Part 17 (1/2)

”Son of Matiwane,” said the King, ”I have heard all the story of hoith a su and most of the men of the Amakoba, and ate up their cattle every one”

”Your pardon, Black One,” interrupted Saduko ”I a It was Macuht me how to snare the Amakoba, after they were decoyed from their mountain, and it was Tshoza, my uncle, who loosed the cattle fro, except to strike a blow or tith a spear when I must, just as a baboon throws stones at those ould steal its young”

”I alad to see that you are no boaster, Saduko,” said Panda ”Would that more of the Zulus were like you in that s about little things At least, Bangu was killed and his proud tribe hulad that this happened withoutmixed up with the business, for I tell you that there are sou But I--I loved your father, Matiwane, whoether as boys--yes, and served together in the saiment, the Amawombe, when the Wild One,the Zulus the nas are hlonipa--that is, they must not be spoken if it can be avoided)

”Therefore,” went on Panda, ”for this reason, and for others, I aeance has crawled after hith he has been tossed with its horns and crushed with its knees”

”Yebo, Ngonyama!” (Yes, O Lion!) said Saduko

”Now, Saduko,” went on Panda, ”because you are your father's son, and because you have shown yourself a h you are still little in the land, I aive to you the chieftainshi+p over those who rewane blood who pleases,” said Saduko

”And I give you leave to becoh, as you have said, you are still but a boy, and with it a place uponpleases,” said Saduko, still apparently un heaped upon him

”And, Son of Matiwane,” went on Panda, ”you are still unmarried, are you not?”

Now, for the first tied ”Yes, Black One,” he said hurriedly, ”but--”

Here he caughtin it, was silent

”But,” repeated Panda after him, ”doubtless you would like to be? Well, it is natural in a young ive you leave to marry”

”Yebo, Silo!” (Yes, O Wild Beast!) ”I thank the King, but--”

Here I sneezed loudly, and he ceased

”But,” repeated Panda, ”of course, you do not knohere to find a wife between the time the hawk stoops and the rat squeaks in its claws How should you who have never thought of the matter? Also,” he continued, with a sht of it, since she whoive to you could not live in the second hut in your kraal and call another 'Inkosikazi' [that is, head lady or chieftainess]

Uht as a bride for this boy”

Now Umbelazi rose, and ith a broad sued with all his speech---for he was very fat and the day was very hot--leaned his head back against the hut and closed his eyes

”O Black One! O thou who consuamandhla]” broke out Saduko, who, I could see, wasto say to you”

”No doubt, no doubt,” answered Panda drowsily, ”but save up your thanks till you have seen, or you will have none left afterwards,” and he snored slightly

Now I, perceiving that Saduko was about to ruin hih what business of mine it was to do so I cannot say

At any rate, if only I had held ue at this moment, and allowed Saduko to make a fool of himself, as he wished to do--for where Mameena was concerned he never could be wise--I verily believe that all the history of Zululand would have run a different course, and that many thousands of men, white and black, who are now dead would be alive to-day But Fate ordered it otherwise Yes, it was not I who spoke, but Fate The Angel of Doo that Panda dozed, I slipped behind Saduko and gripped him by the arm

”Are you mad?” I whispered into his ear ”Will you throay your fortune, and your life also?”