child of storm-第36章

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with；　and　if　I　can'twell；　fight；　I　suppose。　　And　you；　Mr。　
Quatermain？〃

〃Oh；　obey　orders　and　stop　here；　I　suppose。　　Unless；〃　I　added　doubtfully；
〃these　Amawombe　take　the　bit　between　their　teeth　and　run　away　with　me。〃

〃They'll　do　that　before　nightfall；　Mr。　　Quatermain；　if　I　know　anything
of　the　Zulus。　　Look　here；　why　don't　you　get　on　your　horse　and　come　off
with　me？　　This　is　a　queer　place　for　you。〃

〃Because　I　promised　not　to；〃　I　answered　with　a　groan；　for　really；　as　I
looked　at　those　savages　round　me；　who　were　already　fingering　their
spears　in　a　disagreeable　fashion；　and　those　other　thousands　of　savages
advancing　towards　us；　I　felt　such　little　courage　as　I　possessed　sinking
into　my　boots。

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Quatermain；　you　know　your　own　business　best；　but　I　hope
you　will　come　out　of　it　safely；　that　is　all。〃

〃Same　to　you；〃　I　replied。

Then　John　Dunn　turned；　and　in　my　hearing　asked　Umbelazi　what　he　knew　of
the　movements　of　the　Usutu　and　of　their　plan　of　battle。

The　Prince　replied；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders：

〃Nothing　at　present；　Son　of　Mr。　Dunn；　but　doubtless　before　the　sun　is
high　I　shall　know　much。〃

As　he　spoke　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　struck　us；　and　tore　the　nodding
ostrich　plume　from　its　fastening　on　Umbelazi's　head…ring。　　Whilst　a
murmur　of　dismay　rose　from　all　who　saw　what　they　considered　this　very
ill…omened　accident；　away　it　floated　into　the　air；　to　fall　gently　to　the
ground　at　the　feet　of　Saduko。　　He　stooped；　picked　it　up；　and　reset　it　in
its　place；　saying　as　he　did　so；　with　that　ready　wit　for　which　some
Kafirs　are　remarkable：

〃So　may　I　live；　O　Prince；　to　set　the　crown　upon　the　head　of　Panda's
favoured　son！〃

This　apt　speech　served　to　dispel　the　general　gloom　caused　by　the
incident；　for　those　who　heard　it　cheered；　while　Umbelazi　thanked　his
captain　with　a　nod　and　a　smile。　　Only　I　noted　that　Saduko　did　not
mention　the　name　of　〃Panda's　favoured　son〃　upon　whose　head　he　hoped　to
live　to　set　the　crown。　　Now；　Panda　had　many　sons；　and　that　day　would
show　which　of　them　was　favoured。

A　minute　or　two　later　John　Dunn　and　his　following　departed；　as　he　said；
to　try　to　make　peace　with　the　advancing　Usutu。　　Umbelazi；　Saduko　and
their　escort　departed　also　towards　the　main　body　of　the　host　of　the
Isigqosa；　which　was　massed　to　our　left；　〃sitting　on　their　spears；〃　as
the　natives　say；　and　awaiting　the　attack。　　As　for　me；　I　remained　alone
with　the　Amawombe；　drinking　some　coffee　that　Scowl　had　brewed　for　me；
and　forcing　myself　to　swallow　food。

I　can　say　honestly　that　I　do　not　ever　remember　partaking　of　a　more
unhappy　meal。　　Not　only　did　I　believe　that　I　was　looking　on　the　last　sun
I　should　ever　seethough　by　the　way；　there　was　uncommonly　little　of
that　orb　visiblebut　what　made　the　matter　worse　was　that；　if　so；　I
should　be　called　upon　to　die　alone　among　savages；　with　not　a　single
white　face　near　to　comfort　me。　　Oh；　how　I　wished　I　had　never　allowed
myself　to　be　dragged　into　this　dreadful　business。　　Yes；　and　I　was　even
mean　enough　to　wish　that　I　had　broken　my　word　to　Panda　and　gone　off　with
John　Dunn　when　he　invited　me；　although　now　I　thank　goodness　that　I　did
not　yield　to　that　temptation　and　thereby　sacrifice　my　self…respect。

Soon；　however；　things　grew　so　exciting　that　I　forgot　these　and　other
melancholy　reflections　in　watching　the　development　of　events　from　the
summit　of　our　tumulus…like　knoll；　whence　I　had　a　magnificent　view　of　the
whole　battle。　　Here；　after　seeing　that　his　regiment　made　a　full　meal；　as
a　good　general　should；　old　Maputa　joined　me；　whom　I　asked　whether　he
thought　there　would　be　any　fighting　for　him　that　day。

〃I　think　so；　I　think　so；〃　he　answered　cheerfully。　　〃It　seems　to　me　that
the　Usutu　greatly　outnumber　Umbelazi　and　the　Isigqosa；　and；　of　course；
as　you　know；　Panda's　orders　are　that　if　he　is　in　danger　we　must　help
him。　　Oh；　keep　a　good　heart；　Macumazahn；　for　I　believe　I　can　promise　you
that　you　will　see　our　spears　grow　red　to…day。　　You　will　not　go　hungry
from　this　battle　to　tell　the　white　people　that　the　Amawombe　are　cowards
whom　you　could　not　flog　into　the　fight。　　No；　no；　Macumazahn；　my　Spirit
looks　towards　me　this　morning；　and　I　who　am　old　and　who　thought　that　I
should　die　at　length　like　a　cow；　shall　see　one　more　great　fightmy
twentieth；　Macumazahn；　for　I　fought　with　this　same　Amawombe　in　all　the
Black　One's　big　battles；　and　for　Panda　against　Dingaan　also。〃

〃Perhaps　it　will　be　your　last；〃　I　suggested。

〃I　dare　say；　Macumazahn；　but　what　does　that　matter　if　only　I　and　the
royal　regiment　can　make　an　end　that　shall　be　spoken　of？　　Oh；　cheer　up；
cheer　up；　Macumazahn；　your　Spirit；　too；　looks　towards　you；　as　I　promise
that　we　all　will　do　when　the　shields　meet；　for　know；　Macumazahn；　that　we
poor　black　soldiers　expect　that　you　will　show　us　how　to　fight　this　day；
and；　if　need　be；　how　to　fall　hidden　in　a　heap　of　the　foe。〃

〃Oh！〃　I　replied；　〃so　this　is　what　you　Zulus　mean　by　the　'giving　of
counsel；'　is　it？you　infernal；　bloodthirsty　old　scoundrel；〃　I　added　in
English。

But　I　think　Maputa　never　heard　me。　　At　any　rate；　he　only　seized　my　arm
and　pointed　in　front；　a　little　to　the　left；　where　the　horn　of　the　great
Usutu　army　was　coming　up　fast；　a　long；　thin　line　alive　with　twinkling
spears；　their　moving　arms　and　legs　causing　them　to　look　like　spiders；　of
which　the　bodies　were　formed　by　the　great　war　shields。

〃See　their　plan？〃　he　said。　　〃They　would　close　on　Umbelazi　and　gore　him
with　their　horns　and　then　charge　with　their　head。　　The　horn　will　pass
between　us　and　the　right　flank　of　the　Isigqosa。　　Oh！　awake；　awake；
Elephant！　　Are　you　asleep　with　Mameena　in　a　hut？　　Unloose　your　spears；
Child　of　the　King；　and　at　them　as　they　mount　the　slope。　　Behold！〃　he
went　on；　〃it　is　the　Son　of　Dunn　that　begins　the　battle！　　Did　I　not　tell
you　that　we　must　look　to　the　white　men　to　show　us　the　way？　　Peep　through
your　tube；　Macumazahn；　and　tell　me　what　passes。〃

So　I　〃peeped；〃　and；　the　telescope　which　John　Dunn　had　kindly　left　with
me　being　good　though　small；　saw　everything　clearly　enough。　　He　rode　up
almost　to　the　point　of　the　left　horn　of　the　Usutu；　waving　a　white
handkerchief　and　followed　by　his　small　force　of　police　and　Natal　Kafirs。
　Then　from　somewhere　among　the　Usutu　rose　a　puff　of　smoke。　　Dunn　had
been　fired　at。

He　dropped　the　handkerchief　and　leapt　to　the　ground。　　Now　he　and　his
police　were　firing　rapidly　in　reply；　and　men　fell　fast　among　the　Usutu。　
They　raised　their　war　shout　and　came　on；　though　slowly；　for　they　feared
the　bullets。　　Step　by　step　John　Dunn　and　his　people　were　thrust　back；
fighting　gallantly　against　overwhelming　odds。　　They　were　level　with　us；
not　a　quarter　of　a　mile　to　our　left。　　They　were　pushed　past　us。　　They
vanished　among　the　bush　behind　us；　and　a　long　while　passed　before　ever　I
heard　what　became　of　them；　for　we　met　no　more　that　day。

Now；　the　horns　having　done　their　work　and　wrapped　themselves　round
Umbelazi's　army　as　the　nippers　of　a　wasp　close　about　a　fly　（why　did　not
Umbelazi　cut　off　those　horns；　I　wondered）；　the　Usutu　bull　began　his
charge。　　Twenty　or　thirty　thousand　strong；　regiment　after　regiment；
Cetewayo's　men　rushed　up　the　slope；　and　there；　near　the　crest　of　it；
were　met　by　Umbelazi's　regiments　springing　forward　to　repel　the
onslaught　and　shouting　their　battle…cry　of　〃Laba！　Laba！　Laba！　Laba！〃

The　noise　of　their　meeting　shields　came　to　our　ears　like　that　of　the
roll　of　thunder；　and　the　sheen　of　their　stabbing…spears　shone　as　shines
the　broad　summer　lightning。　　They　hung　and　wavered　on　the　slope；　then
from　the　Amawombe　ranks　rose　a　roar　of

_〃Umbelazi　wins！〃_

Watching　intently；　we　saw　the　Usutu　giving　back。　　Down　the　slope　they
went；　leaving　the　ground　in　front　of　them　covered　with　black　spots　which
we　knew　to　be　dead　or　wounded　men。

〃Why　does　not　the　Elephant　charge　home？〃　said　Maputa　in　a　perplexed
voice。　　〃The　Usutu　bull　is　on　his　back！　　Why　does　he　not　trample　him？〃

〃Because　he　is　afraid；　I　suppose；〃　I　answered；　and　went　on　watching。

There　was　plenty　to　see；　as　it　happened。　　Finding　that　they　were　not
pursued；　Cetewayo's　impi　reformed　swiftly　at　the　bottom　of　the　slope；　in
preparation　for　another　charge。　　Among　that　of　Umbelazi；　above　them；
rapid　movements　took　place　of　which　I　could　not　guess　the　meaning；　which
movements　were　accompanied　by　much　noise　of　angry　shouting。　　Then
suddenly；　from　the　midst　of　the　Isigqosa　army；　emerged　a　great　body　of
men；　thousands　strong；　which　ran　swiftly；　but　in　open　order；　down　the
slope　towards　the　Usutu；　holding　their　spears　reversed。　　At　first　I
thought　that　they　were　charging　independently；　till　I　saw　the　Usutu
ranks　open　to　receive　them　with　a　shout　of　welcome。

〃Treachery！〃　I　said。　　〃Who　is　it？〃

〃Saduko；　with　the　Amakoba　and　Amangwane　soldiers　and　others。　　I　know
them　by　their　head…dresses；〃　answered　Maputa　in　a　cold　voice。

〃Do　you　mean　that　Saduko　has　gone　over　to　Cetewayo　with　all　his
following？〃　I　asked　excitedly。

〃What　else；　Macumazahn？　　Saduko　is　a　traitor：　Umbelazi　is　finished；〃　and
he　passed　his　hand　swiftly　across　his　moutha　gesture　that　has　only　one
meaning　among　the　Zulus。

As　for　me；　I　sat　down　upon　a　stone　and　groaned；　for　now　I　understood
everything。

Presently　the　Usutu　raised　fierce；　triumphant　shouts；　and　once　again
their　impi；　swelled　with　Saduko's　power；　began　to　advance　up　the　slope。　
Umbelazi；　and　those　of　the　Isigqosa　party　who　clung　to　himnow；　I
should　judge；　not　more　than　eight　thousand　mennever　stayed　to　wait　the
onslaught。　　They　broke！　　They　fled　in　a　hideous　rout；　crashing　through
the　thin；　left　horn　of　the　Usutu　by　mere　weight　of　numbers；　and　passing
behind　us　obliquely　on　their　road　to　the　banks　of　the　Tugela。　　A
messenger　rushed　up　to　us；　panting。

〃These　are　the　words　of　Umbelazi；〃　he　gasped。　　〃O　Watcher…by…Night　and　O
Maputa；　Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti　prays　that　you　will　hold　back　the　Usutu；
as　the　King　bade　you　do　in　case　of　need；　and　so　give　to　him　and　those
who　cling　to　him　time　to　escape　with　the　women　and　children　into　Natal。　
His　general；　Saduko；　has　betrayed　him；　and　gone　over　with　three
regiments　to　Cetewayo；　and　therefore　we　can　no　longer　stand　against　the
thousands　of　the　Usutu。〃

〃Go　tell　the　prince　that　Macumazahn；　Maputa；　and　the　Amawombe　regiment
will　do　their　best；〃　answered　Maputa　calmly。　　〃Still；　this　is　our　advice
to　him；　that　he　should　cross　the　Tugela　swiftly　with　the　women　and　the
children；　seeing　that　we　are　few　and　Cetewayo　is　many。〃

The　messenger　leapt　away；　but；　as　I　heard　afterwards；　he　never　found
Umbelazi；　since　the　poor　man　was　killed　within　five　hundred　yards　of
where　we　stood。

Then　Maputa　gave　an　order；　and　the　Amawombe　formed　themselves　into　a
triple　line；　thirteen　hundred　men　in　the　first　line；　thirteen　hundred
men　in　the　second　line；　and　about　a　thousand　in　the　third；　behind　whom
were　the　carrier　boys；　three　or　four　hundred　of　them。　　The　place
assigned　to　me　was　in　the　exact　centre　of　the　second　line；　where；　being
mounted　on　a　horse；　it　was　thought；　as　I　gathered；　that　I　should　serve
as　a　convenient　rallying…point。

In　this　formation　we　advanced　a　few　hundred　yards　to　our　left；　evidently
with　the　object　of　interposing　ourselves　between　the　routed　impi　and　the
pursuing　Usutu；　or；　if　the　latter　should　elect　to