Part 27 (2/2)
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, Mac.u.mazahn?” 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, Mac.u.mazahn, 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:
”Mac.u.mazahn, 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.
Mac.u.mazahn, 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. Mac.u.mazahn, 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. Mac.u.mazahn, 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, Mac.u.mazahn, 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 ”d.a.m.nosa hereditas,” a terrible and mischievous inheritance--why, 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 antic.i.p.ated 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 circ.u.mstances 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 pa.s.sed from my heart to his.
”That thief Umbelazi!” Strange words to be uttered by a great va.s.sal 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 G.o.d 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 fas.h.i.+on, 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 Usutu--that is, by Cetewayo's party--across 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 s.h.i.+eld 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 s.h.i.+eld-holder, leaving us two together.
”Watcher-by-Night,” he said, ”why do you blame me for these events, when you know that I am n.o.body 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, Mac.u.mazahn, 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, Mac.u.mazahn. When the trouble begins I want you to go with a regiment of my own that I shall send to the a.s.sistance of my son, Umbelazi, so that he may have the benefit of your wisdom. O Mac.u.mazana, 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.”
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