child of storm-第37章

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with　the　object　of　interposing　ourselves　between　the　routed　impi　and　the
pursuing　Usutu；　or；　if　the　latter　should　elect　to　go　round　us；　with　that
of　threatening　their　flank。　　Cetewayo's　generals　did　not　leave　us　long
in　doubt　as　to　what　they　would　do。　　The　main　body　of　their　army　bore
away　to　the　right　in　pursuit　of　the　flying　foe；　but　three　regiments；
each　of　about　two　thousand　five　hundred　spears；　halted。　　Five　minutes
passed　perhaps　while　they　marshalled；　with　a　distance　of　some　six
hundred　yards　between　them。　　Each　regiment　was　in　a　triple　line　like　our
own。

To　me　that　seemed　a　very　long　five　minutes；　but；　reflecting　that　it　was
probably　my　last　on　earth；　I　tried　to　make　the　best　of　it　in　a　fashion
that　can　be　guessed。　　Strange　to　say；　however；　I　found　it　impossible　to
keep　my　mind　fixed　upon　those　matters　with　which　it　ought　to　have　been
filled。　　My　eyes　and　thoughts　would　roam。　　I　looked　at　the　ranks　of　the
veteran　Amawombe；　and　noted　that　they　were　still　and　solemn　as　men　about
to　die　should　be；　although　they　showed　no　sign　of　fear。　　Indeed；　I　saw
some　of　those　near　me　passing　their　snuffboxes　to　each　other。　　Two
grey…haired　men　also；　who　evidently　were　old　friends；　shook　hands　as
people　do　who　are　parting　before　a　journey；　while　two　others　discussed
in　a　low　voice　the　possibility　of　our　wiping　out　most　of　the　Usutu
before　we　were　wiped　out　ourselves。

〃It　depends；〃　said　one　of　them；　〃whether　they　attack　us　regiment　by
regiment　or　all　together；　as　they　will　do　if　they　are　wise。〃

Then　an　officer　bade　them　be　silent；　and　conversation　ceased。　　Maputa
passed　through　the　ranks　giving　orders　to　the　captains。　　From　a　distance
his　withered　old　body；　with　a　fighting　shield　held　in　front　of　it；
looked　like　that　of　a　huge　black　ant　carrying　something　in　its　mouth。　
He　came　to　where　Scowl　and　I　sat　upon　our　horses。

〃Ah！　I　see　that　you　are　ready；　Macumazahn；〃　he　said　in　a　cheerful　voice。
　〃I　told　you　that　you　should　not　go　away　hungry；　did　I　not？〃

〃Maputa；〃　I　said　in　remonstrance；　〃what　is　the　use　of　this？　　Umbelazi　is
defeated；　you　are　not　of　his　impi；　why　send　all　these〃and　I　waved　my
hand〃down　into　the　darkness？　　Why　not　go　to　the　river　and　try　to　save
the　women　and　children？〃

〃Because　we　shall　take　many　of　those　down　into　the　darkness　with　us；
Macumazahn；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　dense　masses　of　the　Usutu。　　〃Yet；〃　he
added；　with　a　touch　of　compunction；　〃this　is　not　your　quarrel。　　You　and
your　servant　have　horses。　　Slip　out；　if　you　will；　and　gallop　hard　to　the
lower　drift。　　You　may　get　away　with　your　lives。〃

Then　my　white　man's　pride　came　to　my　aid。

〃Nay；〃　I　answered；　〃I　will　not　run　while　others　stay　to　fight。〃

〃I　never　thought　you　would；　Macumazahn；　who；　I　am　sure；　do　not　wish　to
earn　a　new　and　ugly　name。　　Well；　neither　will　the　Amawombe　run　to　become
a　mock　among　their　people。　　The　King's　orders　were　that　we　should　try　to
help　Umbelazi；　if　the　battle　went　against　him。　　We　obey　the　King's
orders　by　dying　where　we　stand。　　Macumazahn；　do　you　think　that　you　could
hit　that　big　fellow　who　is　shouting　insults　at　us　there？　　If　so；　I
should　be　obliged　to　you；　as　I　dislike　him　very　much；〃　and　he　showed　me
a　captain　who　was　swaggering　about　in　front　of　the　lines　of　the　first　of
the　Usutu　regiments；　about　six　hundred　yards　away。

〃I　will　try；〃　I　answered；　〃but　it's　a　long　shot。〃　　Dismounting；　I
climbed　a　pile　of　stones　and；　resting　my　rifle　on　the　topmost　of　them；
took　a　very　full　sight；　aimed；　held　my　breath；　and　pressed　the　trigger。　
A　second　afterwards　the　shouter　of　insults　threw　his　arms　wide；　letting
fall　his　spear；　and　pitched　forward　on　to　his　face。

A　roar　of　delight　rose　from　the　watching　Amawombe；　while　old　Maputa
clapped　his　thin　brown　hands　and　grinned　from　ear　to　ear。

〃Thank　you；　Macumazahn。　　A　very　good　omen！　　Now　I　am　sure　that；　whatever
those　Isigqosa　dogs　of　Umbelazi's　may　do；　we　King's　men　shall　make　an
excellent　end；　which　is　all　that　we　can　hope。　　Oh；　what　a　beautiful
shot！　　It　will　be　something　to　think　of　when　I　am　an　idhlozi；　a
spirit…snake；　crawling　about　my　own　kraal。　　Farewell；　Macumazahn；〃　and
he　took　my　hand　and　pressed　it。　　〃The　time　has　come。　　I　go　to　lead　the
charge。　　The　Amawombe　have　orders　to　defend　you　to　the　last；　for　I　wish
you　to　see　the　finish　of　this　fight。　　Farewell。〃

Then　off　he　hurried；　followed　by　his　orderlies　and　staff…officers。

I　never　saw　him　again　alive；　though　I　think　that　once　in　after　years　I
did　meet　his　idhlozi　in　his　kraal　under　strange　circumstances。　　But　that
has　nothing　to　do　with　this　history。

As　for　me；　having　reloaded；　I　mounted　my　horse　again；　being　afraid　lest；
if　I　went　on　shooting；　I　should　miss　and　spoil　my　reputation。　　Besides；
what　was　the　use　of　killing　more　men　unless　I　was　obliged？　　There　were
plenty　ready　to　do　that。

Another　minute；　and　the　regiment　in　front　of　us　began　to　move；　while　the
other　two　behind　it　ostentatiously　sat　themselves　down　in　their　ranks；
to　show　that　they　did　not　mean　to　spoil　sport。　　The　fight　was　to　begin
with　a　duel　between　about　six　thousand　men。

〃Good！〃　muttered　the　warrior　who　was　nearest　me。　　〃They　are　in　our　bag。〃

〃Aye；〃　answered　another；　〃those　little　boys〃　（used　as　a　term　of
contempt）　〃are　going　to　learn　their　last　lesson。〃

For　a　few　seconds　there　was　silence；　while　the　long　ranks　leant　forward
between　the　hedges　of　lean　and　cruel　spears。　　A　whisper　went　down　the
line；　it　sounded　like　the　noise　of　wind　among　trees；　and　was　the　signal
to　prepare。　　Next　a　far…off　voice　shouted　some　word；　which　was　repeated
again　and　again　by　other　voices　before　and　behind　me。　　I　became　aware
that　we　were　moving；　quite　slowly　at　first；　then　more　quickly。　　Being
lifted　above　the　ranks　upon　my　horse　I　could　see　the　whole　advance；　and
the　general　aspect　of　it　was　that　of　a　triple　black　wave；　each　wave
crowned　with　foamthe　white　plumes　and　shields　of　the　Amawombe　were　the
foamand　alive　with　sparkles　of　lighttheir　broad　spears　were　the
light。

We　were　charging　nowand　oh！　the　awful　and　glorious　excitement　of　that
charge！　　Oh；　the　rush　of　the　bending　plumes　and　the　dull　thudding　of
eight　thousand　feet！　　The　Usutu　came　up　the　slope　to　meet　us。　　In
silence　we　went；　and　in　silence　they　came。　　We　drew　near　to　each　other。　
Now　we　could　see　their　faces　peering　over　the　tops　of　their　mottled
shields；　and　now　we　could　see　their　fierce　and　rolling　eyes。

Then　a　roara　rolling　roar　such　as　at　that　time　I　had　never　heard：　the
thunder　of　the　roar　of　the　meeting　shieldsand　a　flasha　swift；
simultaneous　flash；　the　flash　of　the　lightning　of　the　stabbing　spears。　
Up　went　the　cry　of：

_〃Kill；　Amawombe；　kill！〃_　answered　by　another　cry　of：

_〃Toss；　Usutu；　toss！〃_

After　that；　what　happened？　　Heaven　knows　aloneor　at　least　I　do　not。　
But　in　later　years　Mr。　Osborn；　afterwards　the　resident　magistrate　at
Newcastle；　in　Natal；　who；　being　young　and　foolish　in　those　days；　had
swum　his　horse　over　the　Tugela　and　hidden　in　a　little　kopje　quite　near
to　us　in　order　to　see　the　battle；　told　me　that　it　looked　as　though　some
huge　breakerthat　breaker　being　the　splendid　Amawomberolling　in
towards　the　shore　with　the　weight　of　the　ocean　behind　it；　had　suddenly
struck　a　ridge　of　rock　and；　rearing　itself　up；　submerged　and　hidden　it。

At　least；　within　three　minutes　that　Usutu　regiment　was　no　more。　　We　had
killed　them　every　one；　and　from　all　along　our　lines　rose　a　fierce
hissing　sound　of　〃S'gee；　S'gee〃　（〃Zhi〃　in　the　Zulu）　uttered　as　the
spears　went　home　in　the　bodies　of　the　conquered。

That　regiment　had　gone；　taking　nearly　a　third　of　our　number　with　it；　for
in　such　a　battle　as　this　the　wounded　were　as　good　as　dead。　　Practically
our　first　line　had　vanished　in　a　fray　that　did　not　last　more　than　a　few
minutes。　　Before　it　was　well　over　the　second　Usutu　regiment　sprang　up
and　charged。　　With　a　yell　of　victory　we　rushed　down　the　slope　towards
them。　　Again　there　was　the　roar　of　the　meeting　shields；　but　this　time
the　fight　was　more　prolonged；　and；　being　in　the　front　rank　now；　I　had　my
share　of　it。　　I　remember　shooting　two　Usutu　who　stabbed　at　me；　after
which　my　gun　was　wrenched　from　my　hand。　　I　remember　the　melee　swinging
backwards　and　forwards；　the　groans　of　the　wounded；　the　shouts　of　victory
and　despair；　and　then　Scowl's　voice　saying：

〃We　have　beat　them；　Baas；　but　here　come　the　others。〃


The　third　regiment　was　on　our　shattered　lines。　　We　closed　up；　we　fought
like　devils；　even　the　bearer　boys　rushed　into　the　fray。　　From　all　sides
they　poured　down　upon　us；　for　we　had　made　a　ring；　every　minute　men　died
by　hundreds；　and；　though　their　numbers　grew　few；　not　one　of　the　Amawombe
yielded。　　I　was　fighting　with　a　spear　now；　though　how　it　came　into　my
hand　I　cannot　remember　for　certain。　　I　think；　however；　I　wrenched　it
from　a　man　who　rushed　at　me　and　was　stabbed　before　he　could　strike。　　I
killed　a　captain　with　this　spear；　for　as　he　fell　I　recognised　his　face。　
It　was　that　of　one　of　Cetewayo's　companions　to　whom　I　had　sold　some
cloth　at　Nodwengu。　　The　fallen　were　piled　up　quite　thick　around　mewe
were　using　them　as　a　breastwork；　friend　and　foe　together。　　I　saw　Scowl's
horse　rear　into　the　air　and　fall。　　He　slipped　over　its　tail；　and　next
instant　was　fighting　at　my　side；　also　with　a　spear；　muttering　Dutch　and
English　oaths　as　he　struck。

〃Beetje　varm！　＇a　little　hot＇　Beetje　varm；　Baas！〃　I　heard　him　say。　　Then
my　horse　screamed　aloud　and　something　hit　me　hard　upon　the　headI
suppose　it　was　a　thrown　kerryafter　which　I　remember　nothing　for　a
while；　except　a　sensation　of　passing　through　the　air。

I　came　to　myself　again；　and　found　that　I　was　still　on　the　horse；　which
was　ambling　forward　across　the　veld　at　a　rate　of　about　eight　miles　an
hour；　and　that　Scowl　was　clinging　to　my　stirrup　leather　and　running　at
my　side。　　He　was　covered　with　blood；　so　was　the　horse；　and　so　was　I。　　It
may　have　been　our　own　blood；　for　all　three　were　more　or　less　wounded；　or
it　may　have　been　that　of　others；　I　am　sure　I　do　not　know；　but　we　were　a
terrible　sight。　　I　pulled　upon　the　reins；　and　the　horse　stopped　among
some　thorns。　　Scowl　felt　in　the　saddlebags　and　found　a　large　flask　of
Hollands　gin　and　waterhalf　gin　and　half　waterwhich　he　had　placed
there　before　the　battle。　　He　uncorked　and　gave　it　to　me。　　I　took　a　long
pull　at　the　stuff；　that　tasted　like　veritable　nectar；　then　handed　it　to
him；　who　did　likewise。　　New　life　seemed　to　flow　into　my　veins。　　Whatever
teetotallers　may　say；　alcohol　is　good　at　such　a　moment。

〃Where　are　the　Amawombe？〃　I　asked。

〃All　dead　by　now；　I　think；　Baas；　as　we　should　be　had　not　your　horse
bolted。　　Wow！　but　they　made　a　great　fightone　that　will　be　told　of！　
They　have　carried　those　three　regiments　away　upon　their　spears。〃

〃That's　good；〃　I　said。　　〃But　where　are　we　going？〃

〃To　Natal；　I　hope；　Baas。　　I　have　had　enough　of　the　Zulus　for　the
present。　　The　Tugela　is　not　far　away；　and　we　will　swim　it。　　Come　on；
before　our　hurts　grow　stiff。〃

So　we　went　on；　till　presently　we　reached　the　crest　of　a　rise　of　ground
overlooking　the　river；　and　there　saw　and　heard　dreadful　things；　for
beneath　us　those　devilish　Usutu　were　massacring　the　fugitives　and　the
camp…followers。　　These　were　being　driven　by　the　hundred　to　the　edge　of
the　water；　there　to　perish　on　th