child of storm-第35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！


in　the　bush　or　among　the　mountains；　since　none　knew　what　would　happen；
or　if　the　conquering　army　would　not　fall　upon　and　destroy　them。

A　few　councillors；　however；　remained　with　Panda；　among　whom　was　old
Maputa；　the　general；　who　had　once　brought　me　the　〃message　of　the　pills。〃
　Several　times　he　visited　me　at　night　and　told　me　the　rumours　that　were
flying　about。　　From　these　I　gathered　that　some　skirmishes　had　taken
place　and　the　battle　could　not　be　long　delayed；　also　that　Umbelazi　had
chosen　his　fighting　ground；　a　plain　near　the　banks　of　the　Tugela。

〃Why　has　he　done　this；〃　I　asked；　〃seeing　that　then　he　will　have　a　broad
river　behind　him；　and　if　he　is　defeated　water　can　kill　as　well　as
spears？〃

〃I　know　not　for　certain；〃　answered　Maputa；　〃but　it　is　said　because　of　a
dream　that　Saduko；　his　general；　has　dreamed　thrice；　which　dream　declares
that　there　and　there　alone　Umbelazi　will　find　honour。　　At　any　rate；　he
has　chosen　this　place；　and　I　am　told　that　all　the　women　and　children　of
his　army；　by　thousands；　are　hidden　in　the　bush　along　the　banks　of　the
river；　so　that　they　may　fly　into　Natal　if　there　is　need。〃

〃Have　they　wings；〃　I　asked；　〃wherewith　to　fly　over　the　Tugela　'in
wrath；'　as　it　well　may　be　after　the　rains？　　Oh；　surely　his　Spirit　has
turned　from　Umbelazi！〃

〃Aye；　Macumazahn；〃　he　answered；　〃I；　too；　think　that　ufulatewe　idhlozi
＇that　is；　his　own　Spirit＇　has　turned　its　back　on　him。　　Also　I　think　that
Saduko　is　no　good　councillor。　　Indeed；　were　I　the　prince；〃　added　the　old
fellow　shrewdly；　〃I　would　not　keep　him　whose　wife　I　had　stolen　as　the
whisperer　in　my　ear。〃

〃Nor　I；　Maputa；〃　I　answered　as　I　bade　him　good…bye。

Two　days　later；　early　in　the　morning；　Maputa　came　to　me　again　and　said
that　Panda　wished　to　see　me。　　I　went　to　the　head　of　the　kraal；　where　I
found　the　King　seated　and　before　him　the　captains　of　the　royal　Amawombe
regiment。

〃Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　news　that　the　great　battle　between
my　sons　will　take　place　within　a　few　days。　　Therefore　I　am　sending　down
this；　my　own　royal　regiment；　under　the　command　of　Maputa　the　skilled　in
war　to　spy　out　the　battle；　and　I　pray　that　you　will　go　with　it；　that　you
may　give　to　the　General　Maputa　and　to　the　captains　the　help　of　your
wisdom。　　Now　these　are　my　orders　to　you；　Maputa；　and　to　you；　O
captainsthat　you　take　no　part　in　the　fight　unless　you　should　see　that
the　Elephant；　my　son　Umbelazi；　is　fallen　into　a　pit；　and　that　then　you
shall　drag　him　out　if　you　can　and　save　him　alive。　　Now　repeat　my　words
to　me。〃

So　they　repeated　the　words；　speaking　with　one　voice。

〃Your　answer；　O　Macumazana；〃　he　said　when　they　had　spoken。

〃O　King；　I　have　told　you　that　I　will　gothough　I　do　not　like　warand　I
will　keep　my　promise；〃　I　replied。

〃Then　make　ready；　Macumazahn；　and　be　back　here　within　an　hour；　for　the
regiment　marches　ere　noon。〃

So　I　went　up　to　my　wagons　and　handed　them　over　to　the　care　of　some　men
whom　Panda　had　sent　to　take　charge　of　them。　　Also　Scowl　and　I　saddled
our　horses；　for　this　faithful　fellow　insisted　upon　accompanying　me；
although　I　advised　him　to　stay　behind；　and　got　out　our　rifles　and　as
much　ammunition　as　we　could　possibly　need；　and　with　them　a　few　other
necessaries。　　These　things　done；　we　rode　back　to　the　gathering…place；
taking　farewell　of　the　wagons　with　a　sad　heart；　since　I；　for　one；　never
expected　to　see　them　again。

As　we　went　I　saw　that　the　regiment　of　the　Amawombe；　picked　men　every　one
of　them；　all　fifty　years　of　age　or　over；　nearly　four　thousand　strong；
was　marshalled　on　the　dancing…ground；　where　they　stood　company　by
company。　　A　magnificent　sight　they　were；　with　their　white
fighting…shields；　their　gleaming　spears；　their　otter…skin　caps；　their
kilts　and　armlets　of　white　bulls'　tails；　and　the　snowy　egret　plumes
which　they　wore　upon　their　brows。　　We　rode　to　the　head　of　them；　where　I
saw　Maputa；　and　as　I　came　they　greeted　me　with　a　cheer　of　welcome；　for
in　those　days　a　white　man　was　a　power　in　the　land。　　Moreover；　as　I　have
said；　the　Zulus　knew　and　liked　me　well。　　Also　the　fact　that　I　was　to
watch；　or　perchance　to　fight　with　them；　put　a　good　heart　into　the
Amawombe。

There　we　stood　until　the　lads；　several　hundreds　of　them；　who　bore　the
mats　and　cooking　vessels　and　drove　the　cattle　that　were　to　be　our
commissariat；　had　wended　away　in　a　long　line。　　Then　suddenly　Panda
appeared　out　of　his　hut；　accompanied　by　a　few　servants；　and　seemed　to
utter　some　kind　of　prayer；　as　he　did　so　throwing　dust　or　powdered
medicine　towards　us；　though　what　this　ceremony　meant　I　did　not
understand。

When　he　had　finished　Maputa　raised　a　spear；　whereon　the　whole　regiment；
in　perfect　time；　shouted　out　the　royal　salute；　〃Bayete〃；　with　a　sound
like　that　of　thunder。　　Thrice　they　repeated　this　tremendous　and
impressive　salute；　and　then　were　silent。　　Again　Maputa　raised　his　spear；
and　all　the　four　thousand　voices　broke　out　into　the　Ingoma；　or　national
chant；　to　which　deep；　awe…inspiring　music　we　began　our　march。　　As　I　do
not　think　it　has　ever　been　written　down；　I　will　quote　the　words。　　They
ran　thus：

〃Ba　ya　m'zonda；
Ba　ya　m'loyisa；
Izizwe　zonke；
Ba　zond'；　Inkoosi。〃*

＇*Literally　translated；　this　famous　chant；　now；　I　think；　published　for
the　first　time；　which；　I　suppose；　will　never　again　pass　the　lips　of　a
Zulu　impi；　means：

〃They　＇i。e。　the　enemy＇　bear　him　＇i。e。　the　King）　hatred；
They　call　down　curses　on　his　head；
All　of　them　throughout　this　land
Abhor　our　King。〃

The　Ingoma　when　sung　by　twenty　or　thirty　thousand　men　rushing　down　to
battle　must；　indeed；　have　been　a　song　to　hear。　EDITOR。＇

The　spirit　of　this　fierce　Ingoma；　conveyed　by　sound；　gesture　and
inflection　of　voice；　not　the　exact　words；　remember；　which　are　very　rude
and　simple；　leaving　much　to　the　imagination；　may　perhaps　be　rendered
somewhat　as　follows。　　An　exact　translation　into　English　verse　is　almost
impossibleat　any　rate；　to　me：

〃Loud　on　their　lips　is　lying；
　　　Red　are　their　eyes　with　hate；
Rebels　their　King　defying。
　　　Lo！　where　our　impis　wait
There　shall　be　dead　and　dying；
　　　Vengeance　insatiate！〃

It　was　early　on　the　morning　of　the　2nd　of　December；　a　cold；　miserable
morning　that　came　with　wind　and　driving　mist；　that　I　found　myself　with
the　Amawombe　at　the　place　known　as　Endondakusuka；　a　plain　with　some
kopjes　in　it　that　lies　within　six　miles　of　the　Natal　border；　from　which
it　is　separated　by　the　Tugela　river。

As　the　orders　of　the　Amawombe　were　to　keep　out　of　the　fray　if　that　were
possible；　we　had　taken　up　a　position　about　a　mile　to　the　right　of　what
proved　to　be　the　actual　battlefield；　choosing　as　our　camping　ground　a
rising　knoll　that　looked　like　a　huge　tumulus；　and　was　fronted　at　a
distance　of　about　five　hundred　yards　by　another　smaller　knoll。　　Behind
us　stretched　bushland；　or　rather　broken　land；　where　mimosa　thorns　grew
in　scattered　groups；　sloping　down　to　the　banks　of　the　Tugela　about　four
miles　away。

Shortly　after　dawn　I　was　roused　from　the　place　where　I　slept；　wrapped　up
in　some　blankets；　under　a　mimosa　treefor；　of　course；　we　had　no
tentsby　a　messenger；　who　said　that　the　Prince　Umbelazi　and　the　white
man；　John　Dunn；　wished　to　see　me。　　I　rose　and　tidied　myself　as　best　I
could；　since；　if　I　can　avoid　it；　I　never　like　to　appear　before　natives
in　a　dishevelled　condition。　　I　remember　that　I　had　just　finished
brushing　my　hair　when　Umbelazi　arrived。

I　can　see　him　now；　looking　a　veritable　giant　in　that　morning　mist。　
Indeed；　there　was　something　quite　unearthly　about　his　appearance　as　he
arose　out　of　those　rolling　vapours；　such　light　as　there　was　being
concentrated　upon　the　blade　of　his　big　spear；　which　was　well　known　as
the　broadest　carried　by　any　warrior　in　Zululand；　and　a　copper　torque　he
wore　about　his　throat。

There　he　stood；　rolling　his　eyes　and　hugging　his　kaross　around　him
because　of　the　cold；　and　something　in　his　anxious；　indeterminate
expression　told　me　at　once　that　he　knew　himself　to　be　a　man　in　terrible
danger。　　Just　behind　him；　dark　and　brooding；　his　arms　folded　on　his
breast；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　ground；　looking；　to　my　moved
imagination；　like　an　evil　genius；　stood　the　stately　and　graceful　Saduko。
　On　his　left　was　a　young　and　sturdy　white　man　carrying　a　rifle　and
smoking　a　pipe；　whom　I　guessed　to　be　John　Dunn；　a　gentleman　whom；　as　it
chanced；　I　had　never　met；　while　behind　were　a　force　of　Natal　Government
Zulus；　clad　in　some　kind　of　uniform　and　armed　with　guns；　and　with　them　a
number　of　natives；　also　from　Natal〃kraal　Kafirs；〃　who　carried　stabbing
assegais。　　One　of　these　led　John　Dunn's　horse。

Of　those　Government　men　there　may　have　been　thirty　or　forty；　and　of　the
〃kraal　Kafirs〃　anything　between　two　and　three　hundred。

I　shook　Umbelazi's　hand　and　gave　him　good…day。

〃That　is　an　ill　day　upon　which　no　sun　shines；　O　Macumazana；〃　he
answeredwords　that　struck　me　as　ominous。　　Then　he　introduced　me　to
John　Dunn；　who　seemed　glad　to　meet　another　white　man。　　Next；　not　knowing
what　to　say；　I　asked　the　exact　object　of　their　visit；　whereon　Dunn　began
to　talk。　　He　said　that　he　had　been　sent　over　on　the　previous　afternoon
by　Captain　Walmsley；　who　was　an　officer　of　the　Natal　Government
stationed　across　the　border；　to　try　to　make　peace　between　the　Zulu
factions；　but　that　when　he　spoke　of　peace　one　of　Umbelazi's　brothersI
think　it　was　Mantantashiyahad　mocked　at　him；　saying　that　they　were
quite　strong　enough　to　cope　with　the　Usututhat　was　Cetewayo's　party。　
Also；　he　added；　that　when　he　suggested　that　the　thousands　of　women　and
children　and　the　cattle　should　be　got　across　the　Tugela　drift　during　the
previous　night　into　safety　in　Natal；　Mantantashiya　would　not　listen；　and
Umbelazi　being　absent；　seeking　the　aid　of　the　Natal　Government；　he　could
do　nothing。

〃Quem　Deus　vult　perdere　prius　dementat〃　＇whom　God　wishes　to　destroy；　He
first　makes　mad＇；　quoted　I　to　myself　beneath　my　breath。　　This　was　one　of
the　Latin　tags　that　my　old　father；　who　was　a　scholar；　had　taught　me；　and
at　that　moment　it　came　back　to　my　mind。　　But　as　I　suspected　that　John
Dunn　knew　no　Latin；　I　only　said　aloud：

〃What　an　infernal　fool！〃　（We　were　talking　in　English。）　　〃Can't　you　get
Umbelazi　to　do　it　now？〃　（I　meant；　to　send　the　women　and　children　across
the　river。）

〃I　fear　it　is　too　late；　Mr。　Quatermain；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　Usutu　are　in
sight。　　Look　for　yourself。〃　　And　he　handed　me　a　telescope　which　he　had
with　him。

I　climbed　on　to　some　rocks　and　scanned　the　plain　in　front　of　us；　from
which　just　then　a　puff　of　wind　rolled　away　the　mist。　　It　was　black　with
advancing　men！　　As　yet　they　were　a　considerable　distance　awayquite　two
miles；　I　should　thinkand　coming　on　very　slowly　in　a　great　half…moon
with　thin　horns　and　a　deep　breast；　but　a　ray　from　the　sun　glittered　upon
their　countless　spears。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　there　must　be　quite　twenty
or　thirty　thousand　of　them　in　this　breast；　which　was　in　three　divisions；
commanded；　as　I　learned　afterwards；　by　Cetewayo；　Uzimela；　and　by　a　young
Boer　named　Groening。

〃There　they　are；　right　enough；〃　I　said；　climbing　down　from　my　rocks。　
〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Mr。　　Dunn？〃

〃Obey　orders　and　try　to　make　peace；　if　I　can　find　anyone　to　make　peace
with；　and　if　I　can'twell；　fight；　I　suppose。　　And　you；　Mr。　
Quatermain？〃

〃Oh；　obey　orders　and