Never before, _Nkose_--not even in the days when I was young, and for my
swiftness and endurance was chosen by Umzilikazi as his chief runner--
did I cover the ground as I did that night, wherefore the night was not
very far spent when I reached the kraal where I had left Mgwali and my
four followers. At me came a troop of dogs, opened-mouthed and baying,
but I hammered them soundly with my knobstick, and, recognising me as no
enemy, they slunk away yelping and ashamed. But the people turned out,
in some alarm, wondering at the suddenness of this midnight
disturbance--wondering still more on beholding me; for it was easy to
see that I had been running fast and far.
I went into the hut of the headman, and while I was refreshing myself
with a bowl of _amasi_, I issued my orders.
"Listen, Mgwali. Remember you the two shrubs just below the highest
point of Inkume, beneath which we speared the she-leopard when last we
hunted here?"
"Perfectly, son of my father."
"Good. At that point lie five Amazulu--warriors of Dingane. These are
the eyes of a mighty _impi_ which is advancing against us from the
south. But the eyes of Umzilikazi must take the place of the eyes of
Dingane."
"_Ou_! I am ready, _induna_ of the King!" cried my brother, springing
to his feet, and gripping his shield and weapons.
"_Gahle_!" I said putting out a restraining hand. "Take the four who
accompanied us hither, and, for security's sake, take other four or
five, so shall you be two to one."
Then, Malula, the headman of the kraal, called up two of his sons and
three other young men, and ordered them to proceed with Mgwali.
"Now," I said, "the way is long, but the night is still young, and so
are ye. Hearken, son of my father, and all of you. Before break of day
must this be done. Not one of those warriors of Dingane _must leave his
post_. If but one escapes, why, then shall ye all writhe upon a seat of
pain for many days. When you have taken their places, and they sleep
forever, send down one of your number to pass along the word to me and
to the Great Great One; then shall ye have further orders when to
signal, and how. Mgwali is chief of this party. Now go."
They started, those youths, and I knew that if a single one of
Mhlangana's outlook escaped, it would only be because Mgwali and his
nine followers were all dead.
Now, I started too, being refreshed, and as I went straight as a line
for Kwa'zingwenya, I posted runners at different points of the way, for
such, _Nkose_, is our system when we desire to pass the word quickly;
and, indeed, I think the wonderful speaking wires of you white people
can hardly convey tidings with greater swiftness. Further, I despatched
messengers to every kraal on that side of the country, that every man
should proceed swiftly, but secretly, to Shushuya, the military kraal of
the "Scorpions" regiment, but for the rest none were to flee, and the
women and cattle were to go about as usual, and that, did any fail to do
this, or seek to flee in panic, assuredly that kraal should be eaten up
and its people given over to the assegai. This, in case Mhlangana had
other pickets out overlooking our country, for, did the royal general
learn that we were not unprepared, it might bring about an entire
alteration in his plans, and, of course, in mine. All these orders I
gave without halting, they who received them running by my side as I
ran. Nor did I fear failure to obey them; for the women, however they
might dread the chance of the spears of Mhlangana, would still more fear
the certainty of those of Umzilikazi. And the word of a war-captain of
my standing at such a time was as the word of the King himself.
Now, as I ran, my mind was busy with the plan I had formed, which was
simple. The _impi_ from Zululand should be signalled to advance by
Mgwali and our people, who had slain and taken the place of its own
outpost. Once in the hollow formed by the spurs of the mountain closing
down upon the Place of the Three Rifts, it should be fallen upon by our
entire force--save a portion placed in reserve at the narrowest point in
the pass; and, being thus taken completely by surprise, I had little
doubt but that a panic would ensue which should place it entirely at our
mercy. _Whau_! In that event not many warriors would return to Dingane
to tell how deadly was the goring of the horns of the Black Bull whose
kraal lay in the north. Nor had I much fear lest the invader's plan
should be altered; for the counsels of Silwane and the others would
weigh with Mhlangana; and the bent of those counsels I had fully
gathered what time I was receiving royal homage when the moon grew
black.
Never had I known till then, _Nkose_, how great was the secret dread
which our King had entertained for the might of Dingane. For when I
reached Kwa'zingwenya, and unfolded to him my discovery--the peril that
threatened us, and the steps I had taken to meet it--his whole mien grew
dark as the moon had done over the Place of the Three Rifts, as troubled
as the stirring of shrill winds among the scud of the storm wrack.
"Know you, Untuswa, that we have little more than half our strength to
fall back upon?" he said. "Kalipe's force is away, and of its return
there is no sign."
"Let swift runners be sent to meet it, Great Great One. It may yet
arrive in time. Failing that, the pass of the Inkume shall be to the
_impi_ of Dingane and Mhlangana what the pass of Kwahlamba was to that
of Tshaka."
"Great talk!" growled the King. "But I think, Untuswa, thou art not
much greater than a fool; for instead of yet further delaying our
enemies, while speaking with the mouth of Mhlangana, and thus allowing
time for Kalipe's return, thou didst even hurry on the hour of the
battle."
"Had I done otherwise suspicion would have been aroused, and the _impi_
would have been thrown forward at once. Then what time should we have
had to muster our forces, O Black Elephant? Now, instead of the hunting
dogs of Dingane and Mhlangana surprising us, it is we who shall surprise
them, father of a new nation."
"Ha! that sounds not so ill," muttered Umzilikazi.
"There is yet more, Serpent of Might," I said. "Had suspicion been
aroused, that moment I were assuredly dead. Who then would have carried
warning of the approach of those who come against us?"
"That is true, son of Ntelani. And so they cried the `_Bayete_'? And
for once thou wert a king."
Now I liked not Umzilikazi's tone, for it was bitter and jeering--
suspicious, too. But his next words scattered all apprehensions on my
own account.
"This sorceress--she shall be slain." He was muttering more to himself
than to me. "She it is who has brought her own people upon us."
"The will of the Great Great One stands," I said. "Yet let the King
pause; for weighty has been the service she has rendered us."
Umzilikazi looked at me, and his face was clouded with suspicion.
"So, Untuswa? I begin to see," he said. "The men of Mhlangana are
coming to set up a new King here--and a new Queen! Ah, ah, Untuswa, she
is fair--the strange sorceress!" he jeered.
"Now have the dreams of the King been bad--even as at the time of
Ncwelo's conspiracy," I replied, bold as ever. "If you doubt your
servant, Father, slay him now, or after we have rolled back the men of
Mhlangana."