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course£»¡¡I¡¡cannot£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡am¡¡told¡¡he¡¡will¡¡not¡¡receive¡¡any¡¡women¡£¡¨
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would¡¡make¡¡an¡¡exception¡¡in¡¡your¡¡favour¡£¡¨
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silence£»¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡things¡¡were¡¡getting¡¡beyond¡¡me¡£
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with¡¡much¡¡effusion£»¡¡and¡¡complimenting¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡life£»¡¡which¡¡she
said¡¡she¡¡had¡¡always¡¡foreseen¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡remark¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡bowl¡¡out¡¡Saduko
also£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡made¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡although¡¡I¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not
take¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡off¡¡Mameena's¡¡beautiful¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡Presently£»¡¡however£»¡¡he
seemed¡¡to¡¡become¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡Masapo£»¡¡and¡¡instantly¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡demeanour
changed£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡grew¡¡proud¡¡and¡¡even¡¡terrible¡£¡¡¡¡Masapo¡¡tendered¡¡him¡¡some
greeting£»¡¡whereon¡¡Saduko¡¡turned¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡and¡¡said£º
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and¡¡a¡¡mangy¡¡hyena£¿¡¡¡¡Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡do¡¡this£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡because¡¡the¡¡low
umfokazana¡¡has¡¡become¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mangy¡¡hyena¡¡has¡¡put¡¡on¡¡a¡¡tiger's
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words£»¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡depart£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡soquite¡¡innocently£»¡¡I
thinkstruck¡¡Nandie£»¡¡knocking¡¡her¡¡over¡¡on¡¡to¡¡her¡¡back¡¡and¡¡causing¡¡the
child¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡in¡¡such¡¡fashion¡¡that¡¡its¡¡tender¡¡head
struck¡¡against¡¡a¡¡pebble¡¡with¡¡sufficient¡¡force¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡it¡¡to¡¡bleed¡£
Saduko¡¡leapt¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡smiting¡¡him¡¡across¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡with¡¡the¡¡little
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changed¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡for¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word£»¡¡or¡¡showing¡¡any¡¡resentment¡¡at¡¡the
insult¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡received£»¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡run¡¡and¡¡vanished
among¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡shadows¡£¡¡¡¡Mameena£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡observed¡¡all£»¡¡broke¡¡into
something¡¡else£»¡¡namely£»¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£
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he¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡you£»¡¡woman¡£¡¨
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as¡¡she¡¡gained¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stunned¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡so£»¡¡my¡¡name
and¡¡titles¡¡are¡¡the¡¡Inkosazana¡¡Nandie£»¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Black¡¡One¡¡and¡¡wife
of¡¡the¡¡lord¡¡Saduko¡£¡¨
¡¨Your¡¡pardon£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Mameena¡¡humbly£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡cowed¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I
did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡who¡¡you¡¡were£»¡¡Inkosazana¡£¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡granted£»¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡Masapo¡£¡¡¡¡Macumazahn£»¡¡give¡¡me¡¡water£»¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡you£»
that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡bathe¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡my¡¡child¡£¡¨
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right¡¡again£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡had¡¡only¡¡received¡¡a¡¡scratch£»¡¡Nandie¡¡thanked¡¡me¡¡and
departed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡own¡¡huts£»¡¡saying¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡to¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡as¡¡she
passed¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡need¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡accompany¡¡her£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had
servants¡¡waiting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡kraal¡¡gate¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡Saduko¡¡stayed¡¡behind£»¡¡and
Mameena¡¡stayed¡¡also¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡talked¡¡with¡¡me¡¡for¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡long¡¡while£»¡¡for¡¡he
had¡¡much¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡although¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡not
in¡¡his¡¡talk¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡with¡¡Mameena£»¡¡who¡¡sat¡¡there¡¡and¡¡smiled
continually¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mysterious¡¡way£»¡¡only¡¡putting¡¡in¡¡a¡¡word¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again£»
as¡¡though¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡her¡¡presence¡£
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where¡¡the¡¡Amasomi¡¡were¡¡in¡¡camp£»¡¡as¡¡Masapo¡¡would¡¡need¡¡her¡¡to¡¡see¡¡to¡¡his
food¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡now¡¡it¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡dark£»¡¡although¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to
time¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡lit¡¡up¡¡by¡¡sheet¡¡lightning£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡storm¡¡was¡¡brewing¡£¡¡¡¡As
I¡¡expected£»¡¡Saduko¡¡rose¡¡also£»¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡see¡¡me¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morrow£»
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inspect¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oxen¡¡which¡¡was¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡by¡¡itself¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»
because¡¡it¡¡had¡¡shown¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡some¡¡sickness¡¡that¡¡might¡¡or¡¡might¡¡not¡¡be
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walked¡¡alone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡was¡¡tethered¡¡behind¡¡some
mimosa¡¡thorns¡£¡¡¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡these¡¡thorns¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡lightning¡¡shone
out¡¡vividly£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡me¡¡Saduko¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡unresisting¡¡shape¡¡of
Mameena¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡kissing¡¡her¡¡passionately¡£
Then¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wagons¡¡even¡¡more¡¡quietly¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had
come¡£
I¡¡should¡¡add¡¡that¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morrow¡¡I¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡there¡¡was
nothing¡¡serious¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡my¡¡ox¡£
CHAPTER¡¡X
THE¡¡SMELLING¡OUT
After¡¡these¡¡events¡¡matters¡¡went¡¡on¡¡quietly¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡visited
Saduko's¡¡hutsvery¡¡fine¡¡hutsabout¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡which¡¡sat¡¡quite¡¡a
number¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tribesmen£»¡¡who¡¡seemed¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡see¡¡me¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡I
learned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Lady¡¡Nandie¡¡that¡¡her¡¡babe£»¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡dearly£»¡¡was
none¡¡the¡¡worse¡¡for¡¡its¡¡little¡¡accident¡£¡¡¡¡Also¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡Saduko
himself£»¡¡who¡¡came¡¡in¡¡before¡¡I¡¡left£»¡¡attended¡¡like¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡by¡¡several
notable¡¡men£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡quarrel¡¡with¡¡Masapo£»¡¡and£»¡¡indeed£»
apologised¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡found¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡really¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡insult
the¡¡princess£»¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡having¡¡only¡¡thrust¡¡her¡¡over¡¡by¡¡accident¡£¡¡¡¡Saduko
added¡¡indeed¡¡that¡¡now¡¡they¡¡were¡¡good¡¡friends£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡well¡¡for¡¡Masapo£»
a¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡King¡¡had¡¡no¡¡cause¡¡to¡¡like¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡said¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡to
hear¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on¡¡to¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡Masapo£»¡¡who¡¡received¡¡me¡¡with
enthusiasm£»¡¡as¡¡also¡¡did¡¡Mameena¡£
Here¡¡I¡¡noted¡¡with¡¡pleasure¡¡that¡¡this¡¡pair¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡much¡¡better
terms¡¡than¡¡I¡¡understood¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡case¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡for¡¡Mameena¡¡even
addressed¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡on¡¡two¡¡separate¡¡occasions¡¡in¡¡very¡¡affectionate
language£»¡¡and¡¡fetched¡¡something¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡without¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡be
asked¡£¡¡¡¡Masapo£»¡¡too£»¡¡was¡¡in¡¡excellent¡¡spirits£»¡¡because£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me£»
the¡¡old¡¡quarrel¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡Saduko¡¡was¡¡thoroughly¡¡made¡¡up£»¡¡their
reconciliation¡¡having¡¡been¡¡sealed¡¡by¡¡an¡¡interchange¡¡of¡¡gifts¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡added
that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡very¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡since¡¡Saduko¡¡was¡¡now¡¡one
of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡powerful¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡who¡¡could¡¡harm¡¡him¡¡much¡¡if¡¡he
chose£»¡¡especially¡¡as¡¡some¡¡secret¡¡enemy¡¡had¡¡put¡¡it¡¡about¡¡of¡¡late¡¡that¡¡he£»
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witchcraft¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡his¡¡new¡¡friendship£»¡¡however£»¡¡Saduko¡¡had
promised¡¡that¡¡these¡¡slanders¡¡should¡¡be¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡and¡¡their¡¡originator
punished£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡or¡¡she¡¡could¡¡be¡¡found¡£
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as¡¡the¡¡Frenchman¡¡says¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tragedy¡¡pending¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure£»
this¡¡weather¡¡was¡¡too¡¡calm¡¡to¡¡last£»¡¡the¡¡water¡¡ran¡¡so¡¡still¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was
preparing¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡down¡¡some¡¡hidden¡¡precipice¡£
Yet¡¡what¡¡could¡¡I¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡Masapo¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡being¡¡embraced¡¡by
another¡¡man£¿¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡my¡¡business£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Masapo's¡¡business
to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡her¡¡conduct¡£¡¡¡¡Also¡¡they¡¡would¡¡both¡¡deny¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no
witness¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Saduko's¡¡reconciliation¡¡with¡¡him¡¡was¡¡not
sincere£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡better¡¡look¡¡to¡¡himself£¿¡¡¡¡How¡¡did¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it¡¡was
not¡¡sincere£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡might¡¡suit¡¡Saduko's¡¡book¡¡to¡¡make¡¡friends¡¡with¡¡Masapo£»
and¡¡if¡¡I¡¡interfered¡¡I¡¡should¡¡only¡¡make¡¡enemies¡¡and¡¡be¡¡called¡¡a¡¡liar¡¡who
was¡¡working¡¡for¡¡some¡¡secret¡¡end¡£
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and¡¡busy¡¡about¡¡great¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡would¡¡only
laugh¡¡at¡¡this¡¡tale¡¡of¡¡a¡¡petty¡¡flirtation¡£¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡be
done¡¡except¡¡sit¡¡still¡¡and¡¡wait¡£¡¡¡¡Very¡¡possibly¡¡I¡¡was¡¡mistaken£»¡¡after
all£»¡¡and¡¡things¡¡would¡¡smooth¡¡themselves¡¡out£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡generally¡¡do¡£
Meanwhile¡¡the¡¡¡¨reviewing£»¡¨¡¡or¡¡whatever¡¡it¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been£»¡¡was¡¡in
progress£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡busy¡¡with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡affairs£»¡¡making¡¡hay¡¡while¡¡the¡¡sun
shone¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡great¡¡were¡¡the¡¡crowds¡¡of¡¡people¡¡who¡¡came¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Nodwengu¡¡that
in¡¡a¡¡week¡¡I¡¡had¡¡sold¡¡everything¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡in¡¡the¡¡two¡¡wagons£»¡¡that
were¡¡mostly¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡cloth£»¡¡beads£»¡¡knives¡¡and¡¡so¡¡forth¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡the
prices¡¡I¡¡got¡¡were¡¡splendid£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡buyers¡¡bid¡¡against¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and
before¡¡I¡¡was¡¡cleared¡¡out¡¡I¡¡had¡¡collected¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡herd¡¡of¡¡cattle£»¡¡also¡¡a
quantity¡¡of¡¡ivory¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Natal¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wagons£»
remaining¡¡behind¡¡myself¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡partly¡¡because¡¡Panda¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡to
do¡¡sofor¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡he¡¡would¡¡seek¡¡my¡¡advice¡¡on¡¡sundry
questionsand¡¡partly¡¡from¡¡curiosity¡£
There¡¡was¡¡plenty¡¡to¡¡be¡¡curious¡¡about¡¡up¡¡at¡¡Nodwengu¡¡just¡¡then£»¡¡since¡¡no
one¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡civil¡¡war¡¡would¡¡not¡¡break¡¡out¡¡between¡¡the¡¡princes
Cetewayo¡¡and¡¡Umbelazi£»¡¡whose¡¡factions¡¡were¡¡present¡¡in¡¡force¡£
It¡¡was¡¡averted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡however£»¡¡by¡¡Umbelazi¡¡keeping¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the
great¡¡gathering¡¡under¡¡pretext¡¡of¡¡being¡¡sick£»¡¡and¡¡leaving¡¡Saduko¡¡and¡¡some
others¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡his¡¡interests¡£¡¡¡¡Also¡¡the¡¡rival¡¡regiments¡¡were¡¡not
allowed¡¡to¡¡approach¡¡the¡¡town¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡that¡¡public¡¡cloud
passed¡¡over£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡enormous¡¡relief¡¡of¡¡everyone£»¡¡especially¡¡of¡¡Panda¡¡the
King¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡private¡¡cloud¡¡whereof¡¡this¡¡history¡¡tells£»¡¡it¡¡was
otherwise¡£
As¡¡the¡¡tribes¡¡came¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Place¡¡they¡¡were¡¡reviewed¡¡and¡¡sent
away£»¡¡since¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡so¡¡vast¡¡a¡¡multitude¡¡as¡¡would¡¡have
collected¡¡had¡¡they¡¡all¡¡remained¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡Amasomi£»¡¡a¡¡small¡¡people¡¡who
were¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡arrive£»¡¡soon¡¡left¡£¡¡¡¡Only£»¡¡for¡¡some¡¡reason
which¡¡I¡¡never¡¡quite¡¡understood£»¡¡Masapo£»¡¡Mameena¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡Masapo's
children¡¡and¡¡headmen¡¡were¡¡detained¡¡there£»¡¡though¡¡perhaps£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had
chosen£»¡¡Mameena¡¡could¡¡have¡¡given¡¡an¡¡explanation¡£
Well£»¡¡things¡¡began¡¡to¡¡happen¡£¡¡¡¡Sundry¡¡personages¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡ill£»¡¡and
some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡died¡¡suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡it¡¡was¡¡noted¡¡that¡¡all¡¡these¡¡people
either¡¡lived¡¡near¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Masapo's¡¡family¡¡was¡¡lodged¡¡or¡¡had¡¡at¡¡some
time¡¡or¡¡other¡¡been¡¡on¡¡bad¡¡terms¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡Saduko¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡taken
ill£»¡¡or¡¡said¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡he¡¡vanished¡¡from¡¡public¡¡gaze¡¡for¡¡three
days£»¡¡and¡¡reappeared¡¡looking¡¡very¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡himself£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not
observe¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡strength¡¡or¡¡weight¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡catastrophes¡¡I¡¡pass
over£»¡¡however£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of
the¡¡turning¡¡points¡¡of¡¡this¡¡chronicle¡£
After¡¡recovering¡¡from¡¡his¡¡alleged¡¡sickness¡¡Saduko¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of
thanksgiving¡¡feast£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡several¡¡oxen¡¡were¡¡killed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡present¡¡at
this¡¡feast£»¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡only¡¡put¡¡in¡¡what¡¡may
be¡¡called¡¡a¡¡complimentary¡¡appearance£»¡¡having¡¡no¡¡taste¡¡for¡¡such¡¡native
gorgings¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡it¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡its¡¡close¡¡Saduko¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡Nandie£»¡¡who¡¡at
first¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡come¡¡as¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡women¡¡presentI¡¡think¡¡because¡¡he
wished¡¡to¡¡show¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡princess¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡blood¡¡for
his¡¡wife£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡borne¡¡him¡¡a¡¡son¡¡that¡¡one¡¡day¡¡would¡¡be¡¡great¡¡in¡¡the
land¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡Saduko£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡had¡¡become¡¡a¡¡¡¨self¡eater£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡this
day¡¡his¡¡pride¡¡was¡¡inflamed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡adulation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡company¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the
beer¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡drunk¡£
At¡¡length¡¡Nandie¡¡did¡¡come£»¡¡carrying¡¡her¡¡babe£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡she¡¡never¡¡would
be¡¡parted¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡her¡¡dignified£»¡¡ladylike¡¡fashion¡¡£¨although¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡an¡¡odd
term¡¡to¡¡apply¡¡to¡¡a¡¡savage£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡none¡¡that¡¡describes¡¡her¡¡better£©¡¡she
greeted¡¡first¡¡me¡¡and¡¡then¡¡sundry¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡guests£»¡¡saying¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words
to¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡she¡¡came¡¡opposite¡¡to¡¡Masapo£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡dined
not¡¡wisely¡¡but¡¡too¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡