nada the lily-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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