"_Bayete, Nkulu-nkulu_!
Father! we thy children have found thee at last!
Lo! long have we wandered weeping, but now we are comforted.
Come forth and show us the brightness of thy head-ring."
Thus sang a great half circle of armed warriors, mustered on the slope
beneath Dingane's place of concealment.
Thus again and again they sang, but still Dingane did not appear.
For I had fulfilled my errand, _Nkose_, and this was the result--an
array of warriors nearly as large as the original strength of the
Amandebeli what time we followed Umzilikazi over the mountains. I had
gone hither and thither, had turned night into day, had not spared
myself, or feared danger. I had found out and rallied all the scattered
bands which at heart had remained faithful to Dingane. I had drawn men
from the kraals of Mpande himself, and from beneath the very shadow of
the camps of the Amabuna. But one moon had died since I took leave of
the King--I alone. Yet here I was, returning at the head of a splendid
army--an army nearly as large as that with which Umzilikazi had founded
a new nation. In truth, Dingane had not trusted me in vain.
Here were Silwane and Nomapela, and others of the old war-captains.
Here was a remnant of the old Imbele-bele regiment--the Bapongqolo, too,
my staunch refugees--and as much of the army as had survived the defeat
by Nongalaza. All had in truth thought Dingane to be dead, but as I
passed through their midst carrying word to the contrary, they had
sprung to arms, and mustering swiftly and secretly, had returned to do
_konza_ to their rightful King. And here they were.
Now they redoubled their entreaties, singing louder and louder their
songs of praise.
Sun of suns, come forth in thy brightness;
We thy children sit in darkest night.
If thou wilt not show us thy face.
Lion of Zulu--thy cubs still have teeth,
Teeth that are sharpened for war.
This time the King appeared. But before the great burst of _sibonga_
which greeted his presence had died away he turned his back and retired,
for by this means he chose to mark his displeasure over their seeming
desertion.
Again and again they howled forth their songs of praise and entreaty.
The King appeared again. This time he did not go back. He surveyed
them a few moments in silence, then he called:
"Come hither, Untuswa."