child of storm-第39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！


jump。　　Well；　he　is　dead；　and　nearly　all　the　Amawombe　are　dead；　and　of　my
three　regiments　but　a　handful　is　left；　the　vultures　have　the　rest　of
them。　　That　is　all　finished　and　forgotten；　Macumazahn；　though　by　good
fortune　the　spears　went　wide　of　you；　who　doubtless　are　a　magician；　since
otherwise　you　and　your　servant　and　your　horse　would　not　have　escaped
with　a　few　scratches　when　everyone　else　was　killed。　　But　you　did　escape；
as　you　have　done　before　in　Zululand；　and　now　you　see　here　lie　certain
men　who　were　born　of　my　father。　　Yet　one　is　missinghe　against　whom　I
fought；　aye；　and　he　whom；　although　we　fought；　I　loved　the　best　of　all　of
them。　　Now；　it　has　been　whispered　in　my　ear　that　you　alone　know　what
became　of　him；　and；　Macumazahn；　I　would　learn　whether　he　lives　or　is
dead；　also；　if　he　is　dead；　by　whose　hand　he　died；　who　would　reward　that
hand。〃

Now；　I　looked　round　me；　wondering　whether　I　should　tell　the　truth　or
hold　my　tongue；　and　as　I　looked　my　eyes　met　those　of　Saduko；　who；　cold
and　unconcerned；　was　seated　among　the　captains；　but　at　a　little　distance
from　any　of　thema　man　apart；　and　I　remembered　that　he　and　I　alone　knew
the　truth　of　the　end　of　Umbelazi。

Why；　I　do　not　know；　but　it　came　into　my　mind　that　I　would　keep　the
secret。　　Why　should　I　tell　the　triumphant　Cetewayo　that　Umbelazi　had
been　driven　to　die　by　his　own　hand；　why　should　I　lay　bare　Saduko's
victory　and　shame？　All　these　matters　had　passed　into　the　court　of　a
different　tribunal。　　Who　was　I　that　I　should　reveal　them　or　judge　the
actors　of　this　terrible　drama？

〃O　Cetewayo；〃　I　said；　〃as　it　chanced　I　saw　the　end　of　Umbelazi。　　No
enemy　killed　him。　　He　died　of　a　broken　heart　upon　a　rock　above　the
river；　and　for　the　rest　of　the　story　go　ask　the　Tugela　into　which　he
fell。〃

For　a　moment　Cetewayo　hid　his　eyes　with　his　hand。

〃Is　it　so？〃　he　said　presently。　　〃Wow！　　I　say　again　that　had　it　not　been
for　Saduko；　the　son　of　Matiwane；　yonder；　who　had　some　quarrel　with
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti　about　a　woman　and　took　his　chance　of　vengeance；　it
might　have　been　I　who　died　of　a　broken　heart　upon　a　rock　above　the
river。　　Oh；　Saduko；　I　owe　you　a　great　debt　and　will　pay　you　well；　but
you　shall　be　no　friend　of　mine；　lest　we　also　should　chance　to　quarrel
about　a　woman；　and　_I_　should　find　myself　dying　of　a　broken　heart　on　a
rock　above　a　river。　　O　my　brother　Umbelazi；　I　mourn　for　you；　my　brother；
for；　after　all；　we　played　together　when　we　were　little　and　loved　each
other　once；　who　in　the　end　fought　for　a　toy　that　is　called　a　throne；
since；　as　our　father　said；　two　bulls　cannot　live　in　the　same　yard；　my
brother。　　Well；　you　are　gone　and　I　remain；　yet　who　knows　but　that　at　the
last　your　lot　may　be　happier　than　mine。　　You　died　of　a　broken　heart；
Umbelazi；　but　of　what　shall　_I_　die；　I　wonder？〃*

＇*That　history　of　Cetewayo's　fall　and　tragic　death　and　of　Zikali's
vengeance　I　hope　to　write　one　day；　for　in　these　events　also　I　was
destined　to　play　a　part。A。　Q。＇

I　have　given　this　interview　in　detail；　since　it　was　because　of　it　that
the　saying　went　abroad　that　Umbelazi　died　of　a　broken　heart。

So　in　truth　he　did；　for　before　his　spear　pierced　it　his　heart　was
broken。

Now；　seeing　that　Cetewayo　was　in　one　of　his　soft　moods；　and　that　he
seemed　to　look　upon　me　kindly；　though　I　had　fought　against　him；　I
reflected　that　this　would　be　a　good　opportunity　to　ask　his　leave　to
depart。　　To　tell　the　truth；　my　nerves　were　quite　shattered　with　all　I
had　gone　through；　and　I　longed　to　be　away　from　the　sights　and　sounds　of
that　terrible　battlefield；　on　and　about　which　so　many　thousand　people
had　perished　this　fateful　day；　as　I　had　seldom　longed　for　anything
before。　　But　while　I　was　making　up　my　mind　as　to　the　best　way　to
approach　him；　something　happened　which　caused　me　to　lose　my　chance。

Hearing　a　noise　behind　me；　I　looked　round；　to　see　a　stout　man　arrayed　in
a　very　fine　war　dress；　and　waving　in　one　hand　a　gory　spear　and　in　the
other　a　head…plume　of　ostrich　feathers；　who　was　shouting　out：

〃Give　me　audience　of　the　son　of　the　King！　　I　have　a　song　to　sing　to　the
Prince。　　I　have　a　tale　to　tell　to　the　conqueror；　Cetewayo。〃

I　stared。　　I　rubbed　my　eyes。　　It　could　not　beyes；　it　wasUmbezi；
〃Eater…up…of…Elephants；〃　the　father　of　Mameena。　　In　a　few　seconds；
without　waiting　for　leave　to　approach；　he　had　bounded　through　the　line
of　dead　princes；　stopping　to　kick　one　of　them　on　the　head　and　address
his　poor　clay　in　some　words　of　shameful　insult；　and　was　prancing　about
before　Cetewayo；　shouting　his　praises。

〃Who　is　this　umfokazana？〃　＇that　is；　low　fellow＇　growled　the　Prince。　
〃Bid　him　cease　his　noise　and　speak；　lest　he　should　be　silent　for　ever。〃

〃O　Calf　of　the　Black　Cow；　I　am　Umbezi；　'Eater…up…of…Elephants；'　chief
captain　of　Saduko　the　Cunning；　he　who　won　you　the　battle；　father　of
Mameena　the　Beautiful；　whom　Saduko　wed　and　whom　the　dead　dog；　Umbelazi；
stole　away　from　him。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Cetewayo；　screwing　up　his　eyes　in　a　fashion　he　had　when　he
meant　mischief；　which　among　the　Zulus　caused　him　to　be　named　the
〃Bull…who…shuts…his…eyes…to…toss；　〃and　what　have　you　to　tell　me；
'Eater…up…of…Elephants'　and　father　of　Mameena；　whom　the　dead　dog；
Umbelazi；　took　away　from　your　master；　Saduko　the　Cunning？〃

〃This；　O　Mighty　One；　this；　O　Shaker　of　the　Earth；　that　well　am　I　named
'Eater…up…of…Elephants；'　who　have　eaten　up　Indhlovu…ene…Sihlontithe
Elephant　himself。〃

Now　Saduko　seemed　to　awake　from　his　brooding　and　started　from　his　place；
but　Cetewayo　sharply　bade　him　be　silent；　whereon　Umbezi；　the　fool；
noting　nothing；　continued　his　tale。

〃O　Prince；　I　met　Umbelazi　in　the　battle；　and　when　he　saw　me　he　fled　from
me；　yes；　his　heart　grew　soft　as　water　at　the　sight　of　me；　the　warrior
whom　he　had　wronged；　whose　daughter　he　had　stolen。〃

〃I　hear　you；〃　said　Cetewayo。　　〃Umbelazi's　heart　turned　to　water　at　the
sight　of　you　because　he　had　wronged　youyou　who　until　this　morning；
when　you　deserted　him　with　Saduko；　were　one　of　his　jackals。　　Well；　and
what　happened　then？〃

〃He　fled；　O　Lion　with　the　Black　Mane；　he　fled　like　the　wind；　and　I；　I
flew　after　him　likea　stronger　wind。　　Far　into　the　bush　he　fled；　till
at　length　he　came　to　a　rock　above　the　river　and　was　obliged　to　stand。　
Then　there　we　fought。　　He　thrust　at　me；　but　I　leapt　over　his　spear
_thus_；〃　and　he　gambolled　into　the　air。　　〃He　thrust　at　me　again；　but　I
bent　myself　_thus_；〃　and　he　ducked　his　great　head。　　〃Then　he　grew　tired
and　my　time　came。　　He　turned　and　ran　round　the　rock；　and　I；　I　ran　after
him；　stabbing　him　through　the　back；　_thus_；　and　_thus_；　and　_thus_；　till
he　fell；　crying　for　mercy；　and　rolled　off　the　rock　into　the　river；　and
as　he　rolled　I　snatched　away　his　plume。　　See；　is　it　not　the　plume　of　the
dead　dog　Umbelazi？〃

Cetewayo　took　the　ornament　and　examined　it；　showing　it　to　one　or　two　of
the　captains　near　him；　who　nodded　their　heads　gravely。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　the　war　plume　of　Umbelazi；　beloved　of　the　King；
strong　and　shining　pillar　of　the　Great　House；　we　know　it　well；　that　war
plume　at　the　sight　of　which　many　a　knee　has　loosened。　　And　so　you　killed
him；　'Eater…up…of…Elephants；'　father　of　Mameena；　you　who　this　morning
were　one　of　the　meanest　of　his　jackals。　　Now；　what　reward　shall　I　give
you　for　this　mighty　deed；　O　Umbezi？〃

〃A　great　reward；　O　Terrible　One；〃　began　Umbezi；　but　in　an　awful　voice
Cetewayo　bade　him　be　silent。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃a　great　reward。　　Hearken；　Jackal　and　Traitor。　　Your　own
words　bear　witness　against　you。　　You；　_you_　have　dared　to　lift　your　hand
against　the　blood…royal；　and　with　your　foul　tongue　to　heap　lies　and
insults　upon　the　name　of　the　mighty　dead。〃

Now；　understanding　at　last；　Umbezi　began　to　babble　excuses；　yes；　and　to
declare　that　all　his　tale　was　false。　　His　fat　cheeks　fell　in；　he　sank　to
his　knees。

But　Cetewayo　only　spat　towards　the　man；　after　his　fashion　when　enraged；
and　looked　round　him　till　his　eye　fell　upon　Saduko。

〃Saduko；〃　he　said；　〃take　away　this　slayer　of　the　Prince；　who　boasts　that
he　is　red　with　my　own　blood；　and　when　he　is　dead　cast　him　into　the　river
from　that　rock　on　which　he　says　he　stabbed　Panda's　son。〃

Saduko　looked　round　him　wildly　and　hesitated。

〃Take　him　away；〃　thundered　Cetewayo；　〃and　return　ere　dark　to　make　report
to　me。〃

Then；　at　a　sign　from　the　Prince；　soldiers　flung　themselves　upon　the
miserable　Umbezi　and　dragged　him　thence；　Saduko　going　with　them；　nor　was
the　poor　liar　ever　seen　again。　　As　he　passed　by　me　he　called　to　me；　for
Mameena's　sake；　to　save　him；　but　I　could　only　shake　my　head　and　bethink
me　of　the　warning　I　had　once　given　to　him　as　to　the　fate　of　traitors。

It　may　be　said　that　this　story　comes　straight　from　the　history　of　Saul
and　David；　but　I　can　only　answer　that　it　happened。　　Circumstances　that
were　not　unlike　ended　in　a　similar　tragedy；　that　is　all。　　What　David's
exact　motives　were；　naturally　I　cannot　tell；　but　it　is　easy　to　guess
those　of　Cetewayo；　who；　although　he　could　make　war　upon　his　brother　to
secure　the　throne；　did　not　think　it　wise　to　let　it　go　abroad　that　the
royal　blood　might　be　lightly　spilt。　　Also；　knowing　that　I　was　a　witness
of　the　Prince's　death；　he　was　well　aware　that　Umbezi　was　but　a　boastful
liar　who　hoped　thus　to　ingratiate　himself　with　an　all…powerful
conqueror。

Well；　this　tragic　incident　had　its　sequel。　　It　seemsto　his　honour；　be
it　saidthat　Saduko　refused　to　be　the　executioner　of　his　father…in…law；
Umbezi；　so　those　with　him　performed　this　office　and　brought　him　back　a
prisoner　to　Cetewayo。

When　the　Prince　learned　that　his　direct　order；　spoken　in　the　accustomed
and　fearful　formula　of　_〃Take　him　away；〃_　had　been　disobeyed；　his　rage
was；　or　seemed　to　be；　great。　　My　own　conviction　is　that　he　was　only
seeking　a　cause　of　quarrel　against　Saduko；　who；　he　thought；　was　a　very
powerful　man；　who　would　probably　treat　him；　should　opportunity　arise；　as
he　had　treated　Umbelazi；　and　perhaps　now　that　the　most　of　Panda's　sons
were　dead；　except　himself　and　the　lads　M'tonga；　Sikota　and　M'kungo；　who
had　fled　into　Natal；　might　even　in　future　days　aspire　to　the　throne　as
the　husband　of　the　King's　daughter。　　Still；　he　was　afraid　or　did　not
think　it　politic　at　once　to　put　out　of　his　path　this　master　of　many
legions；　who　had　played　so　important　a　part　in　the　battle。　　Therefore　he
ordered　him　to　be　kept　under　guard　and　taken　back　to　Nodwengu；　that　the
whole　matter　might　be　investigated　by　Panda　the　King；　who　still　ruled
the　land；　though　henceforth　only　in　name。　　Also　he　refused　to　allow　me
to　depart　into　Natal；　saying　that　I；　too；　must　come　to　Nodwengu；　as
there　my　testimony　might　be　needed。

So；　having　no　choice；　I　went；　it　being　fated　that　I　should　see　the　end
of　the　drama。



CHAPTER　XV




MAMEENA　CLAIMS　THE　KISS





When　I　reached　Nodwengu　I　was　taken　ill　and　laid　up　in　my　wagon　for
about　a　fortnight。　　What　my　exact　sickness　was　I　do　not　know；　for　I　had
no　doctor　at　hand　to　tell　me；　as　even　the　missionaries　had　fled　the
country。　　Fever　resulting　from　fatigue；　exposure　and　excitement；　and
complicated　with　fearful　headachecaused；　I　presume；　by　the　blow　which
I　received　in　the　battlewere　its　principal　symptoms。

When　I　began　to　get　better；　Scowl　and　some　Zulu　friends　who　came　to　see
me　informed　me　that　the　whol