child of storm-第14章

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wished　to　be　off　to　civilisation　and　its　delights。　　Just　as　the
operation　was　beginning；　however；　a　message　came　to　me　from　old　Umbezi；
who　begged　me　to　delay　my　departure　till　after　noon；　as　a　friend　of　his；
a　big　chief；　had　come　to　visit　him　who　wished　much　to　have　the　honour　of
making　my　acquaintance。　　Now；　I　wished　the　big　chief　farther　off；　but；
as　it　seemed　rude　to　refuse　the　request　of　one　who　had　been　so　kind　to
me；　I　ordered　the　oxen　to　be　unyoked　but　kept　at　hand；　and　in　an
irritable　frame　of　mind　walked　up　to　the　kraal。　　This　was　about　half　a
mile　from　my　place　of　outspan；　for　as　soon　as　I　was　sufficiently
recovered　I　had　begun　to　sleep　in　my　wagon；　leaving　the　big　hut　to　the
〃Worn…out…Old…Cow。〃

There　was　no　particular　reason　why　I　should　be　irritated；　since　time　in
those　days　was　of　no　great　account　in　Zululand；　and　it　did　not　much
matter　to　me　whether　I　trekked　in　the　morning　or　the　afternoon。　　But　the
fact　was　that　I　could　not　get　over　the　prophecy　of　Zikali；　〃the　Little
and　Wise；〃　that　I　was　destined　to　share　Saduko's　expedition　against
Bangu；　and；　although　he　had　been　right　about　the　buffalo　and　Mameena；　I
was　determined　to　prove　him　wrong　in　this　particular。

If　I　had　left　the　country；　obviously　I　could　not　go　against　Bangu；　at
any　rate　at　present。　　But　while　I　remained　in　it　Saduko　might　return　at
any　moment；　and　then；　doubtless；　I　should　find　it　hard　to　escape　from
the　kind　of　half…promise　that　I　had　given　to　him。

Well；　as　soon　as　I　reached　the　kraal　I　saw　that　some　kind　of　festivity
was　in　progress；　for　an　ox　had　been　killed　and　was　being　cooked；　some　of
it　in　pots　and　some　by　roasting；　also　there　were　several　strange　Zulus
present。　　Within　the　fence　of　the　kraal；　seated　in　its　shadow；　I　found
Umbezi　and　some　of　his　headmen；　and　with　them　a　great；　brawny　〃ringed〃
native；　who　wore　a　tiger…skin　moocha　as　a　mark　of　rank；　and　some　of
_his_　headmen。　　Also　Mameena　was　standing　near　the　gate；　dressed　in　her
best　beads　and　holding　a　gourd　of　Kafir　beer　which；　evidently；　she　had
just　been　handing　to　the　guests。

〃Would　you　have　run　away　without　saying　good…bye　to　me；　Macumazahn？〃　she
whispered　to　me　as　I　came　abreast　of　her。　　〃That　is　unkind　of　you；　and　I
should　have　wept　much。　　However；　it　was　not　so　fated。〃

〃I　was　going　to　ride　up　and　bid　farewell　when　the　oxen　were　inspanned；〃
I　answered。　　〃But　who　is　that　man？〃

〃You　will　find　out　presently；　Macumazahn。　　Look；　my　father　is　beckoning
to　us。〃

So　I　went　on　to　the　circle；　and　as　I　advanced　Umbezi　rose　and；　taking　me
by　the　hand；　led　me　to　the　big　man；　saying：

〃This　is　Masapo；　chief　of　the　Amansomi；　of　the　Quabe　race；　who　desires
to　know　you；　Macumazahn。〃

〃Very　kind　of　him；　I　am　sure；〃　I　replied　coolly；　as　I　threw　my　eye　over
Masapo。　　He　was；　as　I　have　said；　a　big　man；　and　of　about　fifty　years　of
age；　for　his　hair　was　tinged　with　grey。　　To　be　frank；　I　took　a　great
dislike　to　him　at　once；　for　there　was　something　in　his　strong；　coarse
face；　and　his　air　of　insolent　pride；　which　repelled　me。　　Then　I　was
silent；　since　among　the　Zulus；　when　two　strangers　of　more　or　less　equal
rank　meet；　he　who　speaks　first　acknowledges　inferiority　to　the　other。　
Therefore　I　stood　and　contemplated　this　new　suitor　of　Mameena；　waiting
on　events。

Masapo　also　contemplated　me；　then　made　some　remark　to　one　of　his
attendants；　that　I　did　not　catch；　which　caused　the　fellow　to　laugh。

〃He　has　heard　that　you　are　an　ipisi〃　（a　great　hunter）；　broke　in　Umbezi；
who　evidently　felt　that　the　situation　was　growing　strained；　and　that　it
was　necessary　to　say　something。

〃Has　he？〃　I　answered。　　〃Then　he　is　more　fortunate　than　I　am；　for　I　have
never　heard　of　him　or　what　he　is。〃　　This；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　was　a　fib；
for　it　will　be　remembered　that　Mameena　had　mentioned　him　in　the　hut　as
one　of　her　suitors；　but　among　natives　one　must　keep　up　one's　dignity
somehow。　　〃Friend　Umbezi；〃　I　went　on；　〃I　have　come　to　bid　you　farewell；
as　I　am　about　to　trek　for　Durban。〃

At　this　juncture　Masapo　stretched　out　his　great　hand　to　me；　but　without
rising；　and　said：

〃Siyakubona　＇that　is；　good…day＇；　White　Man。〃

〃Siyakubona；　Black　Man；〃　I　answered；　just　touching　his　fingers；　while
Mameena；　who　had　come　up　again　with　her　beer；　and　was　facing　me；　made　a
little　grimace　and　tittered。

Now　I　turned　on　my　heel　to　go；　whereon　Masapo　said　in　a　coarse；　growling
voice：

〃O　Macumazana；　before　you　leave　us　I　wish　to　speak　with　you　on　a　certain
matter。　　Will　it　please　you　to　sit　aside　with　me　for　a　while？〃

〃Certainly；　O　Masapo。〃　　And　I　walked　away　a　few　yards　out　of　hearing；
whither　he　followed　me。

〃Macumazahn；〃　he　said　（I　give　the　gist　of　his　remarks；　for　he　did　not
come　to　the　point　at　once）；　〃I　need　guns；　and　I　am　told　that　you　can
provide　them；　being　a　trader。〃

〃Yes；　Masapo；　I　dare　say　that　I　can；　at　a　price；　though　it　is　a　risky
business　smuggling　guns　into　Zululand。　　But　might　I　ask　what　you　need
them　for？　　is　it　to　shoot　elephants？〃

〃Yes；　to　shoot　elephants；〃　he　replied；　rolling　his　big　eyes　round　him。　
〃Macumazahn；　I　am　told　that　you　are　discreet；　that　you　do　not　shout　from
the　top　of　a　hut　what　you　hear　within　it。　　Now；　hearken　to　me。　　Our
country　is　disturbed；　we　do　not　all　of　us　love　the　seed　of　Senzangakona；
of　whom　the　present　king；　Panda；　is　one。　　For　instance；　you　may　know
that　we　Quabiesfor　my　tribe；　the　Amansomi；　are　of　that　racesuffered
at　the　spear　of　Chaka。　　Well；　we　think　that　a　time　may　come　when　we　who
live　on　shrubs　like　goats　may　again　browse　on　tree…tops　like　giraffes；
for　Panda　is　no　strong　king；　and　he　has　sons　who　hate　each　other；　one　of
whom　may　need　our　spears。　　Do　you　understand？〃

〃I　understand　that　you　want　guns；　O　Masapo；〃　I　answered　dryly。　　〃Now；　as
to　the　price　and　place　of　delivery。〃

Then　we　bargained　for　a　while；　but　the　details　of　that　business
transaction　of　long　ago　will　interest　no　one。　　Indeed；　I　only　mention
the　matter　to　show　that　Masapo　was　plotting　to　bring　trouble　on　the
ruling　house；　whereof　Panda　was　the　representative　at　that　time。

When　we　had　concluded　our　rather　nefarious　negotiations；　which　were　to
the　effect　that　I　was　to　receive　so　many　cattle　in　return　for　so　many
guns；　if　I　could　deliver　them　at　a　certain　spot；　namely；　Umbezi's　kraal；
I　returned　to　the　circle　where　Umbezi；　his　followers　and　guests　were
sitting；　purposing　to　bid　him　farewell。　　By　now；　however；　meat　had　been
served；　and　as　I　was　hungry；　having　had　little　breakfast　that　morning；　I
stayed　to　eat。　　When　I　had　finished　my　meal；　and　washed　it　down　with　a
draught　of　tshwala　（that　is；　Kafir　beer）；　I　rose　to　go；　but　just　at　that
moment　who　should　walk　through　the　gate　but　Saduko？

〃Piff！〃　said　Mameena；　who　was　standing　near　me；　speaking　in　a　voice　that
none　but　I　could　hear。　　〃When　two　bucks　meet；　what　happens；　Macumazahn？〃

〃Sometimes　they　fight　and　sometimes　one　runs　away。　　It　depends　very　much
on　the　doe；〃　I　answered　in　the　same　low　voice；　looking　at　her。

She　shrugged　her　shoulders；　folded　her　arms　beneath　her　breast；　nodded
to　Saduko　as　he　passed；　then　leaned　gracefully　against　the　fence　and
awaited　events。

〃Greeting；　Umbezi；〃　said　Saduko　in　his　proud　manner。　　〃I　see　that　you
feast。　　Am　I　welcome　here？〃

〃Of　course　you　are　always　welcome；　Saduko；〃　replied　Umbezi　uneasily；
〃although；　as　it　happens；　I　am　entertaining　a　great　man。〃　　And　he　looked
towards　Masapo。

〃I　see；〃　said　Saduko；　eyeing　the　strangers。　　〃But　which　of　these　may　be
the　great　man？　　I　ask　that　I　may　salute　him。〃

〃You　know　well　enough；　umfokazana〃　（that　is；　low　fellow）；　exclaimed
Masapo　angrily。

〃I　know　that　if　you　were　outside　this　fence；　Masapo；　I　would　cram　that
word　down　your　throat　at　the　point　of　my　assegai；〃　replied　Saduko　in　a
fierce　voice。　　〃Oh；　I　can　guess　your　business　here；　Masapo；　and　you　can
guess　mine；〃　and　he　glanced　towards　Mameena。　　〃Tell　me；　Umbezi；　is　this
little　chief　of　the　Amansomi　your　daughter's　accepted　suitor？〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Saduko；〃　said　Umbezi；　〃no　one　is　her　accepted　suitor。　　Will
you　not　sit　down　and　take　food　with　us？　　Tell　us　where　you　have　been；
and　why　you　return　here　thus　suddenly；　anduninvited？〃

〃I　return　here；　O　Umbezi；　to　speak　with　the　white　chief；　Macumazahn。　　As
to　where　I　have　been；　that　is　my　affair；　and　not　yours　or　Masapo's。〃

〃Now；　if　I　were　chief　of　this　kraal；〃　said　Masapo；　〃I　would　hunt　out　of
it　this　hyena　with　a　mangy　coat　and　without　a　hole　who　comes　to　devour
your　meat　and；　perhaps；〃　he　added　with　meaning；　〃to　steal　away　your
child。〃

〃Did　I　not　tell　you；　Macumazahn；　that　when　two　bucks　met　they　would
fight？〃　whispered　Mameena　suavely　into　my　ear。

〃Yes；　Mameena；　you　didor　rather　I　told　you。　　But　you　did　not　tell　me
what　the　doe　would　do。〃

〃The　doe；　Macumazahn；　will　crouch　in　her　form　and　see　what　happensas
is　the　fashion　of　does；〃　and　again　she　laughed　softly。

〃Why　not　do　your　own　hunting；　Masapo？〃　asked　Saduko。　　〃Come；　now；　I　will
promise　you　good　sport。　　Outside　this　kraal　there　are　other　hyenas
waiting　who　call　me　chiefa　hundred　or　two　of　themassembled　for　a
certain　purpose　by　the　royal　leave　of　King　Panda；　whose　House；　as　we　all
know；　you　hate。　　Come；　leave　that　beef　and　beer　and　begin　your　hunting
of　hyenas；　O　Masapo。〃

Now　Masapo　sat　silent；　for　he　saw　that　he　who　thought　to　snare　a　baboon
had　caught　a　tiger。

〃You　do　not　speak；　O　Chief　of　the　little　Amansomi；〃　went　on　Saduko；　who
was　beside　himself　with　rage　and　jealousy。　　〃You　will　not　leave　your
beef　and　beer　to　hunt　the　hyenas　who　are　captained　by　an　umfokazana！　
Well；　then；　the　umfokazana　will　speak；〃　and；　stepping　up　to　Masapo；　with
the　spear　he　carried　poised　in　his　right　hand；　Saduko　grasped　his
rival's　short　beard　with　his　left。

〃Listen；　Chief；〃　he　said。　　〃You　and　I　are　enemies。　　You　seek　the　woman　I
seek；　and；　mayhap；　being　rich；　you　will　buy　her。　　But　if　so；　I　tell　you
that　I　will　kill　you　and　all　your　House；　you　sneaking；　half…bred　dog！〃

With　these　fierce　words　he　spat　in　his　face　and　tumbled　him　backwards。　
Then；　before　anyone　could　stop　him；　for　Umbezi；　and　even　Masapo's
headmen；　seemed　paralysed　with　surprise；　he　stalked　through　the　kraal
gate；　saying　as　he　passed　me：

〃Inkoosi；　I　have　words　for　you　when　you　are　at　liberty。〃

〃You　shall　pay　for　this；〃　roared　Umbezi　after　him；　turning　almost　green
with　rage；　for　Masapo　still　lay　upon　his　broad　back；　speechless；　〃you
who　dare　to　insult　my　guest　in　my　own　house。〃

〃Somebody　must　pay；〃　cried　back　Saduko　from　the　gate；　〃but　who　it　is
only　the　unborn　moons　will　see。〃

〃Mameena；〃　I　said　as　I　followed　him；　〃you　have　set　fire　to　the　grass；
and　men　will　be　burned　in　it。〃

〃I　meant　to；　Macumazahn；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃Did　I　not　tell　you　that
there　was　a　flame　in　me；　and　it　will　break　out　sometimes？　　But；
Macumazahn；　it　is　you　who　have　set　fire　to　the　grass；　not　I。　　Remember
that　when　half　Zululand　is　in　ashes。　　Farewell；　O　Macumazana；　till　we
meet　again；　and；〃　she　added　softly；　〃whoever　else　must　burn；　may　the
spirits　have　_you_　in　their　keeping。〃

At　the　gate；　remembering　my　manners；　I　turned　to　bid　that　company　a
polite　farewell。　　By　now　Masapo　had　gained　his　feet；　and　was　roaring　out
like　a　bull：

〃Kill　him！　　Kill　the　hyena！　　Umbezi；　will　you　sit　still　and　see　me；　your
gu