child of storm-第18章

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thrust　over。

At　length　the　long　line　began　to　thin；　for　now　it　was　composed　of
stragglers　and　weak　or　injured　beasts；　of　which　there　were　many。　　Other
sounds；　too；　began　to　dominate　the　bellowings　of　the　animals；　those　of
the　excited　cries　of　men。　　The　first　of　our　companions；　the
cattle…lifters；　appeared；　weary　and　gasping；　but　waving　their　spears　in
triumph。　　Among　them　was　old　Tshoza。　　I　stepped　upon　my　rock；　calling　to
him　by　name。　　He　heard　me；　and　presently　was　lying　at　my　side　panting。

〃We　have　got　them　all！〃　he　gasped。　　〃Not　a　hoof　is　left　save　those　that
are　trodden　down。　　Saduko　is　not　far　behind　with　the　rest　of　our
brothers；　except　some　that　have　been　killed。　　All　the　Amakoba　tribe　are
after　us。　　He　holds　them　back　to　give　the　cattle　time　to　get　away。〃

〃Well　done！〃　I　answered。　　〃It　is　very　good。　　Now　make　your　men　hide
among　the　others　that　they　may　find　their　breath　before　the　fight。〃

So　he　stopped　them　as　they　came。　　Scarcely　had　the　last　of　them　vanished
into　the　bushes　when　the　gathering　volume　of　shouts；　amongst　which　I
heard　a　gun　go　off；　told　us　that　Saduko　and　his　band　and　the　pursuing
Amakoba　were　not　far　away。　　Presently　they；　too；　appearedthat　is　the
handful　of　Amangwane　didnot　fighting　now；　but　running　as　hard　as　they
could；　for　they　knew　they　were　approaching　the　ambush　and　wished　to　pass
it　so　as　not　to　be　mixed　up　with　the　Amakoba。　　We　let　them　go　through
us。　　Among　the　last　of　them　came　Saduko；　who　was　wounded；　for　the　blood
ran　down　his　side；　supporting　my　hunter；　who　was　also　wounded；　more
severely　as　I　feared。

I　called　to　him。

〃Saduko；〃　I　said；　〃halt　at　the　crest　of　the　path　and　rest　there　so　that
you　may　be　able　to　help　us　presently。〃

He　waved　the　gun　in　answer；　for　he　was　too　breathless　to　speak；　and　went
on　with　those　who　were　left　of　his　followingperhaps　thirty　men　in
allin　the　track　of　the　cattle。　　Before　he　was　out　of　sight　the　Amakoba
arrived；　a　mob　of　five　or　six　hundred　men　mixed　up　together　and
advancing　without　order　or　discipline；　for　they　seemed　to　have　lost
their　heads　as　well　as　their　cattle。　　Some　of　them　had　shields　and　some
had　none；　some　broad　and　some　throwing　assegais；　while　many　were　quite
naked；　not　having　stayed　to　put　on　their　moochas　and　much　less　their　war
finery。　　Evidently　they　were　mad　with　rage；　for　the　sounds　that　issued
from　them　seemed　to　concentrate　into　one　mighty　curse。

The　moment　had　come；　though　to　tell　the　truth　I　heartily　wished　that　it
had　not。　　I　wasn't　exactly　afraid；　although　I　never　set　up　for　great
courage；　but　I　did　not　quite　like　the　business。　　After　all　we　were
stealing　these　people's　cattle；　and　now　were　going　to　kill　as　many　of
them　as　we　could。　　I　had　to　recall　Saduko's　dreadful　story　of　the
massacre　of　his　tribe　before　I　could　make　up　my　mind　to　give　the　signal。
　That　hardened　me；　and　so　did　the　reflection　that　after　all　they
outnumbered　us　enormously　and　very　likely　would　prove　victors　in　the
end。　　Anyhow　it　was　too　late　to　repent。　　What　a　tricky　and　uncomfortable
thing　is　conscience；　that　nearly　always　begins　to　trouble　us　at　the
moment　of；　or　after；　the　event；　not　before；　when　it　might　be　of　some
use。

I　raised　myself　upon　the　rock　and　fired　both　barrels　of　my　gun　into　the
advancing　horde；　though　whether　I　killed　anyone　or　no　I　cannot　say。　　I
have　always　hoped　that　I　did　not；　but　as　the　mark　was　large　and　I　am　a
fair　shot；　I　fear　that　is　scarcely　possible。　　Next　moment；　with　a　howl
that　sounded　like　that　of　wild　beasts；　from　either　side　of　the　gorge　the
fierce　Amangwane　free…spearsfor　that　is　what　they　wereleapt　out　of
their　hiding…places　and　hurled　themselves　upon　their　hereditary　foes。　
They　were　fighting　for　more　than　cattle；　they　were　fighting　for　hate　and
for　revenge　since　these　Amakoba　had　slaughtered　their　fathers　and　their
mothers；　their　sisters　and　their　brothers；　and　they　alone　remained　to
pay　them　back　blood　for　blood。

Great　heaven！　how　they　did　fight；　more　like　devils　than　human　beings。　
After　that　first　howl　which　shaped　itself　to　the　word　〃Saduko；〃　they
were　silent　as　bulldogs。　　Though　they　were　so　few；　at　first　their
terrible　rush　drove　back　the　Amakoba。　　Then；　as　these　recovered　from
their　surprise；　the　weight　of　numbers　began　to　tell；　for　they；　too；　were
brave　men　who　did　not　give　way　to　panic。　　Scores　of　them　went　down　at
once；　but　the　remainder　pushed　the　Amangwane　before　them　up　the　hill。　　I
took　little　share　in　the　fight；　but　was　thrust　backward　with　the　others；
only　firing　when　I　was　obliged　to　save　my　own　life。　　Foot　by　foot　we
were　pushed　back　till　at　length　we　drew　near　to　the　crest　of　the　pass。

Then；　while　the　issue　hung　in　the　balance；　there　was　another　shout　of
〃Saduko！〃　and　that　chief　himself；　followed　by　his　thirty；　rushed　upon
the　Amakoba。

This　charge　decided　the　battle；　for　not　knowing　how　many　more　were
coming；　those　who　were　left　of　the　Amakoba　turned　and　fled；　nor　did　we
pursue　them　far。

We　mustered　on　the　hill…top；　not　more　than　two　hundred　of　us　now；　the
rest　were　fallen　or　desperately　wounded；　my　poor　hunter；　whom　I　had　lent
to　Saduko；　being　among　the　dead。　　Although　wounded；　he　died　fighting　to
the　last；　then　fell　down；　shouting　to　me：

〃Chief；　have　I　done　well？〃　and　expired。

I　was　breathless　and　spent；　but　as　in　a　dream　I　saw　some　Amangwane　drag
up　a　gaunt　old　savage；　crying：

〃Here　is　Bangu；　Bangu　the　Butcher；　whom　we　have　caught　alive。〃

Saduko　stepped　up　to　him。

〃Ah！　Bangu；〃　be　said；　〃now　say；　why　should　I　not　kill　you　as　you　would
have　killed　the　little　lad　Saduko　long　ago；　had　not　Zikali　saved　him？　
See；　here　is　the　mark　of　your　spear。〃

〃Kill；〃　said　Bangu。　　〃Your　Spirit　is　stronger　than　mine。　　Did　not　Zikali
foretell　it？　　Kill；　Saduko。〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　Saduko。　　〃If　you　are　weary　I　am　weary；　too；　and　wounded
as　well。　　Take　a　spear；　Bangu；　and　we　will　fight。〃

So　they　fought　there　in　the　moonlight；　man　to　man；　fought　fiercely　while
all　watched；　till　presently　I　saw　Bangu　throw　his　arms　wide　and　fall
backwards。


Saduko　was　avenged。　　I　have　always　been　glad　that　he　slew　his　enemy
thus；　and　not　as　it　might　have　been　expected　that　he　would　do。



CHAPTER　VII




SADUKO　BRINGS　THE　MARRIAGE　GIFT





We　reached　my　wagons　in　the　early　morning　of　the　following　day；　bringing
with　us　the　cattle　and　our　wounded。　　Thus　encumbered　it　was　a　most
toilsome　march；　and　an　anxious　one　also；　for　it　was　always　possible　that
the　remnant　of　the　Amakoba　might　attempt　pursuit。　　This；　however；　they
did　not　do；　for　very　many　of　them　were　dead　or　wounded；　and　those　who
remained　had　no　heart　left　in　them。　　They　went　back　to　their　mountain
home　and　lived　there　in　shame　and　wretchedness；　for　I　do　not　believe
there　were　fifty　head　of　cattle　left　among　the　tribe；　and　Kafirs　without
cattle　are　nothing。　　Still；　they　did　not　starve；　since　there　were　plenty
of　women　to　work　the　fields；　and　we　had　not　touched　their　corn。　　The　end
of　them　was　that　Panda　gave　them　to　their　conqueror；　Saduko；　and　he
incorporated　them　with　the　Amangwane。　　But　that　did　not　happen　until
some　time　afterwards。

When　we　had　rested　a　while　at　the　wagons　the　captured　beasts　were
mustered；　and　on　being　counted　were　found　to　number　a　little　over　twelve
hundred　head；　not　reckoning　animals　that　had　been　badly　hurt　in　the
flight；　which　we　killed　for　beef。　　It　was　a　noble　prize；　truly；　and；
notwithstanding　the　wound　in　his　thigh；　which　hurt　him　a　good　deal　now
that　it　had　stiffened；　Saduko　stood　up　and　surveyed　them　with　glistening
eyes。　　No　wonder；　for　he　who　had　been　so　poor　was　now　rich；　and　would
remain　so　even　after　he　had　paid　over　whatever　number　of　cows　Umbezi
chose　to　demand　as　the　price　of　Mameena's　hand。　　Moreover；　he　was　sure；
and　I　shared　his　confidence；　that　in　these　changed　circumstances　both
that　young　woman　and　her　father　would　look　upon　his　suit　with　very
favourable　eyes。　　He　had；　so　to　speak；　succeeded　to　the　title　and　the
family　estates　by　means　of　a　lawsuit　brought　in　the　〃Court　of　the
Assegai；〃　and　therefore　there　was　hardly　a　father　in　Zululand　who　would
shut　his　kraal　gate　upon　him。　　We　forgot；　both　of　us；　the　proverb　that
points　out　how　numerous　are　the　slips　between　the　cup　and　the　lip；
which；　by　the　way；　is　one　that　has　its　Zulu　equivalents。　　One　of　them；
if　I　remember　right　at　the　moment；　is：　〃However　loud　the　hen　cackles；
the　housewife　does　not　always　get　the　egg。〃

As　it　chanced；　although　Saduko's　hen　was　cackling　very　loudly　just　at
this　time；　he　was　not　destined　to　find　the　coveted　egg。　　But　of　that
matter　I　will　speak　in　its　place。

I；　too；　looked　at　those　cattle；　wondering　whether　Saduko　would　remember
our　bargain；　under　which　some　six　hundred　head　of　them　belonged　to　me。　
Six　hundred　head！　　Why；　putting　them　at　#5　apiece　all　roundand　as　oxen
were　very　scarce　just　at　that　time；　they　were　worth　quite　as　much；　if
not　morethat　meant　#3；000；　a　larger　sum　of　money　than　I　had　ever　owned
at　one　time　in　all　my　life。　　Truly　the　paths　of　violence　were
profitable！　　But　would　he　remember？　　On　the　whole　I　thought　probably
not；　since　Kafirs　are　not　fond　of　parting　with　cattle。

Well；　I　did　him　an　injustice；　for　presently　he　turned　and　said；　with
something　of　an　effort：

〃Macumazahn；　half　of　all　these　belong　to　you；　and　truly　you　have　earned
them；　for　it　was　your　cunning　and　good　counsel　that　gained　us　the
victory。　　Now　we　will　choose　them　beast　by　beast。〃

So　I　chose　a　fine　ox；　then　Saduko　chose　one；　and　so　it　went　on　till　I
had　eight　of　my　number　driven　out。　　As　the　eighth　was　taken　I　turned　to
Saduko　and　said：

〃There；　that　will　do。　　These　oxen　I　must　have　to　replace　those　in　my
teams　which　died　on　the　trek；　but　I　want　no　more。〃

〃Wow！〃　said　Saduko；　and　all　those　who　stood　with　him；　while　one　of　them
addedI　think　it　was　old　Tshoza：

〃He　refuses　six　hundred　cattle　which　are　fairly　his！　　He　must　be　mad！〃

〃No　friends；〃　I　answered；　〃I　am　not　mad；　but　neither　am　I　bad。　　I
accompanied　Saduko　on　this　raid　because　he　is　dear　to　me　and　stood　by　me
once　in　the　hour　of　danger。　　But　I　do　not　love　killing　men　with　whom　I
have　no　quarrel；　and　I　will　not　take　the　price　of　blood。〃

〃Wow！〃　said　old　Tshoza　again；　for　Saduko　seemed　too　astonished　to　speak；
〃he　is　a　spirit；　not　a　man。　　He　is　_holy！_〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　I　answered。　　〃If　you　think　that；　ask　Mameena〃a　dark
saying　which　they　did　not　understand。　　〃Now；　listen。　　I　will　not　take
those　cattle　because　I　do　not　think　as　you　Kafirs　think。　　But　as　they
are　mine；　according　to　your　law；　I　am　going　to　dispose　of　them。　　I　give
ten　head　to　each　of　my　hunters；　and　fifteen　head　to　the　relations　of　him
who　was　killed。　　The　rest　I　give　to　Tshoza　and　to　the　other　men　of　the
Amangwane　who　fought　with　us；　to　be　divided　among　them　in　such
proportions　as　they　may　agree；　I　being　the　judge　in　the　event　of　any
quarrel　arising。〃

Now　these　men　raised　a　great　cry　of　〃Inkoosi！〃　and；　running　up；　old
Tshoza　seized　my　hand　and　kissed　it。

〃Your　heart　is　big；〃　he　cried；　〃you　drop　fatness！　　Although　you　are　so
small；　the　spirit　of　a　king　lives　in　you；　and　the　wisdom　of　the
heavens。〃

Thus　he　praised　me；　while　all　the　others　joined　in；　till　the　din　was
awful。　　Saduko　thanked　me　also　in　his　magnificent　manner。　　Yet　I