"Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in
attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march,
no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked,
Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his
wives.
"`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would
ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone
together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a
distance, and in humble attitude. But, then, me he regarded as a child.
`Well, Untuswa, and what think you of this stranger _izanusi_, whom
Gungana has brought us? Is it for good or for ill that he is among us?'
"`Who am I, that I should presume to answer such a question, O Great
Great One?' I said. `Yet his _muti_ was wonderful--it caused all men
to tremble.'
"The King laughed.
"`Did _I_ tremble, son of Ntelani? Was there fear in my face?' he said.
"`Fear? Fear in the eyes of the Elephant whose tread shaketh the world!
Now, my father, how could such a thing be?' I answered.
"`Good,' he said, filling out a measure of snuff. Then, with his spoon
arrested in mid-air: `I think he has come among us for good, Untuswa.
Gungana did well to spare his life and bring him hither.'
"Now, I bethought me that this praise should have been mine. Had the
King's mind been different on the matter, then Gungana was welcome to
all the responsibility of it. Now, not so. Wherefore I said--being
young, and believing as we still do when young, that right, and not
might, is right:
"`That is but a blind side of the case, O Black Black One! I it was who
spared the old Mosutu's life--who not only spared, but saved it--and
that in order that he might show the powers of his _muti_ before the
eyes of the King.'
"And then I told the whole tale of how I had saved the magician from the
spears even of my brethren-in-arms. But I was not quite prepared for
the manner in which it was received.
"`So, Untuswa, you are a bigger man than your _induna_?' said
Umzilikazi, in that quiet, half-laughing, but terrible voice he took
when he desired to make men's hearts tremble within them. `And did you
think, then, to tell me what I knew not--I, to whom all things are
known; to whom not a single thing passes unknown, Untuswa, not one
single thing?'
"_Au, Nkose_! Then, as the King spoke these words, I knew what fear was
if I had never known before. For I thought of Nangeza, and of the sure
penalty that we had incurred. No wonder that, with the King's terrible
eyes upon me, seeming to burn the very thoughts out of my breast--no
wonder, _Nkose_, I should have felt myself growing grey with fear. But
I cried aloud in praise of the wisdom of the Great Great One, and so
akin is the most desperate fear to the most intrepid valour, that I--at
that moment when the King was in the most to be dreaded of all his
moods--took upon myself to urge my claim to the promised reward. Even
while doing so I felt that I was digging my own grave. But to my
surprise the King burst out laughing.
"`_Au_!' he cried. `Ntelani has bred a lion-cub indeed, and one who
knows not fear. But here again, Untuswa, are you not showing yourself,
for all your valour, to be but a child? The firing of the kraal was a
right valorous deed; yet where was the valour of it in comparison with
that of standing before the King this day, to belittle one of the King's
_indunas_, and to importune the King at a moment when he would fain
sleep? Valour without wisdom means but the destruction of its owner,
wherefore learn judgment before aspiring to the _isicoco_. Now go,
Untuswa, the would-be _kehla_.' [Head-ringed man.]
"I shouted the King's titles and went out. But although flattery was on
my tongue, hatred and fury were in my heart--the former begotten of
those mocking words, the latter of bitter and galling disappointment. I
had distinguished myself as surely no young warrior had ever done
before. I had gone singlehanded and alone into the midst of swarming
enemies, and had saved the day to our _impi_ on the point of defeat. I
had, in sparing the Mosutu witch-doctor, performed an act which was
gratifying to the King, and when I claimed credit for it, he had curtly
given me to understand that I was a fool. I had made an enemy of a
powerful _induna_ rather than forego one hair's-breadth of my claim to
distinction. All this I had done deeming my reward near at hand, and
sure; but the King had mocked me, and driven me forth with jeering
laughter. Well, whether he knew everything or not, death could come but
once, and the enjoyment of life was a thing of the present.
"Fired by these thoughts, I sped forth to the place where I knew I
should find Nangeza helping to herd her father's cattle. She was there,
even as I expected, with her little sister, Sitele. I gave her a sign
as I passed--for there were other women within sight and I dared not be
seen speaking with her--and sped on as though I were going to look for
game. But once out of sight of all, I doubled back until I came to a
deep, bushy valley which was cleft by a watercourse, now dry. Here I
sat down and waited; nor was it long before I was joined by Nangeza.
"`Ha! is that you, son of Ntelani!' she cried, pretending surprise in
case our meeting was witnessed. `I have come here to cut firewood,'
showing a thong for tying it in a bundle.
"`There is no one here. We are quite safe, for I have examined the
place well,' I answered, drawing her into a still more hidden spot.
Then I told her all that had happened, and how the King had again
refused my prayer to be allowed to _tunga_. And the worst of it was I
dared not apply again for a long time to come. It would almost
certainly cost me my life to do so.
"`Not that it matters,' I ended sorrowfully. `It seems to me, Nangeza,
that life has no more value--I, who am destined to remain an _umfane_
for ever, to do deeds of valour for which others get all the praise.'
"`I, too, have ill news for thee, Untuswa,' she said. `This day has
_lobola_ been sent to my father's house--for me.'
[Lobola: The price in cattle paid by the intending bridegroom to the
parent or guardian of a girl.]
"`Ha!' I cried. Then a sort of cold despair came over me. `And has
your father accepted it?' I said.
"`No. He says it is not enough.'
"`They all say that at first,' I answered. `But he will accept it or
demand a little more. And now, Nangeza, who is the sender of the
_lobola_?'
"`Gungana, the King's _induna_.'
"`U'gungana!' I roared, springing to my feet and gripping my assegais.
`_Hau_! I will kill him, though I die myself in doing so!'
"`_Gahle, gahle_! [Gently, gently!] Untuswa!' she cried, flinging her
arms round me, and dragging me back by main force.
"`U'Gungana! _Hau_! the jackal, the coward dog!' I went on, in the
fury and ungovernable excitement into which the news had thrown me. `He
stole the praise that was due to me! he claimed credit for the deed he
was too cowardly to perform himself! he it is who has poisoned the
King's ear against me! He shall die--shall die this day!'
"`He shall not, Untuswa. Listen now--no, you cannot fling me off. I am
too strong for even you to do that, and I will not let you go. Listen,
now, to what I have to say.'
"She spoke truly. I could not shake her off. Calmed by her voice, I
sat down gloomily to listen, and bit by bit she unfolded to me a most
amazing plan.
"`It is even as the King has just told you, son of Ntelani,' she ended
up. `Valour without wisdom is the destruction of its owner. Be guided
by me, and one day you shall be a greater man than Gungana. I shall be
your _Inkosikazi_ yet.'
[Inkosikazi: The principal wife of a chief.]
"`Hail, _Inkosikazi_! We bow down to thee! We do thee obeisance,
_Inkosikazi_!'
"And shrill screams of mocking laughter from the bush on the other side
of the _donga_ accompanied this most startling interruption.
"`Now, these spies shall die, else are the two of us dead!' I muttered
in desperation, gripping my assegais and making to spring across the
_donga_. But again Nangeza restrained me.
"`_Gahle, gahle_! Wilt thou never learn wisdom?' she whispered. `They
are but girls. Speak to them fair.'
"`Come forth,' I cried, `lest I come to seek you!'
"`Spare yourself the trouble, son of Ntelani!' they cried, laughing, and
stepping from their hiding-place.
"Three there were. Two of them were sisters; the other I recognised as
a distant relation of my father Ntelani. And then the awful
consternation which had entered my mind at the idea of our deadly plot
having been overheard gave way to relief as I remembered that Nangeza's
voice had been sunk to the lowest of whispers. Only the last words had
been uttered aloud, and these, if absurd, were not perilous. Gungana,
as the commander of my own regiment, would be a natural object of
emulation; nor was my love's ambition to see me a leader of men the less
natural.
"`Hail, _Izintombi_ [Maidens]!' I cried, with a loud laugh. `You do
well thus to greet Nangeza. For I intend to _lobola_ for all three of
you, as well as for her. Then will she be your _Inkosikazi_ indeed.'
"`Has the King already granted you the head-ring, Untuswa?' asked one of
the two sisters, when the screams of laughter with which they heard my
remark had subsided.
"`You cannot _lobola_ for all of us,' said the other girl; `for am I not
Ntelani's "sister"?'
[Sister or Cousin means `related.' The impediment of `consanguinity' is
respected with extraordinary rigour, and no Zulu will marry even the
most distant cousin, or any girl whom there may be reason to suspect of
sharing the very faintest strain of his blood.]
"`_Whau_! that is the more the pity,' I said. `As things are, I meant
to have sent _lobola_ for all three of you, although I am but poor. For
how could I make choice of one or two where all are so perfect?'
"This I said in order to keep the good word of their tongues, lest they
might whisper abroad evil concerning Nangeza and myself, for even then,
_Nkose_, I knew that the surest way to a woman's heart was to tickle her
ears with soft and pleasant speech.
"`_Yau_! Only hear him!' they cried. `The son of Ntelani has found his
tongue. Forget not, then, when the Great Great One allows thee to
_tunga_. Forget not, then, thy word. Fare thee well now, Untuswa--also
his _Inkosikazi_!'
"And away they sped, laughing and singing. Not until the sound of their
voices had died out did I again speak.
"`I had rather we had not met these, Nangeza,' I said. `What if they
chatter?'
"`That they will not do. They know you are in the King's favour,
Untuswa; besides, you are a famous fighter, and no girl among us would
do anything to injure you. But this place is too open. Come, I know of
a better.'
"We plunged into the most tangled recesses of the bush, and here, where
the boughs met overhead, with creepers trailing in long lines like the
white beards of old men, we rested. But our talk was of love, not of
the weighty plan wherein life was the stake, about which we had talked
before.
"Suddenly there was a rustling noise in the bushes close to us, and, lo!
in the most startling manner there rose up the heads of two great
_mambas_. At sight of us they gave vent to a furious hiss, waving their
crests to and fro.
"We Zulus, you know, _Nkose_, like not to kill a serpent, for the
guardian spirit who watches over us often takes that shape, and how can
we make war upon it? So when these two _mambas_ rose up against us I
lifted no weapon. I only prayed, `_O'zinyoka_, do us no hurt,' and the
two of us withdrew. But as we did so the serpents slowly followed us,
with crests erect, and hissing. At last they ceased to follow us, and
we could hear the rustle of the bushes as they returned. Then we sat
down again--and--_Whau!, Nkose_! when people are young, and the talk is
of love, time goes upon eagle wings. Suddenly Nangeza cried out that we
must part, for the sun would soon be down and we had some distance to
travel if we would pass the King's outposts before dark.
"We arose to retrace our steps. Already the thorns and dry grass were
beginning to crackle under our feet, when I caught Nangeza's wrist and
breathed:
"`Silence!'
"The place where we had first rested was on the edge of an open glade,
and the distance we had withdrawn from this while retiring before the
serpents was about twice that to which a man could fling a spear. On
one side of this glade stood a tall rock.
"`Men are coming,' I whispered--`armed men.'
"We stood thus as still as stones, listening hard. Then I could hear,
re-echoed back from the face of the rock, the light tread of feet, the
rustle of branches pushed aside, and now and then the rattle of assegai
hafts; and soon, as we crouched low to the earth, we could hear an armed
force advance into the open glade and halt.
"Now, _Nkose_, my heart stood still, for I remembered the King's words
that morning. Could it be that he who knew everything had sent men
after us to surprise us two together and kill us? Then I heard a
warrior's deep tones say:
"`_Au_! here are footprints--those of an _intombi_. Those of a man,
too!' he added, as one who has made a discovery. `Come, let us see
where they lead.'
"Crouching down among the thorns and long dry grass we lay, expecting
our end; for to be found thus together, at this distance from the camp,
meant certain death. There was not a chance for us. We heard the
parting of the bushes--then, from where we lay, we could see the heads
of several men following our trail, and, but that the trees threw a
darkness around and they were too intent on reading their way, they
could not have failed to see us. No, there was no escape. We should be
seized, dragged before the King, and not another sun should we see rise.
"But then, while the bitterness of death lay dark upon our hearts, we
saw the foremost of the men stop, with a startled look upon his face.
Then a quick exclamation escaped him, and he and the rest turned, and
went back again. And we knew the meaning of that hissing noise, and the
prayer to the serpents cried out by the warriors as they retreated was
the same as my own.
"When they returned to the _impi_, the leader was angry with them.
"`What?' we could hear him say. `Are we come out to do the King's
errand, that a number of you should turn from your way to follow upon
the tracks of a man and a maid? What have we to do with such, I say?
Good indeed was it, that the _Izinyoka_ should have been there to teach
so many fools their duty. Now we must on.'
"Then we heard the rattle of assegais and shields as once more the
_impi_ fell into rank, and soon the sound of their footsteps died into
silence. We left our hiding-place cautiously, and as we went we were
very full of thankfulness to our _Izinyoka_, who had come in our path,
and in the path of those who would have found us, and had saved us from
destruction; and we debated as to the part our serpents had played, and
we decided that the serpent of Nangeza, being that of prudence, was the
one which had obliged us to retire from our first hiding-place, while
the influence of my serpent, being that of the warrior, was the one
which availed to drive back the searchers--as befitting the serpent of
such a warrior as myself--and who may say that this was not so.? At any
rate, the joining together of our two _Izinyoka_, to protect us, struck
us as a good omen for the future; for where should we have been had we
remained in our first resting-place--where now, had not those who were
searching been frightened back?
"But although we had so far escaped, yet were we in the greatest
jeopardy. For the sun was nearly down, and how should we reach the
camp, each by a roundabout way, before it grew dark? and how should we
pass the King's outposts after? Nangeza might go in by herself,
pleading some excuse; but I--how was I to remain out? for even though
the King should not require my attendance upon him--and on this I could
not reckon--yet he who wanders abroad at night incurs peril from the
staff of the `smeller-out,' for we hold that _tagati_ always takes place
during the hours of darkness, and the man who loves to wander abroad at
such times, what can he be seeking but means to practise the foul and
evil spells of wizardry?
"Long before we reached the camp it grew quite dark, and now we did not
separate, for I would not leave Nangeza; for multitudes of wild beasts
accompanied our migration, because of the abundant feasts we provided
them with almost daily--even the flesh of men--and already we could hear
their roarings and snarlings in the darkness. Moreover, it might be
easier for two to pass the outposts together, than to double the chances
of failure by making two separate attempts.
"As we advanced, noiselessly, stealthily, in the gloom, we heard a low
humming sound, which seemed to come from the earth. We stood for a
moment holding our breath, for we knew that sound. It was the voice of
a man, singing, and he might have been twelve spear-lengths in front of
us. We knew the ground also. We were in a little valley between two
low hills. Probably on each of the latter was another sentinel.
Nangeza threw her skin kaross over both our heads, and breathed forth
her plan--for the plan was hers. I was for taking the risk of slipping
past--she, for the bolder but safer method of overpowering the sentinel.
"Worming like serpents along the ground, we made our way up behind him
bit by bit, and the time consumed must have been enormous, for we would
not risk failure for the sake of impatience. But this fool surely
courted his own undoing, for he sat there singing. Every time he
stopped singing we stopped in our advance, but so fond was he of his own
voice that he soon began again. Then Nangeza, creeping up behind him,
flung her kaross over his head, at the same time throwing her arms
around him and pinioning his tightly to his sides.
"The man struggled, but with the kaross over his head and in his mouth
he could not cry out. Still, he struggled, and it took us both all we
could do to master him quickly. We could easily have killed him, but
had decided it were better not to. At length, with the thong Nangeza
had brought to tie the firewood we bound him hand and foot, having
gagged him with his own _mutya_, and thus we left him.
"All this while we had spoken no word, lest our voices should be
recognised by him; further, we had been careful to leave nothing which
might lead to suspicion travelling our way. We were now safe within the
outposts, and in the huge camp we could easily pass unnoticed. It was
time to separate, and as we did so Nangeza said:
"`Farewell now, Untuswa. Have patience and courage. I shall see thee
an _induna_ yet.'
"`That may be so,' I answered rather gloomily, for now that the
adventure was over all my foreboding and disappointment came back. `But
we have only seen the first of this night's doings. The last may wear a
very different sort of countenance.'
"And thus we parted.
"Now, _Nkose_, a portion of my gloom came of the knowledge of what would
happen to the sentinel whom we had overpowered. Death would be his lot
as surely as though I had driven my spear through his heart. I had a
mind to go back and loose him, but that would mean giving my life for
his, and I was not tired of life just yet. Moreover, it would mean the
sacrifice of Nangeza also, and it were better that one person should
perish than that two should. Yet, being still young and soft of heart,
I felt sad as I thought of the doomed sentinel."