child of storm-第16章

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〃I　understand；　O　Tshoza；　brother　of　Matiwane　and　uncle　of　Saduko　the
chief；〃　I　replied。　　〃But　Bangu　is　a　strong　man；　living；　I　am　told；　in　a
strong　place。　　Still；　let　that　go；　for　have　you　not　said　that　you　come
out　to　conquer　or　to　die；　you　who　have　nothing　to　lose；　and　if　you
conquer；　you　conquer；　and　if　you　die；　you　die　and　the　tale　is　told。　　But
supposing　that　you　conquer。　　What　will　Panda；　King　of　the　Zulus；　say　to
you；　and　to　me　also；　who　stir　up　war　in　his　country？〃

Now　the　Amangwane　looked　behind　them；　and　Saduko　cried　out：

〃Appear；　messenger　from　Panda　the　King！〃

Before　his　words　had　ceased　to　echo　I　saw　a　little；　withered　man
threading　his　way　between　the　tall；　gaunt　forms　of　the　Amangwane。　　He
came　and　stood　before　me；　saying：

〃Hail；　Macumazahn。　　Do　you　remember　me？〃

〃Aye；〃　I　answered；　〃I　remember　you　as　Maputa；　one　of　Panda's　indunas。〃

〃Quite　so；　Macumazahn；　I　am　Maputa；　one　of　his　indunas；　a　member　of　his
Council；　a　captain　of　his　impis　＇that　is；　armies＇；　as　I　was　to　his
brothers　who　are　gone；　whose　names　it　is　not　lawful　that　I　should　name。　
Well；　Panda　the　King　has　sent　me　to　you；　at　the　request　of　Saduko　there；
with　a　message。〃

〃How　do　I　know　that　you　are　a　true　messenger？〃　I　asked。　　〃Have　you
brought　me　any　token？〃

〃Aye；〃　he　answered；　and；　fumbling　under　his　cloak；　he　produced　something
wrapped　in　dried　leaves；　which　he　undid　and　handed　to　me；　saying：

〃This　is　the　token　that　Panda　sends　to　you；　Macumazahn；　bidding　me　to
tell　you　that　you　will　certainly　know　it　again；　also　that　you　are
welcome　to　it；　since　the　two　little　bullets　which　he　swallowed　as　you
directed　made　him　very　ill；　and　he　needs　no　more　of　them。〃

I　took　the　token；　and；　examining　it　in　the　moonlight；　recognised　it　at
once。

It　was　a　cardboard　box　of　strong　calomel　pills；　on　the　top　of　which　was
written：　〃Allan　Quatermain；　Esq。：　One　_only_　to　be　taken　as　directed。〃　
Without　entering　into　explanations；　I　may　state　that　I　had　taken　〃one　as
directed；〃　and　subsequently　presented　the　rest　of　the　box　to　King　Panda；
who　was　very　anxious　to　〃taste　the　white　man's　medicine。〃

〃Do　you　recognise　the　token；　Macumazahn？〃　asked　the　induna。

〃Yes；〃　I　replied　gravely；　〃and　let　the　King　return　thanks　to　the　spirits
of　his　ancestors　that　he　did　not　swallow　three　of　the　balls；　for　if　he
had　done　so；　by　now　there　would　have　been　another　Head　in　Zululand。　
Well；　speak　on；　Messenger。〃

But　to　myself　I　reflected；　not　for　the　first　time；　how　strangely　these
natives　could　mix　up　the　sublime　with　the　ridiculous。　　Here　was　a　matter
that　must　involve　the　death　of　many　men；　and　the　token　sent　to　me　by　the
autocrat　who　stood　at　the　back　of　it　all；　to　prove　the　good　faith　of　his
messenger；　was　a　box　of　calomel　pills！　　However；　it　served　the　purpose
as　well　as　anything　else。

Maputa　and　I　drew　aside；　for　I　saw　that　he　wished　to　speak　with　me
alone。

〃O　Macumazana；〃　he　said；　when　we　were　out　of　hearing　of　the　others；
〃these　are　the　words　of　Panda　to　you：　'I　understand　that　you；
Macumazahn；　have　promised　to　accompany　Saduko；　son　of　Matiwane；　on　an
expedition　of　his　against　Bangu；　chief　of　the　Amakoba。　　Now；　were　anyone
else　concerned；　I　should　forbid　this　expedition；　and　especially　should　I
forbid　you；　a　white　man　in　my　country；　to　share　therein。　　But　this　dog
of　a　Bangu　is　an　evil…doer。　　Many　years　ago　he　worked　on　the　Black　One
who　went　before　me　to　send　him　to　destroy　Matiwane；　my　friend；　filling
the　Black　One's　ears　with　false　accusations；　and　thereafter　he　did
treacherously　destroy　him　and　all　his　tribe　save　Saduko；　his　son；　and
some　of　the　people　and　children　who　escaped。　　Moreover；　of　late　he　has
been　working　against　me；　the　King；　striving　to　stir　up　rebellion　against
me；　because　he　knows　that　I　hate　him　for　his　crimes。　　Now　I；　Panda；
unlike　those　who　went　before　me；　am　a　man　of　peace　who　do　not　wish　to
light　the　fire　of　civil　war　in　the　land；　for　who　knows　where　such　fires
will　stop；　or　whose　kraals　they　will　consume？　　Yet　I　do　wish　to　see
Bangu　punished　for　his　wickedness；　and　his　pride　abated。　　Therefore　I
give　Saduko　leave；　and　those　people　of　the　Amangwane　who　remain　to　him；
to　avenge　their　private　wrongs　upon　Bangu　if　they　can；　and　I　give　you
leave；　Macumazahn；　to　be　of　his　party。　　Moreover；　if　any　cattle　are
taken；　I　shall　ask　no　account　of　them；　you　and　Saduko　may　divide　them　as
you　wish。　　But　understand；　O　Macumazana；　that　if　you　or　your　people　are
killed　or　wounded；　or　robbed　of　your　goods；　I　know　nothing　of　the
matter；　and　am　not　responsible　to　you　or　to　the　white　House　of　Natal；　it
is　your　own　matter。　　These　are　my　words。　　I　have　spoken。'〃

〃I　see；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　am　to　pull　Panda's　hot　iron　out　of　the　fire　and
to　extinguish　the　fire。　　If　I　succeed　I　may　keep　a　piece　of　the　iron
when　it　gets　cool；　and　if　I　burn　my　fingers　it　is　my　own　fault；　and　I　or
my　House　must　not　come　crying　to　Panda。〃

〃O　Watcher…by…Night；　you　have　speared　the　bull　in　the　heart；〃　replied
Maputa；　the　messenger；　nodding　his　shrewd　old　head。　　〃Well；　will　you　go
up　with　Saduko？〃

〃Say　to　the　King；　O　Messenger；　that　I　will　go　up　with　Saduko　because　I
promised　him　that　I　would；　being　moved　by　the　tale　of　his　wrongs；　and
not　for　the　sake　of　the　cattle；　although　it　is　true　that　if　I　hear　any
of　them　lowing　in　my　camp　I　may　keep　them。　　Say　to　Panda　also　that　if
aught　of　ill　befalls　me　he　shall　hear　nothing　of　it；　nor　will　I　bring
his　high　name　into　this　business；　but　that　he；　on　his　part；　must　not
blame　me　for　anything　that　may　happen　afterwards。　　Have　you　the
message？〃

〃I　have　it　word　for　word；　and　may　your　Spirit　be　with　you；　Macumazahn；
when　you　attack　the　strong　mountain　of　Bangu；　which；　were　I　you；〃　Maputa
added　reflectively；　〃I　think　I　should　do　just　at　the　dawn；　since　the
Amakoba　drink　much　beer　and　are　heavy　sleepers。〃

Then　we　took　a　pinch　of　snuff　together；　and　he　departed　at　once　for
Nodwengu；　Panda's　Great　Place。


Fourteen　days　had　gone　by；　and　Saduko　and　I；　with　our　ragged　band　of
Amangwane；　sat　one　morning；　after　a　long　night　march；　in　the　hilly
country　looking　across　a　broad　vale；　which　was　sprinkled　with　trees　like
an　English　park；　at　that　mountain　on　the　side　of　which　Bangu；　chief　of
the　Amakoba；　had　his　kraal。

It　was　a　very　formidable　mountain；　and；　as　we　had　already　observed；　the
paths　leading　up　to　the　kraal　were　amply　protected　with　stone　walls　in
which　the　openings　were　quite　narrow；　only　just　big　enough　to　allow　one
ox　to　pass　through　them　at　a　time。　　Moreover；　all　these　walls　had　been
strengthened　recently；　perhaps　because　Bangu　was　aware　that　Panda　looked
upon　him；　a　northern　chief　dwelling　on　the　confines　of　his　dominions；
with　suspicion　and　even　active　enmity；　as　he　was　also　no　doubt　aware
Panda　had　good　cause　to　do。

Here　in　a　dense　patch　of　bush　that　grew　in　a　kloof　of　the　hills　we　held
a　council　of　war。

So　far　as　we　knew　our　advance　had　been　unobserved；　for　I　had　left　my
wagons　in　the　low　veld　thirty　miles　away；　giving　it　out　among　the　local
natives　that　I　was　hunting　game　there；　and　bringing　on　with　me　only
Scowl　and　four　of　my　best　hunters；　all　well…armed　natives　who　could
shoot。　　The　three　hundred　Amangwane　also　had　advanced　in　small　parties；
separated　from　each　other；　pretending　to　be　Kafirs　marching　towards
Delagoa　Bay。　　Now；　however；　we　had　all　met　in　this　bush。　　Among　our
number　were　three　Amangwane　who；　on　the　slaughter　of　their　tribe；　had
fled　with　their　mothers　to　this　district　and　been　brought　up　among　the
people　of　Bangu；　but　who　at　his　summons　had　come　back　to　Saduko。　　It　was
on　these　men　that　we　relied　at　this　juncture；　for　they　alone　knew　the
country。　　Long　and　anxiously　did　we　consult　with　them。　　First　they
explained；　and；　so　far　as　the　moonlight　would　allow；　for　as　yet　the　dawn
had　not　broken；　pointed　out　to　us　the　various　paths　that　led　to　Bangu's
kraal。

〃How　many　men　are　there　in　the　town？〃　I　asked。

〃About　seven　hundred　who　carry　spears；〃　they　answered；　〃together　with
others　in　outlying　kraals。　　Moreover；　watchmen　are　always　set　at　the
gateways　in　the　walls。〃

〃And　where　are　the　cattle？〃　I　asked　again。

〃Here；　in　the　valley　beneath；　Macumazahn；〃　answered　the　spokesman。　　〃If
you　listen　you　will　hear　them　lowing。　　Fifty　men；　not　less；　watch　them
at　nighttwo　thousand　head　of　them；　or　more。〃

〃Then　it　would　not　be　difficult　to　get　round　these　cattle　and　drive　them
off；　leaving　Bangu　to　breed　up　a　new　herd？〃

〃It　might　not　be　difficult；〃　interrupted　Saduko；　〃but　I　came　here　to
kill　Bangu；　as　well　as　to　seize　his　cattle；　since　with　him　I　have　a
blood　feud。〃

〃Very　good；〃　I　answered；　〃but　that　mountain　cannot　be　stormed　with　three
hundred　men；　fortified　as　it　is　with　walls　and　schanzes。　　Our　band　would
be　destroyed　before　ever　we　came　to　the　kraal；　since；　owing　to　the
sentries　who　are　set　everywhere；　it　would　be　impossible　to　surprise　the
place。　　Also　you　have　forgotten　the　dogs；　Saduko。　　Moreover；　even　if　it
were　possible；　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　massacre　of　women　and
children；　which　must　happen　in　an　assault。　　Now；　listen　to　me；　O　Saduko。
　I　say　let　us　leave　the　kraal　of　Bangu　alone；　and　this　coming　night　send
fifty　of　our　men；　under　the　leadership　of　the　guides；　down　to　yonder
bush；　where　they　will　lie　hid。　　Then；　after　moonrise；　when　all　are
asleep；　these　fifty　must　rush　the　cattle　kraal；　killing　any　who　may
oppose　them；　should　they　be　seen；　and　driving　the　herd　out　through
yonder　great　pass　by　which　we　have　entered　the　land。　　Bangu　and　his
people；　thinking　that　those　who　have　taken　the　cattle　are　but　common
thieves　of　some　wild　tribe；　will　gather　and　follow　the　beasts　to
recapture　them。　　But　we；　with　the　rest　of　the　Amangwane；　can　set　an
ambush　in　the　narrowest　part　of　the　pass　among　the　rocks；　where　the
grass　is　high　and　the　euphorbia　trees　grow　thick；　and　there；　when　they
have　passed　the　Nek；　which　I　and　my　hunters　will　hold　with　our　guns；　we
will　give　them　battle。　　What　say　you？〃

Now；　Saduko　answered　that　he　would　rather　attack　the　kraal；　which　he
wished　to　burn。　　But　the　old　Amangwane；　Tshoza；　brother　of　the　dead
Matiwane；　said：

〃No；　Macumazahn；　Watcher…by…Night；　is　wise。　　Why　should　we　waste　our
strength　on　stone　walls；　of　which　none　know　the　number　or　can　find　the
gates　in　the　darkness；　and　thereby　leave　our　skulls　to　be　set　up　as
ornaments　on　the　fences　of　the　accursed　Amakoba？　　Let　us　draw　the
Amakoba　out　into　the　pass　of　the　mountains；　where　they　have　no　walls　to
protect　them；　and　there　fall　on　them　when　they　are　bewildered　and　settle
the　matter　with　them　man　to　man。　　As　for　the　women　and　children；　with
Macumazahn　I　say　let　them　go；　afterwards；　perhaps；　they　will　become
_our_　women　and　children。〃

〃Aye；〃　answered　the　Amangwane；　〃the　plan　of　the　white　Inkoosi　is　good；
he　is　clever　as　a　weasel；　we　will　have　his　plan　and　no　other。〃

So　Saduko　was　overruled　and　my　counsel　adopted。

All　that　day　we　rested；　lighting　no　fires　and　remaining　still　as　the
dead　in　the　dense　bush。　　It　was　a　very　anxious　day；　for　although　the
place　was　so　wild　and　lonely；　there　was　always　the　fear　lest　we　should
be　discovered。　　It　was　true　that　we　had　travelled　mostly　by　night　in
small　parties；　to　avoid　leaving　a　spoor；　and　avoided　all　kraals；　still；