marie-第29章

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he　added　reflectively；　taking　a　pinch　of　snuff。



〃I　am　no　liar；〃　I　answered。　　〃What　have　I　to　lie　about？〃



〃You　would　lie　to　save　your　own　life；　for　all　white　men　are　cowards；　not

like　the　Zulus；　who　love　to　die　for　their　king。　　But　how　are　you　named？〃



〃Your　people　call　me　Macumazahn。〃



〃Well；　Macumazahn；　if　you　are　no　liar；　tell　me；　is　it　true　that　these

Boers　rebelled　against　their　king　who　was　named　George；　and　fled　from

him　as　the　traitor　Umsilikazi　did　from　me？〃



〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃that　is　true。〃



〃Now　I　am　sure　that　you　are　a　liar；〃　said　Dingaan　triumphantly。　　〃You

say　that　you　are　English　and　therefore　serve　your　king；　or　the


Inkosikaas〃　（that　is　the　Great　Lady）；　〃who　they　tell　me　now　sits　in　his

place。　　How　does　it　come　about　then　that　you　are　travelling　with　a　party

of　these　very　Amaboona　who　must　be　your　enemies；　since　they　are　the

enemies　of　your　king；　or　of　her　who　follows　after　him？〃



Now　I　knew　that　I　was　in　a　tight　place；　for　on　this　matter　of　loyalty；

Zulu；　and　indeed　all　native　ideas；　are　very　primitive。　　If　I　said　that　I

had　sympathy　with　the　Boers；　Dingaan　would　set　me　down　as　a　traitor。　　If

I　said　that　I　hated　the　Boers；　then　still　I　should　be　a　traitor　because

I　associated　with　them；　and　a　traitor　in　his　eyes　would　be　one　to　be

killed。　　I　do　not　like　to　talk　religion；　and　anyone　who　has　read　what　I

have　written　in　various　works　will　admit　that　I　have　done　so　rarely；　if

ever。　　Yet　at　that　moment　I　put　up　a　prayer　for　guidance；　feeling　that

my　young　life　hung　upon　the　answer；　and　it　came　to　mewhence　I　do　not

know。　　The　essence　of　that　guidance　was　that　I　should　tell　the　simple

truth　to　this　fat　savage。　　So　I　said　to　him：



〃The　answer　is　this；　O　king。　　Among　those　Boers　is　a　maiden　whom　I　love

and　who　betrothed　herself　to　me　since　we　were　'so　high。'　　Her　father

took　her　north。　　But　she　sent　a　message　to　me　saying　that　her　people

died　of　fever　and　she　starved。　　So　I　went　up　in　a　ship　to　save　her；　and

have　saved　her；　and　those　who　remained　alive　of　her　people　with　her。〃



〃Ow！〃　said　Dingaan；　〃I　understand　that　reason。　　It　is　a　good　reason。　

However　many　wives　he　may　have；　there　is　no　folly　that　a　man　will　not

commit　for　the　sake　of　some　particular　girl　who　is　not　yet　his　wife。　　I

have　done　as　much　myself；　especially　for　one　who　was　called　Nada　the

Lily；　of　whom　a　certain　Umslopogaas　robbed　me；　one　of　my　own　blood　of

whom　I　am　much　afraid。〃*



＇*See　the　Author's　book　named　〃Nada　the　Lily。〃＇



For　a　while　he　brooded　heavily；　then　went　on：



〃Your　reason　is　good；　Macumazahn；　and　I　accept　it。　　More；　I　promise　you

this。　　Perhaps　I　shall　kill　these　Boers；　or　perhaps　I　shall　not　kill

them。　　But　if　I　make　up　my　mind　to　kill　them；　this　girl　of　yours　shall


be　spared。　　Point　her　out　to　Kambula　herenot　to　Tho…maas；　for　he　is　a

liar　and　would　tell　me　the　wrong　oneand　she　shall　be　spared。〃



〃I　thank　you；　O　king；〃　I　said；　〃but　what　is　the　use　of　that　if　I　am　to

be　killed？〃



〃I　did　not　say　that　you　were　to　be　killed；　Macumazahn；　though　perhaps　I

shall　kill　you；　or　perhaps　I　shall　not　kill　you。　　It　depends　upon

whether　I　find　you　to　be　a　liar；　or　not　a　liar。　　Now　the　Boer　whom

Tambusa　let　go　against　my　wish　said　that　you　are　a　mighty　magician　as

well　as　a　very　dangerous　man；　one　who　can　shoot　birds　flying　on　the　wing

with　a　bullet；　which　is　impossible。　　Can　you　do　so？〃



〃Sometimes；〃　I　answered。



〃Very　good；　Macumazahn。　　Now　we　will　see　if　you　are　a　wizard　or　a　liar。　

I　will　make　a　bet　with　you。　　Yonder　by　your　camp　is　a　hill　called　'Hloma

Amabutu；'　a　hill　of　stones　where　evildoers　are　slain。　　This　afternoon

some　wicked　ones　die　there；　and　when　they　are　dead　the　vultures　will

come　to　devour　them。　　Now　this　is　my　bet　with　you。　　When　those　vultures

come　you　shall　shoot　at　them；　and　if　you　kill　three　out　of　the　first

five　on　the　wingnot　on　the　ground；　Macumazahnthen　I　will　spare　these

Boers。　　But　if　you　miss　them；　then　I　shall　know　that　you　are　a　liar　and

no　wizard；　and　I　will　kill　them　every　one　on　the　hill　Hloma　Amabutu。　　I

will　spare　none　of　them　except　the　girl；　whom　perhaps　I　will　take　as　a

wife。　　As　to　you；　I　will　not　yet　say　what　I　will　do　with　you。〃



Now　my　first　impulse　was　to　refuse　this　monstrous　wager；　which　meant

that　the　lives　of　a　number　of　people　were　to　be　set　against　my　skill　in

shooting。　　But　young　Thomas　Halstead；　guessing　the　words　that　were　about

to　break　from　me；　said　in　English：



〃Accept　unless　you　are　a　fool。　　If　you　don't　he　will　cut　the　throats　of

every　one　of　them　and　stick　your　girl　into　the　emposeni〃　（that　is

harem）；　〃while　you　will　become　a　prisoner　as　I　am。〃



These　were　words　that　I　could　not　resent　or　neglect；　so　although　despair

was　in　my　heart；　I　said　coolly：



〃Be　it　so；　O　king。　　I　take　your　wager。　　If　I　kill　three　vultures　out　of

five　as　they　hover　over　the　hill；　then　I　have　your　promise　that　all

those　who　travel　with　me　shall　be　allowed　to　go　hence　in　safety。〃



〃Yes；　yes；　Macumazahn；　but　if　you　fail　to　kill　them；　remember　that　the

next　vultures　you　shoot　at　shall　be　those　that　come　to　feed　upon　their

flesh；　for　then　I　shall　know　that　you　are　no　magician；　but　a　common

liar。　　And　now　begone；　Tho…maas。　　I　will　not　have　you　spying　on　me；　and

you；　Macumazahn；　come　hither。　　Although　you　talk　my　tongue　so　badly；　I

would　speak　with　you　about　the　Boers。〃



So　Halstead　went；　shrugging　his　shoulders　and　muttering　as　he　passed　me：



〃I　hope　you　really　_can_　shoot。〃



After　he　had　left　I　sat　alone　for　a　full　hour　with　Dingaan　while　he

cross…examined　me　about　the　Dutch；　their　movements　and　their　aims　in

travelling　to　the　confines　of　his　country。



I　answered　his　questions　as　best　I　could；　trying　to　make　out　a　good　case

for　them。



At　length；　when　he　grew　weary　of　talking；　he　clapped　his　hands；　whereon

a　number　of　fine　girls　appeared；　two　of　whom　carried　pots　of　beer；　from

which　he　offered　me　drink。



I　replied　that　I　would　have　none；　since　beer　made　the　hand　shake　and

that　on　the　steadiness　of　my　hand　that　afternoon　depended　the　lives　of

many。　　To　do　him　justice　he　quite　understood　the　point。　　Indeed；　he

ordered　me　to　be　conducted　back　to　the　camp　at　once　that　I　might　rest；

and　even　sent　one　of　his　own　attendants　with　me　to　hold　a　shield　over　my

head　as　I　walked　so　that　I　should　be　protected　from　the　sun。



〃Hamba　gachle〃　（that　is　〃Go　softly〃）；　said　the　wicked　old　tyrant　to　me

as　I　departed　under　the　guidance　of　Kambula。　　〃This　afternoon；　one　hour

before　sundown；　I　will　meet　you　at　Hloma　Amabutu；　and　there　shall　be

settled　the　fate　of　these　Amaboona；　your　companions。〃





When　I　reached　the　camp　it　was　to　find　all　the　Boers　clustered　together

waiting　for　me；　and　with　them　the　Reverend　Mr。　Owen　and　his　people；

including　a　Welsh　servant　of　his；　a　woman　of　middle　age　who；　I　remember；

was　called　Jane。



〃Well；〃　said　the　Vrouw　Prinsloo；　〃and　what　is　your　news；　young　man？〃



〃My　news；　aunt；〃　I　answered；　〃is　that　one　hour　before　sundown　to…day　I

have　to　shoot　vultures　on　the　wing　against　the　lives　of　all　of　you。　

This　you　owe　to　that　false…hearted　hound　Hernan　Pereira；　who　told

Dingaan　that　I　am　a　magician。　　Now　Dingaan　would　prove　it。　　He　thinks

that　only　by　magic　can　a　man　shoot　soaring　vultures　with　a　bullet；　and

as　he　is　determined　to　kill　you　all；　except　perhaps　Marie；　in　the　form

of　a　bet　he　has　set　me　a　task　which　he　believes　to　be　impossible。　　If　I

fail；　the　bet　is　lost；　and　so　are　your　lives。　　If　I　succeed　I　think　your

lives　will　be　spared；　since　Kambula　there　tells　me　that　the　king　always

makes　it　a　point　of　honour　to　pay　his　bets。　　Now　you　have　the　truth；　and

I　hope　you　like　it；〃　and　I　laughed　bitterly。



When　I　had　finished　a　perfect　storm　of　execration　broke　from　the　Boers。　

If　curses　could　have　killed　Pereira；　surely　he　would　have　died　upon　the

spot；　wherever　he　might　be。　　Only　two　of　them　were　silent；　Marie；　who

turned　very　pale；　poor　girl；　and　her　father。　　Presently　one　of　them；　I

think　it　was　Meyer；　rounded　on　him　viciously　and　asked　him　what　he

thought　now　of　that　devil；　his　nephew。



〃I　think　there　must　be　some　mistake；〃　answered　Marais　quietly；　〃since

Hernan　cannot　have　wished　that　we　should　all　be　put　to　death。〃



〃No；〃　shouted　Meyer；　〃but　he　wished　that　Allan　Quatermain　should；　which

is　just　as　bad；　and　now　it　has　come　about　that　once　more　our　lives

depend　upon　this　English　boy。〃



〃At　any　rate；〃　replied　Marais；　looking　at　me　oddly；　〃it　seems　that　he　is

not　to　be　killed；　whether　he　shoots　the　vultures　or　misses　them。〃



〃That　remains　to　be　proved；　mynheer；〃　I　answered　hotly；　for　the

insinuation　stung　me。　　〃But　please　understand　that　if　all　of　you；　my

companions；　are　to　be　slaughtered；　and　Marie　is　to　be　put　among　this

black　brute's　women；　as　he　threatens；　I　have　no　wish　to　live　on。〃



〃My　God！　does　he　threaten　that？〃　said　Marais。　　〃Surely　you　must　have

misunderstood　him；　Allan。〃



〃Do　you　think　that　I　should　lie　to　you　on　such　a　matter〃　I　began。



But；　before　I　could　proceed；　the　Vrouw　Prinsloo　thrust　herself　between

us；　crying：



〃Be　silent；　you；　Marais；　and　you　too；　Allan。　　Is　this　a　time　that　you

should　quarrel　and　upset　yourself；　Allan；　so　that　when　the　trial　comes

you　will　shoot　your　worst　and　not　your　best？　　And　is　this　a　time；　Henri

Marais；　that　you　should　throw　insults　at　one　on　whom　all　our　lives　hang；

instead　of　praying　for　God's　vengeance　upon　your　accursed　nephew？　　Come；

Allan；　and　take　food。　　I　have　fried　the　liver　of　that　heifer　which　the

king　sent　us；　it　is　ready　and　very　good。　　After　you　have　eaten　it　you

must　lie　down　and　sleep　a　while。〃



Now　among　the　household　of　the　Reverend　Mr。　Owen　was　an　English　boy

called　William　Wood；　who　was　not　more　than　twelve　or　fourteen　years　of

age。　　This　lad　knew　both　Dutch　and　Zulu；　and　acted　as　interpreter　to　the

Owen　family　during　the　absence　on　a　journey　of　a　certain　Mr。　Hulley；　who

really　filled　that　office。　　While　this　conversation　was　taking　place　in

Dutch　he　was　engaged　in　rendering　every　word　of　it　into　English　for　the

benefit　of　the　clergyman　and　his　family。　　When　Mr。　Owen　understood　the

full　terror　of　the　situation；　he　broke　in　saying：



〃This　is　not　a　time　to　eat　or　to　sleep；　but　a　time　to　pray　that　the

heart　of　the　savage　Dingaan　may　be　turned。　　Come；　let　us　pray！〃



〃Yes；〃　rejoined　Vrouw　Prinsloo；　when　William　Wood　had　translated。　　〃Do

you　pray；　Predicant；　and　all　the　rest　of　you　who　have　nothing　else　to

do；　and　while　you　are　about　it　pray　also　that　the　bullets　of　Allan

Quatermain　may　not　be　turned。　　As　for　me　and　Allan；　we　have　other　things

to　see　to；　so　you　must　pray　a　little　harder　to　cover　us　as　well　as

yourselves。　　Now　you　come　along；　nephew　Allan；　or　that　liver　may　be

overdone　and　give　you　indigestion；　which　is　worse　for　shooting　than　even

bad　temper。　　No；　not　another　word。　　If　you　try　to　speak　any　more；　Henri

Marais；　I　will　box　your　ears；〃　and　s