nada the lily-第5章

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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　itit　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　allthere　were　seventeenand　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？　Yesyes！　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　meno；　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　worldit　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　tryyes；　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　wasindeed；　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　facethe　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　rugafterwards　I　found　it　was　Noma's　best　kaross；　made　by　Basu