child of storm-第34章

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left　Nodwengu　they　called　on　me　together；　apparently　on　the　best　of
terms；　and　said　in　effect　that　they　hoped　for　my　support　in　the　coming
war。

I　answered　that；　however　well　I　might　like　them　personally；　a　Zulu　civil
war　was　no　affair　of　mine；　and　that；　indeed；　for　every　reason；　including
the　supreme　one　of　my　own　safety；　I　had　better　get　out　of　the　way　at
once。

They　argued　with　me　for　a　long　while；　making　great　offers　and　promises
of　reward；　till　at　length；　when　he　saw　that　my　determination　could　not
be　shaken；　Umbelazi　said：

〃Come；　Saduko；　let　us　humble　ourselves　no　more　before　this　white　man。　
After　all；　he　is　right；　the　business　is　none　of　his；　and　why　should　we
ask　him　to　risk　his　life　in　our　quarrel；　knowing　as　we　do　that　white　men
are　not　like　us；　they　think　a　great　deal　of　their　lives。　　Farewell；
Macumazahn。　　If　I　conquer　and　grow　great　you　will　always　be　welcome　in
Zululand；　whereas　if　I　fail　perhaps　you　will　be　best　over　the　Tugela
river。〃

Now；　I　felt　the　hidden　taunt　in　this　speech　very　keenly。　　Still；　being
determined　that　for　once　I　would　be　wise　and　not　allow　my　natural
curiosity　and　love　of　adventure　to　drag　me　into　more　risks　and　trouble；
I　replied：

〃The　Prince　says　that　I　am　not　brave　and　love　my　life；　and　what　he　says
is　true。　　I　fear　fighting；　who　by　nature　am　a　trader　with　the　heart　of　a
trader；　not　a　warrior　with　the　heart　of　a　warrior；　like　the　great
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti〃words　at　which　I　saw　the　grave　Saduko　smile
faintly。　　〃So　farewell　to　you；　Prince；　and　may　good　fortune　attend　you。〃

Of　course；　to　call　the　Prince　to　his　face　by　this　nickname；　which
referred　to　a　defect　in　his　person；　was　something　of　an　insult；　but　I
had　been　insulted；　and　meant　to　give　him　〃a　Roland　for　his　Oliver。〃　
However；　he　took　it　in　good　part。

〃What　is　good　fortune；　Macumazahn？〃　Umbelazi　replied　as　he　grasped　my
hand。　　〃Sometimes　I　think　that　to　live　and　prosper　is　good　fortune；　and
sometimes　I　think　that　to　die　and　sleep　is　good　fortune；　for　in　sleep
there　is　neither　hunger　nor　thirst　of　body　or　of　spirit。　　In　sleep　there
come　no　cares；　in　sleep　ambitions　are　at　rest；　nor　do　those　who　look　no
more　upon　the　sun　smart　beneath　the　treacheries　of　false　women　or　false
friends。　　Should　the　battle　turn　against　me；　Macumazahn；　at　least　that
good　fortune　will　be　mine；　for　never　will　I　live　to　be　crushed　beneath
Cetewayo's　heel。〃

Then　he　went。　　Saduko　accompanied　him　for　a　little　way；　but；　making　some
excuse　to　the　Prince；　came　back　and　said　to　me：

〃Macumazahn；　my　friend；　I　dare　say　that　we　part　for　the　last　time；　and
therefore　I　make　a　request　to　you。　　It　is　as　to　one　who　is　dead　to　me。　
Macumazahn；　I　believe　that　Umbelazi　the　thief〃these　words　broke　from
his　lips　with　a　hiss〃has　given　her　many　cattle　and　hidden　her　away
either　in　the　kloof　of　Zikali　the　Wise；　or　near　to　it；　under　his　care。　
Now；　if　the　war　should　go　against　Umbelazi　and　I　should　be　killed　in　it；
I　think　evil　will　fall　upon　that　woman's　head；　I　who　have　grown　sure
that　it　was　she　who　was　the　wizard　and　not　Masapo　the　Boar。　　Also；　as
one　connected　with　Umbelazi；　who　has　helped　him　in　his　plots；　she　will
be　killed　if　she　is　caught。　　Macumazahn；　hearken　to　me。　　I　will　tell　you
the　truth。　　My　heart　is　still　on　fire　for　that　woman。　　She　has　bewitched
me；　her　eyes　haunt　my　sleep　and　I　hear　her　voice　in　the　wind。　　She　is
more　to　me　than　all　the　earth　and　all　the　sky；　and　although　she　has
wronged　me　I　do　not　wish　that　harm　should　come　to　her。　　Macumazahn；　I
pray　you　if　I　die；　do　your　best　to　befriend　her；　even　though　it　be　only
as　a　servant　in　your　house；　for　I　think　that　she　cares　more　for　you　than
for　anyone；　who　only　ran　away　with　him〃and　he　pointed　in　the　direction
that　Umbelazi　had　taken〃because　he　is　a　prince；　who；　in　her　folly；　she
believes　will　be　a　king。　　At　least　take　her　to　Natal；　Macumazahn；　where；
if　you　wish　to　be　free　of　her；　she　can　marry　whom　she　will　and　will　live
safe　until　night　comes。　　Panda　loves　you　much；　and；　whoever　conquers　in
the　war；　will　give　you　her　life　if　you　ask　it　of　him。〃

Then　this　strange　man　drew　the　back　of　his　hand　across　his　eyes；　from
which　I　saw　the　tears　were　running；　and；　muttering；　〃If　you　would　have
good　fortune　remember　my　prayer；〃　turned　and　left　me　before　I　could
answer　a　single　word。

As　for　me；　I　sat　down　upon　an　ant…heap　and　whistled　a　whole　hymn　tune
that　my　mother　had　taught　me　before　I　could　think　at　all。　　To　be　left
the　guardian　of　Mameena！　　Talk　of　a　〃damnosa　hereditas；〃　a　terrible　and
mischievous　inheritancewhy；　this　was　the　worst　that　ever　I　heard　of。　
A　servant　in　my　house　indeed；　knowing　what　_I_　did　about　her！　　Why；　I
had　sooner　share　the　〃good　fortune〃　which　Umbelazi　anticipated　beneath
the　sod。　　However；　that　was　not　in　the　question；　and　without　it　the
alternative　of　acting　as　her　guardian　was　bad　enough；　though　I　comforted
myself　with　the　reflection　that　the　circumstances　in　which　this　would
become　necessary　might　never　arise。　　For；　alas！　I　was　sure　that　if　they
did　arise　I　should　have　to　live　up　to　them。　　True；　I　had　made　no　promise
to　Saduko　with　my　lips；　but　I　felt；　as　I　knew　he　felt；　that　this　promise
had　passed　from　my　heart　to　his。

〃That　thief　Umbelazi！〃　　Strange　words　to　be　uttered　by　a　great　vassal　of
his　lord；　and　both　of　them　about　to　enter　upon　a　desperate　enterprise。　
〃A　prince　whom　in　her　folly　she　believes　will　be　a　king。〃　　Stranger
words　still。　　Then　Saduko　did　not　believe　that　he　_would_　be　a　king！　
And　yet　he　was　about　to　share　the　fortunes　of　his　fight　for　the　throne；
he　who　said　that　his　heart　was　still　on　fire　for　the　woman　whom
〃Umbelazi　the　thief〃　had　stolen。　　Well；　if　I　were　Umbelazi；　thought　I　to
myself；　I　would　rather　that　Saduko　were　not　my　chief　councillor　and
general。　　But；　thank　Heaven！　I　was　not　Umbelazi；　or　Saduko；　or　any　of
them！　　And；　thank　Heaven　still　more；　I　was　going　to　begin　my　trek　from
Zululand　on　the　morrow！

Man　proposes　but　God　disposes。　　I　did　not　trek　from　Zululand　for　many　a
long　day。　　When　I　got　back　to　my　wagons　it　was　to　find　that　my　oxen　had
mysteriously　disappeared　from　the　veld　on　which　they　were　accustomed　to
graze。　　They　were　lost；　or　perhaps　they　had　felt　the　urgent　need　of
trekking　from　Zululand　back　to　a　more　peaceful　country。　　I　sent　all　the
hunters　I　had　with　me　to　look　for　them；　only　Scowl　and　I　remaining　at
the　wagons；　which　in　those　disturbed　times　I　did　not　like　to　leave
unguarded。

Four　days　went　by；　a　week　went　by；　and　no　sign　of　either　hunters　or
oxen。　　Then　at　last　a　message；　which　reached　me　in　some　roundabout
fashion；　to　the　effect　that　the　hunters　had　found　the　oxen　a　long　way
off；　but　on　trying　to　return　to　Nodwengu　had　been　driven　by　some　of　the
Usututhat　is；　by　Cetewayo's　partyacross　the　Tugela　into　Natal；
whence　they　dared　not　attempt　to　return。

For　once　in　my　life　I　went　into　a　rage　and　cursed　that　nondescript　kind
of　messenger；　sent　by　I　know　not　whom；　in　language　that　I　think　he　will
not　forget。　　Then；　realising　the　futility　of　swearing　at　a　mere　tool；　I
went　up　to　the　Great　House　and　demanded　an　audience　with　Panda　himself。　
Presently　the　inceku；　or　household　servant；　to　whom　I　gave　my　message；
returned；　saying　that　I　was　to　be　admitted　at　once；　and　on　entering　the
enclosure　I　found　the　King　sitting　at　the　head　of　the　kraal　quite　alone；
except　for　a　man　who　was　holding　a　large　shield　over　him　in　order　to
keep　off　the　sun。

He　greeted　me　warmly；　and　I　told　him　my　trouble　about　the　oxen；　whereon
he　sent　away　the　shield…holder；　leaving　us　two　together。

〃Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　said；　〃why　do　you　blame　me　for　these　events；　when
you　know　that　I　am　nobody　in　my　own　House？　　I　say　that　I　am　a　dead　man；
whose　sons　fight　for　his　inheritance。　　I　cannot　tell　you　for　certain　who
it　was　that　drove　away　your　oxen。　　Still；　I　am　glad　that　they　are　gone；
since　I　believe　that　if　you　had　attempted　to　trek　to　Natal　just　now　you
would　have　been　killed　on　the　road　by　the　Usutu；　who　believe　you　to　be　a
councillor　of　Umbelazi。〃

〃I　understand；　O　King；〃　I　answered；　〃and　I　dare　say　that　the　accident　of
the　loss　of　my　oxen　is　fortunate　for　me。　　But　tell　me　now；　what　am　I　to
do？　　I　wish　to　follow　the　example　of　John　Dunn　＇another　white　man　in　the
country　who　was　much　mixed　up　with　Zulu　politics＇　and　leave　the　land。　
Will　you　give　me　more　oxen　to　draw　my　wagons？〃

〃I　have　none　that　are　broken　in；　Macumazahn；　for；　as　you　know；　we　Zulus
possess　few　wagons；　and　if　I　had　I　would　not　lend　them　to　you；　who　do
not　desire　that　your　blood　should　be　upon　my　head。〃

〃You　are　hiding　something　from　me；　O　King；〃　I　said　bluntly。　　〃What　is　it
that　you　want　me　to　do？　　Stay　here　at　Nodwengu？〃

〃No；　Macumazahn。　　When　the　trouble　begins　I　want　you　to　go　with　a
regiment　of　my　own　that　I　shall　send　to　the　assistance　of　my　son；
Umbelazi；　so　that　he　may　have　the　benefit　of　your　wisdom。　　O　Macumazana；
I　will　tell　you　the　truth。　　My　heart　loves　Umbelazi；　and　I　fear　me　that
he　is　overmatched　by　Cetewayo。　　If　I　could　I　would　save　his　life；　but　I
know　not　how　to　do　so；　since　I　must　not　seem　to　take　sides　too　openly。　
But　I　can　send　down　a　regiment　as　your　escort；　if　you　choose　to　go　to
view　the　battle　as　my　agent　and　make　report　to　me。　　Say；　will　you　not
go？〃

〃Why　should　I　go？〃　I　answered；　〃seeing　that　whoever　wins　I　may　be
killed；　and　that　if　Cetewayo　wins　I　shall　certainly　be　killed；　and　all
for　no　reward。〃

〃Nay；　Macumazahn；　I　will　give　orders　that　whoever　conquers；　the　man　that
dares　to　lift　a　spear　against　you　shall　die。　　In　this　matter；　at　least；
I　shall　not　be　disobeyed。　　Oh！　I　pray　you；　do　not　desert　me　in　my
trouble。　　Go　down　with　the　regiment　that　I　shall　send　and　breathe　your
wisdom　into　the　ear　of　my　son；　Umbelazi。　　As　for　your　reward；　I　swear　to
you　by　the　head　of　the　Black　One　＇Chaka＇　that　it　shall　be　great。　　I　will
see　to　it　that　you　do　not　leave　Zululand　empty…handed；　Macumazahn。〃

Still　I　hesitated；　for　I　mistrusted　me　of　this　business。

〃O　Watcher…by…Night；〃　exclaimed　Panda；　〃you　will　not　desert　me；　will
you？　　I　am　afraid　for　the　son　of　my　heart；　Umbelazi；　whom　I　love　above
all　my　children；　I　am　much　afraid　for　Umbelazi；〃　and　he　burst　into　tears
before　me。

It　was　foolish；　no　doubt；　but　the　sight　of　the　old　King　weeping　for　his
best…beloved　child；　whom　he　believed　to　be　doomed；　moved　me　so　much　that
I　forgot　my　caution。

〃If　you　wish　it；　O　Panda；〃　I　said；　〃I　will　go　down　to　the　battle　with
your　regiment　and　stand　there　by　the　side　of　the　Prince　Umbelazi。〃



CHAPTER　XIII




UMBELAZI　THE　FALLEN





So　I　stayed　on　at　Nodwengu；　who；　indeed；　had　no　choice　in　the　matter；
and　was　very　wretched　and　ill　at　ease。　　The　place　was　almost　deserted；
except　for　a　couple　of　regiments　which　were　quartered　there；　the　Sangqu
and　the　Amawombe。　　This　latter　was　the　royal　regiment；　a　kind　of
Household　Guards；　to　which　the　Kings　Chaka；　Dingaan　and　Panda　all
belonged　in　turn。　　Most　of　the　headmen　had　taken　one　side　or　the　other；
and　were　away　raising　forces　to　fight　for　Cetewayo　or　Umbelazi；　and　even
the　greater　part　of　the　women　and　children　had　gone　to　hide　themselves
in　the　bush　or　among　the　mountains；　since　none　knew　what　would　happen；
or　if　the　conquering　army　would　not　fall　upon　and　destroy　th