umhlangana, and it was I who held him +back from the slaying of his brother Panda also; and, therefore, he +hated me, as is the fashion of small-hearted men with those who have +lifted them up. Yet he did not dare to do away with me, for my voice +was loud in the land, and when I spoke the people listened. Therefore, +in the end, he cast about for some way to be rid of me for a while, +till he should grow strong enough to kill me. + +"Mopo," said the king to me one day as I sat before him in council +with others of the indunas and generals, "mindest thou of the last +words of the Great Elephant, who is dead?" This he said meaning Chaka +his brother, only he did not name him, for now the name of Chaka was +blonipa in the land, as is the custom with the names of dead kings-- +that is, my father, it was not lawful that it should pass the lips. + +"I remember the words, O King," I answered. "They were ominous words, +for this was their burden: that you and your house should not sit long +in the throne of kings, but that the white men should take away your +royalty and divide your territories. Such was the prophecy of the Lion +of the Zulu, why speak of it? Once before I heard him prophecy, and +his words were fulfilled. May the omen be an egg without meat; may it +never become fledged; may that bird never perch upon your roof, O +King!" + +Now Dingaan trembled with fear, for the words of Chaka were in his +mind by night and by day; then he grew angry and bit his lip, +saying:-- + +"Thou fool, Mopo! canst thou not hear a raven croak at the gates of a +kraal but thou must needs go tell those who dwell within that he waits +to pick their eyes? Such criers of ill to come may well find ill at +hand, Mopo." He ceased, looked on me threateningly awhile, and went +on: "I did not speak of those words rolling by chance from a tongue +half loosed by death, but of others that told of a certain Bulalio, of +a Slaughterer who rules the People of the Axe and dwells beneath the +shadow of the Ghost Mountain far away to the north yonder. Surely I +heard them all as I sat beneath the shade of the reed-fence before +ever I came to save him who was my brother from the spear of Masilo, +the murderer, whose spear stole away the life of a king?" + +"I remember those words also, O King!" I said. "Is it the will of the +king that an impi should be gathered to eat up this upstart? Such was +the command of the one who is gone, given, as it were, with his last +breath." + +"Nay, Mopo, that is not my will. If no impi can be found by thee to +wipe away the Halakazi and bring one whom I desire to delight my eyes, +then surely none can be found to eat up this Slaughterer and his +people. Moreover, Bulalio, chief of the People of the Axe, has not +offended against me, but against an elephant whose trumpetings are +done. Now this is my will, Mopo, my servant: that thou shouldst take +with thee a few men only and go gently to this Bulalio, and say to +him: 'A greater Elephant stalks through the land than he who has gone +to sleep, and it has come to his ears--that thou, Chief of the People +of the Axe, dost pay no tribute, and hast said that, because of the +death of a certain Mopo, thou wilt have nothing to do with him whose +shadow lies upon the land. Now one Mopo is sent to thee, Slaughterer, +to know if this tale is true, for, if it be true, then shalt thou +learn the weight of the hoof of that Elephant who trumpets in the +kraal of Umgugundhlovu. Think, then, and weigh thy words before thou +dost answer, Slaughterer.'" + +Now I, Mopo, heard the commands of the king and pondered them in my +mind, for I knew well that it was the design of Dingaan to be rid of +me for a space that he might find time to plot my overthrow, and that +he cared little for this matter of a petty chief, who, living far +away, had dared to defy Chaka. Yet I wished to go, for there had +arisen in me a great desire to see this Bulalio, who spoke of +vengeance to be taken for one Mopo, and whose deeds were such as the +deeds of Umslopogaas would have been, had Umslopogaas lived to look +upon the light. Therefore I answered:-- + +"I hear the king. The king's word shall be done, though, O King, thou +sendest a big man upon a little errand." + +"Not so, Mopo," answered Dingaan. "My heart tells me that this chicken +of a Slaughterer will grow to a great cock if his comb is not cut +presently; and thou, Mopo, art versed in cutting combs, even of the +tallest." + +"I hear the king," I answered again. + +So, my father, it came about that on the morrow, taking with me but +ten chosen men, I, Mopo, started on my journey towards the Ghost +Mountain, and as I journeyed I thought much of how I had trod that +path in bygone days. Then, Macropha, my wife, and Nada, my daughter, +and Umslopogaas, the son of Chaka, who was thought to be my son, +walked at my side. Now, as I imagined, all were dead and I walked +alone; doubtless I also should soon be dead. Well, people lived few +days and evil in those times, and what did it matter? At the least I +had wreaked vengeance on Chaka and satisfied my heart. + +At length I came one night to that lonely spot where we had camped in +the evil hour when Umslopogaas was borne away by the lioness, and once +more I looked upon the cave whence he had dragged the cub, and upon +the awful face of the stone Witch who sits aloft upon the Ghost +Mountain forever and forever. I could sleep little that night, because +of the sorrow at my heart, but sat awake looking, in the brightness of +the moon, upon the grey face of the stone Witch, and on the depths of +the forest that grew about her knees, wondering the while if the bones +of Umslopogaas lay broken in that forest. Now as I journeyed, many +tales had been told to me of this Ghost Mountain, which all swore was +haunted, so said some, by men in the shape of wolves; and so said +some, by the Esemkofu--that is, by men who have died and who have been +brought back again by magic. They have no tongues, the Esemkofu, for +had they tongues they would cry aloud to mortals the awful secrets of +the dead, therefore, they can but utter a wailing like that of a babe. +Surely one may hear them in the forests at night as they wail "Ai!-- +ah! Ai--ah!" among the silent trees! + +You laugh, my father, but I did not laugh as I thought of these tales; +for, if men have spirits, where do the spirits go when the body is +dead? They must go somewhere, and would it be strange that they should +return to look upon the lands where they were born? Yet I never +thought much of such matters, though I am a doctor, and know something +of the ways of the Amatongo, the people of the ghosts. To speak truth, +my father, I have had so much to do with the loosing of the spirits of +men that I never troubled myself overmuch with them after they were +loosed; there will be time to do this when I myself am of their +number. + +So I sat and gazed on the mountain and the forest that grew over it +like hair on the head of a woman, and as I gazed I heard a sound that +came from far away, out of the heart of the forest as it seemed. At +first it was faint and far off, a distant thing like the cry of +children in a kraal across a valley; then it grew louder, but still I +could not say what it might be; now it swelled and swelled, and I knew +it--it was the sound of wild beats at chase. Nearer came the music, +the rocks rang with it, and its voice set the blood beating but to +hearken to it. That pack was great which ran a-hunting through the +silent night; and now it was night, on the other side of the slope +only, and the sound swelled so loud that those who were with me awoke +also and looked forth. Now of a sudden a great koodoo bull appeared +for an instant standing out against the sky on the crest of the ridge, +then vanished in the shadow. He was running towards us; presently we +saw him again speeding on his path with great bounds. We saw this also +--forms grey and gaunt and galloping, in number countless, that leaped +along his path, appearing on the crest of the rise, disappearing into +the shadow, seen again on the slope, lost in the valley; and with them +two other shapes, the shapes of men. + +Now the big buck bounded past us not half a spear's throw away, and +behind him streamed the countless wolves, and from the throats of the +wolves went up that awful music. And who were these two that came with +the wolves, shapes of men great and strong? They ran silently and +swift, wolves' teeth gleamed upon their heads, wolves' hides hung +about their shoulders. In the hands of one was an axe--the moonlight +shone upon it--in the hand of the other a heavy club. Neck and neck +they ran; never before had we seen men travel so fast. See! they sped +down the slope towards us; the wolves were left behind, all except +four of them; we heard the beating of their feet; they came, they +passed, they were gone, and with them their unnumbered company. The +music grew faint, it died, it was dead; the hunt was far away, and the +night was still again! + +"Now, my brethren," I asked of those who were with me, "what is this +that we have seen?" + +Then one answered, "We have seen the Ghosts who live in the lap of the +old Witch, and those men are the Wolf-Brethren, the wizards who are +kings of the Ghosts." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +MOPO REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE SLAUGHTERER + +All that night we watched, but we neither saw nor heard any more of +the wolves, nor of the men who hunted with them. On the morrow, at +dawn, I sent a runner to Bulalio, chief of the People of the Axe, +saying that a messenger came to him from Dingaan, the king, who +desired to speak with him in peace within the gates of his kraal. I +charged the messenger, however, that he should not tell my name, but +should say only that it was "Mouth of Dingaan." Then I and those with +me followed slowly on the path of the man whom I sent forward, for the +way was still far, and I had bidden him return and meet me bearing the +words of the Slaughterer, Holder of the Axe. + +All that day till the sun grew low we talked round the base of the +great Ghost Mountain, following the line of the river. We met no one, +but once we came to the ruins of a kraal, and in it lay the broken +bones of many men, and with the bones rusty assegais and the remains +of ox-hide shields, black and white in colour. Now I examined the +shields, and knew from their colour that they had been carried in the +hands of those soldiers who, years ago, were sent out by Chaka to seek +for Umslopogaas, but who had returned no more. + +"Now," I said, "it has fared ill with those soldiers of the Black One +who is gone, for I think that these are the shields they bore, and +that their eyes once looked upon the world through the holes in yonder +skulls." + +"These are the shields they bore, and those are the skulls they wore," +answered one. "See, Mopo, son of Makedama, this is no man's work that +has brought them to their death. Men do not break the bones of their +foes in pieces as these bones are broken. Wow! men do not break them, +but wolves do, and last night we saw wolves a-hunting; nor did they +hunt alone, Mopo. Wow! this is a haunted land!" + +Then we went on in silence, and all the way the stone face of the +Witch who sits aloft forever stared down on us from the mountain top. +At length, an hour before sundown, we came to the open lands, and +there, on the crest of a rise beyond the river, we saw the kraal of +the People of the Axe. It was a great kraal and well built, and their +cattle were spread about the plains like to herds of game for number. +We went to the river and passed it by the ford, then sat down and +waited, till presently I saw the man whom I had sent forward returning +towards us. He came and saluted me, and I asked him for news. + +"This is my news, Mopo," he said: "I have seen him who is named +Bulalio, and he is a great man--long and lean, with a fierce face, and +carrying a mighty axe, such an axe as he bore last night who hunted +with the wolves. When I had been led before the chief I saluted him +and spoke to him--the words you laid upon my tongue I told to him. He +listened, then laughed aloud, and said: 'Tell him who sent you that +the mouth of Dingaan shall be welcome, and shall speak the words of +Dingaan in peace; yet I would that it were the head of Dingaan that +came and not his mouth only, for then Axe Groan-Maker would join in +our talk--ay, because of one Mopo, whom his brother Chaka murdered, it +would also speak with Dingaan. Still, the mouth is not the head, so +the mouth may come in peace.'" + +Now I started when for the second time I heard talk of one Mopo, whose +name had been on the lips of Bulalio the Slaughterer. Who was there +that would thus have loved Mopo except one who was long dead? And yet, +perhaps the chief spoke of some other Mopo, for the name was not my +own only--in truth, Chaka had killed a chief of that name at the great +mourning, because he said that two Mopos in the land were one too +many, and that though this Mopo wept sorely when the tears of others +were dry. So I said only that this Bulalio had a high stomach, and we +went on to the gates of the kraal. + +There were none to meet us at the gates, and none stood by the doors +of the huts within them, but beyond, from the cattle kraal that was in +the centre of the huts, rose a dust and a din as of men gathering for +war. Now some of those were with me were afraid, and would have turned +back, fearing treachery, and they were yet more afraid when, on coming +to the inner entrance of the cattle kraal, we saw some five hundred +soldiers being mustered there company by company, by two great men, +who ran up and down the ranks shouting. + +But I cried, "Nay! nay! Turn not back! Bold looks melt the hearts of +foes. Moreover, if this Bulalio would have murdered us, there was no +need for him to call up so many of his warriors. He is a proud chief, +and would show his might, not knowing that the king we serve can +muster a company for every man he has. Let us go on boldly." + +So we walked forward towards the impi that was gathered on the further +side of the kraal. Now the two great men who were marshalling the +soldiers saw us, and came to meet us, one following the other. He who +came first bore the axe upon his shoulder, and he who followed swung a +huge club. I looked upon the foremost of them, and ah! my father, my +heart grew faint with joy, for I knew him across the years. It was +Umslopogaas! my fosterling, Umslopogaas! and none other, now grown +into manhood--ay, into such a man as was not to be found beside him in +Zululand. He was great and fierce, somewhat spare in frame, but wide +shouldered and shallow flanked. His arms were long and not over big, +but the muscles stood out on them like knots in a rope; his legs were +long also, and very thick beneath the knee. His eye was like an +eagle's, his nose somewhat hooked, and he held his head a little +forward, as a man who searches continually for a hidden foe. He seemed +to walk slowly, and yet he came swiftly, but with a gliding movement +like that of a wolf or a lion, and always his fingers played round the +horn handle of the axe Groan-Maker. As for him who followed, he was +great also, shorter than Umslopogaas by the half of a head, but of a +sturdier build. His eyes were small, and twinkled unceasingly like +little stars, and his look was very wild, for now and again he +grinned, showing his white teeth. + +When I saw Umslopogaas, my father, my bowels melted within me, and I +longed to run to him and throw myself upon his neck. Yet I took +council with myself and did not--nay, I dropped the corner of the +kaross I wrote over my eyes, hiding my face lest he should know me. +Presently he stood before me, searching me out with his keen eyes, for +I drew forward to greet him. + +"Greeting, Mouth of Dingaan!" he said in a loud voice. "You are a +little man to be the mouth of so big a chief." + +"The mouth is a little member, even of the body of a great king, O +Chief Bulalio, ruler of the People of the Axe, wizard of the wolves +that are upon the Ghost Mountain, who aforetime was named Umslopogaas, +son of Mopo, son of Makedama." + +Now when Umslopogaas heard these words he started like a child at a +rustling in the dark and stared hard at me. + +"You are well instructed," he said. + +"The ears of the king are large, if his mouth be small, O Chief +Bulalio," I answered, "and I, who am but the mouth, speak what the +ears have heard." + +"How know you that I have dwelt with the wolves upon the Ghost +Mountain, O Mouth?" he asked. + +"The eyes of the king see far, O Chief Bulalio. Thus last night they +saw a great chase and a merry. It seems that they saw a koodoo bull +running at speed, and after him countless wolves making their music, +and with the wolves two men clad in wolves' skins, such men as you, +Bulalio, and he with the club who follows you." + +Now Umslopogaas lifted the axe Groan-Maker as though he would cut me +down, then let it fall again, while Galazi the Wolf glared at me with +wide-opened eyes. + +"How know you that once I was named Umslopogaas, who have lost that +name these many days? Speak, O Mouth, lest I kill you." + +"Slay if you will, Umslopogaas," I answered, "but know that when the +brains are scattered the mouth is dumb. He who scatters brains loses +wisdom." + +"Answer!" he said. + +"I answer not. Who are you that I should answer you? I know; it is +enough. To my business." + +Now Umslopogaas ground his teeth in anger. "I am not wont to be +thwarted here in my own kraal," he said; "but do your business. Speak +it, little Mouth." + +"This is my business, little Chief. When the Black One who is gone yet +lived, you sent him a message by one Masilo--such a message as his +ears had never heard, and that had been your death, O fool puffed up +with pride, but death came first upon the Black One, and his hand was +stayed. Now Dingaan, whose shadow lies upon the land, the king whom I +serve, and who sits in the place of the Black One who is gone, speaks +to you by me, his mouth. He would know this: if it is true that you +refuse to own his sovereignty, to pay tribute to him in men and maids +and cattle, and to serve him in his wars? Answer, you little headman! +--answer in few words and short!" + +Now Umslopogaas gasped for breath in his rage, and again he fingered +the great axe. "It is well for you, O Mouth," he said, "that I swore +safe conduct to you, else you had not gone hence--else you had been +served as I served certain soldiers who in bygone years were sent to +search out one Umslopogaas. Yet I answer you in few words and short. +Look on those spears--they are but a fourth part of the number I can +muster: that is my answer. Look now on yonder mountain, the mountain +of ghosts and wolves--unknown, impassable, save to me and one other: +that is my answer. Spears and mountains shall come together--the +mountain shall be alive with spears and with the fangs of beasts. Let +Dingaan seek his tribute there! I have spoken!" + +Now I laughed shrilly, desiring to try the heart of Umslopogaas, my +fosterling, yet further. + +"Fool!" I said. "Boy with the brain of a monkey, for every spear you +have Dingaan, whom I serve, can send a hundred, and your mountain +shall be stamped flat; and for your ghosts and wolves, see, with the +mouth of Dingaan I spit upon them!" and I spat upon the ground. + +Now Umslopogaas shook in his rage, and the great axe glimmered as he +shook. He turned to the captain who was behind him, and said: "Say, +Galazi the Wolf, shall we kill this man and those with him?" + +"Nay," answered the Wolf, grinning, "do not kill them; you have given +them safe conduct. Moreover, let them go back to their dog of a king, +that he may send out his puppies to do battle with our wolves. It will +be a pretty fight." + +"Get you gone, O Mouth," said Umslopogaas; "get you gone swiftly, lest +mischief befall you! Without my gates you shall find food to satisfy +your hunger. Eat of it and begone, for if to-morrow at the noon you +are found within a spear's throw of this kraal, you and those with you +shall bide there forever, O Mouth of Dingaan the king!" + +Now I made as though I would depart, then, turning suddenly, I spoke +once more, saying:-- + +"There were words in your message to the Black One who is dead of a +certain man--nay, how was he named?--of a certain Mopo." + +Now Umslopogaas started as one starts who is wounded by a spear, and +stared at me. + +"Mopo! What of Mopo, O Mouth, whose eyes are veiled? Mopo is dead, +whose son I was!" + +"Ah!" I said, "yes, Mopo is dead--that is, the Black One who is gone +killed a certain Mopo. How came it, O Bulalio, that you were his son?" + +"Mopo is dead," quoth Umslopogaas again; "he is dead with all his +house, his kraal is stamped flat, and that is why I hated the Black +One, and therefore I hate Dingaan, his brother, and will be as are +Mopo and the house of Mopo before I pay him tribute of a single ox." + +All this while I had spoken to Umslopogaas in a feigned voice, my +father, but now I spoke again and in my own voice, saying:-- + +"So! Now you speak from your heart, young man, and by digging I have +reached the root of the matter. It is because of this dead dog of a +Mopo that you defy the king." + +Umslopogaas heard the voice, and trembled no more with anger, but +rather with fear and wonder. He looked at me hard, answering nothing. + +"Have you a hut near by, O Chief Bulalio, foe of Dingaan the king, +where I, the mouth of the king, may speak with you a while apart, for +I would learn your message word by word that I may deliver it without +fault. Fear not, Slaughterer, to sit alone with me in an empty hut! I +am unarmed and old, and there is that in your hand which I should +fear," and I pointed to the axe. + +Now Umslopogaas, still shaking in his limbs, answered "Follow me, O +Mouth, and you, Galazi, stay with these men." + +So I followed Umslopogaas, and presently we came to a large hut. He +pointed to the doorway, and I crept through it and he followed after +me. Now for a while it seemed dark in the hut, for the sun was sinking +without and the place was full of shadow; so I waited while a man +might count fifty, till our eyes could search the darkness. Then of a +sudden I threw the blanket from my face and looked into the yes of +Umslopogaas. + +"Look on me now, O Chief Bulalio, O Slaughterer, who once was named +Umslopogaas--look on me and say who am I?" Then he looked at me and +his jaw fell. + +"Either you are Mopo my father grown old--Mopo, who is dead, or the +Ghost of Mopo," he answered in a low voice. + +"I am Mopo, your father, Umslopogaas," I said. "You have been long in +knowing me, who knew you from the first." + +Then Umslopogaas cried aloud, but yet softly, and letting fall the axe +Groan-Maker, he flung himself upon my breast and wept there. And I +wept also. + +"Oh! my father," he said, "I thought that you were dead with the +others, and now you have come back to me, and I, I would have lifted +the axe against you in my folly. Oh, it is well that I have lived, and +not died, since once more I look upon your face--the face that I +thought dead, but which yet lives, though it be sorely changed, as +though by grief and years." + +"Peace, Umslopogaas, my son," I said. "I also deemed you dead in the +lion's mouth, though in truth it seemed strange to me that any other +man than Umslopogaas could have wrought the deeds which I have heard +of as done by Bulalio, Chief of the People of the Axe--ay, and thrown +defiance in the teeth of Chaka. But you are not dead, and I, I am not +dead. It was another Mopo whom Chaka killed; I slew Chaka, Chaka did +not slay me." + +"And of Nada, what of Nada, my sister?" he said. + +"Macropha, your mother, and Nada, your sister, are dead, Umslopogaas. +They are dead at the hands of the people of the Halakazi, who dwell in +Swaziland." + +"I have heard of that people," he answered presently, "and so has +Galazi the Wolf, yonder. He has a hate to satisfy against them--they +murdered his father; now I have two, for they have murdered my mother +and my sister. Ah, Nada, my sister! Nada, my sister!" and the great +man covered his face with his hands, and rocked himself to and fro in +his grief. + +Now, my father, it came into my thoughts to make the truth plain to +Umslopogaas, and tell him that Nada was no sister of his, and that he +was no son of mine, but rather of that Chaka whom my hand had +finished. And yet I did not, though now I would that I had done so. +For I saw well how great was the pride and how high was the heart of +Umslopogaas, and I saw also that if once he should learn that the +throne of Zululand was his by right, nothing could hold him back, for +he would swiftly break into open rebellion against Dingaan the king, +and in my judgment the time was not ripe for that. Had I known, +indeed, but one short year before that Umslopogaas still lived, he had +sat where Dingaan sat this day; but I did not know it, and the chance +had gone by for a while. Now Dingaan was king and mustered many +regiments about him, for I had held him back from war, as in the case +of the raid that he wished to make upon the Swazis. The chance had +gone by, but it would come again, and till it came I must say nothing. +I would do this rather, I would bring Dingaan and Umslopogaas +together, that Umslopogaas might become known in the land as a great +chief and the first of warriors. Then I would cause him to be advanced +to be an induna, and a general ready to lead the impis of the king, +for he who leads the impis is already half a king. + +So I held my peace upon this matter, but till the dawn was grey +Umslopogaas and I sat together and talked, each telling the tale of +those years that had gone since he was borne from me in the lion's +mouth. I told him how all my wives and children had been killed, how I +had been put to the torment, and showed him my white and withered +hand. I told him also of the death of Baleka, my sister, and of all my +people of the Langeni, and of how I had revenged my wrongs upon Chaka, +and made Dingaan to be king in his place, and was now the first man in +the land under the king, though the king feared me much and loved me +little. But I did not tell him that Baleka, my sister, was his own +mother. + +When I had done my tale, Umslopogaas told me his: how Galazi had +rescued him from the lioness; how he became one of the Wolf-Brethren; +how he had conquered Jikiza and the sons of Jikiza, and become chief +of the People of the Axe, and taken Zinita to wife, and grown great in +the land. + +I asked him how it came about that he still hunted with the wolves as +he had done last night. He answered that now he was great and there +was nothing more to win, and at times a weariness of life came upon +him, and then he must up, and together with Galazi hunt and harry with +the wolves, for thus only could he find rest. + +I said that I would show him better game to hunt before all was done, +and asked him further if he loved his wife, Zinita. Umslopogaas +answered that he would love her better if she loved him not so much, +for she was jealous and quick to anger, and that was a sorrow to him. +Then, when he had slept awhile, he led me from the hut, and I and +my people were feasted with the best, and I spoke with Zinita and with +Galazi the Wolf. For the last, I liked him well. This was a good man +to have at one's back in battle; but my heart spoke to me against +Zinita. She was handsome and tall, but with fierce eyes which always +watched Umslopogaas, my fosterling; and I noted that he who was +fearless of all other things yet seemed to fear Zinita. Neither did +she love me, for when she saw how the Slaughterer clung to me, as it +wee, instantly she grew jealous--as already she was jealous of Galazi +--and would have been rid of me if she might. Thus it came about that +my heart spoke against Zinita; nor did it tell me worse things of her +than those which she was to do. + + + +CHATPER XXIV + +THE SLAYING OF THE BOERS + +On the morrow I led Umslopogaas apart, and spoke to him thus:-- + +"My son, yesterday, when you did not know me except as the Mouth of +Dingaan, you charged me with a certain message for Dingaan the king, +that, had it been delivered into the ears of the king, had surely +brought death upon you and all your people. The tree that stands by +itself on a plain, Umslopogaas, thinks itself tall and that there is +no shade to equal its shade. Yet are there other and bigger trees. You +are such a solitary tree, Umslopogaas, but the topmost branches of him +whom I serve are thicker than your trunk, and beneath his shadow live +many woodcutters, who go out to lop those that would grow too high. +You are no match for Dingaan, though, dwelling here alone in an empty +land, you have grown great in your own eyes and in the eyes of those +about you. Moreover, Umslopogaas, know this: Dingaan already hates you +because of the words which in bygone years you sent by Masilo the fool +to the Black One who is dead, for he heard those words, and it is his +will to eat you up. He has sent me hither for one reason only, to be +rid of me awhile, and, whatever the words I bring back to him, the end +will be the same--that night shall come when you will find an impi at +your gates." + +"Then what need to talk more of the matter, my father?" asked +Umslopogaas. "That will come which must come. Let me wait here for the +impi of Dingaan, and fight till I do." + +"Not so, Umslopogaas, my son; there are more ways of killing a man +than by the assegai, and a crooked stick can still be bent straight in +the stream. It is my desire, Umslopogaas, that instead of hate Dingaan +should give you love; instead of death, advancement; and that you +shall grow great in his shadow. Listen! Dingaan is not what Chaka was, +though, like Chaka, he is cruel. This Dingaan is a fool, and it may +well come about that a man can be found who, growing up in his shadow, +in the end shall overshadow him. I might do it--I myself; but I am +old, and, being worn with sorrow, have no longing to rule. But you are +young, Umslopogaas, and there is no man like you in the land. +Moreover, there are other matters of which it is not well to speak, +that shall serve you as a raft whereon to swim to power." + +Now Umslopogaas glanced up sharply, for in those days he was +ambitious, and desired to be first among the people. Indeed, having +the blood of Chaka in his veins, how could it be otherwise? + +"What is your plan, my father?" he asked. "Say how can this be brought +about?" + +"This and thus, Umslopogaas. Among the tribe of the Halakazi in +Swaziland there dwells a maid who is named the Lily. She is a girl of +the most wonderful beauty, and Dingaan is afire with longing to have +her to wife. Now, awhile since Dingaan dispatched an embassy to the +chief of the Halakazi asking the Lily in marriage, and the chief of +the Halakazi sent back insolent words, saying that the Beauty of the +Earth should be given to no Zulu dog as a wife. Then Dingaan was +angry, and he would have gathered his impis and sent them against the +Halakazi to destroy them, and bring him the maid, but I held him back +from it, saying that now was no time to begin a new war; and it is for +this cause that Dingaan hates me, he is so set upon the plucking of +the Swazi Lily. Do you understand now, Umslopogaas?" + +"Something," he answered. "But speak clearly." + +"Wow, Umslopogaas! Half words are better than whole ones in this land +of ours. Listen, then! This is my plan: that you should fall upon the +Halakazi tribe, destroy it, and bring back the maid as a peace- +offering to Dingaan." + +"That is a good plan, my father," he answered. "At the least, maid or +no maid, there will be fighting in it, and cattle to divide when the +fighting is done." + +"First conquer, then reckon up the spoils, Umslopogaas." + +Now he thought awhile, then said, "Suffer that I summon Galazi the +Wolf, my captain. Do not fear, he is trusty and a man of few words." + +Presently Galazi came and sat down before us. Then I put the matter to +him thus: that Umslopogaas would fall upon the Halakazi and bring to +Dingaan the maid he longed for as a peace-offering, but that I wished +to hold him back from the venture because the Halakazi people were +great and strong. I spoke in this sense so that I might have a door to +creep out should Galazi betray the plot; and Umslopogaas read my +purpose, though my craft was needless, for Galazi was a true man. + +Galazi the Wolf listened in silence till I had finished, then he +answered quietly, but it seemed to me that a fire shone in his eyes as +he spoke:-- + +"I am chief by right of the Halakazi, O Mouth of Dingaan, and know +them well. They are a strong people, and can put two full regiments +under arms, whereas Bulalio here can muster but one regiment, and that +a small one. Moreover, they have watchmen out by night and day, and +spies scattered through the land, so that it will be hard to take them +unawares; also their stronghold is a vast cave open to the sky in the +middle, and none have won that stronghold yet, nor could it be found +except by those who know its secret. They are few, yet I am one of +them, for my father showed it to me when I was a lad. Therefore, Mouth +of Dingaan, you will know that this is no easy task which Bulalio +would set himself and us--to conquer the Halakazi. That is the face of +the matter so far as it concerns Bulalio, but for me, O Mouth, it has +another face. Know that, long years ago, I swore to my father as he +lay dying by the poison of a witch of this people that I would not +rest till I had avenged him--ay, till I had stamped out the Halakazi, +and slain their men, and brought their women to the houses of +strangers, and their children to bonds! Year by year and month by +month, and night by night, as I have lain alone upon the Ghost +Mountain yonder, I have wondered how I might bring my oath to pass, +and found no way. Now it seems that there is a way, and I am glad. Yet +this is a great adventure, and perhaps before it is done with the +People of the Axe will be no more." And he ceased and took snuff, +watching our faces over the spoon. + +"Galazi the Wolf," said Umslopogaas, "for me also the matter has +another face. You have lost your father at the hands of these Halakazi +dogs, and, though till last night I did not know it, I have lost my +mother by their spears, and with her one whom I loved above all in the +world, my sister Nada, who loved me also. Both are dead and the +Halakazi have killed them. This man, the mouth of Dingaan," and he +pointed to me, Mopo, "this man says that if I can stamp out the +Halakazi and make captive of the Lily maid, I shall win the heart of +Dingaan. Little do I care for Dingaan, I who would go my way alone, +and live while I may live, and die when I must, by the hands of +Dingaan as by those of another--what does it matter? Yet, for this +reason, because of the death of Macropha, my mother, and Nada, the +sister who was dear to me, I will make war upon these Halakazi and +conquer them, or be conquered by them. Perhaps, O Mouth of Dingaan, +you will see me soon at the king's kraal on the Mahlabatine, and with +me the Lily maid and the cattle of the Halakazi; or perhaps you shall +not see me, and then you will know that I am dead, and the Warriors of +the Axe are no more." + +So Umslopogaas spoke to me before Galazi the Wolf, but afterwards he +embraced me and bade me farewell, for he had no great hope that we +should meet again. And I also doubted it; for, as Galazi said, the +adventure was great; yet, as I had seen many times, it is the bold +thrower who oftenest wins. So we parted--I to return to Dingaan and +tell him that Bulalio, Chief of the People of the Axe, had gone up +against the Halakazi to win the Lily maid and bring her to him in +atonement; while Umslopogaas remained to make ready his impi for war. + +I went swiftly from the Ghost Mountain back to the kraal +Umgugundhlovu, and presented myself before Dingaan, who at first +looked on me coldly. But when I told him my message, and how that the +Chief Bulalio the Slaughterer had taken the war-path to win him the +Lily, his manner changed. He took me by the hand and said that I had +done well, and he had been foolish to doubt me when I lifted up my +voice to persuade him from sending an impi against the Halakazi. Now +he saw that it was my purpose to rake this Halakazi fire with another +hand than his, and to save his hand from the burning, and he thanked +me. + +Moreover, he said, that if this Chief of the People of the Axe brought +him the maid his heart desired, not only would he forgive him the +words he had spoken by the mouth of Masilo to the Black One who was +dead, but also all the cattle of the Halakazi should be his, and he +would make him great in the land. I answered that all this was as the +king willed. I had but done my duty by the king and worked so that, +whatever befell, a proud chief should be weakened and a foe should be +attacked at no cost to the king, in such fashion also that perhaps it +might come about that the king would shortly have the Lily at his +side. + +Then I sat down to wait what might befall. + +Now it is, my father, that the white men come into my story, whom we +named the Amaboona, but you call the Boers. Ou! I think ill of those +Amaboona, though it was I who gave them the victory over Dingaan--I +and Umslopogaas. + +Before this time, indeed, a few white men had come to and fro to the +kraals of Chaka and Dingaan, but these came to pray and not to fight. +Now the Boers both fight and pray, also they steal, or used to steal, +which I do not understand, for the prayers of you white men say that +these things should not be done. + +Well, when I had been back from the Ghost Mountain something less than +a moon, the Boers came, sixty of them commanded by a captain named +Retief, a big man, and armed with roers--the long guns they had in +those days--or, perhaps they numbered a hundred in all, counting their +servants and after-riders. This was their purpose: to get a grant of +the land in Natal that lies between the Tugela and the Umzimoubu +rivers. But, by my council and that of other indunas, Dingaan, +bargained with the Boers that first they should attack a certain chief +named Sigomyela, who had stolen some of the king's cattle, and who +lived near the Quathlamba Mountains, and bring back those cattle. This +the Boers agreed to, and went to attack the chief, and in a little +while they came back again, having destroyed the people of Sigomyela, +and driving his cattle before them as well as those which had been +stolen from the king. + +The face of Dingaan shone when he saw the cattle, and that night he +called us, the council of the Amapakati, together, and asked us as to +the granting of the country. I spoke the first, and said that it +mattered little if he granted it, seeing that the Black One who was +dead had already given it to the English, the People of George, and +the end of the matter would be that the Amaboona and the People of +George would fight for the land. Yet the words of the Black One were +coming to pass, for already it seemed we could hear the sound of the +running of a white folk who should eat up the kingdom. + +Now when I had spoken thus the heart of Dingaan grew heavy and his +face dark, for my words stuck in his breast like a barbed spear. +Still, he made no answer, but dismissed the council. + +On the morrow the king promised to sign the paper giving the lands +they asked for to the Boers, and all was smooth as water when there is +no wind. Before the paper was signed the king gave a great dance, for +there were many regiments gathered at the kraal, and for three days +this dance went on, but on the third day he dismissed the regiments, +all except one, an impi of lads, who were commanded to stay. Now all +this while I wondered what was in the mind of Dingaan and was afraid +for the Amaboona. But he was secret, and told nothing except to the +captains of the regiment alone--no, not even to one of his council. +Yet I knew that he planned evil, and was half inclined to warn the +Captain Retief, but did not, fearing to make myself foolish. Ah! my +father, if I had spoken, how many would have lived who were soon dead! +But what does it matter? In any case most of them would have been dead +by now. + +On the fourth morning, early, Dingaan sent a messenger to the Boers, +bidding them meet him in the cattle kraal, for there he would mark the +paper. So they came, stacking their guns at the gate of the kraal, for +it was death for any man, white or black, to come armed before the +presence of the king. Now, my father, the kraal Umgugundhlovu was +built in a great circle, after the fashion of royal kraals. First came +the high outer fence, then the thousands of huts that ran three parts +round between the great fence and the inner one. Within this inner +fence was the large open space, big enough to hold five regiments, and +at the top of it--opposite the entrance--stood the cattle kraal +itself, that cut off a piece of the open space by another fence bent +like a bow. Behind this again were the Emposeni, the place of the +king's women, the guard-house, the labyrinth, and the Intunkulu, the +house of the king. Dingaan came out on that day and sat on a stool in +front of the cattle kraal, and by him stood a man holding a shield +over his head to keep the sun from him. Also we of the Amapakati, the +council, were there, and ranged round the fence of the space, armed +with short sticks only--not with kerries, my father--was that regiment +of young men which Dingaan had not sent away, the captain of the +regiment being stationed near to the king, on the right. + +Presently the Boers came in on foot and walked up to the king in a +body, and Dingaan greeted them kindly and shook hands with Retief, +their captain. Then Retief drew the paper from a leather pouch, which +set out the boundaries of the grant of land, and it was translated to +the king by an interpreter. Dingaan said that it was good, and put his +mark upon it, and Retief and all the Boers were pleased, and smiled +across their faces. Now they would have said farewell, but Dingaan +forbade them, saying that they must not go yet: first they must eat +and see the soldiers dance a little, and he commanded dishes of boiled +flesh which had been made ready and bowls of milk to be brought to +them. The Boers said that they had already eaten; still, they drank +the milk, passing the bowls from hand to hand. + +Now the regiment began to dance, singing the Ingomo, that is the war +chant of us Zulus, my father, and the Boers drew back towards the +centre of the space to give the soldiers room to dance in. It was at +this moment that I heard Dingaan give an order to a messenger to run +swiftly to the white Doctor of Prayers, who was staying without the +kraal, telling him not to be afraid, and I wondered what this might +mean; for why should the Prayer Doctor fear a dance such as he had +often seen before? Presently Dingaan rose, and, followed by all, +walked through the press to where the Captain Retief stood, and bade +him good-bye, shaking him by the hand and bidding him hambla gachle, +to go in peace. Then he turned and walked back again towards the +gateway which led to his royal house, and I saw that near this +entrance stood the captain of the regiments, as one stands by who +waits for orders. + +Now, of a sudden, my father, Dingaan stopped and cried with a loud +voice, "Bulalani Abatakati!" (slay the wizards), and having cried it, +he covered his face with the corner of his blanket, and passed behind +the fence. + +We, the councillors, stood astounded, like men who had become stone; +but before we could speak or act the captain of the regiment had also +cried aloud, "Bulalani Abatakati!" and the signal was caught up from +every side. Then, my father, came a yell and a rush of thousands of +feet, and through the clouds of dust we saw the soldiers hurl +themselves upon the Amaboona, and above the shouting we heard the +sound of falling sticks. The Amaboona drew their knives and fought +bravely, but before a man could count a hundred twice it was done, and +they were being dragged, some few dead, but the most yet living, +towards the gates of the kraal and out on to the Hill of Slaughter, +and there, on the Hill of Slaughter, they were massacred, every one of +them. How? Ah! I will not tell you--they were massacred and piled in a +heap, and that was the end of their story, my father. + +Now I and the other councillors turned away and walked silently +towards the house of the king. We found him standing before his great +hut, and, lifting our hands, we saluted him silently, saying no word. +It was Dingaan who spoke, laughing a little as he spoke, like a man +who is uneasy in his mind. + +"Ah, my captains," he said, "when the vultures plumed themselves this +morning, and shrieked to the sky for blood, they did not look for such +a feast as I have given them. And you, my captains, you little guessed +how great a king the Heavens have set to rule over you, nor how deep +is the mind of the king that watches ever over his people's welfare. +Now the land is free from the White Wizards of whose footsteps the +Black One croaked as he gave up his life, or soon shall be, for this +is but a beginning. Ho! Messengers!" and he turned to some men who +stood behind him, "away swiftly to the regiments that are gathered +behind the mountains, away to them, bearing the king's words to the +captains. This is the king's word: that the impi shall run to the land +of Natal and slay the Boers there, wiping them out, man, woman, and +child. Away!" + +Now the messengers cried out the royal salute of Bayete, and, leaping +forward like spears from the hand of the thrower, were gone at once. +But we, the councillors, the members of the Amapakati, still stood +silent. + +Then Dingaan spoke again, addressing me:-- + +"Is thy heart at rest now, Mopo, son of Makedama? Ever hast thou +bleated in my ear of this white people and of the deeds that they +shall do, and lo! I have blown upon them with my breath and they are +gone. Say, Mopo, are the Amaboona wizards yonder all dead? If any be +left alive, I desire to speak with one of them." + +Then I looked Dingaan in the face and spoke. + +"They are all dead, and thou, O King, thou also art dead." + +"It were well for thee, thou dog," said Dingaan, "that thou shouldst +make thy meaning plain." + +"Let the king pardon me," I answered; "this is my meaning. Thou canst +not kill this white men, for they are not of one race, but of many +races, and the sea is their home; they rise out of the black water. +Destroy those that are here, and others shall come to avenge them, +more and more and more! Now thou hast smitten in thy hour; in theirs +they shall smite in turn. Now THEY lie low in blood at thy hand; in a +day to come, O King, THOU shalt lie low in blood at theirs. Madness +has taken hold of thee, O King, that thou hast done this thing, and +the fruit of thy madness shall be thy death. I have spoken, I, who am +the king's servant. Let the will of the king be done." + +Then I stood still waiting to be killed, for, my father, in the fury +of my heart at the wickedness which had been worked I could not hold +back my words. Thrice Dingaan looked on me with a terrible face, and +yet there was fear in his face striving with its rage, and I waited +calmly to see which would conquer, the fear or the rage. When at last +he spoke, it was one word, "Go!" not three words, "Take him away." So +I went yet living, and with me the councillors, leaving the king +alone. + +I went with a heavy heart, my father, for of all the evil sights that +I have seen it seemed to me that this was the most evil--that the +Amaboona should be slaughtered thus treacherously, and that the impis +should be sent out treacherously to murder those who were left of +them, together with their women and children. Ay, and they slew--six +hundred of them did they slay--yonder in Weenen, the land of weeping. + +Say, my father, why does the Umkulunkulu who sits in the Heavens above +allow such things to be done on the earth beneath? I have heard the +preaching of the white men, and they say that they know all about Him +--that His names are Power and Mercy and Love. Why, then, does He +suffer these things to be done--why does He suffer such men as Chaka +and Dingaan to torment the people of the earth, and in the end pay +them but one death for all the thousands that they have given to +others? Because of the wickedness of the peoples, you say; but no, no, +that cannot be, for do not the guiltless go with the guilty--ay, do +not the innocent children perish by the hundred? Perchance there is +another answer, though who am I, my father, that I, in my folly, +should strive to search out the way of the Unsearchable? Perchance it +is but a part of the great plan, a little piece of that pattern of +which I spoke--the pattern on the cup that holds the waters of His +wisdom. Wow! I do not understand, who am but a wild man, nor have I +found more knowledge in the hearts of you tamed white people. You know +many things, but of these you do not know: you cannot tell us what we +were an hour before birth, nor what we shall be an hour after death, +nor why we were born, nor why we die. You can only hope and believe-- +that is all, and perhaps, my father, before many days are sped I shall +be wiser than all of you. For I am very aged, the fire of my life +sinks low--it burns in my brain alone; there it is still bright, but +soon that will go out also, and then perhaps I shall understand. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE WAR WITH THE HALAKAZI PEOPLE + +Now, my father, I must tell of how Umslopogaas the Slaughterer and +Galazi the Wolf fared in their war against the People of the Halakazi. +When I had gone from the shadow of the Ghost Mountain, Umslopogaas +summoned a gathering of all his headmen, and told them it was his +desire that the People of the Axe should no longer be a little people; +that they should grow great and number their cattle by tens of +thousands. + +The headmen asked how this might be brought about--would he then make +war on Dingaan the King? Umslopogaas answered no, he would win the +favour of the king thus: and he told them of the Lily maid and of the +Halakazi tribe in Swaziland, and of how he would go up against that +tribe. Now some of the headmen said yea to this and some said nay, and +the talk ran high and lasted till the evening. But when the evening +was come Umslopogaas rose and said that he was chief under the Axe, +and none other, and it was his will that they should go up against the +Halakazi. If there was any man there who would gainsay his will, let +him stand forward and do battle with him, and he who conquered should +order all things. To this there was no answer, for there were few who +cared to face the beak of Groan-Maker, and so it came about that it +was agreed that the People of the Axe should make war upon the +Halakazi, and Umslopogaas sent out messengers to summon every +fighting-man to his side. + +But when Zinita, his head wife, came to hear of the matter she was +angry, and upbraided Umslopogaas, and heaped curses on me, Mopo, whom +she knew only as the mouth of Dingaan, because, as she said truly, I +had put this scheme into the mind of the Slaughterer. "What!" she went +on, "do you not live here in peace and plenty, and must you go to make +war on those who have not harmed you; there, perhaps, to perish or to +come to other ill? You say you do this to win a girl for Dingaan and +to find favour in his sight. Has not Dingaan girls more than he can +count? It is more likely that, wearying of us, your wives, you go to +get girls for yourself, Bulalio; and as for finding favour, rest +quiet, so shall you find most favour. If the king sends his impis +against you, then it will be time to fight, O fool with little wit!" + +Thus Zinita spoke to him, very roughly--for she always blurted out +what was in her mind, and Umslopogaas could not challenge her to +battle. So he must bear her talk as best he might, for it is often +thus, my father, that the greatest of men grow small enough in their +own huts. Moreover, he knew that it was because Zinita loved him that +she spoke so bitterly. + +Now on the third day all the fighting-men were gathered, and there +might have been two thousand of them, good men and brave. Then +Umslopogaas went out and spoke to them, telling them of this +adventure, and Galazi the Wolf was with him. They listened silently, +and it was plain to see that, as in the case of the headmen, some of +them thought one thing and some another. Then Galazi spoke to them +briefly, telling them that he knew the roads and the caves and the +number of the Halakazi cattle; but still they doubted. Thereon +Umslopogaas added these words:-- + +"To-morrow, at the dawn, I, Bulalio, Holder of the Axe, Chief of the +People of the Axe, go up against the Halakazi, with Galazi the Wolf, +my brother. If but ten men follow us, yet we will go. Now, choose, you +soldiers! Let those come who will, and let those who will stop at home +with the women and the little children." + +Now a great shout rose from every throat. + +"We will go with you, Bulalio, to victory or death!" + +So on the morrow they marched, and there was wailing among the women +of the People of the Axe. Only Zinita did not wail, but stood by in +wrath, foreboding evil; nor would she bid her lord farewell, yet when +he was gone she wept also. + +Now Umslopogaas and his impi travelled fast and far, hungering and +thirsting, till at length they came to the land of the Umswazi, and +after a while entered the territory of the Halakazi by a high and +narrow pass. The fear of Galazi the Wolf was that they should find +this pass held, for though they had harmed none in the kraals as they +went, and taken only enough cattle to feed themselves, yet he knew +well that messengers had sped by day and night to warn the people of +the Halakazi. But they found no man in the pass, and on the other side +of it they rested, for the night was far spent. At dawn Umslopogaas +looked out over the wide plains beyond, and Galazi showed him a long +low hill, two hours' march away. + +"There, my brother," he said, "lies the head kraal of the Halakazi, +where I was born, and in that hill is the great cave." + +Then they went on, and before the sun was high they came to the crest +of a rise, and heard the sound of horns on its farther side. They +stood upon the rise, and looked, and lo! yet far off, but running +towards them, was the whole impi of the Halakazi, and it was a great +impi. + +"They have gathered their strength indeed," said Galazi. "For every +man of ours there are three of these Swazis!" + +The soldiers saw also, and the courage of some of them sank low. Then +Umslopogaas spoke to them:-- + +"Yonder are the Swazi dogs, my children; they are many and we are few. +Yet, shall it be told at home that we, men of the Zulu blood, were +hunted by a pack of Swazi dogs? Shall our women and children sing THAT +song in our ears, O Soldiers of the Axe?" + +Now some cried "Never!" but some were silent; so Umslopogaas spoke +again:-- + +"Turn back all who will: there is yet time. Turn back all who will, +but ye who are men come forward with me. Or if ye will, go back all of +you, and leave Axe Groan-Maker and Club Watcher to see this matter out +alone." + +Now there arose a mighty shout of "We will die together who have lived +together!" + +"Do you swear it?" cried Umslopogaas, holding Groan-Maker on high. + +"We swear it by the Axe," they answered. + +Then Umslopogaas and Galazi made ready for the battle. They posted all +the young men in the broken ground above the bottom of the slope, for +these could best be spared to the spear, and Galazi the Wolf took +command of them; but the veterans stayed upon the hillside, and with +them Umslopogaas. + +Now the Halakazi came on, and there were four full regiments of them. +The plain was black with them, the air was rent with their shoutings, +and their spears flashed like lightnings. On the farther side of the +slope they halted and sent a herald forward to demand what the People +of the Axe would have from them. The Slaughterer answered that they +would have three things: First, the head of their chief, whose place +Galazi should fill henceforth; secondly, that fair maid whom men named +the Lily; thirdly, a thousand head of cattle. If these demands were +granted, then he would spare them, the Halakazi; if not, he would +stamp them out and take all. + +So the herald returned, and when he reached the ranks of the Halakazi +he called aloud his answer. Then a great roar of laughter went up from +the Halakazi regiments, a roar that shook the earth. The brow of +Umslopogaas the Slaughterer burned red beneath the black when he heard +it, and he shook Groan-Maker towards their host. + +"Ye shall sing another song before this sun is set," he cried, and +strode along the ranks speaking to this man and that by name, and +lifting up their hearts with great words. + +Now the Halakazi raised a shout, and charged to come at the young men +led by Galazi the Wolf; but beyond the foot of the slope was peaty +ground, and they came through it heavily, and as they came Galazi and +the young men fell upon them and slew them; still, they could not hold +them back for long, because of their great numbers, and presently the +battle ranged all along the slope. But so well did Galazi handle the +young men, and so fiercely did they fight beneath his eye, that before +they could be killed or driven back all the force of the Halakazi was +doing battle with them. Ay, and twice Galazi charged with such as he +could gather, and twice he checked the Halakazi rush, throwing them +into confusion, till at length company was mixed with company and +regiment with regiment. But it might not endure, for now more than +half the young men were down, and the rest were being pushed back up +the hill, fighting madly. + +But all this while Umslopogaas and the veterans sat in their ranks +upon the brow of the slope and watched. "Those Swazi dogs have a fool +for their general," quoth Umslopogaas. "He has no men left to fall +back on, and Galazi has broken his array and mixed his regiments as +milk and cream are mixed in a bowl. They are no longer an impi, they +are a mob." + +Now the veterans moved restlessly on their haunches, pushing their +legs out and drawing them in again. They glanced at the fray, they +looked into each other's eyes and spoke a word here, a word there, +"Well smitten, Galazi! Wow! that one is down! A brave lad! Ho! a good +club is the Watcher! The fight draws near, my brother!" And ever as +they spoke their faces grew fiercer and their fingers played with +their spears. + +At length a captain called aloud to Umslopogaas:-- + +"Say, Slaughterer, is it not time to be up and doing? The grass is wet +to sit on, and our limbs grow cramped." + +"Wait awhile," answered Umslopogaas. "Let them weary of their play. +Let them weary, I tell you." + +As he spoke the Halakazi huddled themselves together, and with a rush +drove back Galazi and those who were left of the young men. Yes, at +last they were forced to flee, and after them came the Swazis, and in +the forefront of the pursuit was their chief, ringed round with a +circle of his bravest. + +Umslopogaas saw it and bounded to his feet, roaring like a bull. "At +them now, wolves!" he shouted. + +Then the lines of warriors sprang up as a wave springs, and their +crests were like foam upon the wave. As a wave that swells to break +they rose suddenly, like a breaking wave they poured down the slope. +In front of them was the Slaughterer, holding Groan-Maker aloft, and +oh! his feet were swift. So swift were his feet that, strive as they +would, he outran them by the quarter of a spear's throw. Galazi heard +the thunder of their rush; he looked round, and as he looked, lo! the +Slaughterer swept past him, running like a buck. Then Galazi, too, +bounded forward, and the Wolf-Brethren sped down the hill, the length +of four spears between them. + +The Halakazi also saw and heard, and strove to gather themselves +together to meet the rush. In front of Umslopogaas was their chief, a +tall man hedged about with assegais. Straight at the shield-hedge +drove Umslopogaas, and a score of spears were lifted to greet him, a +score of shields heaved into the air--this was a fence that none might +pass alive. Yet would the Slaughterer pass it--not alone! See! he +steadies his pace, he gathers himself together, and now he leaps! High +into the air he leaps; his feet knock the heads of the warriors and +rattle against the crowns of their shields. They smite upwards with +the spear, but he has swept over them like a swooping bird. He has +cleared them--he has lit--and now the shield-hedge guards two chiefs. +But not for long. Ou! Groan-Maker is aloft, he falls--and neither +shield nor axe may stay his stroke, both are cleft through, and the +Halakazi lack a leader. + +The shield-ring wheels in upon itself. Fools! Galazi is upon you! What +was that? Look, now! see how many bones are left unbroken in him whom +the Watcher falls on full! What!--another down! Close up, shield-men-- +close up! Ai! are you fled? + +Ah! the wave has fallen on the beach. Listen to its roaring--listen to +the roaring of the shields! Stand, you men of the Halakazi--stand! +Surely they are but a few. So! it is done! By the head of Chaka! they +break--they are pushed back--now the wave of slaughter seethes along +the sands--now the foe is swept like floating weed, and from all the +line there comes a hissing like the hissing of thin waters. "S'gee!" +says the hiss. "S'gee! S'gee!" + +There, my father, I am old. What have I do with the battle any more, +with the battle and its joy? Yet it is better to die in such a fight +as that than to live any other way. I have seen such--I have seen many +such. Oh! we could fight when I was a man, my father, but none that I +knew could ever fight like Umslopogaas the Slaughterer, son of Chaka, +and his blood-brother Galazi the Wolf! So, so! they swept them away, +those Halakazi; they swept them as a maid sweeps the dust of a hut, as +the wind sweeps the withered leaves. It was soon done when once it was +begun. Some were fled and some were dead, and this was the end of that +fight. No, no, not of all the war. The Halakazi were worsted in the +field, but many lived to win the great cave, and there the work must +be finished. Thither, then, went the Slaughterer presently, with such +of his impi as was left to him. Alas! many were killed; but how could +they have died better than in that fight? Also those who were left +were as good as all, for now they knew that they should not be +overcome easily while Axe and Club still led the way. + +Now they stood before a hill, measuring, perhaps, three thousand paces +round its base. It was of no great height, and yet unclimbable, for, +after a man had gone up a little way, the sides of it were sheer, +offering no foothold except to the rock-rabbits and the lizards. No +one was to be seen without this hill, nor in the great kraal of the +Halakazi that lay to the east of it, and yet the ground about was +trampled with the hoofs of oxen and the feet of men, and from within +the mountain came a sound of lowing cattle. + +"Here is the nest of Halakazi," quoth Galazi the Wolf. + +"Here is the nest indeed," said Umslopogaas; "but how shall we come at +the eggs to suck them? There are no branches on this tree." + +"But there is a hole in the trunk," answered the Wolf. + +Now he led them a little way till they came to a place where the soil +was trampled as it is at the entrance to a cattle kraal, and they saw +that there was a low cave which led into the cliff, like an archway +such as you white men build. but this archway was filled up with great +blocks of stone placed upon each other in such a fashion that it could +not be forced from without. After the cattle were driven in it had +been filled up. + +"We cannot enter here," said Galazi. "Follow me." + +So they followed him, and came to the north side of the mountain, and +there, two spear-casts away, a soldier was standing. But when he saw +them he vanished suddenly. + +"There is the place," said Galazi, "and the fox has gone to earth in +it." + +Now they ran to the spot and saw a little hole in the rock, scarcely +bigger than an ant-bear's burrow, and through the hole came sounds and +some light. + +"Now where is the hyena who will try a new burrow?" cried Umslopogaas. +"A hundred head of cattle to the man who wins through and clears the +way!" + +Then two young men sprang forward who were flushed with victory and +desired nothing more than to make a great name and win cattle, +crying:-- + +"Here are hyenas, Bulalio." + +"To earth, then!" said Umslopogaas, "and let him who wins through hold +the path awhile till others follow." + +The two young men sprang at the hole, and he who reached it first went +down upon his hands and knees and crawled in, lying on his shield and +holding his spear before him. For a little while the light in the +burrow vanished, and they heard the sound of his crawling. Then came +the noise of blows, and once more light crept through the hole. The +man was dead. + +"This one had a bad snake," said the second soldier; "his snake +deserted him. Let me see if mine is better." + +So down he went on his hands and knees, and crawled as the first had +done, only he put his shield over his head. For awhile they heard him +crawling, then once more came the sound of blows echoing on the +ox-hide shield, and after the blows groans. He was dead also, yet it +seemed that they had left his body in the hole, for now no light came +through. This was the cause, my father: when they struck the man he +had wriggled back a little way and died there, and none had entered +from the farther side to drag him out. + +Now the soldiers stared at the mouth of the passage and none seemed to +love the look of it, for this was but a poor way to die. Umslopogaas +and Galazi also looked at it, thinking. + +"Now I am named Wolf," said Galazi, "and a wolf should not fear the +dark; also, these are my people, and I must be the first to visit +them," and he went down on his hands and knees without more ado. But +Umslopogaas, having peered once more down the burrow, said: "Hold, +Galazi; I will go first! I have a plan. Do you follow me. And you, my +children, shout loudly, so that none may hear us move; and, if we win +through, follow swiftly, for we cannot hold the mouth of that place +for long. Hearken, also! this is my counsel to you: if I fall choose +another chief--Galazi the Wolf, if he is still living." + +"Nay, Slaughterer, do not name me," said the Wolf, "for together we +live or die." + +"So let it be, Galazi. Then choose you some other man and try this +road no more, for if we cannot pass it none can, but seek food and sit +down here till those jackals bolt; then be ready. Farewell, my +children!" + +"Farewell, father," they answered, "go warily, lest we be left like +cattle without a herdsman, wandering and desolate." + +Then Umslopogaas crept into the hole, taking no shield, but holding +Groan-Maker before him, and at his heels crept Galazi. When he had +covered the length of six spears he stretched out his hand, and, as he +trusted to do, he found the feet of that man who had gone before and +died in the place. Then Umslopogaas the way did this: he put his head +beneath the dead man's legs and thrust himself onward till all the +body was on his back, and there he held it with one hand, gripping its +two wrists in his hand. Then he crawled forward a little space and saw +that he was coming to the inner mouth of the burrow, but that the +shadow was deep there because of a great mass of rock which lay before +the burrow shutting out the light. "This is well for me," thought +Umslopogaas, "for now they will not know the dead from the living. I +may yet look upon the son again." Now he heard the Halakazi soldiers +talking without. + +"The Zulu rats do not love this run," said one, "they fear the rat- +catcher's stick. This is good sport," and a man laughed. + +Then Umslopogaas pushed himself forward as swiftly as he could, +holding the dead man on his back, and suddenly came out of the hole +into the open place in the dark shadow of the great rock. + +"By the Lily," cried a soldier, "here's a third! Take this, Zulu rat!" +And he struck the dead man heavily with a kerrie. "And that!" cried +another, driving his spear through him so that it pricked Umslopogaas +beneath. "And that! and this! and that!" said others, as they smote +and stabbed. + +Now Umslopogaas groaned heavily in the deep shadow and lay still. "No +need to waste more blows," said the man who had struck first. "This +one will never go back to Zululand, and I think that few will care to +follow him. Let us make an end: run, some of you, and find stones to +stop the burrow, for now the sport is done." + +He turned as he spoke and so did the others, and this was what the +Slaughter sought. With a swift movement, he freed himself from the +dead man and sprang to his feet. They heard the sound and turned +again, but as they turned Groan-Maker pecked softly, and that man who +had sworn by the Lily was no more a man. Then Umslopogaas leaped +forwards, and, bounding on to the great rock, stood there like a buck +against the sky. + +"A Zulu rat is not so easily slain, O ye weasels!" he cried, as they +came at him from all sides at once with a roar. He smote to the right +and the left, and so swiftly that men could scarcely see the blows +fall, for he struck with Groan-Maker's beak. But though men scarcely +saw the blows, yet, my father, men fell beneath them. Now foes were +all around, leaping up at the Slaughterer as rushing water leaps to +hide a rock--everywhere shone spears, thrusting at him from this side +and from that. Those in front and to the side Groan-Maker served to +stay, but one wounded Umslopogaas in the neck, and another was lifted +to pierce his back when the strength of its holder was bowed to the +dust--to the dust, to become of the dust. + +For now the Wolf was through the hole also, and the Watcher grew very +busy; he was so busy that soon the back of the Slaughterer had nothing +to fear--yet those had much to fear who stood behind his back. The +pair fought bravely, making a great slaughter, and presently, one by +one, plumed heads of the People of the Axe showed through the burrow +and strong arms mingled in the fray. Swiftly they came, leaping into +battle as otters leap to the water--now there were ten of them, now +there were twenty--and now the Halakazi broke and fled, since they did +not bargain for this. Then the rest of the Men of the Axe came through +in peace, and the evening grew towards the dark before all had passed +the hole. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE FINDING OF NADA + +Umslopogaas marshalled his companies. + +"There is little light left," he said, "but it must serve us to start +these conies from their burrows. Come, my brother Galazi, you know +where the conies hide, take my place and lead us." + +So Galazi led the impi. Turning a corner of the glen, he came with +them to a large open space that had a fountain in its midst, and this +place was full of thousands of cattle. Then he turned again to the +left, and brought them to the inner side of the mountain, where the +cliff hung over, and here was the mouth of a great cave. Now the cave +was dark, but by its door was stacked a pile of resinous wood to serve +as torches. + +"Here is that which will give us light," said Galazi, and one man of +every two took a torch and lit it at a fire that burned near the mouth +of the cave. Then they rushed in, waving the flaring torches and with +assegais aloft. Here for the last time the Halakazi stood against +them, and the torches floated up and down upon the wave of war. But +they did not stand for very long, for all the heart was out of them. +Wow! yes, many were killed--I do not know how many. I know this only, +that the Halakazi are no more a tribe since Umslopogaas, who is named +Bulalio, stamped them with his feet--they are nothing but a name now. +The People of the Axe drove them out into the open and finished the +fight by starlight among the cattle. + +In one corner of the cave Umslopogaas saw a knot of men clustering +round something as though to guard it. He rushed at the men, and with +him went Galazi and others. But when Umslopogaas was through, by the +light of his torch he perceived a tall and slender man, who leaned +against the wall of the cave and held a shield before his face. + +"You are a coward!" he cried, and smote with Groan-Maker. The great +axe pierced the hide, but, missing the head behind, rang loudly +against the rock, and as it struck a sweet voice said:-- + +"Ah! soldier, do not kill me! Why are you angry with me?" + +Now the shield had come away from its holder's hands upon the blade of +the axe, and there was something in the notes of the voice that caused +Umslopogaas to smite no more: it was as though a memory of childhood +had come to him in a dream. His torch was burning low, but he thrust +it forward to look at him who crouched against the rock. The dress was +the dress of a man, but this was no man's form--nay, rather that of a +lovely woman, well-nigh white in colour. She dropped her hands from +before her face, and now he could see her well. He saw eyes that shone +like stars, hair that curled and fell upon the shoulders, and such +beauty as was not known among our people. And as the voice had spoken +to him of something that was lost, so did the eyes seem to shine +across the blackness of many years, and the beauty to bring back he +knew not what. + +He looked at the girl in all her loveliness, and she looked at him in +his fierceness and his might, red with war and wounds. They both +looked long, while the torchlight flared on them, on the walls of the +cave, and the broad blade of Groan-Maker, and from around rose the +sounds of the fray. + +"How are you named, who are so fair to see?" he asked at length. + +"I am named the Lily now: once I had another name. Nada, daughter of +Mopo, I was once; but name and all else are dead, and I go to join +them. Kill me and make an end. I will shut my eyes, that I may not see +the great axe flash." + +Now Umslopogaas gazed upon her again, and Groan-Maker fell from his +hand. + +"Look on me, Nada, daughter of Mopo," he said in a low voice; "look at +me and say who am I." + +She looked once more and yet again. Now her face was thrust forward as +one who gazes over the edge of the world; it grew fixed and strange. +"By my heart," she said, "by my heart, you are Umslopogaas, my brother +who is dead, and whom dead as living I have loved ever and alone." + +Then the torch flared out, but Umslopogaas took hold of her in the +darkness and pressed her to him and kissed her, the sister whom he +found after many years, and she kissed him. + +"You kiss me now," she said, "yet not long ago that great axe shore my +locks, missing me but by a finger's-breadth--and still the sound of +fighting rings in my ears! Ah! a boon of you, my brother--a boon: let +there be no more death since we are met once more. The people of the +Halakazi are conquered, and it is their just doom, for thus, in this +same way, they killed those with whom I lived before. Yet they have +treated me well, not forcing me into wedlock, and protecting me from +Dingaan; so spare them, my brother, if you may." + +Then Umslopogaas lifted up his voice, commanding that the killing +should cease, and sent messengers running swiftly with these words: +"This is the command of Bulalio: that he should lifts hand against one +more of the people of the Halakazi shall be killed himself"; and the +soldiers obeyed him, though the order came somewhat late, and no more +of the Halakazi were brought to doom. They were suffered to escape, +except those of the women and children who were kept to be led away as +captives. And they ran far that night. Nor did they come together +again to be a people, for they feared Galazi the Wolf, who would be +chief over them, but they were scattered wide in the world, to sojourn +among strangers. + +Now when the soldiers had eaten abundantly of the store of the +Halakazi, and guards had been sent to ward the cattle and watch +against surprise, Umslopogaas spoke long with Nada the Lily, taking +her apart, and he told her all his story. She told him also the tale +which you know, my father, of how she had lived with the little people +that were subject to the Halakazi, she and her mother Macropha, and +how the fame of her beauty had spread about the land. Then she told +him how the Halakazi had claimed her, and of how, in the end, they had +taken her by force of arms, killing the people of that kraal, and +among them her own mother. Thereafter, she had dwelt among the +Halakazi, who named her anew, calling her the Lily, and they had +treated her kindly, giving her reverence because of her sweetness and +beauty, and not forcing her into marriage. + +"And why would you not wed, Nada, my sister?" asked Umslopogaas, "you +who are far past the age of marriage?" + +"I cannot tell you," she answered, hanging her head; "but I have no +heart that way. I only seek to be left alone." + +Now Umslopogaas thought awhile and spoke. "Do you not know then, Nada, +why it is that I have made this war, and why the people of the +Halakazi are dead and scattered and their cattle the prize of my arm? +I will tell you: I am come here to win you, whom I knew only by report +as the Lily maid, the fairest of women, to be a wife to Dingaan. The +reason that I began this war was to win you and make my peace with +Dingaan, and now I have carried it through to the end." + +Now when she heard these words, Nada the Lily trembled and wept, and, +sinking to the earth, she clasped the knees of Umslopogaas in +supplication: "Oh, do not this cruel thing by me, your sister," she +prayed; "take rather that great axe and make an end of me, and of the +beauty which has wrought so much woe, and most of all to me who wear +it! Would that I had not moved my head behind the shield, but had +suffered the axe to fall upon it. To this end I was dressed as a man, +that I might meet the fate of a man. Ah! a curse be on my woman's +weakness that snatched me from death to give me up to shame!" + +Thus she prayed to Umslopogaas in her low sweet voice, and his heart +was shaken in him, though, indeed, he did not now purpose to give Nada +to Dingaan, as Baleka was given to Chaka, perhaps in the end to meet +the fate of Baleka. + +"There are many, Nada," he said, "who would think it no misfortune +that they should be given as a wife to the first of chiefs." + +"Then I am not of their number," she answered; "nay, I will die first, +by my own hand if need be." + +Now Umslopogaas wondered how it came about that Nada looked upon +marriage thus, but he did not speak of the matter; he said only, "Tell +me then, Nada, how I can deliver myself of this charge. I must go to +Dingaan as I promised our father Mopo, and what shall I say to Dingaan +when he asks for the Lily whom I went out to pluck and whom his heart +desires? What shall I say to save myself alive from the wrath of +Dingaan?" + +Then Nada thought and answered, "You shall say this, my brother. You +shall tell him that the Lily, being clothed in the war-dress of a +warrior, fell by chance in the fray. See, now, none of your people +know that you have found me; they are thinking of other things than +maids in the hour of their victory. This, then, is my plan: we will +search now by the starlight till we find the body of a fair maid, for, +doubtless, some were killed by hazard in the fight, and on her we will +set a warrior's dress, and lay by her the corpse of one of your own +men. To-morrow, at the light, you shall take the captains of your +soldiers and, having laid the body of the girl in the dark of the +cave, you shall show it to them hurriedly, and tell them that this was +the Lily, slain by one of your own people, whom in your wrath you slew +also. They will not look long on so common a sight, and if by hazard +they see the maid, and think her not so very fair, they will deem that +it is death which has robbed her of her comeliness. So the tale which +you must tell to Dingaan shall be built up firmly, and Dingaan shall +believe it to be true." + +"And how shall this be, Nada?" asked Umslopogaas. "How shall this be +when men see you among the captives and know you by your beauty? Are +there, then, two such Lilies in the land?" + +"I shall not be known, for I shall not be seen, Umslopogaas. You must +set me free to-night. I will wander hence disguised as a youth and +covered with a blanket, and if any meet me, who shall say that I am +the Lily?" + +"And where will you wander, Nada? to your death? Must we, then, meet +after so many years to part again for ever?" + +"Where was it that you said you lived, my brother? Beneath the shade +of a Ghost Mountain, that men may know by a shape of stone which is +fashioned like an old woman frozen into stone, was it not? Tell me of +the road thither." + +So Umslopogaas told her the road, and she listened silently. + +"Good," she said. "I am strong and my feet are swift; perhaps they may +serve to bring me so far, and perhaps, if I win the shadow of that +mountain, you will find me a hut to hide in, Umslopogaas, my brother." + +"Surely it shall be so, my sister," answered Umslopogaas, "and yet the +way is long and many dangers lie in the path of a maid journeying +alone, without food or shelter," and as he spoke Umslopogaas thought +of Zinita his wife, for he guessed that she would not love Nada, +although she was only his sister. + +"Still, it must be travelled, and the dangers must be braved," she +answered, smiling. "Alas! there is no other way." + +Then Umslopogaas summoned Galazi the Wolf and told him all this story, +for Galazi was the only man whom he could trust. The Wolf listened in +silence, marvelling the while at the beauty of Nada, as the starlight +showed it. When everything was told, he said only that he no longer +wondered that the people of the Halakazi had defied Dingaan and +brought death upon themselves for the sake of this maid. Still, to be +plain, his heart thought ill of the matter, for death was not done +with yet: there before them shone the Star of Death, and he pointed to +the Lily. + +Now Nada trembled at his words of evil omen, and the Slaughterer grew +angry, but Galazi would neither add to them nor take away from them. +"I have spoken that which my heart hears," he answered. + +Then they rose and went to search among the dead for a girl who would +suit their purpose; soon they found one, a tall and fair maiden, and +Galazi bore her in his arms to the great cave. Here in the cave were +none but the dead, and, tossed hither and thither in their last sleep, +they looked awful in the glare of the torches. + +"They sleep sound," said the Lily, gazing on them; "rest is sweet." + +"We shall soon win it, maiden," answered Galazi, and again Nada +trembled. + +Then, having arrayed her in the dress of a warrior, and put a shield +and spear by her, they laid down the body of the girl in a dark place +in the cave, and, finding a dead warrior of the People of the Axe, +placed him beside her. Now they left the cave, and, pretending that +they visited the sentries, Umslopogaas and Galazi passed from spot to +spot, while the Lily walked after them like a guard, hiding her face +with a shield, holding a spear in her hand, and having with her a bag +of corn and dried flesh. + +So they passed on, till at length they came to the entrance in the +mountain side. The stones that had blocked it were pulled down so as +to allow those of the Halakazi to fly who had been spared at the +entreaty of Nada, but there were guards by the entrance to watch that +none came back. Umslopogaas challenged them, and they saluted him, but +he saw that they were worn out with battle and journeying, and knew +little of what they saw or said. Then he, Galazi, and Nada and passed +through the opening on to the plain beyond. + +Here the Slaughterer and the Lily bade each other farewell, while +Galazi watched, and presently the Wolf saw Umslopogaas return as one +who is heavy at heart, and caught sight of the Lily skimming across +the plain lightly like a swallow. + +"I do not know when we two shall meet again," said Umslopogaas so soon +as she had melted into the shadows of the night. + +"May you never meet," answered Galazi, "for I am sure that if you meet +that sister of yours will bring death on many more than those who now +lie low because of her loveliness. She is a Star of Death, and when +she sets the sky shall be blood red." + +Umslopogaas did not answer, but walked slowly through the archway in +the mountain side. + +"How is this, chief?" said he who was captain of the guard. "Three +went out, but only two return." + +"Fool!" answered Umslopogaas. "Are you drunk with Halakazi beer, or +blind with sleep? Two went out, and two return. I sent him who was +with us back to the camp." + +"So be it, father," said the captain. "Two went out, and two return. +All is well!" + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE STAMPING OF THE FIRE + +On the morrow the impi awoke refreshed with sleep, and, after they had +eaten, Umslopogaas mustered them. Alas! nearly half of those who had +seen the sun of yesterday would wake no more forever. The Slaughterer +mustered them and thanked them for that which they had done, winning +fame and cattle. They were merry, recking little of those who were +dead, and sang his praises and the praises of Galazi in a loud song. +When the song was ended Umslopogaas spoke to them again, saying that +the victory was great, and the cattle they had won were countless. Yet +something was lacking--she was lacking whom he came to seek to be a +gift to Dingaan the king, and for whose sake this war was made. Where +now was the Lily? Yesterday she had been here, clad in a moocha like a +man and bearing a shield; this he knew from the captives. Where, then, +was she now? + +Then all the soldiers said that they had seen nothing of her. When +they had done, Galazi spoke a word, as was agreed between him and +Umslopogaas. He said that when they stormed the cave he had seen a man +run at a warrior in the cave to kill him. Then as he came, he who was +about to be slain threw down the shield and cried for mercy, and +Galazi knew that this was no warrior of the Halakazi, but a very +beautiful girl. So he called to the man to let her alone and not to +touch her, for the order was that no women should be killed. But the +soldier, being made with the lust of fight, shouted that maid or man +she should die, and slew her. Thereon, he--Galazi--in his wrath ran up +and smote the man with the Watcher and killed him also, and he prayed +that he had done no wrong. + +"You have done well, my brother," said Umslopogaas. "Come now, some of +you, and let us look at this dead girl. Perhaps it is the Lily, and if +so that is unlucky for us, for I do not know what tale we shall tell +to Dingaan of the matter." + +So the captains went with Umslopogaas and Galazi, and came to the spot +where the girl had been laid, and by her the man of the People of the +Axe. + +"All is as the Wolf, my brother, has told," said Umslopogaas, waving +the torch in his hand over the two who lay dead. "Here, without a +doubt, lies she who was named the Lily, whom we came to win, and by +her that fool who slew her, slain himself by the blow of the Watcher. +An ill sight to see, and an ill tale for me to tell at the kraal of +Dingaan. Still, what is is, and cannot be altered; and this maid who +was the fairest of the fair is now none to lovely to look on. Let us +away!" And he turned swiftly, then spoke again, saying:-- + +"Bind up this dead girl in ox hides, cover her with salt, and let her +be brought with us." And they did so. + +Then the captains said: "Surely it is so, my father; now it cannot be +altered, and Dingaan must miss his bride." So said they all except +that man who had been captain of the guard when Umslopogaas and Galazi +and another passed through the archway. This man, indeed, said +nothing, yet he was not without his thoughts. For it seemed to him +that he had seen three pass through the archway, and not two. It +seemed to him, moreover, that the kaross which the third wore had +slipped aside as she pressed past him, and that beneath it he had seen +the shape of a beautiful woman, and above it had caught the glint of a +woman's eye--an eye full and dark, like a buck's. + +Also, this captain noted that Bulalio called none of the captives to +swear to the body of the Lily maid, and that he shook the torch to and +fro as he held it over her--he whose hand was of the steadiest. All of +this he kept in his mind, forgetting nothing. + +Now it chanced afterwards, on the homeward march, my father, that +Umslopogaas had cause to speak angrily to this man, because he tried +to rob another of his share of the spoil of the Halakazi. He spoke +sharply to him, degrading him from his rank, and setting another over +him. Also he took cattle from the man, and gave them to him whom he +would have robbed. + +And thereafter, though he was justly served, this man thought more and +more of the third who had passed through the arch of the cave and had +not returned, and who seemed to him to have a fair woman's shape, and +eyes which gleamed like those of a woman. + +On that day, then, Umslopogaas began his march to the kraal +Umgugundhlovu, where Dingaan sat. But before he set his face +homewards, in the presence of the soldiers, he asked Galazi the Wolf +if he would come back with him, or if he desired to stay to be chief +of the Halakazi, as he was by right of birth and war. Then the Wolf +laughed, and answered that he had come out to seek for vengeance, and +not for the place of a chief, also that there were few of the Halakazi +people left over whom he might rule if he wished. Moreover, he added +this: that, like twin trees, they two blood-brethren had grown up side +by side till their roots were matted together, and that, were one of +them dug up and planted in Swazi soil, he feared lest both should +wither, or, at the last, that he, Galazi, would wither, who loved but +one man and certain wolves. + +So Umslopogaas said no more of the chieftainship, but began his +journey. With him he brought a great number of cattle, to be a gift +for Dingaan, and a multitude of captives, young women and children, +for he would appease the heart of Dingaan, because he did not bring +her whom he sought--the Lily, flower of flowers. Yet, because he was +cautious and put little faith in the kindness of kings, Umslopogaas, +so soon as he reached the borders of Zululand, sent the best of the +cattle and the fairest of the maids and children on to the kraal of +the People of the Axe by the Ghost Mountain. And he who had been +captain of the guard but now was a common soldier noticed this also. + +Now it chanced that on a certain morning I, Mopo, sat in the kraal +Umgugundhlovu in attendance on Dingaan. For still I waited on the +king, though he had spoken no word to me, good or bad, since the +yesterday, when I foretold to him that in the blood of the white men +whom he had betrayed grew the flower of his own death. For, my father, +it was on the morrow of the slaying of the Amaboona that Umslopogaas +came to the kraal Umgugundhlovu. + +Now the mind of Dingaan was heavy, and he sought something to lighten +it. Presently he bethought himself of the white praying man, who had +come to the kraal seeking to teach us people of the Zulu to worship +other gods than the assegai and the king. Now this was a good man, but +no luck went with his teaching, which was hard to understand; and, +moreover, the indunas did not like it, because it seemed to set a +master over the master, and a king over the king, and to preach of +peace to those whose trade was war. Still, Dingaan sent for the white +man that he might dispute with him, for Dingaan thought that he +himself was the cleverest of all men. + +Now the white man came, but his face was pale, because of that which +he had seen befall the Boers, for he was gentle and hated such sights. +The king bade him be seated and spoke to him saying:-- + +"The other day, O White Man, thou toldest me of a place of fire +whither those go after death who have done wickedly in life. Tell me +now of thy wisdom, do my fathers lie in that place?" + +"How can I know, King," answered the prayer-doctor, "who may not judge +of the deeds of men? This I say only: that those who murder and rob +and oppress the innocent and bear false witness shall lie in that +place of fire." + +"It seems that my fathers have done all these things, and if they are +in this place I would go there also, for I am minded to be with my +fathers at the last. Yet I think that I should find a way to escape if +ever I came there." + +"How, King?" + +Now Dingaan had set this trap for the prayer-doctor. In the centre of +that open space where he had caused the Boers to be fallen upon he had +built up a great pyre of wood--brushwood beneath, and on top of the +brushwood logs, and even whole trees. Perhaps, my father, there were +sixty full wagonloads of dry wood piled together there in the centre +of the place. + +"Thou shalt see with thine eyes, White Man," he answered, and bidding +attendants set fire to the pile all round, he summoned that regiment +of young men which was left in the kraal. Maybe there were a thousand +and half a thousand of them--not more--the same that had slain the +Boers. + +Now the fire began to burn fiercely, and the regiment filed in and +took its place in ranks. By the time that all had come, the pyre was +everywhere a sheet of raging flame, and, though we sat a hundred paces +from it, its heat was great when the wind turned our way. + +"Now, Doctor of Prayers, is thy hot place hotter than yonder fire?" +said the king. + +He answered that he did not know, but the fire was certainly hot. + +"Then I will show thee how I will come out of it if ever I go to lie +in such a fire--ay, though it be ten times as big and fierce. Ho! my +children!" he cried to the soldiers, and, springing up, "You see +yonder fire. Run swiftly and stamp it flat with your feet. Where there +was fire let there be blackness and ashes." + +Now the White Man lifted his hands and prayed Dingaan not to do this +thing that should be the death of many, but the king bade him be +silent. Then he turned his eyes upward and prayed to his gods. For a +moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt, for the fire +raged furiously, and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven, and +above it and about it the hot air danced. But their captain called to +them loudly: "Great is the king! Hear the words of the king, who +honours you! Yesterday we ate up the Amaboona--it was nothing, they +were unarmed. There is a foe more worthy of our valour. Come, my +children, let us wash in the fire--we who are fiercer than the fire! +Great is the king who honours us!" + +Thus he spoke and ran forward, and, with a roar, after him sprang the +soldiers, rank by rank. They were brave men indeed; moreover, they +knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged +behind, and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed. On they +went, as to the joy of battle, their captain leading them, and as they +went they sang the Ingomo, the war-chant of the Zulu. Now the captain +neared the raging fire; we saw him lift his shield to keep off its +heat. Then he was gone--he had sprung into the heart of the furnace, +and but little of him was ever found again. After him went the first +company. In they went, beating at the flames with their ox-hide +shields, stamping them out with their naked feet, tearing down the +burning logs and casting them aside. Not one man of that company +lived, my father; they fell down like moths which flutter through a +candle, and where they fell they perished. But after them came other +companies, and it was well for those in this fight who were last to +grapple with the foe. Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame, now +the flame grew less and less, and the smoke more and more; and now +blackened men, hairless, naked, and blistered, white with the +scorching of the fire, staggered out on the farther side of the +flames, falling to earth here and there. After them came others; now +there was no flame, only a great smoke in which men moved dimly; and +presently, my father, it was done: they had conquered the fire, and +that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies, though +every man had trodden it. How many perished?--nay, I know not, they +were never counted; but what between the dead and the injured that +regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more men into it. + +"See, Doctor of Prayers," said Dingaan, with a laugh, "thus shall I +escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest, if such there be +indeed: I will bid my impis stamp them out." + +Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no +more among the Zulus, and afterwards he left the land. When he had +gone the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away, the injured were +doctored or killed according to their hurts, and those who had little +harm came before the king and praised him. + +"New shields and headresses must be found for you, my children," said +Dingaan, for the shields were black and shrivelled, and of heads of +hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment. + +"Wow!" said Dingaan again, looking at the soldiers who still lived: +"shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the +white man speaks." + +Then he ordered bear to be brought to the men, for the heat had made +them thirsty. + +Now though you may not guess it, my father, I have told you this tale +because it has something to do with my story; for scarcely had the +matter been ended when messengers came, saying that Bulalio, chief of +the People of the Axe, and his impi were without, having returned with +much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland. Now when I +heard this my heart leapt for joy, seeing that I had feared greatly +for the fate of Umslopogaas, my fosterling. Dingaan also was very +glad, and, springing up, danced to and fro like a child. + +"Now at last we have good tidings," he said, at once forgetting the +stamping of the fire, "and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my +hand has longed to pluck. Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly." + +For awhile there was silence; then from far away, without the high +fence of the great place, there came a sound of singing, and through +the gates of the kraal rushed two great men, wearing black plumes upon +their heads, having black shields in their left hands, and in their +right, one an axe and one a club; while about their shoulders were +bound wolf-skins. They ran low, neck and neck, with outstretched +shields and heads held forward, as a buck runs when he is hard pressed +by dogs, and no such running had been seen in the kraal Umgugundhlovu +as the running of the Wolf-Brethren. Half across the space they ran, +and halted suddenly, and, as they halted, the dead ashes of the fire +flew up before their feet in a little cloud. + +"By my head! look, these come armed before me!" said Dingaan, +frowning, "and to do this is death. Now say who is that man, great and +fierce, who bears an axe aloft? Did I not know him dead I should say +it was the Black One, my brother, as he was in the days of the smiting +of Zwide: so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to +look round, like a lion." + +"I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer, chief of the People of the +Axe, O King," I answered. + +"And who is the other with him? He is a great man also. Never have I +seen such a pair!" + +"I think that is Galazi the Wolf, he who is blood-brother to the +Slaughterer, and his general," I said again. + +Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe, armed +with short sticks alone. Four by four they came, all holding their +heads low, and with black shields outstretched, and formed themselves +into companies behind the Wolf-Brethren, till all were there. Then, +after them, the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in,--women, +boys, and maids, a great number--and they stood behind the ranks +huddled together like frightened calves. + +"A gallant sight, truly!" said Dingaan, as he looked upon the +companies of black-plumed and shielded warriors. "I have no better +soldiers in my impis, and yet my eyes behold these for the first +time," and again he frowned. + +Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his axe and started forward at full +speed, and after him thundered the companies. On they rushed, and +their plumes lay back upon the wind, till it seemed as though they +must stamp us flat. But when he was within ten paces of the king +Umslopogaas lifted Groan-Maker again, and Galazi held the Watcher on +high, and every man halted where he was, while once more the dust flew +up in clouds. They halted in long, unbroken lines, with outstretched +shields and heads held low; no man's head rose more than the length of +a dance kerrie from the earth. So they stood one minute, then, for the +third time, Umslopogaas lifted Groan-Maker, and in an instant every +man straightened himself, each shield was tossed on high, and from +every throat was roared the royal salute, "Bayete!" + +"A pretty sight forsooth," quoth Dingaan; "but these soldiers are too +well drilled who have never done me service nor the Black One who was +before me, and this Slaughterer is too good a captain, I say. Come +hither, ye twain!" he cried aloud. + +Then the Wolf-Brethren strode forward and stood before the king, and +for awhile they looked upon each other. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE LILY IS BROUGHT TO DINGAAN + +"How are you named?" said Dingaan. + +"We are named Bulalio the Slaughterer and Galazi the Wolf, O King," +answered Umslopogaas. + +"Was it thou who didst send a certain message to the Black One who is +dead, Bulalio?" + +"Yea, O King, I sent a message, but from all I have heard, Masilo, my +messenger, gave more than the message, for he stabbed the Black One. +Masilo had an evil heart." + +Now Dingaan winced, for he knew well that he himself and one Mopo had +stabbed the Black One, but he thought that this outland chief had not +heard the tale, so he said no more of the message. + +"How is it that ye dare to come before me armed? Know ye not the rule +that he who appears armed before the king dies?" + +"We have not heard that law, O King," said Umslopogaas. "Moreover, +there is this to be told: my virtue of the axe I bear I rule alone. If +I am seen without the axe, then any man may take my place who can, for +the axe is chieftainess of the People of the Axe, and he who holds it +is its servant." + +"A strange custom," said Dingaan, "but let it pass. And thou, Wolf, +what hast thou to say of that great club of thine?" + +"There is this to be told of the club, O King," answered Galazi: "by +virtue of the club I guard my life. If I am seen without the club, +then may any man take my life who can, for the club is my Watcher, not +I Watcher of the club." + +"Never wast thou nearer to the losing of both club and life," said +Dingaan, angrily. + +"It may be so, O King," answered the Wolf. "When the hour is, then, +without a doubt, the Watcher shall cease from his watching." + +"Ye are a strange pair," quoth Dingaan. "Where have you been now, and +what is your business at the Place of the Elephant?" + +"We have been in a far country, O King!" answered Umslopogaas. "We +have wandered in a distant land to search for a Flower to be a gift to +a king, and in our searching we have trampled down a Swazi garden, and +yonder are some of those who tended it"--and he pointed to the +captives--"and without are the cattle that ploughed it." + +"Good, Slaughterer! I see the gardeners, and I hear the lowing of the +cattle, but what of the Flower? Where is this Flower ye went so far to +dig in Swazi soil? Was it a Lily-bloom, perchance?" + +"It was a Lily-bloom, O King! and yet, alas! the Lily has withered. +Nothing is left but the stalk, white and withered as are the bones of +men." + +"What meanest thou?" said Dingaan, starting to his feet. + +"That the king shall learn," answered Umslopogaas; and, turning, he +spoke a word to the captains who were behind him. Presently the ranks +opened up, and four men ran forward from the rear of the companies. On +their shoulders they bore a stretcher, and upon the stretcher lay +something wrapped about with raw ox-hides, and bound round with +rimpis. The men saluted, and laid their burden down before the king. + +"Open!" said the Slaughterer; and they opened, and there within the +hides, packed in salt, lay the body of a girl who once was tall and +fair." + +"Here lies the Lily's stalk, O King!" said Umslopogaas, pointing with +the axe, "but if her flower blooms on any air, it is not here." + +Now Dingaan stared at the sight of death, and bitterness of heart took +hold of him, since he desired above all things to win the beauty of +the Lily for himself. + +"Bear away this carrion and cast it to the dogs!" he cried, for thus +he could speak of her whom he would have taken to wife, when once he +deemed her dead. "Take it away, and thou, Slaughterer, tell me how it +came about that the maid was slain. It will be well for thee if thou +hast a good answer, for know thy life hangs on the words." + +So Umslopogaas told the king all that tale which had been made ready +against the wrath of Dingaan. And when he had finished Galazi told his +story, of how he had seen the soldier kill the maid, and in his wrath +had killed the soldier. Then certain of the captains who had seen the +soldier and the maid lying in one death came forward and spoke to it. + +Now Dingaan was very angry, and yet there was nothing to be done. The +Lily was dead, and by no fault of any except of one, who was also dead +and beyond his reach. + +"Get you hence, you and your people," he said to the Wolf-Brethren. "I +take the cattle and the captives. Be thankful that I do not take all +your lives also--first, because ye have dared to make war without my +word, and secondly, because, having made war, ye have so brought it +about that, though ye bring me the body of her I sought, ye do not +bring the life." + +Now when the king spoke of taking the lives of all the People of the +Axe, Umslopogaas smiled grimly and glanced at his companies. Then +saluting the king, he turned to go. But as he turned a man sprang +forwards from the ranks and called to Dingaan, saying:-- + +"Is it granted that I may speak truth before the king, and afterwards +sleep in the king's shadow?" + +Now this was that man who had been captain of the guard on the night +when three passed out through the archway and two returned, that same +man whom Umslopogaas had degraded from his rank. + +"Speak on, thou art safe," answered Dingaan. + +"O King, thy ears have been filled with lies," said the soldier. +"Hearken, O King! I was captain of the guard of the gate on that night +of the slaying of the Halakazi. Three came to the gate of the mountain +--they were Bulalio, the Wolf Galazi, and another. That other was tall +and slim, bearing a shield high--so. As the third passed the gate, the +kaross he wore brushed against me and slipped aside. Beneath that +kaross was no man's breast, O King, but the shape of a woman, almost +white in colour, and very fair. In drawing back the kaross this third +one moved the shield. Behind that shield was no man's face, O King, +but the face of a girl, lovelier than the moon, and having eyes +brighter than the stars. Three went out at the mountain gate, O King, +only two returned, and, peeping after them, it seemed that I saw the +third running swiftly across the plains, as a young maid runs, O King. +This also, Elephant, Bulalio yonder denied me when, as captain of the +guard, I asked for the third who had passed the gate, saying that only +two had passed. Further, none of the captives were called to swear to +the body of the maid, and now it is too late, and that man who lay +beside her was not killed by Galazi in the cave. He was killed outside +the cave by a blow of a Halakazi kerrie. I saw him fall with my own +eyes, and slew the man who smote him. One thing more, King of the +World, the best of the captives and the cattle are not here for a gift +to thee--they are at the kraal of Bulalio, Chief of the People of the +Axe. I have spoken, O King, yes, because my heart loves not lies. I +have spoken the truth, and now do thou protect me from these Wolf- +Brethren, O King, for they are very fierce." + +Now all this while that the traitor told his tale Umslopogaas, inch by +inch, was edging near to him and yet nearer, till at length he might +have touched him with an outstretched spear. None noted him except I, +Mopo, alone, and perhaps Galazi, for all were watching the face of +Dingaan as men watch a storm that is about to burst. + +"Fear thou not the Wolf-Brethren, soldier," gasped Dingaan, rolling +his red eyes; "the paw of the Lion guards thee, my servant." + +Ere the words had left the king's lips the Slaughterer leapt. He +leaped full on to the traitor, speaking never a word, and oh! his eyes +were awful. He leaped upon him, he seized him with his hands, lifting +no weapon, and in his terrible might he broke him as a child breaks a +stick--nay, I know not how, it was too swift to see. He broke him, +and, hurling him on high, cast him dead at the feet of Dingaan, crying +in a great voice:-- + +"Take thy servant, King! Surely he 'sleeps in thy shadow'!" + +Then there was silence, only through the silence was heard a gasp of +fear and wonder, for no such deed as this had been wrought in the +presence of the king--no, not since the day of Senzangacona the Root. + +Now Dingaan spoke, and his voice came thick with rage, and his limbs +trembled. + +"Slay him!" he hissed. "Slay the dog and all those with him!" + +"Now we come to a game which I can play," answered Umslopogaas. "Ho, +People of the Axe! Will you stand to be slaughtered by these singed +rats?" and he pointed with Groan-Maker at those warriors who had +escaped without hurt in the fire, but whose faces the fire had +scorched. + +Then for answer a great shout went up, a shout and a roar of laughter. +And this was the shout:-- + +"No, Slaughterer, not so are we minded!" and right and left they faced +to meet the foe, while from all along the companies came the crackling +of the shaken shields. + +Back sprang Umslopogaas to head his men; forward leaped the soldiers +of the king to work the king's will, if so they might. And Galazi the +Wolf also sprang forward, towards Dingaan, and, as he sprang, swung up +the Watcher, crying in a great voice:-- + +"Hold!" + +Again there was silence, for men saw that the shadow of the Watcher +lay dark upon the head of Dingaan. + +"It is a pity that many should die when one will suffice," cried the +Wolf again. "Let a blow be struck, and where his shadow lies there +shall the Watcher be, and lo! the world will lack a king. A word, +King!" + +Now Dingaan looked up at the great man who stood above him, and felt +the shadow of the shining club lie cold upon his brow, and again he +shook--this time it was with fear. + +"Begone in peace!" he said. + +"A good word for thee, King," said the Wolf, grinning, and slowly he +drew himself backwards towards the companies, saying, "Praise the +king! The king bids his children go in peace." + +But when Dingaan felt that his brow was no longer cold with the shadow +of death his rage came back to him, and he would have called to the +soldiers to fall upon the People of the Axe, only I stayed him, +saying:-- + +"Thy death is in it, O King; the Slaughterer will grind such men as +thou hast here beneath his feet, and then once more shall the Watcher +look upon thee." + +Now Dingaan saw that this was true, and gave no command, for he had +only those men with him whom the fire had left. All the rest were gone +to slaughter the Boers in Natal. Still, he must have blood, so he +turned on me. + +"Thou art a traitor, Mopo, as I have known for long, and I will serve +thee as yonder dog served his faithless servant!" and he thrust at me +with the assegai in his hand. + +But I saw the stroke, and, springing high into the air, avoided it. +Then I turned and fled very swiftly, and after me came certain of the +soldiers. The way was not far to the last company of the People of the +Axe; moreover, it saw me coming, and, headed by Umslopogaas, who +walked behind them all, ran to meet me. Then the soldiers who followed +to kill me hung back out of reach of the axe. + +"Here with the king is no place for me any more, my son," I said to +Umslopogaas. + +"Fear not, my father, I will find you a place," he answered. + +Then I called a message to the soldiers who followed me, saying:-- + +"Tell this to the king: that he has done ill to drive me from him, for +I, Mopo, set him on the throne and I alone can hold him there. Tell +him this also, that he will do yet worse to seek me where I am, for +that day when we are once more face to face shall be his day of death. +Thus speaks Mopo the inyanga, Mopo the doctor, who never yet +prophesied that which should not be." + +Then we marched from the kraal Umgugundhlovu, and when next I saw that +kraal it was to burn all of it which Dingaan had left unburnt, and +when next I saw Dingaan--ah! that is to be told of, my father. + +We marched from the kraal, none hindering us, for there were none to +hinder, and after we had gone a little way Umslopogaas halted and +said:-- + +"Now it is in my mind to return whence we came and slay this Dingaan, +ere he slay me." + +"Yet it is well to leave a frightened lion in his thicket, my son, for +a lion at bay is hard to handle. Doubt not that every man, young and +old, in Umgugundhlovu now stands armed about the gates, lest such a +thought should take you, my son; and though just now he was afraid, +yet Dingaan will strike for his life. When you might have killed you +did not kill; now the hour has gone." + +"Wise words!" said Galazi. "I would that the Watcher had fallen where +his shadow fell." + +"What is your counsel now, father?" asked Umslopogaas. + +"This, then: that you two should abide no more beneath the shadow of +the Ghost Mountain, but should gather your people and your cattle, and +pass to the north on the track of Mosilikatze the Lion, who broke away +from Chaka. There you may rule apart or together, and never dream of +Dingaan." + +"I will not do that, father," he answered. "I will dwell beneath the +shadow of the Ghost Mountain while I may." + +"And so will I," said Galazi, "or rather among its rocks. What! shall +my wolves lack a master when they would go a-hunting? Shall Greysnout +and Blackfang, Blood and Deathgrip, and their company black and grey, +howl for me in vain?" + +"So be it, children. Ye are young and will not listen to the counsel +of the old. Let it befall as it chances." + +I spoke thus, for I did not know then why Umslopogaas would not leave +his kraals. It was for this reason: because he had bidden Nada to meet +him there. + +Afterwards, when he found her he would have gone, but then the sky was +clear, the danger-clouds had melted for awhile. + +Oh! that Umslopogaas my fosterling had listened to me! Now he would +have reigned as a king, not wandered an outcast in strange lands I +know not where; and Nada should have lived, not died, nor would the +People of the Axe have ceased to be a people. + +This of Dingaan. When he heard my message he grew afraid once more, +for he knew me to be no liar. + +Therefore he held his hand for awhile, sending no impi to smite +Umslopogaas, lest it might come about that I should bring him his +death as I had promised. And before the fear had worn away, it +happened that Dingaan's hands were full with the war against the +Amaboona, because of his slaughter of the white people, and he had no +soldiers to spare with whom to wreak vengeance on a petty chief living +far away. + +Yet his rage was great because of what had chanced, and, after his +custom, he murdered many innocent people to satisfy it. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +MOPO TELLS HIS TALE + +Now afterwards, as we went upon our road, Umslopogaas told me all +there was to tell of the slaying of the Halakazi and of the finding of +Nada. + +When I heard that Nada, my daughter, still lived, I wept for joy, +though like Umslopogaas I was torn by doubt and fear, for it is far +for an unaided maid to travel from Swaziland to the Ghost Mountain. +Yet all this while I said nothing to Umslopogaas of the truth as to +his birth, because on the journey there were many around us, and the +very trees have ears, and the same wind to which we whispered might +whisper to the king. Still I knew that the hour had come now when I +must speak, for it was in my mind to bring it about that Umslopogaas +should be proclaimed the son of Chaka, and be made king of the Zulus +in the place of Dingaan, his uncle. Yet all these things had gone +cross for us, because it was fated so, my father. Had I known that +Umslopogaas still lived when I slew Chaka, then I think that I could +have brought it about that he should be king. Or had things fallen out +as I planned, and the Lily maid been brought to Dingaan, and +Umslopogaas grew great in his sight, then, perhaps, I could have +brought it about. But all things had gone wrong. The Lily was none +other than Nada; and how could Umslopogaas give Nada, whom he thought +his sister, and who was my daughter, to Dingaan against her will? +Also, because of Nada, Dingaan and Umslopogaas were now at bitter +enmity, and for this same cause I was disgraced and a fugitive, and my +counsels would no longer be heard in the ear of the king. + +So everything must be begun afresh: and as I walked with the impi +towards the Ghost Mountain, I thought much and often of the manner in +which this might be done. But as yet I said nothing. + +Now at last we were beneath the Ghost Mountain, and looked upon the +face of the old Witch who sits there aloft forever waiting for the +world to die; and that same night we came to the kraal of the People +of the Axe, and entered it with a great singing. But Galazi did not +enter at that time; he was away to the mountain to call his flock of +wolves, and as we passed its foot we heard the welcome that the wolves +howled in greeting to him. + +Now as we drew near the kraal, all the women and children came out to +meet us, headed by Zinita, the head wife of Umslopogaas. They came +joyfully, but when they found how many were wanting who a moon before +had gone thence to fight, their joy was turned to mourning, and the +voice of their weeping went up to heaven. + +Umslopogaas greeted Zinita kindly; and yet I thought that there was +something lacking. At first she spoke to him softly, but when she +learned all that had come to pass, her words were not soft, for she +reviled me and sang a loud song at Umslopogaas. + +"See now, Slaughterer," she said, "see now what has came about because +you listened to this aged fool!"--that was I, my father--"this fool +who calls himself 'Mouth'! Ay, a mouth he is, a mouth out of which +proceed folly and lies! What did he counsel you to do?--to go up +against these Halakazi and win a girl for Dingaan! And what have you +done?--you have fallen upon the Halakazi, and doubtless have killed +many innocent people with that great axe of yours, also you have left +nearly half of the soldiers of the Axe to whiten in the Swazi caves, +and in exchange have brought back certain cattle of a small breed, and +girls and children whom we must nourish! + +"Nor does the matter end here. You went, it seems, to win a girl whom +Dingaan desired, yet when you find that girl you let her go, because, +indeed, you say she was your sister and would not wed Dingaan. +Forsooth, is not the king good enough for this sister of yours? Now +what is the end of the tale? You try to play tricks on the king, +because of your sister, and are found out. Then you kill a man before +Dingaan and escape, bringing this fool of an aged Mouth with you, that +he may teach you his own folly. So you have lost half of your men, and +you have gained the king for a foe who shall bring about the death of +all of us, and a fool for a councillor. Wow! Slaughterer, keep to your +trade and let others find you wit." + +Thus she spoke without ceasing, and there was some truth in her words. +Zinita had a bitter tongue. I sat silent till she had finished, and +Umslopogaas also remained silent, though his anger was great, because +there was no crack in her talk through which a man might thrust a +word. + +"Peace, woman!" I said at length, "do not speak ill of those who are +wise and who had seen much before you were born." + +"Speak no ill of him who is my father," growled Umslopogaas. "Ay! +though you do not know it, this Mouth whom you revile is Mopo, my +father." + +"Then there is a man among the People of the Axe who has a fool for a +father. Of all tidings this is the worst." + +"There is a man among the People of the Axe who has a jade and a scold +for a wife," said Umslopogaas, springing up. "Begone, Zinita!--and +know this, that if I hear you snarl such words of him who is my +father, you shall go further than your own hut, for I will put you +away and drive you from my kraal. I have suffered you too long." + +"I go," said Zinita. "Oh! I am well served! I made you chief, and now +you threaten to put me away." + +"My own hands made me chief," said Umslopogaas, and, springing up, he +thrust her from the hut. + +"It is a poor thing to be wedded to such a woman, my father," he said +presently. + +"Yes, a poor thing, Umslopogaas, yet these are the burdens that men +must bear. Learn wisdom from it, Umslopogaas, and have as little to do +with women as may be; at the least, do not love them overmuch, so +shall you find the more peace." Thus I spoke, smiling, and would that +he had listened to my counsel, for it is the love of women which has +brought ruin on Umslopogaas! + +All this was many years ago, and but lately I have heard that +Umslopogaas is fled into the North, and become a wanderer to his death +because of the matter of a woman who had betrayed him, making it seem +that he had murdered one Loustra, who was his blood brother, just as +Galazi had been. I do not know how it came about, but he who was so +fierce and strong had that weakness like his uncle Dingaan, and it has +destroyed him at the last, and for this cause I shall behold him no +more. + +Now, my father, for awhile we were silent and alone in the hut, and as +we sat I thought I heard a rat stir in the thatch. + +Then I spoke. "Umslopogaas, at length the hour has come that I should +whisper something into your ear, a word which I have held secret ever +since you were born." + +"Speak on, my father," he said, wondering. + +I crept to the door of the hut and looked out. The night was dark and +I could see none about, and could hear no one move, yet, being +cautious, I walked round the hut. Ah, my father, when you have a +secret to tell, be not so easily deceived. It is not enough to look +forth and to peer round. Dig beneath the floor, and search the roof +also; then, having done all this, go elsewhere and tell your tale. The +woman was right: I was but a fool, for all my wisdom and my white +hairs. Had I not been a fool I would have smoked out that rat in the +thatch before ever I opened my lips. For the rat was Zinita, my father +--Zinita, who had climbed the hut, and now lay there in the dark, her +ear upon the smoke-hole, listening to every word that passed. It was a +wicked thing to do, and, moreover, the worst of omens, but there is +little honour among women when they learn that which others wish to +hide away from them, nor, indeed, do they then weight omens. + +So having searched and found nothing, I spoke to Umslopogaas, my +fosterling, not knowing that death in a woman's shape lay on the hut +above us. "Hearken," I said, "you are no son of mine, Umslopogaas, +though you have called me father from a babe. You spring from a +loftier stock, Slaughterer." + +"Yet I was well pleased with my fathering, old man," said Umslopogaas. +"The breed is good enough for me. Say, then, whose son am I?" + +Now I bent forward and whispered to him, yet, alas! not low enough. +"You are the son of the Black One who is dead, yea, sprung from the +blood of Chaka and of Baleka, my sister." + +"I still have some kinship with you then, Mopo, and that I am glad of. +Wow! who would have guessed that I was the son of the Silwana, of that +hyena man? Perhaps it is for this reason that, like Galazi, I love the +company of the wolves, though no love grows in my heart for my father +or any of his house." + +"You have little cause to love him, Umslopogaas, for he murdered your +mother, Baleka, and would have slain you also. But you are the son of +Chaka and of no other man." + +"Well, his eyes must be keen indeed, my uncle, who can pick his own +father out of a crowd. And yet I once heard this tale before, though I +had long forgotten it." + +"From whom did you hear it, Umslopogaas? An hour since, it was known +to one alone, the others are dead who knew it. Now it is known to two" +--ah! my father, I did not guess of the third;--"from whom, then, did +you hear it?" + +"It was from the dead; at least, Galazi the Wolf heard it from the +dead One who sat in the cave on Ghost Mountain, for the dead One told +him that a man would come to be his brother who should be named +Umslopogaas Bulalio, son of Chaka, and Galazi repeated it to me, but I +had long forgotten it." + +"It seems that there is wisdom among the dead," I answered, "for lo! +to-day you are named Umslopogaas Bulalio, and to-day I declare you the +son of Chaka. But listen to my tale." + +Then I told him all the story from the hour of his birth onwards, and +when I spoke of the words of his mother, Baleka, after I had told my +dream to her, and of the manner of her death by the command of Chaka, +and of the great fashion in which she had died, then, I say, +Umslopogaas wept, who, I think, seldom wept before or after. But as my +tale drew it its end I saw that he listened ill, as a man listens who +has a weightier matter pressing on his heart, and before it was well +done he broke in:-- + +"So, Mopo, my uncle, if I am the son of Chaka and Baleka, Nada the +Lily is no sister to me." + +"Nay, Umslopogaas, she is only your cousin." + +"Over near of blood," he said; "yet that shall not stand between us," +and his face grew glad. + +I looked at him in question. + +"You grow dull, my uncle. This is my meaning: that I will marry Nada +if she still lives, for it comes upon me now that I have never loved +any woman as I love Nada the Lily," and while he spoke, I heard the +rat stir in the thatch of the hut. + +"Wed her if you will, Umslopogaas," I answered, "yet I think that one +Zinita, your Inkosikasi, will find words to say in the matter." + +"Zinita is my head wife indeed, but shall she hold me back from taking +other wives, after the lawful custom of our people?" he asked angrily, +and his anger showed that he feared the wrath of Zinita. + +"The custom is lawful and good," I said, "but it has bred trouble at +times. Zinita can have little to say if she continues in her place and +you still love her as of old. But enough of her. Nada is not yet at +your gates, and perhaps she will never find them. See, Umslopogaas, it +is my desire that you should rule in Zululand by right of blood, and, +though things point otherwise, yet I think a way can be found to bring +it about." + +"How so?" he asked. + +"Thus: Many of the great chiefs who are friends to me hate Dingaan and +fear him, and did they know that a son of Chaka lived, and that son +the Slaughterer, he well might climb to the throne upon their +shoulders. Also the soldiers love the name of Chaka, though he dealt +cruelly with them, because at least he was brave and generous. But +they do not love Dingaan, for his burdens are the burdens of Chaka but +his gifts are the gifts of Dingaan; therefore they would welcome +Chaka's son if once they knew him for certain. But it is here that the +necklet chafes, for there is but my word to prove it. Yet I will try." + +"Perhaps it is worth trying and perhaps it is not, my uncle," answered +Umslopogaas. "One thing I know: I had rather see Nada at my gates to- +night than hear all the chiefs in the land crying 'Hail, O King!'" + +"You will live to think otherwise, Umslopogaas; and now spies must be +set at the kraal Umgugundhlovu to give us warning of the mind of the +king, lest he should send an impi suddenly to eat you up. Perhaps his +hands may be too full for that ere long, for those white Amaboona will +answer his assegais with bullets. And one more word: let nothing be +said of this matter of your birth, least of all to Zinita your wife, +or to any other woman." + +"Fear not, uncle," he answered; "I know how to be silent." + +Now after awhile Umslopogaas left me and went to the hut of Zinita, +his Inkosikasi, where she lay wrapped in her blankets, and, as it +seemed, asleep. + +"Greeting, my husband," she said slowly, like one who wakens. "I have +dreamed a strange dream of you. I dreamed that you were called a king, +and that all the regiments of the Zulus filed past giving you the +royal salute, Bayete." + +Umslopogaas looked at her wondering, for he did not know if she had +learned something or if this was an omen. "Such dreams are dangerous," +he said, "and he who dreams them does well to lock them fast till they +be forgotten." + +"Or fulfilled," said Zinita, and again Umslopogaas looked at her +wondering. + +Now after this night I began my work, for I established spies at the +kraal of Dingaan, and from them I learned all that passed with the +king. + +At first he gave orders that an impi should be summoned to eat up the +People of the Axe, but afterwards came tidings that the Boers, to the +number of five hundred mounted men, were marching on the kraal +Umgugundhlovu. So Dingaan had no impi to spare to send to the Ghost +Mountain, and we who were beneath its shadow dwelt there in peace. + +This time for Boers were beaten, for Bogoza, the spy, led them into an +ambush; still few were killed, and they did but draw back that they +might jump the further, and Dingaan knew this. At this time also the +English white men of Natal, the people of George, who attacked Dingaan +by the Lower Tugela, were slain by our soldiers, and those with them. + +Also, by the help of certain witch-doctors, I filled the land with +rumours, prophecies, and dark sayings, and I worked cunningly on the +minds of many chiefs that were known to me, sending them messages +hardly to be understood, such as should prepare their thoughts for the +coming of one who should be declared to them. They listened, but the +task was long, for the men dwelt far apart, and some of them were away +with the regiments. + +So the time went by, till many days had passed since we reached the +Ghost Mountain. Umslopogaas had no more words with Zinita, but she +always watched him, and he went heavily. For he awaited Nada, and Nada +did not come. + +But at length Nada came. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE COMING OF NADA + +One night--it was a night of full moon--I sat alone with Umslopogaas +in my hut, and we spoke of the matter of our plots; then, when we had +finished that talk, we spoke of Nada the Lily. + +"Alas! my uncle," said Umslopogaas sadly, "we shall never look more on +Nada; she is surely dead or in bonds, otherwise she had been here long +ago. I have sought far and wide, and can hear no tidings and find +nothing." + +"All that is hidden is not lost," I answered, yet I myself believed +that there was an end of Nada. + +Then we were silent awhile, and presently, in the silence, a dog +barked. We rose, and crept out of the hut to see what it might be that +stirred, for the night drew on, and it was needful to be wary, since a +dog might bark at the stirring of a leaf, or perhaps it might be the +distant footfall of an impi that it heard. + +We had not far to look, for standing gazing at the huts, like one who +is afraid to call, was a tall slim man, holding an assegai in one hand +and a little shield in the other. We could not see the face of the +man, because the light was behind him, and a ragged blanket hung about +his shoulders. Also, he was footsore, for he rested on one leg. Now we +were peering round the hut, and its shadow hid us, so that the man saw +nothing. For awhile he stood still, then he spoke to himself, and his +voice was strangely soft. + +"Here are many huts," said the voice, "now how may I know which is the +house of my brother? Perhaps if I call I shall bring soldiers to me, +and be forced to play the man before them, and I am weary of that. +Well, I will lie here under the fence till morning; it is a softer bed +than some I have found, and I am word out with travel--sleep I must," +and the figure sighed and turned so that the light of the moon fell +full upon its face. + +My father, it was the face of Nada, my daughter, whom I had not seen +for so many years, yet across the years I knew it at once; yes, though +the bud had become a flower I knew it. The face was weary and worn, +but ah! it was beautiful, never before nor since have I seen such +beauty, for there was this about the loveliness of my daughter, the +Lily: it seemed to flow from within--yes, as light will flow through +the thin rind of a gourd, and in that she differed from the other +women of our people, who, when they are fair are fair with the flesh +alone. + +Now my heart went out to Nada as she stood in the moonlight, one +forsaken, not having where to lay her head, Nada, who alone was left +alive of all my children. I motioned to Umslopogaas to hide himself in +the shadow, and stepped forward. + +"Ho!" I said roughly, "who are you, wanderer, and what do you here?" + +Now Nada started like a frightened bird, but quickly gathered up her +thoughts, and turned upon me in a lordly way. + +"Who are you that ask me?" she said, feigning a man's voice. + +"One who can use a stick upon thieves and night-prowlers, boy. Come, +show your business or be moving. You are not of this people; surely +that moocha is of a Swazi make, and here we do not love Swazis." + +"Were you not old, I would beat you for your insolence," said Nada, +striving to look brave and all the while searching a way to escape. +"Also, I have no stick, only a spear, and that is for warriors, not +for an old umfagozan like you." Ay, my father, I lived to hear my +daughter name me an umfagozan--a low fellow! + +Now making pretence to be angry, I leaped at her with my kerrie up, +and, forgetting her courage, she dropped her spear, and uttered a +little scream. But she still held the shield before her face. I seized +her by the arm, and struck a blow upon the shield with my kerrie--it +would scarcely have crushed a fly, but this brave warrior trembled +sorely. + +"Where now is your valour, you who name my umfagozan?" I said: "you +who cry like a maid and whose arm is soft as a maid's." + +She made no answer, but hugged her tattered blanket round her, and +shifting my grip from her arm, I seized it and rent it, showing her +breast and shoulder; then I let her go, laughing, and said:-- + +"Lo! here is the warrior that would beat an old umfagozan for his +insolence, a warrior well shaped for war! Now, my pretty maid who +wander at night in the garment of a man, what tale have you to tell? +Swift with it, lest I drag you to the chief as his prize! The old man +seeks a new wife, they tell me?" + +Now when Nada saw that I had discovered her she threw down the shield +after the spear, as a thing that was of no more use, and hung her head +sullenly. But when I spoke of dragging her to the chief then she flung +herself upon the ground, and clasped my knees, for since I called him +old, she thought that this chief could not be Umslopogaas. + +"Oh, my father," said the Lily, "oh, my father, have pity on me! Yes, +yes! I am a girl, a maid--no wife--and you who are old, you, perchance +have daughters such as I, and in their name I ask for pity. My father, +I have journeyed far, I have endured many things, to find my way to a +kraal where my brother rules, and now it seems I have come to the +wrong kraal. Forgive me that I spoke to you so, my father; it was but +a woman's feint, and I was hard pressed to hide my sex, for my father, +you know it is ill to be a lonely girl among strange men." + +Now I said nothing in answer, for this reason only: that when I heard +Nada call me father, not knowing me, and saw her clasp my knees and +pray to me in my daughter's name, I, who was childless save for her, +went nigh to weeping. But she thought that I did not answer her +because I was angry, and about to drag her to this unknown chief, and +implored me the more even with tears. + +"My father," she said, "do not this wicked thing by me. Let me go and +show me the path that I shall ask: you who are old, you know that I am +too fair to be dragged before this chief of yours. Hearken! All I knew +are dead, I am alone except for this brother I seek. Oh! if you betray +me may such a fate fall upon your own daughter also! May she also know +the day of slavery, and the love that she wills not!" and she ceased, +sobbing. + +Now I turned my head and spoke towards the hut, "Chief," I said, "your +Ehlose is kind to you to-night, for he has given you a maid fair as +the Lily of the Halakazi"--here Nada glanced up wildly. "Come, then, +and take the girl." + +Now Nada turned to snatch up the assegai from the ground, but whether +to kill me, or the chief she feared so much, or herself, I do not +know, and as she turned, in her woe she called upon the name of +Umslopogaas. She found the assegai, and straightened herself again. +And lo! there before her stood a tall chief leaning on an axe; but the +old man who threatened her was gone--not very far, in truth, but round +the corner of the hut. + +Now Nada the Lily looked, then rubbed her eyes, and looked again. + +"Surely I dream?" she said at last. "But now I spoke to an old man, +and in his place there stands before me the shape of one whom I desire +to see." + +"I thought, Maiden, that the voice of a certain Nada called upon one +Umslopogaas," said he who leaned upon the axe. + +"Ay, I called: but where is the old man who treated me so scurvily? +Nay, what does it matter?--where he is, there let him stop. At least, +you are Umslopogaas, my brother, or should be by your greatness and +the axe. To the man I cannot altogether swear in this light; but to +the axe I can swear, for once it passed so very near my eyes." + +Thus she spoke on, gaining time, and all the while she watched +Umslopogaas till she was sure that it was he and no other. Then she +ceased talking, and, flinging herself on him, she kissed him. + +"Now I trust that Zinita sleeps sound," murmured Umslopogaas, for +suddenly he remembered that Nada was no sister of his, as she thought. + +Nevertheless, he took her by the hand and said, "Enter, sister. Of all +maidens in the world you are the most welcome here, for know I +believed you dead." + +But I, Mopo, ran into the hut before her, and when she entered she +found me sitting by the fire. + +"Now, here, my brother," said Nada, pointing at me with her finger, +"here is that old umfagozan, that low fellow, who, unless I dream, but +a very little while ago brought shame upon me--ay, my brother, he +struck me, a maid, with his kerrie, and that only because I said that +I would stab him for his insolence, and he did worse: he swore that he +would drag me to some old chief of his to be a gift to him, and this +he was about to do, had you not come. Will you suffer these things to +go unpunished, my brother?" + +Now Umslopogaas smiled grimly, and I answered:-- + +"What was it that you called me just now, Nada, when you prayed me to +protect you? Father, was it not?" and I turned my face towards the +blaze of the fire, so that the full light fell upon it. + +"Yes, I called you father, old man. It is not strange, for a homeless +wanderer must find fathers where she can--and yet! no, it cannot be-- +so changed--and that white hand? And yet, oh! who are you? Once there +was a man named Mopo, and he had a little daughter, and she was called +Nada--Oh! my father, my father, I know you now!" + +"Ay, Nada, and I knew you from the first; through all your man's +wrappings I knew you after these many years." + +So the Lily fell upon my neck and sobbed there, and I remember that I +also wept. + +Now when she had sobbed her fill of joy, Umslopogaas brought Nada the +Lily mass to eat and mealie porridge. She ate the curdled milk, but +the porridge she would not eat, saying that she was too weary. + +Then she told us all the tale of her wanderings since she had fled +away from the side of Umslopogaas at the stronghold of the Halakazi, +and it was long, so long that I will not repeat it, for it is a story +by itself. This I will say only: that Nada was captured by robbers, +and for awhile passed herself off among them as a youth. But, in the +end, they found her out and would have given her as a wife to their +chief, only she persuaded them to kill the chief and make her their +ruler. They did this because of that medicine of the eyes which Nada +had only among women, for as she ruled the Halakazi so she ruled the +robbers. But, at the last, they all loved her, and she gave it out +that she would wed the strongest. Then some of them fell to fighting, +and while they killed each other--for it came about that Nada brought +death upon the robbers as on all others--she escaped, for she said +that she did not wish to look upon their struggle but would await the +upshot in a place apart. + +After that she had many further adventures, but at length she met an +old woman who guided her on her way to the Ghost Mountain. And who +this old woman was none could discover, but Galazi swore afterwards +that she was the Stone Witch of the mountain, who put on the shape of +an aged woman to guide Nada to Umslopogaas, to be the sorrow and the +joy of the People of the Axe. I do not know, my father, yet it seems +to me that the old witch would scarcely have put off her stone for so +small a matter. + +Now, when Nada had made an end of her tale, Umslopogaas told his, of +how things had gone with Dingaan. When he told her how he had given +the body of the girl to the king, saying that it was the Lily's stalk, +she said it had been well done; and when he spoke of the slaying of +the traitor she clapped her hands, though Nada, whose heart was +gentle, did not love to hear of deeds of death. At last he finished, +and she was somewhat sad, and said it seemed that her fate followed +her, and that now the People of the Axe were in danger at the hands of +Dingaan because of her. + +"Ah! my brother," she cried, taking Umslopogaas by the hand, "it were +better I should die than that I should bring evil upon you also." + +"That would not mend matters, Nada," he answered. "For whether you be +dead or alive, the hate of Dingaan. Also, Nada, know this: I am not +your brother." + +When the Lily heard these words she uttered a little cry, and, letting +fall the hand of Umslopogaas, clasped mine, shrinking up against me. + +"What is this tale, father?" she asked. "He who was my twin, he with +whom I have been bred up, says that he has deceived me these many +years, that he is not my brother; who, then, is he, father?" + +"He is your cousin, Nada." + +"Ah," she answered, "I am glad. It would have grieved me had he whom I +loved been shown to be but a stranger in whom I have no part," and she +smiled a little in the eyes and at the corners of her mouth. "But tell +me this tale also." + +So I told her the tale of the birth of Umslopogaas, for I trusted her. + +"Ah," she said, when I had finished, "ah! you come of a bad stock, +Umslopogaas, though it is a kingly one. I shall love you little +henceforth, child of the hyena man." + +"Then that is bad news," said Umslopogaas, "for know, Nada, I desire +now that you should love me more than ever--that you should be my wife +and love me as your husband!" + +Now the Lily's face grew sad and sweet, and all the hidden mockery +went out of her talk--for Nada loved to mock. + +"Did you not speak to me on that night in the Halakazi caves, +Umslopogaas, of one Zinita, who is your wife, and Inkosikaas of the +People of the Axe?" + +Then the brow of Umslopogaas darkened: "What of Zinita?" he said. "It +is true she is my chieftainess; is it not allowed a man to take more +than one wife?" + +"So I trust," answered Nada, smiling, "else men would go unwed for +long, for few maids would marry them who then must labour alone all +their days. But, Umslopogaas, if there are twenty wives, yet one must +be first. Now this has come about hitherto: that wherever I have been +it has been thrust upon me to be first, and perhaps it might be thus +once more--what then, Umslopogaas?" + +"Let the fruit ripen before you pluck it, Nada," he answered. "If you +love me and will wed me, it is enough." + +"I pray that it may not be more than enough," she said, stretching out +her hand to him. "Listen, Umslopogaas: ask my father here what were +the words I spoke to him many years ago, before I was a woman, when, +with my mother, Macropha, I left him to go among the Swazi people. It +was after you had been borne away by the lion, Umslopogaas, I told my +father that I would marry no man all my life, because I loved only +you, who were dead. My father reproached me, saying that I must not +speak thus of my brother, but it was my heart which spoke, and it +spoke truly; for see, Umslopogaas, you are no brother to me! I have +kept that vow. How many men have sort me in wedlock since I became a +woman, Umslopogaas? I tell you that they are as the leaves upon a +tree. Yet I have given myself to none, and this has been my fortune: +that none have sought to constrain me to marriage. Now I have my +reward, for he whom I lost is found again, and to him alone I give my +love. Yet, Umslopogaas, beware! Little luck has come to those who have +loved me in the past; no, not even to those who have but sought to +look on me." + +"I will bear the risk, Nada," the Slaughterer answered, and gathering +her to his great breast he kissed her. + +Presently she slipped from his arms and bade him begone, for she was +weary and would rest. + +So he went. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE WAR OF THE WOMEN + +Now on the morrow at daybreak, leaving his wolves, Galazi came down +from the Ghost Mountain and passed through the gates of the kraal. + +In front of my hut he saw Nada the Lily and saluted her, for each +remembered the other. Then he walked on to the place of assembly and +spoke to me. + +"So the Star of Death has risen on the People of the Axe, Mopo," he +said. "Was it because of her coming that my grey people howled so +strangely last night? I cannot tell, but I know this, the Star shone +first on me this morning, and that is my doom. Well, she is fair +enough to be the doom of many, Mopo," and he laughed and passed on, +swinging the Watcher. But his words troubled me, though they were +foolish; for I could not but remember that wherever the beauty of Nada +had pleased the sight of men, there men had been given to death. + +Then I went to lead Nada to the place of assembly and found her +awaiting me. She was dressed now in some woman's garments that I had +brought her; her curling hair fell upon her shoulders; on her wrist +and neck and knee were bracelets of ivory, and in her hand she bore a +lily bloom which she had gathered as she went to bathe in the river. +Perhaps she did this, my father, because she wished here, as +elsewhere, to be known as the Lily, and it is the Zulu fashion to name +people from some such trifle. But who can know a woman's reason, or +whether a thing is by chance alone, my father? Also she had begged me +of a cape I had; it was cunningly made by Basutus, of the whitest +feathers of the ostrich; this she put about her shoulders, and it hung +down to her middle. It had been a custom with Nada from childhood not +to go about as do other girls, naked except for their girdles, for she +would always find some rag or skin to lie upon her breast. Perhaps it +was because her skin was fairer than that of other women, or perhaps +because she knew that she who hides her beauty often seems the +loveliest, or because there was truth in the tale of her white blood +and the fashion came to her with the blood. I do not know, my father; +at the least she did so. + +Now I took Nada by the hand and led her through the morning air to the +place of assembly, and ah! she was sweeter than the air and fairer +than the dawn. + +There were many people in the place of assembly, for it was the day of +the monthly meeting of the council of the headmen, and there also were +all the women of the kraal, and at their head stood Zinita. Now it had +got about that the girl whom the Slaughterer went to seek in the caves +of the Halakazi had come to the kraal of the People of the Axe, and +all eyes watched for her. + +"Wow!" said the men as she passed smiling, looking neither to the +right nor to the left, yet seeing all--"Wow! but this flower is fair! +Little wonder that the Halakazi died for her!" + +The women looked also, but they said nothing of the beauty of Nada; +they scarcely seemed to see it. + +"That is she for whose sake so many of our people lie unburied," said +one. + +"Where, then, does she find her fine clothes?" quoth another, "she who +came here last night a footsore wanderer?" + +"Feathers are not enough for her: look! she must bear flowers also. +Surely they are fitter to her hands than the handle of a hoe," said a +third. + +"Now I think that the chief of the People of the Axe will find one to +worship above the axe, and that some will be left mourning," put in a +fourth, glancing at Zinita and the other women of the household of the +Slaughterer. + +Thus they spoke, throwing words like assegais, and Nada heard them +all, and knew their meaning, but she never ceased from smiling. Only +Zinita said nothing, but stood looking at Nada from beneath her bent +brows, while by one hand she held the little daughter of Umslopogaas, +her child, and with the other played with the beads about her neck. +Presently, we passed her, and Nada, knowing well who this must be, +turned her eyes full upon the angry eyes of Zinita, and held them +there awhile. Now what there was in the glance of Nada I cannot say, +but I know that Zinita, who was afraid of few things, found something +to fear in it. At the least, it was she who turned her head away, and +the Lily passed on smiling, and greeted Umslopogaas with a little nod. + +"Hail, Nada!" said the Slaughterer. Then he turned to his headmen and +spoke: "This is she whom we went to the caves of the Halakazi to seek +for Dingaan. Ou! the story is known now; one told it up at the kraal +Umgugundhlovu who shall tell it no more. She prayed me to save her +from Dingaan, and so I did, and all would have gone well had it not +been for a certain traitor who is done with, for I took another to +Dingaan. Look on her now, my friends, and say if I did not well to win +her--the Lily flower, such as there is no other in the world, to be +the joy of the People of the Axe and a wife to me." + +With one accord the headmen answered: "Indeed you did well, +Slaughterer," for the glamour of Nada was upon them and they would +cherish her as others had cherished her. Only Galazi the Wolf shook +his head. But he said nothing, for words do not avail against fate. +Now as I found afterwards, since Zinita, the head wife of Umslopogaas, +had learned of what stock he was, she had known that Nada was no +sister to him. Yet when she heard him declare that he was about to +take the Lily to wife she turned upon him, saying:-- + +"How can this be, Lord?" + +"Why do you ask, Zinita?" he answered. "Is it not allowed to a man to +take another wife if he will?" + +"Surely, Lord," she said; "but men do not wed their sisters, and I +have heard that it was because this Nada was your sister that you +saved her from Dingaan, and brought the wrath of Dingaan upon the +People of the Axe, the wrath that shall destroy them." + +"So I thought then, Zinita," he answered; "now I know otherwise. Nada +is daughter to Mopo yonder indeed, but he is no father to me, though +he has been named so, nor was the mother of Nada my mother. That is +so, Councillors." + +Then Zinita looked at me and muttered, "O fool of a Mouth, not for +nothing did I fear evil at your hands." + +I heard the words and took no note, and she poke again to Umslopogaas, +saying: "Here is a mystery, O Lord Bulalio. Will it then please you to +declare to us who is your father?" + +"I have no father," he answered, waxing wroth; "the heavens above are +my father. I am born of Blood and Fire, and she, the Lily, is born of +Beauty to be my mate. Now, woman, be silent." He thought awhile, and +added, "Nay, if you will know, my father was Indabazimbi the Witch- +finder, the smeller-out of the king, the son of Arpi." This +Umslopogaas said at a hazard, since, having denied me, he must declare +a father, and dared not name the Black One who was gone. But in after +years the saying was taken up in the land, and it was told that +Umslopogaas was the son of Indabazimbi the Witch-finder, who had long +ago fled the land; nor did he deny it. For when all this game had been +played out he would not have it known that he was the son of Chaka, he +who no longer sought to be a king, lest he should bring down the wrath +of Panda upon him. + +When the people heard this they thought that Umslopogaas mocked +Zinita, and yet in his anger he spoke truth when he said first that he +was born of the "heavens above," for so we Zulus name the king, and so +the witch-doctor Indabazimbi named Chaka on the day of the great +smelling out. But they did not take it in this sense. They held that +he spoke truly when he gave it out that he was born of Indabazimbi the +Witch-doctor, who had fled the land, whither I do not know. + +Then Nada turned to Zinita and spoke to her in a sweet and gentle +voice: "If I am not sister to Bulalio, yet I shall soon be sister to +you who are the Chief's Inkosikaas, Zinita. Shall that not satisfy +you, and will you not greet me kindly and with a kiss of peace, who +have come from far to be your sister, Zinita?" and Nada held out her +hands towards her, though whether she did this from the heart or +because she would put herself in the right before the people I do not +know. 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. Yet three men stepped forward, and of these two were +captains, and men whom the Slaughterer loved. With all the people, he +looked at them astonished. + +"How is this?" he said in a low voice to that captain who was nearest +and who would do battle with him. + +For answer the man pointed to the Lily, who stood by. Then Umslopogaas +understood that because of the medicine of Nada's beauty all men +desired to win her, and, since he who could win the axe would take her +also, he must look to fight with many. Well, fight he must or be +shamed. + +Of the fray there is little to tell. Umslopogaas killed first one man +and then the other, and swiftly, for, growing fearful, the third did +not come up against him. + +"Ah!" said Galazi, who watched, "what did I tell you, Mopo? The curse +begins to work. Death walks ever with that daughter of yours, old +man." + +"I fear so," I answered, "and yet the maiden is fair and good and +sweet." + +"That will not mend matters," said Galazi. + +Now on that day Umslopogaas took Nada the Lily to wife, and for awhile +there was peace and quiet. But this evil thing came upon Umslopogaas, +that, from the day when he wedded Nada, he hated even to look upon +Zinita, and not at her alone, but on all his other wives also. Galazi +said it was because Nada had bewitched him, but I know well that the +only witcheries she used were the medicine of her eyes, her beauty, +and her love. Still, it came to pass that henceforward, and until she +had long been dead, the Slaughterer loved her, and her alone, and that +is a strange sickness to come upon a man. + +As may be guessed, my father, Zinita and the other women took this +ill. They waited awhile, indeed, thinking that it would wear away, +then they began to murmur, both to their husband and in the ears of +other people, till at length there were two parties in the town, the +party of Zinita and the party of Nada. + +The party of Zinita was made up of women and of certain men who loved +and feared their wives, but that of Nada was the greatest, and it was +all of men, with Umslopogaas at the head of them, and from this +division came much bitterness abroad, and quarrelling in the huts. Yet +neither the Lily nor Umslopogaas heeded it greatly, nor indeed, +anything, so lost and well content were they in each other's love. + +Now on a certain morning, after they had been married three full +moons, Nada came from her husband's hut when the sun was already high, +and went down through the rock gully to the river to bathe. On the +right of the path to the river lay the mealie-fields of the chief, and +in them laboured Zinita and the other women of Umslopogaas, weeding +the mealie-plants. They looked up and saw Nada pass, then worked on +sullenly. After awhile they saw her come again fresh from the bath, +very fair to see, and having flowers twined among her hair, and as she +walked she sang a song of love. Now Zinita cast down her hoe. + +"Is this to be borne, my sisters?" she said. + +"No," answered another, "it is not to be borne. What shall we do-- +shall we fall upon her and kill her now?" + +"It would be more just to kill Bulalio, our lord," answered Zinita. +"Nada is but a woman, and, after the fashion of us women, takes all +that she can gather. But he is a man and a chief, and should know +wisdom and justice." + +"She has bewitched him with her beauty. Let us kill her," said the +other women. + +"Nay," answered Zinita, "I will speak with her," and she went and +stood in the path along which the Lily walked singing, her arms folded +across her breast. + +Now Nada saw her and, ceasing her song, stretched out her hand to +welcome her, saying, "Greeting, sister." But Zinita did not take it. +"It is not fitting, sister," she said, "that my hand, stained with +toil, should defile yours, fresh with the scent of flowers. But I am +charged with a message, on my own behalf and the behalf of the other +wives of our Lord Bulalio; the weeds grow thick in yonder corn, and we +women are few; now that your love days are over, will not you come and +help us? If you brought no hoe from your Swazi home, surely we will +buy you one." + +Now Nada saw what was meant, and the blood poured to her head. Yet she +answered calmly:-- + +"I would willingly do this, my sister, though I have never laboured in +the fields, for wherever I have dwelt the men have kept me back from +all work, save such as the weaving of flowers or the stringing of +beads. But there is this against it--Umslopogaas, my husband, charged +me that I should not toil with my hands, and I may not disobey my +husband." + +"Our husband charged you so, Nada? Nay, then it is strange. See, now, +I am his head wife, his Inkosikaas--it was I who taught him how to win +the axe. Yet he has laid no command on me that I should not labour in +the fields after the fashion of women, I who have borne him children; +nor, indeed, has he laid such a command upon any of our sisters, his +other wives. Can it then be that Bulalio loves you better than us, +Nada?" + +Now the Lily was in a trap, and she knew it. So she grew bold. + +"One must be most loved, Zinita," she said, "as one must be most fair. +You have had your hour, leave me mine; perhaps it will be short. +Moreover this: Umslopogaas and I loved each other much long years +before you or any of his wives saw him, and we love each other to the +end. There is no more to say." + +"Nay, Nada, there is still something to say; there is this to say: +Choose one of two things. Go and leave us to be happy with our lord, +or stay and bring death on all." + +Now Nada thought awhile, and answered: "Did I believe that my love +would bring death on him I love, it might well chance that I would go +and leave him, though to do so would be to die. But, Zinita, I do not +believe it. Death chiefly loves the weak, and if he falls it will be +on the Flower, not on the Slayer of Men," and she slipped past Zinita +and went on, singing no more. + +Zinita watched her till she was over the ridge, and her face grew evil +as she watched. Then she returned to the women. + +"The Lily flouts us all, my sisters," she said. "Now listen: my +counsel is that we declare a feast of women to be held at the new moon +in a secret place far away. All the women and the children shall come +to it except Nada, who will not leave her lover, and if there be any +man whom a woman loves, perhaps, my sisters, that man would do well to +go on a journey about the time of the new moon, for evil things may +happen at the town of the People of the Axe while we are away +celebrating our feast." + +"What, then, shall befall, my sister?" asked one. + +"Nay, how can I tell?" she answered. "I only know that we are minded +to be rid of Nada, and thus to be avenged on a man who has scorned our +love--ay, and on those men who follow after the beauty of Nada. Is it +not so, my sisters?" + +"It is so," they answered. + +"Then be silent on the matter, and let us give out our feast." + +Now Nada told Umslopogaas of those words which she had bandied with +Zinita, and the Slaughterer was troubled. Yet, because of his +foolishness and of the medicine of Nada's eyes, he would not turn from +his way, and was ever at her side, thinking of little else except of +her. Thus, when Zinita came to him, and asked leave to declare a feast +of women that should be held far away, he consented, and gladly, for, +above all things, he desired to be free from Zinita and her angry +looks for awhile; nor did he suspect a plot. Only he told her that +Nada should not go to the feast; and in a breath both Zinita and Nada +answered that is word was their will, as indeed it was, in this +matter. + +Now I, Mopo, saw the glamour that had fallen upon my fosterling, and +spoke of it with Galazi, saying that a means must be found to wake +him. Then I took Galazi fully into my mind, and told him all that he +did not know of Umslopogaas, and that was little. Also, I told him of +my plans to bring the Slaughterer to the throne, and of what I had +done to that end, and of what I proposed to do, and this was to go in +person on a journey to certain of the great chiefs and win them over. + +Galazi listened, and said that it was well or ill, as the chance might +be. For his part, he believed that the daughter would pull down faster +than I, the father, could build up, and he pointed to Nada, who walked +past us, following Umslopogaas. + +Yet I determined to go, and that was on the day before Zinita won +leave to celebrate the feast of women. So I sought Umslopogaas and +told him, and he listened indifferently, for he would be going after +Nada, and wearied of my talk of policy. I bade him farewell and left +him; to Nada also I bade farewell. She kissed me, yet the name of her +husband was mingled with her good-bye. + +"Now madness has come upon these two," I said to myself. "Well, it +will wear off, they will be changed before I come again." + +I guessed little, my father, how changed they would be. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +ZINITA COMES TO THE KING + +Dingaan the king sat upon a day in the kraal Umgugundhlovu, waiting +till his impis should return from the Income that is now named the +Blood River. He had sent them thither to destroy the laager of the +Boers, and thence, as he thought, they would presently return with +victory. Idly he sat in the kraal, watching the vultures wheel above +the Hill of Slaughter, and round him stood a regiment. + +"My birds are hungry," he said to a councillor. + +"Doubtless there shall soon be meat to feed them, O King!" the +councillor answered. + +As he spoke one came near, saying that a woman sought leave to speak +to the king upon some great matter. + +"Let her come," he answered; "I am sick for tidings, perhaps she can +tell of the impi." + +Presently the woman was led in. She was tall and fair, and she held +two children by the hand. + +"What is thine errand?" asked Dingaan. + +"Justice, O King," she answered. + +"Ask for blood, it shall be easier to find." + +"I ask blood, O King." + +"The blood of whom?" + +"The blood of Bulalio the Slaughterer, Chief of the People of the Axe, +the blood of Nada the Lily, and of all those who cling to her." + +Now Dingaan sprang up and swore an oath by the head of the Black One +who was gone. + +"What?" he cried, "does the Lily, then, live as the soldier thought?" + +"She lives, O King. She is wife to the Slaughterer, and because of her +witchcraft he has put me, his first wife, away against all law and +honour. Therefore I ask vengeance on the witch and vengeance also on +him who was my husband." + +"Thou art a good wife," said the king. "May my watching spirit save me +from such a one. Hearken! I would gladly grant thy desire, for I, too, +hate this Slaughterer, and I, too, would crush this Lily. Yet, woman, +thou comest in a bad hour. Here I have but one regiment, and I think +that the Slaughterer may take some killing. Wait till my impis return +from wiping out the white Amaboona, and it shall be as thou dost +desire. Whose are those children?" + +"They are my children and the children of Bulalio, who was my +husband." + +"The children of him whom thou wouldst cause to be slain." + +"Yea, King." + +"Surely, woman, thou art as good a mother as wife!" said Dingaan. "Now +I have spoken--begone!" + +But the heart of Zinita was hungry for vengeance, vengeance swift and +terrible, on the Lily, who lay in her place, and on her husband, who +had thrust her aside for the Lily's sake. She did not desire to wait-- +no, not even for an hour. + +"Hearken, O King!" she cried, "the tale is not yet all told. This man, +Bulalio, plots against thy throne with Mopo, son of Makedama, who was +thy councillor." + +"He plots against my throne, woman? The lizard plots against the cliff +on which it suns itself? Then let him plot; and as for Mopo, I will +catch him yet!" + +"Yes, O King! but that is not all the tale. This man has another name +--he is named Umslopogaas, son of Mopo. But he is no son of Mopo: he +is son to the Black One who is dead, the mighty king who was thy +brother, by Baleka, sister to Mopo. Yes, I know it from the lips of +Mopo. I know all the tale. He is heir to thy throne by blood, O King, +and thou sittest in his place." + +For a little while Dingaan sat astounded. Then he commanded Zinita to +draw near and tell him that tale. + +Now behind the stool on which he sat stood two councillors, nobles +whom Dingaan loved, and these alone had heard the last words of +Zinita. He bade these nobles stand in front of him, out of earshot and +away from every other man. Then Zinita drew near, and told Dingaan the +tale of the birth of Umslopogaas and all that followed, and, by many a +token and many a deed of Chaka's which he remembered, Dingaan the king +knew that it was a true story. + +When at length she had done, he summoned the captain of the regiment +that stood around: he was a great man named Faku, and he also summoned +certain men who do the king's bidding. To the captain of the impi he +spoke sharply, saying:-- + +"Take three companies and guides, and come by night to the town of the +People of the Axe, that is by Ghost Mountain, and burn it, and slay +all the wizards who sleep therein. Most of all, slay the Chief of the +People, who is named Bulalio the Slaughterer or Umslopogaas. Kill him +by torture if you may, but kill him and bring his head to me. Take +that wife of his, who is known as Nada the Lily, alive if ye can, and +bring her to me, for I would cause her to be slain here. Bring the +cattle also. Now go, and go swiftly, this hour. If ye return having +failed in one jot of my command, ye die, every one of you--ye die, and +slowly. Begone!" + +The captain saluted, and, running to his regiment, issued a command. +Three full companies leapt forward at his word, and ran after him +through the gates of the kraal Umgugundhlovu, heading for the Ghost +Mountain. + +Then Dingaan called to those who do the king's bidding, and, pointing +to the two nobles, his councillors, who had heard the words of Zinita, +commanded that they should be killed. + +The nobles heard, and, having saluted the king, covered their faces, +knowing that they must die because they had learned too much. So they +were killed. Now it was one of these councillors who had said that +doubtless meat would soon be found to feed the king's birds. + +Then the king commanded those who do his bidding that they should take +the children of Zinita and make away with them. + +But when Zinita heard this she cried aloud, for she loved her +children. Then Dingaan mocked her. + +"What?" he said, "art thou a fool as well as wicked? Thou sayest that +thy husband, whom thou hast given to death, is born of one who is +dead, and is heir to my throne. Thou sayest also that these children +are born of him; therefore, when he is dead, they will be heirs to my +throne. Am I then mad that I should suffer them to live? Woman, thou +hast fallen into thine own trap. Take them away!" + +Now Zinita tasted of the cup which she had brewed for other lips, and +grew distraught in her misery, and wrung her hands, crying that she +repented her of the evil and would warn Umslopogaas and the Lily of +that which awaited them. And she turned to run towards the gates. But +the king laughed and nodded, and they brought her back, and presently +she was dead also. + +Thus, then, my father, prospered the wickedness of Zinita, the head +wife of Umslopogaas, my fosterling. + +Now these were the last slayings that were wrought at the kraal +Umgugundhlovu, for just as Dingaan had made an end of them and once +more grew weary, he lifted his eyes and saw the hillsides black with +men, who by their dress were of his own impi--men whom he had sent out +against the Boers. + +And yet where was the proud array, where the plumes and shields, where +the song of victory? Here, indeed, were soldiers, but they walked in +groups like women and hung their heads like chidden children. + +Then he learned the truth. The impi had been defeated by the banks of +the Income; thousands had perished at the laager, mowed down by the +guns of the Boers, thousands more had been drowned in the Income, till +the waters were red and the bodies of the slain pushed each other +under, and those who still lived walked upon them. + +Dingaan heard, and was seized with fear, for it was said that the +Amaboona followed fast on the track of the conquered. + +That day he fled to the bush on the Black Umfolozi river, and that +night the sky was crimson with the burning of the kraal Umgugundhlovu, +where the Elephant should trumpet no more, and the vultures were +scared from the Hill of Slaughter by the roaring of the flames. + +* * * * * + +Galazi sat on the lap of the stone Witch, gazing towards the wide +plains below, that were yet white with the moon, though the night grew +towards the morning. Greysnout whined at his side, and Deathgrip +thrust his muzzle into his hand; but Galazi took no heed, for he was +brooding on the fall of Umslopogaas from the man that he had been to +the level of a woman's slave, and on the breaking up of the People of +the Axe, because of the coming of Nada. For all the women and the +children were gone to this Feast of Women, and would not return for +long, and it seemed to Galazi that many of the men had slipped away +also, as though they smelt some danger from afar. + +"Ah, Deathgrip," said Galazi aloud to the wild brute at his side, +"changed is the Wolf King my brother, all changed because of a woman's +kiss. Now he hunts no more, no more shall Groan-Maker be aloft; it is +a woman's kiss he craves, not the touch of your rough tongue, it is a +woman's hand he holds, not the smooth haft of horn, he, who of all +men, was the fiercest and the first; for this last shame has overtaken +him. Surely Chaka was a great king though an evil, and he showed his +greatness when he forbade marriage to the warriors, marriage that +makes the heart soft and turns blood to water." + +Now Galazi ceased, and gazed idly towards the kraal of the People of +the Axe, and as he looked his eyes caught a gleam of light that seemed +to travel in and out of the edge of the shadow of Ghost Mountain as a +woman's needle travels through a skin, now seen and now lost in the +skin. + +He started and watched. Ah! there the light came out from the shadow. +Now, by Chaka's head, it was the light of spears! + +One moment more Galazi watched. It was a little impi, perhaps they +numbered two hundred men, running silently, but not to battle, for +they wore no plumes. Yet they went out to kill, for they ran in +companies, and each man carried assegais and a shield. + +Now Galazi had heard tell of such impis that hunt by night, and he +knew well that these were the king's dogs, and their game was men, a +big kraal of sleeping men, otherwise there had been fewer dogs. Is a +whole pack sent out to catch an antelope on its form? Galazi wondered +whom they sought. Ah! now they turned to the ford, and he knew. It was +his brother Umslopogaas and Nada the Lily and the People of the Axe. +These were the king's dogs, and Zinita had let them slip. For this +reason she had called a feast of women, and taken the children with +her; for this reason so many had been summoned from the kraal by one +means or another: it was that they might escape the slaughter. + +Galazi bounded to his feet. For one moment he thought. Might not these +hunters be hunted? Could he not destroy them by the jaws of the wolves +as once before they had destroyed a certain impi of the king's? Ay, if +he had seen them but one hour before, then scarcely a man of them +should have lived to reach the stream, for he would have waylaid them +with his wolves. But now it might not be; the soldiers neared the +ford, and Galazi knew well that his grey people would not hunt on the +further plain, though for this he had heard one reason only, that +which was given him by the lips of the dead in a dream. + +What, then, might be done? One thing alone: warn Umslopogaas. Yet how? +For him who could swim a rushing river, there was, indeed, a swifter +way to the place of the People of the Axe--a way that was to the path +of the impi as is the bow-string to the strung bow. And yet they had +travelled well-nigh half the length of the bow. Still, he might do it, +he whose feet were the swiftest in the land, except those of +Umslopogaas. At the least, he would try. Mayhap, the impi would tarry +to drink at the ford. + +So Galazi thought in his heart, and his thought was swift as the +light. Then with a bound he was away down the mountain side. From +boulder to boulder he leapt like a buck, he crashed through the brake +like a bull, he skimmed the level like a swallow. The mountain was +travelled now; there in front of him lay the yellow river foaming in +its flood, so he had swum it before when he went to see the dead. Ah! +a good leap far out into the torrent; it was strong, but he breasted +it. He was through, he stood upon the bank shaking the water from him +like a dog, and now he was away up the narrow gorge of stones to the +long slope, running low as his wolves ran. + +Before him lay the town--one side shone silver with the sinking moon, +one was grey with the breaking dawn. Ah! they were there, he saw them +moving through the grass by the eastern gate; he saw the long lines of +slayers creep to the left and the right. + +How could he pass them before the circle of death was drawn? Six +spear-throws to run, and they had but such a little way! The mealie- +plants were tall, and at a spot they almost touched the fence. Up the +path! Could Umslopogaas, his brother, move more fast, he wondered, +than the Wolf who sped to save him? He was there, hidden by the mealie +stalks, and there, along the fence to the right and to the left, the +slayers crept! + +"Wow! What was that?" said one soldier of the king to another man as +they joined their guard completing the death circle. "Wow! something +great and black crashed through the fence before me." + +"I heard it, brother," answered the other man. "I heard it, but I saw +nothing. It must have been a dog: no man could leap so high." + +"More like a wolf," said the first; "at the least, let us pray that it +was not an Esedowan[1] who will put us into the hole in its back. Is +your fire ready, brother? Wow! these wizards shall wake warm; the +signal should be soon." + +[1] A fabulous animal, reported by the Zulus to carry off human beings + in a hole in its back. + +Then arose the sound of a great voice crying, "Awake, ye sleepers, the +foe is at your gates!" + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE END OF THE PEOPLE, BLACK AND GREY + +Galazi rushed through the town crying aloud, and behind him rose a +stir of men. All slept and no sentinels were set, for Umslopogaas was +so lost in his love for Lily that he forgot his wisdom, and thought no +more of war or death or of the hate of Dingaan. Presently the Wolf +came to the large new hut which Umslopogaas had caused to be built for +Nada the Lily, and entered it, for there he knew that he should find +his brother Bulalio. On the far side of the hut the two lay sleeping, +and the head of Umslopogaas rested on the Lily's breast, and by his +side gleamed the great axe Groan-Maker. + +"Awake!" cried the Wolf. + +Now Umslopogaas sprang to his feet grasping at his axe, but Nada threw +her arms wide, murmuring; "Let me sleep on, sweet is sleep." + +"Sound shall ye sleep, anon!" gasped Galazi. "Swift, brother, bind on +the wolf's hide, take shield! Swift, I say--for the Slayers of the +king are at your gates!" + +Now Nada sprang up also, and they did his bidding like people in a +dream; and, while they found their garments and a shield, Galazi took +beer and drank it, and got his breath again. They stood without the +hut. Now the heaven was grey, and east and west and north and south +tongues of flame shot up against the sky, for the town had been fired +by the Slayers. + +Umslopogaas looked and his sense came back to him: he understood. +"Which way, brother?" he said. + +"Through the fire and the impi to our Grey People on the mountain," +said Galazi. "There, if we can win it, we shall find succour." + +"What of my people in the kraal," asked Umslopogaas. + +"They are not many, brother; the women and the children are gone. I +have roused the men--most will escape. Hence, ere we burn!" + +Now they ran towards the fence, and as they went men joined them to +the number of ten, half awakened, fear-stricken, armed--some with +spears, some with clubs--and for the most part naked. They sped on +together towards the fence of the town that was now but a ring of +fire, Umslopogaas and Galazi in front, each holding the Lily by a +hand. They neared the fence--from without came the shouts of the +Slayers--lo! it was afire. Nada shrank back in fear, but Umslopogaas +and Galazi dragged her on. They rushed at the blazing fence, smiting +with axe and club. It broke before them, they were through but little +harmed. Without were a knot of the Slayers, standing back a small +space because of the heat of the flames. The Slayers saw them, and +crying, "This is Bulalio, kill the wizard!" sprang towards them with +uplifted spears. Now the People of the Axe made a ring round Nada, and +in the front of it were Umslopogaas and Galazi. Then they rushed on +and met those of the Slayers who stood before them, and the men of +Dingaan were swept away and scattered by Groan-Maker and the Watcher, +as dust is swept of a wind, as grass is swept by a sickle. + +They were through with only one man slain, but the cry went up that +the chief of the wizards and the Lily, his wife, had fled. Then, as it +was these whom he was chiefly charged to kill, the captain called off +the impi from watching for the dwellers in the town, and started in +pursuit of Umslopogaas. Now, at this time nearly a hundred men of the +People of the Axe had been killed and of the Slayers some fifty men, +for, having been awakened by the crying of Galazi, the soldiers of the +axe fought bravely, though none saw where his brother stood, and none +knew whither their chief had fled except those ten who went with the +brethren. + +Meanwhile, the Wolf-Brethren and those with them were well away, and +it had been easy for them to escape, who were the swiftest-footed of +any in the land. But the pace of a regiment is the pace of its +slowest-footed soldier, and Nada could not run with the Wolf-Brethren. +Yet they made good speed, and were halfway down the gorge that led to +the river before the companies of Dingaan poured into it. Now they +came to the end of it, and the foe was near--this end of the gorge is +narrow, my father, like the neck of a gourd--then Galazi stopped and +spoke:-- + +"Halt! ye People of the Axe," he said, "and let us talk awhile with +these who follow till we get our breath again. But you, my brother, +pass the river with the Lily in your hand. We will join you in the +forest; but if perchance we cannot find you, you know what must be +done: set the Lily in the cave, then return and call up the grey impi. +Wow! my brother, I must find you if I may, for if these men of Dingaan +have a mind for sport there shall be such a hunting on the Ghost +Mountain as the old Witch has not seen. Go now, my brother!" + +"It is not my way to turn and run while others stand and fight," +growled Umslopogaas; "yet, because of Nada, it seems that I must." + +"Oh! heed me not, my love," said Nada, "I have brought thee sorrow--I +am weary, let me die; kill me and save yourselves!" + +For answer, Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the +river; but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray, the +war-cry of the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe, the +howl of his brother, the Wolf, when the battle joined--ay, and the +crash of the Watcher as the blow went home. + +"Well bitten, Wolf!" he said, stopping; "that one shall need no more; +oh! that I might"--but again he looked at Nada, and sped on. + +Now they had leaped into the foaming river, and here it was well that +the Lily could swim, else both had been lost. But they won through and +passed forward to the mountain's flank. Here they walked on among the +trees till the forest was almost passed, and at length Umslopogaas +heard the howling of a wolf. + +Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi +had carried another, for it was death for any except the Wolf-Brethren +to walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake. + +Presently the wolves flocked around him, and leaped upon him in joy, +glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders. Nada saw +them, and almost fell from her seat, fainting with fear, for they were +many and dreadful, and when they howled her blood turned to ice. + +But Umslopogaas cheered her, telling her that these were his dogs with +whom he went out hunting, and with whom he should hunt presently. At +length they came to the knees of the Old Witch and the entrance to the +cave. It was empty except for a wolf or two, for Galazi abode here +seldom now; but when he was on the mountain would sleep in the forest, +which was nearer the kraal of his brother the Slaughterer. + +"Here you must stay, sweet," said Umslopogaas when he had driven out +the wolves. "Here you must rest till this little matter of the Slayers +is finished. Would that we had brought food, but we had little time to +seek it! See, now I will show you the secret of the stone; thus far I +will push it, no farther. Now a touch only is needed to send it over +the socket and home; but then they must be two strong men who can pull +it back again. Therefore push it no farther except in the utmost need, +lest it remain where it fall, whether you will it or not. Have no +fear, you are safe here; none know of this place except Galazi, myself +and the wolves, and none shall find it. Now I must be going to find +Galazi, if he still lives; if not, to make what play I can against the +Slayers, alone with the wolves." + +Now Nada wept, saying that she feared to be left, and that she should +never see him more, and her grief rung his heart. Nevertheless, +Umslopogaas kissed her and went, closing the stone after him in that +fashion of which he had spoken. When the stone was shut the cave was +almost dark, except for a ray of light that entered by a hole little +larger than a man's hand, that, looked at from within, was on the +right of the stone. Nada sat herself so that this ray struck full on +her, for she loved light, and without it she would pine as flowers do. +There she sat and thought in the darksome cave, and was filled with +fear and sorrow. And while she brooded thus, suddenly the ray went +out, and she heard a noise as of some beast that smells at prey. She +looked, and in the gloom she saw the sharp nose and grinning fangs of +a wolf that were thrust towards her through the little hole. + +Nada cried aloud in fear, and the fangs were snatched back, but +presently she heard a scratching without the cave, and saw the stone +shake. Then she thought in her foolishness that the wolf knew how to +open the stone, and that he would do this, and devour her, for she had +heard the tale that all these wolves were the ghosts of evil men, +having the understanding of men. So, in her fear and folly, she seized +the rock and dragged on it as Umslopogaas had shown her how to do. It +shook, it slipped over the socket ledge, and rolled home like a pebble +down the mouth of a gourd. + +"Now I am safe from the wolves," said Nada. "See, I cannot so much as +stir the stone from within." And she laughed a little, then ceased +from laughing and spoke again. "Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaas +came back no more to roll away that rock, for then I should be like +one in a grave--as one who is placed in a grave being yet strong and +quick." She shuddered as she thought of it, but presently started up +and set her ear to the hole to listen, for from far down the mountain +there rose a mighty howling and a din of men. + +When Umslopogaas had shut the cave, he moved swiftly down the +mountain, and with him went certain of the wolves; not all, for he had +not summoned them. His heart was heavy, for he feared that Galazi was +no more. Also he was mad with rage, and plotted in himself to destroy +the Slayers of the king, every man of them; but first he must learn +what they would do. Presently, as he wended, he heard a long, low howl +far away in the forest; then he rejoiced, for he knew the call--it was +the call of Galazi, who had escaped the spears of the Slayers. + +Swiftly he ran, calling in answer. He won the place. There, seated on +a stone, resting himself, was Galazi, and round him surged the numbers +of the Grey People. Umslopogaas came to him and looked at him, for he +seemed somewhat weary. There were flesh wounds on his great breast and +arms, the little shield was well-nigh hewn to strips, and the Watcher +showed signs of war. + +"How went it, brother?" asked Umslopogaas. + +"Not so ill, but all those who stood with me in the way are dead, and +with them a few of the foe. I alone am fled like a coward. They came +on us thrice, but we held them back till the Lily was safe; then, all +our men being down, I ran, Umslopogaas, and swam the torrent, for I +was minded to die here in my own place." + +Now, though he said little of it, I must tell you, my father, that +Galazi had made a great slaughter there in the neck of the donga. +Afterwards I counted the slain, and they were many; the nine men of +the People of the Axe were hidden in them. + +"Perhaps it shall be the Slayers who die, brother." + +"Perhaps, at least, there shall be death for some. Still it is in my +mind, Slaughterer, that our brotherhood draws to an end, for the fate +of him who bears the Watcher, and which my father foretold, is upon +me. If so, farewell. While it lasted our friendship has been good, and +its ending shall be good. Moreover, it would have endured for many a +year to come had you not sought, Slaughterer, to make good better, and +to complete our joy of fellowship and war with the love of women. From +that source flow these ills, as a river from a spring; but so it was +fated. If I fall in this fray may you yet live on to fight in many +another, and at the last to die gloriously with axe aloft; and may you +find a brisker man and a better Watcher to serve you in your need. +Should you fall and I live on, I promise this: I will avenge you to +the last and guard the Lily whom you love, offering her comfort, but +no more. Now the foe draws on, they have travelled round about by the +ford, for they dared not face the torrent, and they cried to me that +they are sworn to slay us or be slain, as Dingaan, the king, +commanded. So the fighting will be of the best, if, indeed, they do +not run before the fangs of the Grey People. Now, Chief, speak your +word that I may obey it." + +Thus Galazi spoke in the circle of the wolves, while Umslopogaas +leaned upon his Axe Groan-Maker, and listened to him, ay, and wept as +he listened, for after the Lily and me, Mopo, he loved Galazi most +dearly of all who lived. Then he answered:-- + +"Were it not for one in the cave above, who is helpless and tender, I +would swear to you, Wolf, that if you fall, on your carcase I will +die; and I do swear that, should you fall, while I live Groan-Maker +shall be busy from year to year till every man of yonder impi is as +you are. Perchance I did ill, Galazi, when first I hearkened to the +words of Zinita and suffered women to come between us. May we one day +find a land where there are no women, and war only, for in that land +we shall grow great. But now, at the least, we will make a good end to +this fellowship, and the Grey People shall fight their fill, and the +old Witch who sits aloft waiting for the world to die shall smile to +see that fight, if she never smiled before. This is my word: that we +fall upon the men of Dingaan twice, once in the glade of the forest +whither they will come presently, and, if we are beaten back, then we +must stand for the last time on the knees of the Witch in front of the +cave where Nada is. Say, Wolf, will the Grey Folk fight?" + +"To the last, brother, so long as one is left to lead them, after that +I do not know! Still they have only fangs to set against spears. +Slaughterer, your plan is good. Come, I am rested." + +So they rose and numbered their flock, and all were there, though it +was not as it had been years ago when first the Wolf-Brethren hunted +on Ghost Mountain; for many of the wolves had died by men's spears +when they harried the kraals of men, and no young were born to them. +Then, as once before, the pack was halved, and half, the she-wolves, +went with Umslopogaas, and half, the dog-wolves, went with Galazi. + +Now they passed down the forest paths and hid in the tangle of the +thickets at the head of the darksome glen, one on each side of the +glen. Here they waited till they heard the footfall of the impi of the +king's Slayers, as it came slowly along seeking them. In front of the +impi went two soldiers watching for an ambush, and these two men were +the same who had talked together that dawn when Galazi sprang between +them. Now also they spoke as they peered this way and that; then, +seeing nothing, stood awhile in the mouth of the glen waiting the +coming of their company; and their words came to the ears of +Umslopogaas. + +"An awful place this, my brother," said one. "A place full of ghosts +and strange sounds, of hands that seem to press us back, and whinings +as of invisible wolves. It is named Ghost Mountain, and well named. +Would that the king had found other business for us than the slaying +of these sorcerers--for they are sorcerers indeed, and this is the +home of their sorceries. Tell me, brother, what was that which leaped +between us this morning in the dark! I say it was a wizard. Wow! they +are all wizards. Could any who was but a man have done the deeds which +he who is named the Wolf wrought down by the river yonder, and then +have escaped? Had the Axe but stayed with the Club they would have +eaten up our impi." + +"The Axe had a woman to watch," laughed the other. "Yes, it is true +this is a place of wizards and evil things. Methinks I see the red +eyes of the Esedowana glaring at us through the dark of the trees and +smell their smell. Yet these wizards must be caught, for know this, my +brother: if we return to Umgugundhlovu with the king's command undone, +then there are stakes hardening in the fire of which we shall taste +the point. If we are all killed in the catching, and some, it seems, +are missing already, yet they must be caught. Say, my brother, shall +we draw on? The impi is nigh. Would that Faku, our captain yonder, +might find two others to take our place, for in this thicket I had +rather run last than first. Well, here leads the spoor--a wondrous +mass of wolf-spoor mixed with the footprints of men; perhaps they are +sometimes the one and sometimes the other--who knows, my brother? It +is a land of ghosts and wizards. Let us on! Let us on!" + +Now all this while the Wolf-Brethren had much ado to keep their people +quiet, for their mouths watered and their eyes shone at the sight of +the men, and at length it could be done no more, for with a howl a +single she-wolf rushed from her laid and leapt at the throat of the +man who spoke, nor did she miss her grip. Down went wolf and man, +rolling together on the ground, and there they killed each other. + +"The Esedowana! the Esedowana are upon us!" cried the other scout, +and, turning, fled towards the impi. But he never reached it, for with +fearful howlings the ghost-wolves broke their cover and rushed on him +from the right and the left, and lo! there was nothing of him left +except his spear alone. + +Now a low cry of fear rose from the impi, and some turned to fly, but +Faku, the captain, a great and brave man, shouted to them, "Stand +firm, children of the king, stand firm, these are no Esedowana, these +are but the Wolf-Brethren and their pack. What! will ye run from dogs, +ye who have laughed at the spears of men? Ring round! Stand fast!" + +The soldiers heard the voice of their captain, and they obeyed his +voice, forming a double circle, a ring within a ring. They looked to +the right, there, Groan-Maker aloft, the wolf fangs on his brow, the +worn wolf-hide streaming on the wind, Bulalio rushed upon them like a +storm, and with him came his red-eyed company. They looked to the left +--ah, well they know that mighty Watcher! Have they not heard his +strokes down by the river, and well they know the giant who wields it +like a wand, the Wolf King, with the strength of ten! Wow! They are +here! See the people black and grey, hear them howl their war-chant! +Look how they leap like water--leap in a foam of fangs against the +hedge of spears! The circle is broken; Groan-Maker has broken it! Ha! +Galazi also is through the double ring; now must men stand back to +back or perish! + +How long did it last? Who can say? Time flies fast when blows fall +thick. At length the brethren are beaten back; they break out as they +broke in, and are gone, with such of their wolf-folk as were left +alive. Yet that impi was somewhat the worse, but one-third of those +lived who looked on the sun without the forest; the rest lay smitten, +torn, mangled, dead, hidden under the heaps of bodies of wild beasts. + +"Now this is a battle of evil spirits that live in the shapes of +wolves, and as for the Wolf-Brethren, they are sorcerers of the +rarest," said Faku the captain, "and such sorcerers I love, for they +fight furiously. Yet I will slay them or be slain. At the least, if +there be few of us left, the most of the wolves are dead also, and the +arms of the wizards grow weary." + +So he moved forward up the mountain with those of the soldiers who +remained, and all the way the wolves harried them, pulling down a man +here and a man there; but though they heard and saw them cheering on +their pack the Wolf-Brethren attacked them no more, for they saved +their strength for the last fight of all. + +The road was long up the mountain, and the soldiers knew little of the +path, and ever the ghost-wolves harried on their flanks. So it was +evening before they came to the feet of the stone Witch, and began to +climb to the platform of her knees. There, on her knees as it were, +they saw the Wolf-Brethren standing side by side, such a pair as were +not elsewhere in the world, and they seemed afire, for the sunset beat +upon them, and the wolves crept round their feet, red with blood and +fire. + +"A glorious pair!" quoth great Faku; "would that I fought with them +rather than against them! Yet, they must die!" Then he began to climb +to the knees of the Witch. + +Now Umslopogaas glanced up at the stone face of her who sat aloft, and +it was alight with the sunset. + +"Said I not that the old Witch should smile at this fray?" he cried. +"Lo! she smiles! Up, Galazi, let us spend the remnant of our people on +the foe, and fight this fight out, man to man, with no beast to spoil +it! Ho! Blood and Greysnout! ho! Deathgrip! ho! wood-dwellers grey and +black, at them, my children!" + +The wolves heard; they were few and they were sorry to see, with +weariness and wounds, but still they were fierce. With a howl, for the +last time they leaped down upon the foe, tearing, harrying, and +killing till they themselves were dead by the spear, every one of them +except Deathgrip, who crept back sorely wounded to die with Galazi. + +"Now I am a chief without a people," cried Galazi. "Well, it has been +my lot in life. So it was in the Halakazi kraals, so it is on Ghost +Mountain at the last, and so also shall it be even for the greatest +kings when they come to their ends, seeing that they, too, must die +alone. Say, Slaughterer, choose where you will stand, to the left or +to the right." + +Now, my father, the track below separated, because of a boulder, and +there were two little paths which led to the platform of the Witch's +knees with, perhaps, ten paces between them. Umslopogaas guarded the +left-hand path and Galazi took the right. Then they waited, having +spears in their hands. Presently the soldiers came round the rock and +rushed up against them, some on one path and some on the other. + +Then the brethren hurled their spears at them and killed three men. +Now the assegais were done, and the foe was on them. Umslopogaas bends +forward, his long arm shoots out, the axe gleams, and a man who came +on falls back. + +"One!" cries Umslopogaas. + +"One, my brother!" answers Galazi, as he draws back the Watcher from +his blow. + +A soldier rushes forward, singing. To and fro he moves in front of +Umslopogaas, his spear poised to strike. Groan-Maker swoops down, but +the man leaps back, the blow misses, and the Slaughterer's guard is +down. + +"A poor stroke, Sorcerer!" cries the man as he rushes in to stab him. +Lo! the axe wheels in the air, it circles swiftly low down by the +ground; it smites upward. Before the spearsman can strike the horn of +Groan-Maker has sped from chin to brain. + +"But a good return, fool!" says Umslopogaas. + +"Two!" cries Galazi, from the right. + +"Two! my brother," answers Umslopogaas. + +Again two men come on, one against each, to find no better luck. The +cry of "Three!" passes from brother to brother, and after it rises the +cry of "Four!" + +Now Faku bids the men who are left to hold their shields together and +push the two from the mouths of the paths, and this they do, losing +four more men at the hands of the brethren before it is done. + +"Now we are on the open! Ring them round and down with them!" cries +Faku. + +But who shall ring round Groan-Maker that shines on all sides at once, +Groan-Maker who falls heavily no more, but pecks and pecks and pecks +like a wood-bird on a tree, and never pecks in vain? Who shall ring +round those feet swifter than the Sassaby of the plains? Wow! He is +here! He is there! He is a sorcerer! Death is in his hand, and death +looks out of his eyes! + +Galazi lives yet, for still there comes the sound of the Watcher as it +thunders on the shields, and the Wolf's hoarse cry of the number of +the slain. He has a score of wounds, yet he fights on! his leg is +almost hewn from him with an axe, yet he fights on! His back is +pierced again and again, yet he fights on! But two are left alive +before him, one twists round and spears him from behind. He heeds it +not, but smites down the foe in front. Then he turns and, whirling the +Watcher on high, brings him down for the last time, and so mightily +that the man before him is crushed like an egg. + +Galazi brushes the blood from his eyes and glares round on the dead. +"All! Slaughterer," he cries. + +"All save two, my brother," comes the answer, sounding above the clash +of steel and the sound of smitten shields. + +Now the Wolf would come to him, but cannot, for his life ebbs. + +"Fare you well, my brother! Death is good! Thus, indeed, I would die, +for I have made me a mat of men to lie on," he cried with a great +voice. + +"Fare you well! Sleep softly, Wolf!" came the answer. "All save one!" + +Now Galazi fell dying on the dead, but he was not altogether gone, for +he still spoke. "All save one! Ha! ha! ill for that one then when +Groan-Maker yet is up. It is well to have lived so to die. Victory! +Victory!" + +And Galazi the Wolf struggled to his knees and for the last time shook +the Watcher about his head, then fell again and died. + +Umslopogaas, the son of Chaka, and Faku, the captain of Dingaan, gazed +on each other. They alone were left standing upon the mountain, for +the rest were all down. Umslopogaas had many wounds. Faku was unhurt; +he was a strong man, also armed with an axe. + +Faku laughed aloud. "So it has come to this, Slaughterer," he said, +"that you and I must settle whether the king's word be done or no. +Well, I will say that however it should fall out, I count it a great +fortune to have seen this fight, and the highest of honours to have +had to do with two such warriors. Rest you a little, Slaughterer, +before we close. That wolf-brother of yours died well, and if it is +given me to conquer in this bout, I will tell the tale of his end from +kraal to kraal throughout the land, and it shall be a tale forever." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +THE LILY'S FAREWELL + +Umslopogaas listened, but he made no answer to the words of Faku the +captain, though he liked them well, for he would not waste his breath +in talking, and the light grew low. + +"I am ready, Man of Dingaan," he said, and lifted his axe. + +Now for awhile the two circled round and round, each waiting for a +chance to strike. Presently Faku smote at the head of Umslopogaas, but +the Slaughterer lifted Groan-Maker to ward the blow. Faku crooked his +arm and let the axe curl downwards, so that its keen edge smote +Umslopogaas upon the head, severing his man's ring and the scalp +beneath. + +Made mad with the pain, the Slaughterer awoke, as it were. He grasped +Groan-maker with both hands and struck thrice. The first blow hewed +away the plumes and shield of Faku, and drive him back a spear's +length, the second missed its aim, the third and mightiest twisted in +his wet hands, so that the axe smote sideways. Nevertheless, it fell +full on the breast of the captain Faku, shattering his bones, and +sweeping him from the ledge of rock on to the slope beneath, where he +lay still. + +"It is finished with the daylight," said Umslopogaas, smiling grimly. +"Now, Dingaan, send more Slayers to seek your slain," and he turned to +find Nada in the cave. + +But Faku the captain was not yet dead, though he was hurt to death. He +sat up, and with his last strength he hurled the axe in his hand at +him whose might had prevailed against him. The axe sped true, and +Umslopogaas did not see it fly. It sped true, and its point struck him +on the left temple, driving in the bone and making a great hole. Then +Faku fell back dying, and Umslopogaas threw up his arms and dropped +like an ox drops beneath the blow of the butcher, and lay as one dead, +under the shadow of a stone. + +All day long Nada crouched in the cave listening to the sounds of war +that crept faintly up the mountain side; howling of wolves, shouting +of men, and the clamour of iron on iron. All day long she sat, and now +evening came apace, and the noise of battle drew near, swelled, and +sank, and died away. She heard the voices of the Wolf-Brethren as they +called to each other like bucks, naming the number of the slain. She +heard Galazi's cry of "Victory!" and her heart leapt to it, though she +knew that there was death in the cry. Then for the last time she heard +the faint ringing of iron on iron, and the light went out and all grew +still. + +All grew still as the night. There came no more shouting of men and no +more clash of arms, no howlings of wolves, no cries of pain or triumph +--all was quiet as death, for death had taken all. + +For awhile Nada the Lily sat in the dark of the cave, saying to +herself, "Presently he will come, my husband, he will surely come; the +Slayers are slain--he does not but tarry to bind his wounds; a +scratch, perchance, here and there. Yes, he will come, and it is well, +for I am weary of my loneliness, and this place is grim and evil." + +Thus she spoke to herself in hope, but nothing came except the +silence. Then she spoke again, and her voice echoed in the hollow +cave. "Now I will be bold, I will fear nothing, I will push aside the +stone and go out to find him. I know well he does but linger to tend +some who are wounded, perhaps Galazi. Doubtless Galazi is wounded. I +must go and nurse him, though he never loved me, and I do not love him +overmuch who would stand between me and my husband. This wild wolf-man +is a foe to women, and, most of all, a foe to me; yet I will be kind +to him. Come, I will go at once," and she rose and pushed at the rock. + +Why, what was this? It did not stir. Then she remembered that she had +pulled it beyond the socket because of her fear of the wolf, and that +the rock had slipped a little way down the neck of the cave. +Umslopogaas had told her that she must not do this, and she had +forgotten his words in her foolishness. Perhaps she could move the +stone; no, not by the breadth of a grain of corn. She was shut in, +without food or water, and here she must bide till Umslopogaas came. +And if he did not come? Then she must surely die. + +Now she shrieked aloud in her fear, calling on the name of +Umslopogaas. The walls of the cave answered "Umslopogaas! +Umslopogaas!" and that was all. + +Afterwards madness fell upon Nada, my daughter, and she lay in the +cave for days and nights, nor knew ever how long she lay. And with her +madness came visions, for she dreamed that the dead One whom Galazi +had told her of sat once more aloft in his niche at the end of the +cave and spoke to her, saying:-- + +"Galazi is dead! The fate of him who bears the Watcher has fallen on +him. Dead are the ghost-wolves; I also am of hunger in this cave, and +as I died so shall you die, Nada the Lily! Nada, Star of Death! +because of whose beauty and foolishness all this death has come +about." + +This is seemed to Nada, in her madness, that the shadow of him who had +sat in the niche spoke to her from hour to hour. + +It seemed to Nada, in her madness, that twice the light shone through +the hole by the rock, and that was day, and twice it went out, and +that was night. A third time the ray shone and died away, and lo! her +madness left her, and she awoke to know that she was dying, and that a +voice she loved spoke without the hole, saying in hollow accents:-- + +"Nada? Do you still live, Nada?" + +"Yea," she answered hoarsely. "Water! give me water!" + +Next she heard a sound as of a great snake dragging itself along +painfully. A while passed, then a trembling hand thrust a little gourd +of water through the hole. She drank, and now she could speak, though +the water seemed to flow through her veins like fire. + +"Is it indeed you, Umslopogaas?" she said, "or are you dead, and do I +dream of you?" + +"It is I, Nada," said the voice. "Hearken! have you drawn the rock +home?" + +"Alas! yes," she answered. "Perhaps, if the two of us strive at it, it +will move." + +"Ay, if our strength were what it was--but now! Still, let us try." + +So they strove with a rock, but the two of them together had not the +strength of a girl, and it would not stir. + +"Give over, Umslopogaas," said Nada; "we do but waste the time that is +left to me. Let us talk!" + +For awhile there was no answer, for Umslopogaas had fainted, and Nada +beat her breast, thinking that he was dead. + +Presently he spoke, however, saying, "It may not be; we must perish +here, one on each side of the stone, not seeing the other's face, for +my might is as water; nor can I stand upon my feet to go and seek for +food." + +"Are you wounded, Umslopogaas?" asked Nada. + +"Ay, Nada, I am pierced to the brain with the point of an axe; no fair +stroke, the captain of Dingaan hurled it at me when I thought him +dead, and I fell. I do not know how long I have lain yonder under the +shadow of the rock, but it must be long, for my limbs are wasted, and +those who fell in the fray are picked clean by the vultures, all +except Galazi, for the old wolf Deathgrip lies on his breast dying, +but not dead, licking my brother's wounds, and scares the fowls away. +It was the beak of a vulture, who had smelt me out at last, that woke +me from my sleep beneath the stone, Nada, and I crept hither. Would +that he had not awakened me, would that I had died as I lay, rather +than lived a little while till you perish thus, like a trapped fox, +Nada, and presently I follow you." + +"It is hard to die so, Umslopogaas," she answered, "I who am yet young +and fair, who love you, and hoped to give you children; but so it has +come about, and it may not be put away. I am well-nigh sped, husband; +horror and fear have conquered me, my strength fails, but I suffer +little. Let us talk no more of death, let us rather speak of our +childhood, when we wandered hand in hand; let us talk also of our +love, and of the happy hours that we have spent since your great axe +rang upon the rock in the Halakazi caves, and my fear told you the +secret of my womanhood. See, I thrust my hand through the hole; can +you not kiss it, Umslopogaas?" + +Now Umslopogaas stooped his shattered head, and kissed the Lily's +little hand, then he held it in his own, and so they sat till the end +--he without, resting his back against the rock, she within, lying on +her side, her arm stretched through the little hole. They spoke of +their love, and tried to forget their sorrow in it; he told her also +of the fray which had been and how it went. + +"Ah!" she said, "that was Zinita's work, Zinita who hated me, and +justly. Doubtless she set Dingaan on this path." + +"A little while gone," quoth Umslopogaas; "and I hoped that your last +breath and mine might pass together, Nada, and that we might go +together to seek great Galazi, my brother, where he is. Now I hope +that help will find me, and that I may live a little while, because of +a certain vengeance which I would wreak." + +"Speak not of vengeance, husband," she answered, "I, too, am near to +that land where the Slayer and the Slain, the Shedder of Blood and the +Avenger of Blood are lost in the same darkness. I would die with love, +and love only, in my heart, and your name, and yours only, on my lips, +so that if anywhere we live again it shall be ready to spring forth to +greet you. Yet, husband, it is in my heart that you will not go with +me, but that you shall live on to die the greatest of deaths far away +from here, and because of another woman. It seems that, as I lay in +the dark of this cave, I saw you, Umslopogaas, a great man, gaunt and +grey, stricken to the death, and the axe Groan-maker wavering aloft, +and many a man dead upon a white and shimmering way, and about you the +fair faces of white women; and you had a hole in your forehead, +husband, on the left side." + +"That is like to be true, if I live," he answered, "for the bone of my +temple is shattered." + +Now Nada ceased speaking, and for a long while was silent; Umslopogaas +was also silent and torn with pain and sorrow because he must lose the +Lily thus, and she must die so wretchedly, for one reason only, that +the cast of Faku had robbed him of his strength. Alas! he who had done +many deeds might not save her now; he could scarcely hold himself +upright against the rock. He thought of it, and the tears flowed down +his face and fell on to the hand of the Lily. She felt them fall and +spoke. + +"Weep not, my husband," she said, "I have been all too ill a wife to +you. Do not mourn for me, yet remember that I loved you well." And +again she was silent for a long space. + +Then she spoke and for the last time of all, and her voice came in a +gasping whisper through the hole in the rock:-- + +"Farewell, Umslopogaas, my husband and my brother, I thank you for +your love, Umslopogaas. Ah! I die!" + +Umslopogaas could make no answer, only he watched the little hand he +held. Twice it opened, twice it closed upon his own, then it opened +for the third time, turned grey, quivered, and was still forever! + +Now it was at the hour of dawn that Nada died. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +THE VENGEANCE OF MOPO AND HIS FOSTERLING + +It chanced that on this day of Nada's death and at that same hour of +dawn I, Mopo, came from my mission back to the kraal of the People of +the Axe, having succeeded in my end, for that great chief whom I had +gone out to visit had hearkened to my words. As the light broke I +reached the town, and lo! it was a blackness and a desolation. + +"Here is the footmark of Dingaan," I said to myself, and walked to and +fro, groaning heavily. Presently I found a knot of men who were of the +people that had escaped the slaughter, hiding in the mealie-fields +lest the Slayers should return, and from them I drew the story. I +listened in silence, for, my father, I was grown old in misfortune; +then I asked where were the Slayers of the king? They replied that +they did not know; the soldiers had gone up the Ghost Mountain after +the Wolf-Brethren and Nada the Lily, and from the forest had come a +howling of beasts and sounds of war; then there was silence, and none +had been seen to return from the mountain, only all day long the +vultures hung over it. + +"Let us go up the mountain," I said. + +At first they feared, because of the evil name of the place; but in +the end they came with me, and we followed on the path of the impi of +the Slayers and guessed all that had befallen it. At length we reached +the knees of stone, and saw the place of the great fight of the Wolf- +Brethren. All those who had taken part in that fight were now but +bones, because the vultures had picked them every one, except Galazi, +for on the breast of Galazi lay the old wolf Deathgrip, that was yet +alive. I drew near the body, and the great wolf struggled to his feet +and ran at me with bristling hair and open jaws, from which no sound +came. Then, being spent, he rolled over dead. + +Now I looked round seeking the axe Groan-Maker among the bones of the +slain, and did not find it and the hope came into my heart that +Umslopogaas had escaped the slaughter. Then we went on in silence to +where I knew the cave must be, and there by its mouth lay the body of +a man. I ran to it--it was Umslopogaas, wasted with hunger, and in his +temple was a great wound and on his breast and limbs were many other +wounds. Moreover, in his hand he held another hand--a dead hand, that +was thrust through a hole in the rock. I knew its shape well--it was +the little hand of my child, Nada the Lily. + +Now I understood, and, bending down, I felt the heart of Umslopogaas, +and laid the down of an eagle upon his lips. His heart still stirred +and the down was lifted gently. + +I bade those with me drag the stone, and they did so with toil. Now +the light flowed into the cave, and by it we saw the shape of Nada my +daughter. She was somewhat wasted, but still very beautiful in her +death. I felt her heart also: it was still, and her breast grew cold. + +Then I spoke: "The dead to the dead. Let us tend the living." + +So we bore in Umslopogaas, and I caused broth to be made and poured it +down his throat; also I cleansed his great wound and bound healing +herbs upon it, plying all my skill. Well I knew the arts of healing, +my father; I who was the first of the izinyanga of medicine, and, had +it not been for my craft, Umslopogaas had never lived, for he was very +near his end. Still, there where he had once been nursed by Galazi the +Wolf, I brought him back to life. It was three days till he spoke, +and, before his sense returned to him, I caused a great hole to be dug +in the floor of the cave. And there, in the hole, I buried Nada my +daughter, and we heaped lily blooms upon her to keep the earth from +her, and then closed in her grave, for I was not minded that +Umslopogaas should look upon her dead, lest he also should die from +the sight, and because of his desire to follow her. Also I buried +Galazi the Wolf in the cave, and set the Watcher in his hand, and +there they both sleep who are friends at last, the Lily and the Wolf +together. Ah! when shall there be such another man and such another +maid? + +At length on the third day Umslopogaas spoke, asking for Nada. I +pointed to the earth, and he remembered and understood. Thereafter the +strength of Umslopogaas gathered on him slowly, and the hole in his +skull skinned over. But now his hair was grizzled, and he scarcely +smiled again, but grew even more grim and stern than he had been +before. + +Soon we learned all the truth about Zinita, for the women and children +came back to the town of the People of the Axe, only Zinita and the +children of Umslopogaas did not come back. Also a spy reached me from +the Mahlabatine and told me of the end of Zinita and of the flight of +Dingaan before the Boers. + +Now when Umslopogaas had recovered, I asked him what he would do, and +whether or not I should pursue my plots to make him king of the land. + +But Umslopogaas shook his head, saying that he had no heart that way. +He would destroy a king indeed, but now he no longer desired to be a +king. He sought revenge alone. I said that it was well, I also sought +vengeance, and seeking together we would find it. + +Now, my father, there is much more to tell, but shall I tell it? The +snow has melted, your cattle have been found where I told you they +should be, and you wish to be gone. And I also, I would be gone upon a +longer journey. + +Listen, my father, I will be short. This came into my mind: to play +off Panda against Dingaan; it was for such an hour of need that I had +saved Panda alive. After the battle of the Blood River, Dingaan +summoned Panda to a hunt. Then it was that I journeyed to the kraal of +Panda on the Lower Tugela, and with me Umslopogaas. I warned Panda +that he should not go to this hunt, for he was the game himself, but +that he should rather fly into Natal with all his people. He did so, +and then I opened talk with the Boers, and more especially with that +Boer who was named Ungalunkulu, or Great Arm. I showed the Boer that +Dingaan was wicked and not to be believed, but Panda was faithful and +good. The end of it was that the Boers and Panda made war together on +Dingaan. Yes, I made that war that we might be revenged on Dingaan. +Thus, my father, do little things lead to great. + +Were we at the big fight, the battle of Magongo? Yes, my father; we +were there. When Dingaan's people drove us back, and all seemed lost, +it was I who put into the mind of Nongalaza, the general, to pretend +to direct the Boers where to attack, for the Amaboona stood out of +that fight, leaving it to us black people. It was Umslopogaas who cut +his way with Groan-Maker through a wing of one of Dingaan's regiments +till he came to the Boer captain Ungalunkulu, and shouted to him to +turn the flank of Dingaan. That finished it, my father, for they +feared to stand against us both, the white and the black together. +They fled, and we followed and slew, and Dingaan ceased to be a king. + +He ceased to be a king, but he still lived, and while he lived our +vengeance was hungry. So we went to the Boer captain and to Panda, and +spoke to them nicely, saying, "We have served you well, we have fought +for you, and so ordered things that victory is yours. Now grant us +this request, that we may follow Dingaan, who has fled into hiding, +and kill him wherever we find him, for he has worked us wrong, and we +would avenge it." + +Then the white captain and Panda smiled and said, "Go children, and +prosper in your search. No one thing shall please us more than to know +that Dingaan is dead." And they gave us men to go with us. + +Then we hunted that king week by week as men hunt a wounded buffalo. +We hunted him to the jungles of the Umfalozi and through them. But he +fled ever, for he knew that the avengers of blood were on his spoor. +After that for awhile we lost him. Then we heard that he had crossed +the Pongolo with some of the people who still clung to him. We +followed him to the place Kwa Myawo, and there we lay hid in the bush +watching. At last our chance came. Dingaan walked in the bush and with +him two men only. We stabbed the men and seized him. + +Dingaan looked at us and knew us, and his knees trembled with fear. +Then I spoke:-- + +"What was that message which I sent thee, O Dingaan, who art no more a +king--that thou didst evil to drive me away, was it not? because I set +thee on thy throne and I alone could hold thee there?" + +He made no answer, and I went on:-- + +"I, Mopo, son of Makedama, set thee on thy throne, O Dingaan, who wast +a king, and I, Mopo, have pulled thee down from thy throne. But my +message did not end there. It said that, ill as thou hadst done to +drive me away, yet worse shouldst thou do to look upon my face again, +for that day should be thy day of doom." + +Still he made no answer. Then Umslopogaas spoke:-- + +"I am that Slaughterer, O Dingaan, no more a king, whom thou didst +send Slayers many and fierce to eat up at the kraal of the People of +the Axe. Where are thy Slayers now, O Dingaan? Before all is done thou +shalt look upon them." + +"Kill me and make an end; it is your hour," said Dingaan. + +"Not yet awhile, O son of Senzangacona," answered Umslopogaas, "and +not here. There lived a certain woman and she was named Nada the Lily. +I was her husband, O Dingaan, and Mopo here, he was her father. But, +alas! she died, and sadly--she lingered three days and nights before +she died. Thou shalt see the spot and hear the tale, O Dingaan. It +will wring thy heart, which was ever tender. There lived certain +children, born of another woman named Zinita, little children, sweet +and loving. I was their father, O Elephant in a pit, and one Dingaan +slew them. Of them thou shalt hear also. Now away, for the path is +far!" + +Two days went by, my father, and Dingaan sat bound and alone in the +cave on Ghost Mountain. We had dragged him slowly up the mountain, for +he was heavy as an ox. Three men pushing at him and three others +pulling on a cord about his middle, we dragged him up, staying now and +again to show him the bones of those whom he had sent out to kill us, +and telling him the tale of that fight. + +Now at length we were in the cave, and I sent away those who were with +us, for we wished to be alone with Dingaan at the last. He sat down on +the floor of the cave, and I told him that beneath the earth on which +he sat lay the bones of that Nada whom he had murdered and the bones +of Galazi the Wolf. + +On the third day before the dawn we came again and looked upon him. + +"Slay me," he said, "for the Ghosts torment me!" + +"No longer art thou great, O shadow of a king," I said, "who now dost +tremble before two Ghosts out of all the thousands that thou hast +made. Say, then, how shall it fare with thee presently when thou art +of their number?" + +Now Dingaan prayed for mercy. + +"Mercy, thou hyena!" I answered, "thou prayest for mercy who showed +none to any! Give me back my daughter. Give this man back his wife and +children; then we will talk of mercy. Come forth, coward, and die the +death of cowards." + +So, my father, we dragged him out, groaning, to the cleft that is +above in the breast of the old Stone Witch, that same cleft where +Galazi had found the bones. There we stood, waiting for the moment of +the dawn, that hour when Nada had died. Then we cried her name into +his ears and the names of the children of Umslopogaas, and cast him +into the cleft. + +This was the end of Dingaan, my father--Dingaan, who had the fierce +heart of Chaka without its greatness. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +MOPO ENDS HIS TALE + +That is the tale of Nada the Lily, my father, and of how we avenged +her. A sad tale--yes, a sad tale; but all was sad in those days. It +was otherwise afterwards, when Panda reigned, for Panda was a man of +peace. + +There is little more to tell. I left the land where I could stay no +longer who had brought about the deaths of two kings, and came here to +Natal to live near where the kraal Duguza once had stood. + +The bones of Dingaan as they lay in the cleft were the last things my +eyes beheld, for after that I became blind, and saw the sun no more, +nor any light--why I do not know, perhaps from too much weeping, my +father. So I changed my name, lest a spear might reach the heart that +had planned the death of two kings and a prince--Chaka, Dingaan, and +Umhlangana of the blood royal. Silently and by night Umslopogaas, my +fosterling, led me across the border, and brought me here to Stanger; +and here as an old witch-doctor I have lived for many, many years. I +am rich. Umslopogaas craved back from Panda the cattle of which +Dingaan had robbed me, and drove them hither. But none were here who +had lived in the kraal Duguza, none knew, in Zweete the blind old +witch-doctor, that Mopo who stabbed Chaka, the Lion of the Zulu. None +know it now. You have heard the tale, and you alone, my father. Do not +tell it again till I am dead. + +Umslopogaas? Yes, he went back to the People of the Axe and ruled +them, but they were never so strong again as they had been before they +smote the Halakazi in their caves, and Dingaan ate them up. Panda let +him be and liked him well, for Panda did not know that the Slaughterer +was son to Chaka his brother, and Umslopogaas let that dog lie, for +when Nada died he lost his desire to be great. Yet he became captain +of the Nkomabakosi regiment, and fought in many battles, doing mighty +deeds, and stood by Umbulazi, son of Panda, in the great fray on the +Tugela, when Cetywayo slew his brother Umbulazi. + +After that also he plotted against Cetywayo, whom he hated, and had it +not been for a certain white man, a hunter named Macumazahn, +Umslopogaas would have been killed. But the white man saved him by his +wit. Yes, and at times he came to visit me, for he still loved me as +of old; but now he has fled north, and I shall hear his voice no more. +Nay, I do not know all the tale; there was a woman in it. Women were +ever the bane of Umslopogaas, my fostering. I forget the story of that +woman, for I remember only these things that happened long ago, before +I grew very old. + +Look on this right hand of mine, my father! I cannot see it now; and +yet I, Mopo, son of Makedama, seem to see it as once I saw, red with +the blood of two kings. Look on-- + +Suddenly the old man ceased, his head fell forward upon his withered +breast. When the White Man to whom he told this story lifted it and +looked at him, he was dead! + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Nada the Lily, by H. Rider Haggard + |