child of storm-第15章

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like　a　bull：

〃Kill　him！　　Kill　the　hyena！　　Umbezi；　will　you　sit　still　and　see　me；　your
guestme；　Masapostruck　and　insulted　under　the　shadow　of　your　own　hut？
　Go　forth　and　kill　him；　I　say！〃

〃Why　not　kill　him　yourself；　Masapo；〃　asked　the　agitated　Umbezi；　〃or　bid
your　headmen　kill　him？　　Who　am　I　that　I　should　take　precedence　of　so
great　a　chief　in　a　matter　of　the　spear？〃　　Then　he　turned　towards　me；
saying：　〃Oh；　Macumazahn　the　crafty；　if　I　have　dealt　well　by　you；　come
here　and　give　me　your　counsel。〃

〃I　come；　Eater…up…of…Elephants；〃　I　answered；　and　I　did。

〃What　shall　I　dowhat　shall　I　do？〃　went　on　Umbezi；　brushing　the
perspiration　off　his　brow　with　one　hand；　while　he　wrung　the　other　in　his
agitation。　　〃There　stands　a　friend　of　mine〃he　pointed　to　the
infuriated　Masapo〃who　wishes　me　to　kill　another　friend　of　mine；〃　and
he　jerked　his　thumb　towards　the　kraal　gate。　　〃If　I　refuse　I　offend　one
friend；　and　if　I　consent　I　bring　blood　upon　my　hands　which　will　call　for
blood；　since；　although　Saduko　is　poor；　without　doubt　he　has　those　who
love　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃and　perhaps　you　will　bring　blood　upon　other　parts　of
yourself　besides　your　hands；　since　Saduko　is　not　one　to　sit　still　like　a
sheep　while　his　throat　is　cut。　　Also　did　he　not　say　that　he　is　not　quite
alone？　　Umbezi；　if　you　will　take　my　advice；　you　will　leave　Masapo　to　do
his　own　killing。〃

〃It　is　good；　it　is　wise！〃　exclaimed　Umbezi。　　〃Masapo；〃　he　called　to　that
warrior；　〃if　you　wish　to　fight；　pray　do　not　think　of　me。　　I　see　nothing；
I　hear　nothing；　and　I　promise　proper　burial　to　any　who　fall。　　Only　you
had　best　be　swift；　for　Saduko　is　walking　away　all　this　time。　　Come；　you
and　your　people　have　spears；　and　the　gate　stands　open。〃

〃Am　I　to　go　without　my　meat　in　order　to　knock　that　hyena　on　the　head？〃
asked　Masapo　in　a　brave　voice。　　〃No；　he　can　wait　my　leisure。　　Sit　still；
my　people。　　I　tell　you；　sit　still。　　Tell　him；　you　Macumazahn；　that　I　am
coming　for　him　presently；　and　be　warned　to　keep　yourself　away　from　him；
lest　you　should　tumble　into　his　hole。〃

〃I　will　tell　him；〃　I　answered；　〃though　I　know　not　who　made　me　your
messenger。　　But　listen　to　me；　you　Speaker　of　big　words　and　Doer　of　small
deeds；　if　you　dare　to　lift　a　finger　against　me　I　will　teach　you
something　about　holes；　for　there　shall　be　one　or　more　through　that　great
carcass　of　yours。〃

Then；　walking　up　to　him；　I　looked　him　in　the　face；　and　at　the　same　time
tapped　the　handle　of　the　big　double…barrelled　pistol　I　carried。

He　shrank　back　muttering　something。

〃Oh；　don't　apologise；〃　I　said；　〃only　be　more　careful　in　future。　　And　now
I　wish　you　a　good　dinner；　Chief　Masapo；　and　peace　upon　your　kraal；
friend　Umbezi。〃

After　this　speech　I　marched　off；　followed　by　the　clamour　of　Masapo's
furious　attendants　and　the　sound　of　Mameena's　light　and　mocking
laughter。

〃I　wonder　which　of　them　she　will　marry？〃　I　thought　to　myself；　as　I　set
out　for　the　wagons。

As　I　approached　my　camp　I　saw　that　the　oxen　were　being　inspanned；　as　I
supposed　by　the　order　of　Scowl；　who　must　have　heard　that　there　was　a　row
up　at　the　kraal；　and　thought　it　well　to　be　ready　to　bolt。　　In　this　I　was
mistaken；　however；　for　just　then　Saduko　strolled　out　of　a　patch　of　bush
and　said：

〃I　ordered　your　boys　to　yoke　up　the　oxen；　Inkoosi。〃

〃Have　you？　　That's　cool！〃　I　answered。　　〃Perhaps　you　will　tell　me　why。〃

〃Because　we　must　make　a　good　trek　to　the　northward　before　night；
Inkoosi。〃

〃Indeed！　　I　thought　that　I　was　heading　south…east。〃

〃Bangu　does　not　live　in　the　south　or　the　east；〃　he　replied　slowly。

〃Oh；　I　had　almost　forgotten　about　Bangu；〃　I　said；　with　a　rather　feeble
attempt　at　evasion。

〃Is　it　so？〃　he　answered　in　his　haughty　voice。　　〃I　never　knew　before　that
Macumazahn　was　a　man　who　broke　a　promise　to　his　friend。〃

〃Would　you　be　so　kind　as　to　explain　your　meaning；　Saduko？〃

〃Is　it　needful？〃　he　answered；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　　〃Unless　my　ears
played　me　tricks；　you　agreed　to　go　up　with　me　against　Bangu。　　Well；　I
have　gathered　the　necessary　menwith　the　king's　leavethey　await　us
yonder；〃　and　he　pointed　with　his　spear　towards　a　dense　patch　of　bush
that　lay　some　miles　beneath　us。　　〃But；〃　he　added；　〃if　you　desire　to
change　your　mind　I　will　go　alone。　　Only　then；　I　think；　we　had　better　bid
each　other　good…bye；　since　I　love　not　friends　who　change　their　minds
when　the　assegais　begin　to　shake。〃

Now；　whether　Saduko　spoke　thus　by　design　I　do　not　know。　　Certainly；
however；　he　could　have　found　no　better　way　to　ensure　my　companionship
for　what　it　was　worth；　since；　although　I　had　made　no　actual　promise　in
this　case；　I　have　always　prided　myself　on　keeping　even　a　half…bargain
with　a　native。

〃I　will　go　with　you；〃　I　said　quietly；　〃and　I　hope　that；　when　it　comes　to
the　pinch；　your　spear　will　be　as　sharp　as　your　tongue；　Saduko。　　Only　do
not　speak　to　me　again　like　that；　lest　we　should　quarrel。〃

As　I　said　this　I　saw　a　look　of　relief　appear　on　his　face；　of　very　great
relief。

〃I　pray　your　pardon；　my　lord　Macumazahn；〃　he　said；　seizing　my　hand；
〃but；　oh！　there　is　a　hole　in　my　heart。　　I　think　that　Mameena　means　to
play　me　false；　and　now　that　has　happened　with　yonder　dog；　Masapo；　which
will　make　her　father　hate　me。〃

〃If　you　will　take　my　advice；　Saduko；〃　I　replied　earnestly；　〃you　will　let
this　Mameena　fall　out　of　the　hole　in　your　heart；　you　will　forget　her
name；　you　will　have　done　with　her。　　Ask　me　not　why。〃

〃Perhaps　there　is　no　need；　O　Macumazana。　　Perhaps　she　has　been　making
love　to　you；　and　you　have　turned　her　away；　as；　being　what　you　are；　and
my　friend；　of　course　you　would　do。〃　　（It　is　rather　inconvenient　to　be
set　upon　such　a　pedestal　at　times；　but　I　did　not　attempt　to　assent　or　to
deny　anything；　much　less　to　enter　into　explanations。）

〃Perhaps　all　this　has　happened；〃　he　continued；　〃or　perhaps　it　is　she　who
has　sent　for　Masapo　the　Hog。　　I　do　not　ask；　because　if　you　know　you　will
not　tell　me。　　Moreover；　it　matters　nothing。　　While　I　have　a　heart；
Mameena　will　never　drop　out　of　it；　while　I　can　remember　names；　hers　will
never　be　forgotten　by　me。　　Moreover；　I　mean　that　she　shall　be　my　wife。　
Now；　I　am　minded　to　take　a　few　men　and　spear　this　hog；　Masapo；　before　we
go　up　against　Bangu；　for　then　he；　at　any　rate；　will　be　out　of　my　road。〃

〃If　you　do　anything　of　the　sort；　Saduko；　you　will　go　up　against　Bangu
alone；　for　I　trek　east　at　once；　who　will　not　be　mixed　up　with　murder。〃

〃Then　let　it　be；　Inkoosi；　unless　he　attacks　me；　as　my　Snake　send　that　he
may；　the　Hog　can　wait。　　After　all；　he　will　only　be　growing　a　little
fatter。　　Now；　if　it　pleases　you　order　the　wagons　to　trek。　　I　will　show
the　road；　for　we　must　camp　in　that　bush　to…night　where　my　people　wait
me；　and　there　I　will　tell　you　my　plans；　also　you　will　find　one　with　a
message　for　you。〃



CHAPTER　VI




THE　AMBUSH





We　had　reached　the　bush　after　six　hours'　downhill　trek　over　a　pretty　bad
track　made　by　cattleof　course；　there　were　no　roads　in　Zululand　at　this
date。　　I　remember　the　place　well。　　It　was　a　kind　of　spreading　woodland
on　a　flat　bottom；　where　trees　of　no　great　size　grew　sparsely。　　Some　were
mimosa　thorns；　others　had　deep　green　leaves　and　bore　a　kind　of　plum　with
an　acid　taste　and　a　huge　stone；　and　others　silver…coloured　leaves　in
their　season。　　A　river；　too；　low　at　this　time　of　the　year；　wound　through
it；　and　in　the　scrub　upon　its　banks　were　many　guinea…fowl　and　other
birds。　　It　was　a　pleasing；　lonely　place；　with　lots　of　game　in　it；　that
came　here　in　the　winter　to　eat　the　grass；　which　was　lacking　on　the
higher　veld。　　Also　it　gave　the　idea　of　vastness；　since　wherever　one
looked　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　except　a　sea　of　trees。

Well；　we　outspanned　by　the　river；　of　which　I　forget　the　name；　at　a　spot
that　Saduko　showed　us；　and　set　to　work　to　cook　our　food；　that　consisted
of　venison　from　a　blue　wildebeest；　one　of　a　herd　of　these　wild…looking
animals　which　I　had　been　fortunate　enough　to　shoot　as　they　whisked　past
us；　gambolling　in　and　out　between　the　trees。

While　we　were　eating　I　observed　that　armed　Zulus　arrived　continually　in
parties　of　from　six　to　a　score　of　men；　and　as　they　arrived　lifted　their
spears；　though　whether　in　salutation　to　Saduko　or　to　myself　I　did　not
know；　and　sat　themselves　down　on　an　open　space　between　us　and　the
river…bank。　　Although　it　was　difficult　to　say　whence　they　came；　for　they
appeared　like　ghosts　out　of　the　bush；　I　thought　it　well　to　take　no
notice　of　them；　since　I　guessed　that　their　coming　was　prearranged。

〃Who　are　they？〃　I　whispered　to　Scowl；　as　he　brought　me　my　tot　of
〃squareface。〃

〃Saduko's　wild　men；〃　he　answered　in　the　same　low　voice；　〃outlaws　of　his
tribe　who　live　among　the　rocks。〃

Now　I　scanned　them　sideways；　while　pretending　to　light　my　pipe　and　so
forth；　and　certainly　they　seemed　a　remarkably　savage　set　of　people。　
Great；　gaunt　fellows　with　tangled　hair；　who　wore　tattered　skins　upon
their　shoulders　and　seemed　to　have　no　possessions　save　some　snuff；　a　few
sleeping…mats；　and　an　ample　supply　of　large　fighting　shields；　hardwood
kerries　or　knob…sticks；　and　broad　ixwas；　or　stabbing　assegais。　　Such　was
the　look　of　them　as　they　sat　round　us　in　silent　semicircles；　like
aas…vogelsas　the　Dutch　call　vulturessit　round　a　dying　ox。

Still　I　smoked　on　and　took　no　notice。

At　length；　as　I　expected；　Saduko　grew　weary　of　my　silence　and　spoke。　
〃These　are　men　of　the　Amangwane　tribe；　Macumazahn；　three　hundred　of
them；　all　that　Bangu　left　alive；　for　when　their　fathers　were　killed；　the
women　escaped　with　some　of　the　children；　especially　those　of　the
outlying　kraals。　　I　have　gathered　them　to　be　revenged　upon　Bangu；　I　who
am　their　chief　by　right　of　blood。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　see　that　you　have　gathered　them；　but　do　they
wish　to　be　revenged　on　Bangu　at　the　risk　of　their　own　lives？〃

〃We　do；　white　Inkoosi；〃　came　the　deep…throated　answer　from　the　three
hundred。

〃And　do　they　acknowledge　you；　Saduko；　to　be　their　chief？〃

〃We　do；〃　again　came　the　answer。　　Then　a　spokesman　stepped　forward；　one
of　the　few　grey…haired　men　among　them；　for　most　of　these　Amangwane　were
of　the　age　of　Saduko；　or　even　younger。

〃O　Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　Tshoza；　the　brother　of　Matiwane；
Saduko's　father；　the　only　one　of　his　brothers　that　escaped　the　slaughter
on　the　night　of　the　Great　Killing。　　Is　it　not　so？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　exclaimed　the　serried　ranks　behind　him。

〃I　acknowledge　Saduko　as　my　chief；　and　so　do　we　all；〃　went　on　Tshoza。

〃So　do　we　all；〃　echoed　the　ranks。

〃Since　Matiwane　died　we　have　lived　as　we　could；　O　Macumazana；　like
baboons　among　the　rocks；　without　cattle；　often　without　a　hut　to　shelter
us；　here　one；　there　one。　　Still；　we　have　lived；　awaiting　the　hour　of
vengeance　upon　Bangu；　that　hour　which　Zikali　the　Wise；　who　is　of　our
blood；　has　promised　to　us。　　Now　we　believe　that　it　has　come；　and　one　and
all；　from　here；　from　there；　from　everywhere；　we　have　gathered　at　the
summons　of　Saduko　to　be　led　against　Bangu　and　to　conquer　him　or　to　die。　
Is　it　not　so；　Amangwane？〃

〃It　is；　it　is　so！〃　came　the　deep；　unanimous　answer；　that　caused　the
stirless　leaves　to　shake　in　the　still　air。

〃I　understand；　O　Tshoza；　brother　of　Matiwane　and　uncle　of　Saduko　the
chief；〃　I　replied。　　〃But　Bangu　is　a　strong　man；　living；　I　am