Part 4 (2/2)
”Find hi, with a sweep of the hand
The three ere learners of Masuka's sorcery sprang to their feet, and began to intone the witch-finding chant Then they ran softly hither and thither, striking the ground with their tail-tipped wands
But the old Mosutu hiid and
The three witch-finders, running lightly, entered a the people, for lanes had been left between the densely-serried ranks As they advanced down these a dread silence lay upon all Tens of thousands of eyeballs rolled white in chill apprehension There alone, gloo, terrible in his fell and destroying wrath
Even I, as in the counsels of the Great Great One, felt a shi+ver of awe; re, too, the words ht conspirators
Down the ranks went the witch-finders, chanting, and twirling their rods And behind therim and fearsome coht of expectancy upon their dread faces, as each held his thong ready, grasping in a cruel grip the heavy knobstick
Ha! The witch-finders have halted, and their singing rises shrill and loud Ais about his neck, and two of the slayers are leading hi hihter--to die!
Two more now are touched! They also are led forth in like asp, like a sob, sways the multitude; and in dead silence a way is opened out for these ill-fated ones, passing through to their death Then, as the people take up onceat the King's side, names aloud those who have thus looked their last upon the sun
But the progress of the _izanusi_ continues, and by the tih the ranks soing up the slope outside the kraal, in the direction of the place of slaughter--they and their slayers--and, in the dead and awesoain falls upon the i of broken skulls, and the distant and hollow groans, as the great knobsticks of the executioners are already beginning their fell work And still the line of doo to the hill of death; and far above, like a gathering cloud in the heavens, the white pinions of vultures are wheeling and soaring, ireat destruction of evil-doers has never yet been theirs since they began to follow ournation for their food
By the tiathered together, upwards of fourscorebody of slayers, with disappointment upon their fierce countenances, stole envious looks out towards the place of death, where the crash of knobsticks and the hollow groans of the doomed had almost ceased Not a cry, however, floated fro those named All arriors; and the warriors of our race faced death in those days without a cry, albeit the groan which often followed the crash of the knobstick was the voice of the parting _itongo_, or spirit, not of the body which had contained it And of those who had been named a number were of Ncwelo's kraal; others were of the houses of other chiefs, including that of Senkonya; sohters These last, on being touched, were immediately disarmed by their brethren, and turned over to the slayers
Nohen the three witch-finders had completed their task, and returned once ladness went up from all the people--a very heave of the bosom of a whole nation relieved; and with one voice all broke forth into a fierce song of thanksgiving that so ati_ had been removed from their midst
But I, if nobody else, knew that they were crying aloud their thanks too soon For areat distinction, albeit a petty chief or two I kneever, that the greater nureat note There was to be yet another stage in this griame, whose stakes were the lives of ic,” said the King, as the three young _izanusi_ returned to his presence, their eyeballs rolling, and theirfoae of their dread office ”Well have ye done; and the wizard spells of those ye have nas of yonder vultures?”--with a glance in the direction of the hill of slaughter, upon which alreadydown ”Still the blood which has been shed is not dry Who aates? _Hau_! I a!”--and now the tone was fierce and bitter, and those who listened trembled once more ”I am a servant--a slave--lower than the lowest of the Aates are made known
Wherefore, now, Masuka, hasten to rid us of them, so that we may sleep in peace once more There are yet those who have not been within touch of the wand”
A dead silence of eagerness and awe fell upon all the people at these words For the only ones who had not been within touch of the witch-finder's ere the _izinduna_ grouped at the side of the King, and the _izanusi_ themselves Could it be that from these more victims were to be chosen? A flash of anxiety was to be seen on the faces of more than one of the councillors; and I, from where I stood, a little way down the circle of armed men, saw just such a shade of fear flit across that of Tyuyumane My father's lined features, however, only puckered into a conte's behest, Notalwa rushed forward howling that noas the tier's _muti_ had been tried, and that noas his own turn
Kalipe was standing near the Great Great One, and as the head _izanusi_ thus bounded forward he advanced a pace, and I could see that he held his broad _uripped, and in readiness So, too, did the picked warriors ranged at his back; and I, who knehat underlay all this, was likewise prepared to spring up, and deal forth death But U with his broad-bladed spear, similar to the one which he had bestowed upon ht, as he lances of Notalwa and the _izanusi_
”Patience!” he said, softly and pleasantly, waving these back
”Proceed, Masuka”
The old Mosutuassistants, who started off in the direction of theupon his head a large bowl of burnt clay This was lowered to the earth, and now I knew that so terrible would be manifested; for I had already looked into that bowl s had been shown me, which, indeed, came to pass, as you know, _Nkose_
The boas half-filled with so, liquid; and over this old Masuka crouched, spreading forth his skinny and clawlike hands; now chanting high, shrill snatches of a strange song, now ue Then he looked up
”Draw near, Black Elephant, thou ruler of the world,” he said ”Look in the face of this _muti_, and say what thou seest”
U with azed doard into the bowl All the people held their breath for awe
”I see a face,” he said ”Yes; it is the face of aon Hither, Mcumbete! Look with me Whose is the face?”