Part 11 (1/2)
Now Masapo sat silent, for he saw that he who thought to snare a baboon had caught a tiger.
”You do not speak, O Chief of the little Amansomi,” went on Saduko, who was beside himself with rage and jealousy. ”You will not leave your beef and beer to hunt the hyenas who are captained by an umfokazana! Well, then, the umfokazana will speak,” and, stepping up to Masapo, with the spear he carried poised in his right hand, Saduko grasped his rival's short beard with his left.
”Listen, Chief,” he said. ”You and I are enemies. You seek the woman I seek, and, mayhap, being rich, you will buy her. But if so, I tell you that I will kill you and all your House, you sneaking, half-bred dog!”
With these fierce words he spat in his face and tumbled him backwards.
Then, before anyone could stop him, for Umbezi, and even Masapo's headmen, seemed paralysed with surprise, he stalked through the kraal gate, saying as he pa.s.sed me:
”Inkoosi, I have words for you when you are at liberty.”
”You shall pay for this,” roared Umbezi after him, turning almost green with rage, for Masapo still lay upon his broad back, speechless, ”you who dare to insult my guest in my own house.”
”Somebody must pay,” cried back Saduko from the gate, ”but who it is only the unborn moons will see.”
”Mameena,” I said as I followed him, ”you have set fire to the gra.s.s, and men will be burned in it.”
”I meant to, Mac.u.mazahn,” she answered calmly. ”Did I not tell you that there was a flame in me, and it will break out sometimes? But, Mac.u.mazahn, it is you who have set fire to the gra.s.s, not I. Remember that when half Zululand is in ashes. Farewell, O Mac.u.mazana, till we meet again, and,” she added softly, ”whoever else must burn, may the spirits have _you_ in their keeping.”
At the gate, remembering my manners, I turned to bid that company a polite farewell. By now Masapo had gained his feet, and was roaring out like a bull:
”Kill him! Kill the hyena! Umbezi, will you sit still and see me, your guest--me, Masapo--struck and insulted under the shadow of your own hut?
Go forth and kill him, I say!”
”Why not kill him yourself, Masapo,” asked the agitated Umbezi, ”or bid your headmen kill him? Who am I that I should take precedence of so great a chief in a matter of the spear?” Then he turned towards me, saying: ”Oh, Mac.u.mazahn the crafty, if I have dealt well by you, come here and give me your counsel.”
”I come, Eater-up-of-Elephants,” I answered, and I did.
”What shall I do--what shall I do?” went on Umbezi, brus.h.i.+ng the perspiration off his brow with one hand, while he wrung the other in his agitation. ”There stands a friend of mine”--he pointed to the infuriated Masapo--”who wishes me to kill another friend of mine,” and he jerked his thumb towards the kraal gate. ”If I refuse I offend one friend, and if I consent I bring blood upon my hands which will call for blood, since, although Saduko is poor, without doubt he has those who love him.”
”Yes,” I answered, ”and perhaps you will bring blood upon other parts of yourself besides your hands, since Saduko is not one to sit still like a sheep while his throat is cut. Also did he not say that he is not quite alone? Umbezi, if you will take my advice, you will leave Masapo to do his own killing.”
”It is good; it is wise!” exclaimed Umbezi. ”Masapo,” he called to that warrior, ”if you wish to fight, pray do not think of me. I see nothing, I hear nothing, and I promise proper burial to any who fall. Only you had best be swift, for Saduko is walking away all this time. Come, you and your people have spears, and the gate stands open.”
”Am I to go without my meat in order to knock that hyena on the head?”
asked Masapo in a brave voice. ”No, he can wait my leisure. Sit still, my people. I tell you, sit still. Tell him, you Mac.u.mazahn, that I am coming for him presently, and be warned to keep yourself away from him, lest you should tumble into his hole.”
”I will tell him,” I answered, ”though I know not who made me your messenger. But listen to me, you Speaker of big words and Doer of small deeds, if you dare to lift a finger against me I will teach you something about holes, for there shall be one or more through that great carca.s.s of yours.”
Then, walking up to him, I looked him in the face, and at the same time tapped the handle of the big double-barrelled pistol I carried.
He shrank back muttering something.
”Oh, don't apologise,” I said, ”only be more careful in future. And now I wish you a good dinner, Chief Masapo, and peace upon your kraal, friend Umbezi.”
After this speech I marched off, followed by the clamour of Masapo's furious attendants and the sound of Mameena's light and mocking laughter.
”I wonder which of them she will marry?” I thought to myself, as I set out for the wagons.