Part 3 (1/2)
”When you have seen Mameena, Macumazahn, you will say that the choice was very wise Well, Zikali, Opener of Doors, laughed loudly when he heard it 'The ox seeks the fat pasture, but the young bull the rough raze,' he said; 'and after all, a bull is better than an ox Now begin to travel your own road, Son of Matiwane, and from time to time return to the Black Kloof and tell me how it fares with you I will promise you not to die before I know the end of it'
”Now, Macus that hitherto have lived in u is in ill favour with Panda, whom he defies in his mountain, and I have a promise--never mind how--that he who kills him will be called to no account and may keep his cattle Will you coht?”
”Get thee behind lish, then added in Zulu: ”I don't know If your story is true I should have no objection to helping to kill Bangu; but I must learn lotson a shooting trip to-morroith Umbezi the Fat, and I like you, O Chooser of the Road of Spears and Blood Will you be un with twohis hand in salute with a flash of his dark eyes, ”you are generous, you honour me What is there that I should love better? Yet,” he added, and his face fell, ”first I must ask Zikali the Little, Zikali my foster-father”
”Oh!” I said, ”so you are still tied to the Wizard's girdle, are you?”
”Not so, Macuo that I would undertake no enterprise, save that you know of, until I had spoken with him”
”How far off does Zikali live?” I asked Saduko
”One day's journeying Starting at sunrise I can be there by sunset”
”Good! Then I will put off the shooting for three days and come with you if you think that this wonderful old dill receive me”
”I believe that he will, Macumazahn, for this reason--he told me that I should meet you and love you, and that you would be mixed up in ourd instead of beer,” I answered
”Would you keepto such foolishness e o,” he answered with a little smile ”But if this is so, O Macumazana, why do you also wish to drink of the moonshi+ne of Zikali?”
and he went
Yet I did not sleep very well that night, for Saduko and his strange and terrible story had taken a hold of reatly wished to see this Zikali, of whoreat deal in past years I wished further to find out if he was a co, like so many witch-doctors, this dho announced that my fortunes were mixed up with those of his foster-son, and who at least could telltrue or false about the history and position of Bangu, a person for who dislike, possibly quite unjustified by the facts But more than all did I wish to see Mameena, whose beauty or talents produced so much impression upon the native mind Perhaps if I went to see Zikali she would be back at her father's kraal before we started on our shooting trip
Thus it was then that fate wove e events; terrible, tragic and complete indeed as those of a Greek play, as it has often done both before and since those days
CHAPTER II THE MOONshi+NE OF ZIKALI
On the following ood hunter always should do, just at that ti can be seen but a little grey glint of light which he knows is reflected from the horns of the cattle tied to the trek-tow Presently, however, I saw another glint of light which I guessed came from the spear of Saduko, as seated by the ashes of the cooking fire wrapped in his kaross of wildcat skins Slipping fro-box, I came behind him softly and touched him on the shoulder He leapt up with a start which revealed his nervous nature, then recognising loom, said:
”You are early, Macumazahn”
”Of course,” I answered; ”ao to Umbezi and tell hi trip on the thirdfrom to-day”
So ent, to find that Umbezi was in a hut with his last wife and asleep Fortunately enough, however, as under the circumstances I did not wish to disturb him, outside the hut we found the Old Cohose sore ear had kept her very wide awake, who, for purposes of her own, although etiquette did not allow her to enter the hut, aiting for her husband to e examined her wound and rubbed soe Next I woke upon a short journey, and that he s until my return; and while I did so, took a nip of raw ru, that is sun-dried flesh, and biscuits
Then, taking with un, that same little Purdey rifle hich I shot the vultures on the Hill of Slaughter at Dingaan's Kraal,[] we started on foot, for I would not risk my only horse on such a journey
[--For the story of this shooting of the vultures by Allan Quaterh journey it proved to be indeed, over a series of bush-clad hills that at their crests were covered with rugged stones a which no horse could have travelled Up and down these hills ent, and across the valleys that divided the so day I have always been held a good walker, being by nature very light and active; but I am bound to say that my companion taxed my powers to the ut ahead of me at such a rate that at times I was forced to break into a run to keep up with hih my pride would not suffer me to complain, since as a matter of principle I would never adh was I when, towards evening, Saduko sat himself down on a stone at the top of a hill and said: