child of storm-第29章

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had　passed　they　straightened　themselves　as　the　corn　does　when　the　wind
has　gone　by。

At　length　he　had　finished　his　journey　and　returned　to　his
starting…point；　to　all　appearance　completely　puzzled。

〃You　keep　so　many　wizards　at　your　kraal；　King；〃　he　said；　addressing
Panda；　〃that　it　is　hard　to　say　which　of　them　wrought　this　deed。　　It
would　have　been　easier　to　tell　you　of　greater　matters。　　Yet　I　have　taken
your　fee；　and　I　must　earn　itI　must　earn　it。　　Dust；　you　are　dumb。　　Now；
my　Idhlozi；　my　Spirit；　do　you　speak？〃　and；　holding　his　head　sideways；　he
turned　his　left　ear　up　towards　the　sky；　then　said　presently；　in　a
curious；　matter…of…fact　voice：

〃Ah！　I　thank　you；　Spirit。　　Well；　King；　your　grandchild　was　killed　by　the
House　of　Masapo；　your　enemy；　chief　of　the　Amasomi。〃

Now　a　roar　of　approbation　went　up　from　the　audience；　among　whom　Masapo's
guilt　was　a　foregone　conclusion。

When　this　had　died　down　Panda　spoke；　saying：

〃The　House　of　Masapo　is　a　large　house；　I　believe　that　he　has　several
wives　and　many　children。　　It　is　not　enough　to　smell　out　the　House；　since
I　am　not　as　those　who　went　before　me　were；　nor　will　I　slay　the　innocent
with　the　guilty。　　Tell　us；　O　Opener…of…Roads；　who　among　the　House　of
Masapo　has　wrought　this　deed？〃

〃That's　just　the　question；〃　grumbled　Zikali　in　a　deep　voice。　　〃All　that
I　know　is　that　it　was　done　by　poisoning；　and　I　smell　the　poison。　　It　is
here。〃

Then　he　walked　to　where　Mameena　sat　and　cried　out：

〃Seize　that　woman　and　search　her　hair。〃

Executioners　who　were　in　waiting　sprang　forward；　but　Mameena　waved　them
away。

〃Friends；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　laugh；　〃there　is　no　need　to　touch
me；〃　and；　rising；　she　stepped　forward　to　the　centre　of　the　ring。　　Here；
with　a　few　swift　motions　of　her　hands；　she　flung　off　first　the　cloak　she
wore；　then　the　moocha　about　her　middle；　and　lastly　the　fillet　that　bound
her　long　hair；　and　stood　before　that　audience　in　all　her　naked　beautya
wondrous　and　a　lovely　sight。

〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃let　women　come　and　search　me　and　my　garments；　and　see
if　there　is　any　poison　hid　there。〃

Two　old　crones　stepped　forwardthough　I　do　not　know　who　sent　themand
carried　out　a　very　thorough　examination；　finally　reporting　that　they　had
found　nothing。　　Thereon　Mameena；　with　a　shrug　of　her　shoulders；　resumed
such　clothes　as　she　wore；　and　returned　lo　her　place。

Zikali　appeared　to　grow　angry。　　He　stamped　upon　the　ground　with　his　big
feet；　he　shook　his　braided　grey　locks　and　cried　out：

〃Is　my　wisdom　to　be　defeated　in　such　a　little　matter？　　One　of　you　tie　a
bandage　over　my　eyes。〃

Now　a　manit　was　Maputa；　the　messengercame　out　and　did　so；　and　I
noted　that　he　tied　it　well　and　tight。　　Zikali　whirled　round　upon　his
heels；　first　one　way　and　then　another；　and；　crying　aloud：　〃Guide　me；　my
Spirit！〃　marched　forward　in　a　zigzag　fashion；　as　a　blindfolded　man　does；
with　his　arms　stretched　out　in　front　of　him。　　First　he　went　to　the
right；　then　to　the　left；　and　then　straight　forward；　till　at　length；　to
my　astonishment；　he　came　exactly　opposite　the　spot　where　Masapo　sat　and；
stretching　out　his　great；　groping　hands；　seized　the　kaross　with　which　he
was　covered　and；　with　a　jerk；　tore　it　from　him。

〃Search　this！〃　he　cried；　throwing　it　on　the　ground；　and　a　woman
searched。

Presently　she　uttered　an　exclamation；　and　from　among　the　fur　of　one　of
the　tails　of　the　kaross　produced　a　tiny　bag　that　appeared　to　be　made　out
of　the　bladder　of　a　fish。　　This　she　handed　to　Zikali；　whose　eyes　had　now
been　unbandaged。

He　looked　at　it；　then　gave　it　to　Maputa；　saying：

〃There　is　the　poisonthere　is　the　poison；　but　who　gave　it　I　do　not　say。
　I　am　weary。　　Let　me　go。〃

Then；　none　hindering　him；　he　walked　away　through　the　gate　of　the　kraal。

Soldiers　seized　upon　Masapo；　while　the　multitude　roared：　〃Kill　the
wizard！〃

Masapo　sprang　up；　and；　running　to　where　the　King　sat；　flung　himself　upon
his　knees；　protesting　his　innocence　and　praying　for　mercy。　　I　also；　who
had　doubts　as　to　all　this　business；　ventured　to　rise　and　speak。

〃O　King；〃　I　said；　〃as　one　who　has　known　this　man　in　the　past；　I　plead
with　you。　　How　that　powder　came　into　his　kaross　I　know　not；　but
perchance　it　is　not　poison；　only　harmless　dust。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　but　wood　dust　which　I　use　for　the　cleaning　of　my　nails；〃
cried　Masapo；　for　he　was　so　terrified　I　think　he　knew　not　what　he　said。

〃So　you　own　to　knowledge　of　the　medicine？〃　　exclaimed　Panda。　　〃Therefore
none　hid　it　in　your　kaross　through　malice。〃

Masapo　began　to　explain；　but　what　he　said　was　lost　in　a　mighty　roar　of
〃Kill　the　wizard！〃

Panda　held　up　his　hand　and　there　was　silence。

〃Bring　milk　in　a　dish；〃　commanded　the　King；　and　it；　was　brought；　and；　at
a　further　word　from　him；　dusted　with　the　powder。

〃Now；　O　Macumazana；〃　said　Panda　to　me；　〃if　you　still　think　that　yonder
man　is　innocent；　will　you　drink　this　milk？〃

〃I　do　not　like　milk；　O　King；〃　I　answered；　shaking　my　head；　whereon　all
who　heard　me　laughed。

〃Will　Mameena；　his　wife；　drink　it；　then？〃　asked　Panda。

She　also　shook　her　head；　saying：

〃O　King；　I　drink　no　milk　that　is　mixed　with　dust。〃

Just　then　a　lean；　white　dog；　one　of　those　homeless；　mangy　beasts　that
stray　about　kraals　and　live　upon　carrion；　wandered　into　the　ring。　　Panda
made　a　sign；　and　a　servant；　going　to　where　the　poor　beast　stood　staring
about　it　hungrily；　set　down　the　wooden　dish　of　milk　in　front　of　it。　
Instantly　the　dog　lapped　it　up；　for　it　was　starving；　and　as　it　finished
the　last　drop　the　man　slipped　a　leathern　thong　about　its　neck　and　held
it　fast。

Now　all　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　dog；　mine　among　them。　　Presently　the
beast　uttered　a　long　and　melancholy　howl　which　thrilled　me　through；　for
I　knew　it　to　be　Masapo's　death　warrant；　then　began　to　scratch　the　ground
and　foam　at　the　mouth。　　Guessing　what　would　follow；　I　rose；　bowed　to　the
King；　and　walked　away　to　my　camp；　which；　it　will　be　remembered；　was　set
up　in　a　little　kloof　commanding　this　place；　at　a　distance　only　of　a　few
hundred　yards。　　So　intent　was　all　the　multitude　upon　watching　the　dog
that　I　doubt　whether　anyone　saw　me　go。　　As　for　that　poor　beast；　Scowl；
who　stayed　behind；　told　me　that　it　did　not　die　for　about　ten　minutes；
since　before　its　end　a　red　rash　appeared　upon　it　similar　to　that　which　I
had　seen　upon　Saduko's　child；　and　it　was　seized　with　convulsions。

Well；　I　reached　my　tent　unmolested；　and；　having　lit　my　pipe；　engaged
myself　in　making　business　entries　in　my　note…book；　in　order　to　divert　my
mind　as　much　as　I　could；　when　suddenly　I　heard　a　most　devilish　clamour。　
Looking　up；　I　saw　Masapo　running　towards　me　with　a　speed　that　I　should
have　thought　impossible　in　so　fat　a　man；　while　after　him　raced　the
fierce…faced　executioners；　and　behind　came　the　mob。

〃Kill　the　evil…doer！〃　they　shouted。

Masapo　reached　me。　　He　flung　himself　on　his　knees　before　me；　gasping：

〃Save　me；　Macumazahn！　　I　am　innocent。　　Mameena；　the　witch！　　Mameena〃

He　got　no　farther；　for　the　slayers　had　leapt　on　him　like　hounds　upon　a
buck　and　dragged　him　from　me。

Then　I　turned　and　covered　up　my　eyes。


Next　morning　I　left　Nodwengu　without　saying　good…bye　to　anyone；　for　what
had　happened　there　made　me　desire　a　change。　　My　servant；　Scowl；　and　one
of　my　hunters　remained；　however；　to　collect　some　cattle　that　were　still
due　to　me。

A　month　or　more　later；　when　they　joined　me　in　Natal；　bringing　the
cattle；　they　told　me　that　Mameena；　the　widow　of　Masapo；　had　entered　the
house　of　Saduko　as　his　second　wife。　　In　answer　to　a　question　which　I　put
to　them；　they　added　that　it　was　said　that　the　Princess　Nandie　did　not
approve　of　this　choice　of　Saduko；　which　she　thought　would　not　be
fortunate　for　him　or　bring　him　happiness。　　As　her　husband　seemed　to　be
much　enamoured　of　Mameena；　however；　she　had　waived　her　objections；　and
when　Panda　asked　if　she　gave　her　consent　had　told　him　that；　although　she
would　prefer　that　Saduko　should　choose　some　other　woman　who　had　not　been
mixed　up　with　the　wizard　who　killed　her　child；　she　was　prepared　to　take
Mameena　as　her　sister；　and　would　know　how　to　keep　her　in　her　place。



CHAPTER　XI




THE　SIN　OF　UMBELAZI





About　eighteen　months　had　gone　by；　and　once　again；　in　the　autumn　of　the
year　1856；　I　found　myself　at　old　Umbezi's　kraal；　where　there　seemed　to
be　an　extraordinary　market　for　any　kind　of　gas…pipe　that　could　be　called
a　gun。　　Well；　as　a　trader　who　could　not　afford　to　neglect　profitable
markets；　which　are　hard　things　to　find；　there　I　was。

Now；　in　eighteen　months　many　things　become　a　little　obscured　in　one's
memory；　especially　if　they　have　to　do　with　savages；　in　whom；　after　all；
one　takes　only　a　philosophical　and　a　business　interest。　　Therefore　I　may
perhaps　be　excused　if　I　had　more　or　less　forgotten　a　good　many　of　the
details　of　what　I　may　call　the　Mameena　affair。　　These；　however；　came
back　to　me　very　vividly　when　the　first　person　that　I　metat　some
distance　from　the　kraal；　where　I　suppose　she　had　been　taking　a　country
walkwas　the　beautiful　Mameena　herself。　　There　she　was；　looking　quite
unchanged　and　as　lovely　as　ever；　sitting　under　the　shade　of　a　wild
fig…tree　and　fanning　herself　with　a　handful　of　its　leaves。

Of　course　I　jumped　off　my　wagon…box　and　greeted　her。

〃Siyakubona　＇that　is；　good　morrow＇；　Macumazahn；〃　she　said。　　〃My　heart　is
glad　to　see　you。〃

〃Siyakubona；　Mameena；〃　I　answered；　leaving　out　all　reference　to　_my_
heart。　　Then　I　added；　looking　at　her：　〃Is　it　true　that　you　have　a　new
husband？〃

〃Yes；　Macumazahn；　an　old　lover　of　mine　has　become　a　new　husband。　　You
know　whom　I　meanSaduko。　　After　the　death　of　that　evil…doer；　Masapo；　he
grew　very　urgent；　and　the　King；　also　the　Inkosazana　Nandie；　pressed　it
on　me；　and　so　I　yielded。　　Also；　to　be　honest；　Saduko　was　a　good　match；
or　seemed　to　be　so。〃

By　now　we　were　walking　side　by　side；　for　the　train　of　wagons　had　gone
ahead　to　the　old　outspan。　　So　I　stopped　and　looked　her　in　the　face。

〃'Seemed　to　be；'〃　I　repeated。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　'seemed　to　be'？　　Are
you　not　happy　this　time？〃

〃Not　altogether；　Macumazahn；〃　she　answered；　with　a　shrug　of　her
shoulders。　　〃Saduko　is　very　fond　of　mefonder　than　I　like　indeed；　since
it　causes　him　to　neglect　Nandie；　who；　by　the　way；　has　another　son；　and；
although　she　says　little；　that　makes　Nandie　cross。　　In　short；〃　she
added；　with　a　burst　of　truth；　〃I　am　the　plaything；　Nandie　is　the　great
lady；　and　that　place　suits　me　ill。〃

〃If　you　love　Saduko；　you　should　not　mind；　Mameena。〃

〃Love；〃　she　said　bitterly。　　〃Piff！　　What　is　love？　　But　I　have　asked　you
that　question　once　before。〃

〃Why　are　you　here；　Mameena？〃　I　inquired；　leaving　it　unanswered。

〃Because　Saduko　is　here；　and；　of　course；　Nandie；　for　she　never　leaves
him；　and　he　will　not　leave　me；　because　the　Prince　Umbelazi　is　coming；
because　there　are　plots　afoot　and　the　great　war　draws　nearthat　war　in
which　so　many　must　die。〃

〃Between　Cetewayo　and　Umbelazi；　Mameena？〃

〃Aye；　between　Cetewayo　and　Umbelazi。　　Why　do　you　suppose　those　wagons　of
yours　are　loaded　with　guns　for　which　so　many　cattle　must　be　paid？　　Not
to　shoot　game　with；　I　think。　　Well；　this　little　kraal　of　my　father's　is
just　now　the　headquarters　of　the　Umbelazi　faction；　the　Isigqosa；　as　the
princedom　of　Gikazi　is　that　of　Cetewayo。　　My　poo