child of storm-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


heard　otherwise。　　Has　Masapo　just　conquered　a　countless　tribe　by　his
courage　and　his　wit？　　Is　Masapo　young　and　of　high　blood；　or　is　he　but　an
old；　low…born　boar　of　the　mountains？

〃You　do　not　answer；　Umbezi；　and　perhaps　you　do　well　to　be　silent。　　Now
listen　again。　　Were　it　not　for　Macumazahn　here；　whom　I　do　not　desire　to
mix　up　with　my　quarrels；　I　would　bid　my　men　take　you　and　beat　you　to
death　with　the　handles　of　their　spears；　and　then　go　on　and　serve　the
Boar　in　the　same　fashion　in　his　mountain　sty。　　As　it　is；　these　things
must　wait　a　little　while；　especially　as　I　have　other　matters　to　attend
to　first。　　Yet　the　day　is　not　far　off　when　I　will　attend　to　them　also。　
Therefore　my　counsel　to　you；　Cheat；　is　to　make　haste　to　die　or　to　find
courage　to　fall　upon　a　spear；　unless　you　would　learn　how　it　feels　to　be
brayed　with　sticks　like　a　green　hide　until　none　can　know　that　you　were
once　a　man。　　Send　now　and　tell　my　words　to　Masapo　the　Boar。　　And　to
Mameena　say　that　soon　I　will　come　to　take　her　with　spears　and　not　with
cattle。　　Do　you　understand？　　Oh！　I　see　that　you　do；　since　already　you
weep　with　fear　like　a　woman。　　Then　farewell　to　you　till　that　day　when　I
return　with　the　sticks；　O　Umbezi　the　cheat　and　the　liar；　Umbezi；
'Eater…up…of…Elephants；'〃　and　turning；　Saduko　stalked　away。

I　was　about　to　follow　in　a　great　hurry；　having　had　enough　of　this　very
unpleasant　scene；　when　poor　old　Umbezi　sprang　at　me　and　clasped　me　by
the　arm。

〃O　Macumazana；〃　he　exclaimed；　weeping　in　his　terror；　〃O　Macumazana；　if
ever　I　have　been　a　friend　to　you；　help　me　out　of　this　deep　pit　into
which　I　have　fallen　through　the　tricks　of　that　monkey　of　a　daughter　of
mine；　who　I　think　is　a　witch　born　to　bring　trouble　upon　men。　
Macumazahn；　if　she　had　been　your　daughter　and　a　powerful　chief　had
appeared　with　a　hundred　and　twenty　head　of　such　beautiful　cattle；　you
would　have　given　her　to　him；　would　you　not；　although　he　is　of　mixed
blood　and　not　very　young；　especially　as　she　did　not　mind　who　only　cares
for　place　and　wealth？〃

〃I　think　not；〃　I　answered；　〃but　then　it　is　not　our　custom　to　sell　women
in　that　fashion。〃

〃No；　no；　I　forgot；　in　this　as　in　other　matters　you　white　men　are　mad
and；　Macumazahn；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　believe　it　is　you　she　really
cares　for；　she　said　as　much　to　me　once　or　twice。　　Well；　why　did　you　not
take　her　away　when　I　was　not　looking？　　We　could　have　settled　matters
afterwards；　and　I　should　have　been　free　of　her　witcheries　and　not　up　to
my　neck　in　this　hole　as　I　am　now。〃

〃Because　some　people　don't　do　that　kind　of　thing；　Umbezi。〃

〃No；　no；　I　forgot。　　Oh！　why　can　I　not　remember　that　you　are　_quite_　mad
and　therefore　that　it　must　not　be　expected　of　you　to　act　as　though　you
were　sane。　　Well；　at　least　you　are　that　tiger　Saduko's　friend；　which
again　shows　that　you　must　be　very　mad；　for　most　people　would　sooner　try
to　milk　a　cow　buffalo　than　walk　hand　in　hand　with　him。　　Don't　you　see；
Macumazahn；　that　he　means　to　kill　me；　Macumazahn；　to　bray　me　like　a
green　hide？　　Ugh！　to　beat　me　to　death　with　sticks。　　Ugh！　　And　what　is
more；　that　unless　you　prevent　him；　he　will　certainly　do　it；　perhaps
to…morrow　or　the　next　day。　　Ugh！　Ugh！　Ugh！〃

〃Yes；　I　see；　Umbezi；　and　I　think　that　he　_will_　do　it。　　But　what　I　do
not　see　is　how　I　am　to　prevent　him。　　Remember　that　you　let　Mameena　grow
into　his　heart　and　behaved　badly　to　him；　Umbezi。〃

〃I　never　promised　her　to　him；　Macumazahn。　　I　only　said　that　if　he
brought　a　hundred　cattle；　then　I　might　promise。〃

〃Well；　he　has　wiped　out　the　Amakoba；　the　enemies　of　his　House；　and　there
are　the　hundred　cattle　whereof　he　has　many　more；　and　now　it　is　too　late
for　you　to　keep　your　share　of　the　bargain。　　So　I　think　you　must　make
yourself　as　comfortable　as　you　can　in　the　hole　that　your　hands　dug；
Umbezi；　which　I　would　not　share　for　all　the　cattle　in　Zululand。〃

〃Truly　you　are　not　one　from　whom　to　seek　comfort　in　the　hour　of
distress；〃　groaned　poor　Umbezi；　then　added；　brightening　up：　〃But　perhaps
Panda　will　kill　him　because　he　has　wiped　out　Bangu　in　a　time　of　peace。　
Oh　Macumazahn；　can　you　not　persuade　Panda　to　kill　him？　　If　so；　I　now
have　more　cattle　than　I　really　want〃

〃Impossible；〃　I　answered。　　〃Panda　is　his　friend；　and　between　ourselves　I
may　tell　you　that　he　ate　up　the　Amakoba　by　his　especial　wish。　　When　the
King　hears　of　it　he　will　call　to　Saduko　to　sit　in　his　shadow　and　make
him　great；　one　of　his　councillors；　probably　with　power　of　life　and　death
over　little　people　like　you　and　Masapo。〃

〃Then　it　is　finished；〃　said　Umbezi　faintly；　〃and　I　will　try　to　die　like
a　man。　　But　to　be　brayed　like　a　hide！　　And　with　thin　sticks！　　Oh！〃　he
added；　grinding　his　teeth；　〃if　only　I　can　get　hold　of　Mameena　I　will　not
leave　much　of　that　pretty　hair　of　hers　upon　her　head。　　I　will　tie　her
hands　and　shut　her　up　with　the　'Old　Cow；'　who　loves　her　as　a　meer…cat
loves　a　mouse。　　No；　I　will　kill　her。　　Theredo　you　hear；　Macumazahn；
unless　you　do　something　to　help　me；　I　will　kill　Mameena；　and　you　won't
like　that；　for　I　am　sure　she　is　dear　to　you；　although　you　were　not　man
enough　to　run　away　with　her　as　she　wished。〃

〃If　you　touch　Mameena；〃　I　said；　〃be　certain；　my　friend；　that　Saduko's
sticks　and　your　skin　will　not　be　far　apart；　for　I　will　report　you　to
Panda　myself　as　an　unnatural　evil…doer。　　Now　hearken　to　me；　you　old
fool。　　Saduko　is　so　fond　of　your　daughter；　on　this　point　being　mad；　as
you　say　I　am；　that　if　only　he　could　get　her　I　think　he　might　overlook
the　fact　of　her　having　been　married　before。　　What　you　have　to　do　is　to
try　to　buy　her　back　from　Masapo。　　Mind　you；　I　say　buy　her　backnot　get
her　by　bloodshedwhich　you　might　do　by　persuading　Masapo　to　put　her
away。　　Then；　if　he　knew　that　you　were　trying　to　do　this；　I　think　that
Saduko　might　leave　his　sticks　uncut　for　a　while。〃

〃I　will　try。　　I　will　indeed；　Macumazahn。　　I　will　try　very　hard。　　It　is
true　Masapo　is　an　obstinate　pig；　still；　if　he　knows　that　his　own　life　is
at　stake；　he　might　give　way。　　Moreover；　when　she　learns　that　Saduko　has
grown　rich　and　great；　Mameena　might　help　me。　　Oh；　I　thank　you；
Macumazahn；　you　are　indeed　the　prop　of　my　hut；　and　it　and　all　in　it　are
yours。　　Farewell；　farewell；　Macumazahn；　if　you　must　go。　　But　whywhy
did　you　not　run　away　with　Mameena；　and　save　me　all　this　fear　and
trouble？〃


So　I　and　that　old　humbug；　Umbezi；　〃Eater…up…of…Elephants；〃　parted　for　a
while；　and　never　did　I　know　him　in　a　more　chastened　frame　of　mind；
except　once；　as　I　shall　tell。



CHAPTER　VIII




THE　KING'S　DAUGHTER





When　I　got　back　to　my　wagons　after　this　semi…tragical　interview　with
that　bombastic　and　self…seeking　old　windbag；　Umbezi；　it　was　to　find　that
Saduko　and　his　warriors　had　already　marched　for　the　King's　kraal；
Nodwengu。　　A　message　awaited　me；　however；　to　the　effect　that　it　was
hoped　that　I　would　follow；　in　order　to　make　report　of　the　affair　of　the
destruction　of　the　Amakoba。　　This；　after　reflection；　I　determined　to　do；
really；　I　think；　because　of　the　intense　human　interest　of　the　whole
business。　　I　wanted　to　see　how　it　would　work　out。

Also；　in　a　way；　I　read　Saduko's　mind　and　understood　that　at　the　moment
he　did　not　wish　to　discuss　the　matter　of　his　hideous　disappointment。　
Whatever　else　may　have　been　false　in　this　man's　nature；　one　thing　rang
true；　namely；　his　love　or　his　infatuation　for　the　girl　Mameena。　
Throughout　his　life　she　was　his　guiding　starabout　as　evil　a　star　as
could　have　arisen　upon　any　man's　horizon；　the　fatal　star　that　was　to
light　him　down　to　doom。　　Let　me　thank　Providence；　as　I　do；　that　I　was　so
fortunate　as　to　escape　its　baneful　influences；　although　I　admit　that
they　attracted　me　not　a　little。

So；　seduced　thither　by　my　curiosity；　which　has　so　often　led　me　into
trouble；　I　trekked　to　Nodwengu；　full　of　many　doubts　not　unmingled　with
amusement；　for　I　could　not　rid　my　mind　of　recollections　of　the　utter
terror　of　the　〃Eater…up…of…Elephants〃　when　he　was　brought　face　to　face
with　the　dreadful　and　concentrated　rage　of　the　robbed　Saduko　and　the
promise　of　his　vengeance。　　Ultimately　I　arrived　at　the　Great　Place
without　experiencing　any　adventure　that　is　worthy　of　record；　and　camped
in　a　spot　that　was　appointed　to　me　by　some　_induna_　whose　name　I　forget；
but　who　evidently　knew　of　my　approach；　for　I　found　him　awaiting　me　at
some　distance　from　the　town。　　Here　I　sat　for　quite　a　long　while；　two　or
three　days；　if　I　remember　right；　amusing　myself　with　killing　or　missing
turtle…doves　with　a　shotgun；　and　similar　pastimes；　until　something
should　happen；　or　I　grew　tired　and　started　for　Natal。

In　the　end；　just　as　I　was　about　to　trek　seawards；　an　old　friend；　Maputa；
turned　up　at　my　wagonsthat　same　man　who　had　brought　me　the　message
from　Panda　before　we　started　to　attack　Bangu。

〃Greeting；　Macumazahn；〃　he　said。　　〃What　of　the　Amakoba？　　I　see　they　did
not　kill　you。〃

〃No；〃　I　answered；　handing　him　some　snuff；　〃they　did　not　quite　kill　me；
for　here　I　am。　　What　is　your　pleasure　with　me？〃

〃O　Macumazana；　only　that　the　King　wishes　to　know　whether　you　have　any　of
those　little　balls　left　in　the　box　which　I　brought　back　to　you；　since；
if　so；　he　thinks　he　would　like　to　swallow　one　of　them　in　this　hot
weather。〃

I　proffered　him　the　whole　box；　but　he　would　not　take　it；　saying　that　the
King　would　like　me　to　give　it　to　him　myself。　　Now　I　understood　that　this
was　a　summons　to　an　audience；　and　asked　when　it　would　please　Panda　to
receive　me　and　〃the…little…black…stones…that…work…wonders。〃　　He
answeredat　once。

So　we　started；　and　within　an　hour　I　stood；　or　rather　sat；　before　Panda。

Like　all　his　family；　the　King　was　an　enormous　man；　but；　unlike　Chaka　and
those　of　his　brothers　whom　I　had　known；　one　of　a　kindly　countenance。　　I
saluted　him　by　lifting　my　cap；　and　took　my　place　upon　a　wooden　stool
that　had　been　provided　for　me　outside　the　great　hut；　in　the　shadow　of
which　he　sat　within　his　isi…gohlo；　or　private　enclosure。

〃Greeting；　O　Macumazana；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　safe　and　well；
for　I　understand　that　you　have　been　engaged　upon　a　perilous　adventure
since　last　we　met。〃

〃Yes；　King；〃　I　answered；　〃but　to　which　adventure　do　you　referthat　of
the　buffalo；　when　Saduko　helped　me；　or　that　of　the　Amakoba；　when　I
helped　Saduko？〃

〃The　latter；　Macumazahn；　of　which　I　desire　to　hear　all　the　story。〃

So　I　told　it　to　him；　he　and　I　being　alone；　for　he　commanded　his
councillors　and　servants　to　retire　out　of　hearing。

〃Wow！〃　he　said；　when　I　had　finished；　〃you　are　clever　as　a　baboon；
Macumazahn。　　That　was　a　fine　trick　to　set　a　trap　for　Bangu　and　his
Amakoba　dogs　and　bait　it　with　his　own　cattle。　　But　they　tell　me　that　you
refused　your　share　of　those　cattle。　　Now；　why　was　that；　Macumazahn？〃

By　way　of　answer　I　repeated　to　Panda　my　reasons；　which　I　have　set　out
already。

〃Ah！〃　he　exclaimed；　when　I　had　finished。　　〃Every　one　seeks　greatness　in
his　own　way；　and　perhaps　yours　is　better　than　ours。　　Well；　the　White　man
walks　one　roador　some　of　them　doand　the　Black　man　another。　　They
both　end　at　the　same　place；　and　none　will　know　which　is　the　right　road
till　the　journey　is　done。　　Meanwhile；　what　you　lose　Saduko　and　his
people　gain。　　He　is　a　wise　man；　Saduko；　who　knows　how　to　choose　his
friends；　and　his　wisdom　has　brought　him　victory　and　g