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and Wise；〃 that I was destined to share Saduko's expedition against
Bangu； and； although he had been right about the buffalo and Mameena； I
was determined to prove him wrong in this particular。
If I had left the country； obviously I could not go against Bangu； at
any rate at present。 But while I remained in it Saduko might return at
any moment； and then； doubtless； I should find it hard to escape from
the kind of half…promise that I had given to him。
Well； as soon as I reached the kraal I saw that some kind of festivity
was in progress； for an ox had been killed and was being cooked； some of
it in pots and some by roasting； also there were several strange Zulus
present。 Within the fence of the kraal； seated in its shadow； I found
Umbezi and some of his headmen； and with them a great； brawny 〃ringed〃
native； who wore a tiger…skin moocha as a mark of rank； and some of
_his_ headmen。 Also Mameena was standing near the gate； dressed in her
best beads and holding a gourd of Kafir beer which； evidently； she had
just been handing to the guests。
〃Would you have run away without saying good…bye to me； Macumazahn？〃 she
whispered to me as I came abreast of her。 〃That is unkind of you； and I
should have wept much。 However； it was not so fated。〃
〃I was going to ride up and bid farewell when the oxen were inspanned；〃
I answered。 〃But who is that man？〃
〃You will find out presently； Macumazahn。 Look； my father is beckoning
to us。〃
So I went on to the circle； and as I advanced Umbezi rose and； taking me
by the hand； led me to the big man； saying：
〃This is Masapo； chief of the Amansomi； of the Quabe race； who desires
to know you； Macumazahn。〃
〃Very kind of him； I am sure；〃 I replied coolly； as I threw my eye over
Masapo。 He was； as I have said； a big man； and of about fifty years of
age； for his hair was tinged with grey。 To be frank； I took a great
dislike to him at once； for there was something in his strong； coarse
face； and his air of insolent pride； which repelled me。 Then I was
silent； since among the Zulus； when two strangers of more or less equal
rank meet； he who speaks first acknowledges inferiority to the other。
Therefore I stood and contemplated this new suitor of Mameena； waiting
on events。
Masapo also contemplated me； then made some remark to one of his
attendants； that I did not catch； which caused the fellow to laugh。
〃He has heard that you are an ipisi〃 （a great hunter）； broke in Umbezi；
who evidently felt that the situation was growing strained； and that it
was necessary to say something。
〃Has he？〃 I answered。 〃Then he is more fortunate than I am； for I have
never heard of him or what he is。〃 This； I am sorry to say； was a fib；
for it will be remembered that Mameena had mentioned him in the hut as
one of her suitors； but among natives one must keep up one's dignity
somehow。 〃Friend Umbezi；〃 I went on； 〃I have come to bid you farewell；
as I am about to trek for Durban。〃
At this juncture Masapo stretched out his great hand to me； but without
rising； and said：
〃Siyakubona ＇that is； good…day＇； White Man。〃
〃Siyakubona； Black Man；〃 I answered； just touching his fingers； while
Mameena； who had come up again with her beer； and was facing me； made a
little grimace and tittered。
Now I turned on my heel to go； whereon Masapo said in a coarse； growling
voice：
〃O Macumazana； before you leave us I wish to speak with you on a certain
matter。 Will it please you to sit aside with me for a while？〃
〃Certainly； O Masapo。〃 And I walked away a few yards out of hearing；
whither he followed me。
〃Macumazahn；〃 he said （I give the gist of his remarks； for he did not
come to the point at once）； 〃I need guns； and I am told that you can
provide them； being a trader。〃
〃Yes； Masapo； I dare say that I can； at a price； though it is a risky
business smuggling guns into Zululand。 But might I ask what you need
them for？ is it to shoot elephants？〃
〃Yes； to shoot elephants；〃 he replied； rolling his big eyes round him。
〃Macumazahn； I am told that you are discreet； that you do not shout from
the top of a hut what you hear within it。 Now； hearken to me。 Our
country is disturbed； we do not all of us love the seed of Senzangakona；
of whom the present king； Panda； is one。 For instance； you may know
that we Quabiesfor my tribe； the Amansomi； are of that racesuffered
at the spear of Chaka。 Well； we think that a time may come when we who
live on shrubs like goats may again browse on tree…tops like giraffes；
for Panda is no strong king； and he has sons who hate each other； one of
whom may need our spears。 Do you understand？〃
〃I understand that you want guns； O Masapo；〃 I answered dryly。 〃Now； as
to the price and place of delivery。〃
Then we bargained for a while； but the details of that business
transaction of long ago will interest no one。 Indeed； I only mention
the matter to show that Masapo was plotting to bring trouble on the
ruling house； whereof Panda was the representative at that time。
When we had concluded our rather nefarious negotiations； which were to
the effect that I was to receive so many cattle in return for so many
guns； if I could deliver them at a certain spot； namely； Umbezi's kraal；
I returned to the circle where Umbezi； his followers and guests were
sitting； purposing to bid him farewell。 By now； however； meat had been
served； and as I was hungry； having had little breakfast that morning； I
stayed to eat。 When I had finished my meal； and washed it down with a
draught of tshwala （that is； Kafir beer）； I rose to go； but just at that
moment who should walk through the gate but Saduko？
〃Piff！〃 said Mameena； who was standing near me； speaking in a voice that
none but I could hear。 〃When two bucks meet； what happens； Macumazahn？〃
〃Sometimes they fight and sometimes one runs away。 It depends very much
on the doe；〃 I answered in the same low voice； looking at her。
She shrugged her shoulders； folded her arms beneath her breast； nodded
to Saduko as he passed； then leaned gracefully against the fence and
awaited events。
〃Greeting； Umbezi；〃 said Saduko in his proud manner。 〃I see that you
feast。 Am I welcome here？〃
〃Of course you are always welcome； Saduko；〃 replied Umbezi uneasily；
〃although； as it happens； I am entertaining a great man。〃 And he looked
towards Masapo。
〃I see；〃 said Saduko； eyeing the strangers。 〃But which of these may be
the great man？ I ask that I may salute him。〃
〃You know well enough； umfokazana〃 （that is； low fellow）； exclaimed
Masapo angrily。
〃I know that if you were outside this fence； Masapo； I would cram that
word down your throat at the point of my assegai；〃 replied Saduko in a
fierce voice。 〃Oh； I can guess your business here； Masapo； and you can
guess mine；〃 and he glanced towards Mameena。 〃Tell me； Umbezi； is this
little chief of the Amansomi your daughter's accepted suitor？〃
〃Nay； nay； Saduko；〃 said Umbezi； 〃no one is her accepted suitor。 Will
you not sit down and take food with us？ Tell us where you have been；
and why you return here thus suddenly； anduninvited？〃
〃I return here； O Umbezi； to speak with the white chief； Macumazahn。 As
to where I have been； that is my affair； and not yours or Masapo's。〃
〃Now； if I were chief of this kraal；〃 said Masapo； 〃I would hunt out of
it this hyena with a mangy coat and without a hole who comes to devour
your meat and； perhaps；〃 he added with meaning； 〃to steal away your
child。〃
〃Did I not tell you； Macumazahn； that when two bucks met they would
fight？〃 whispered Mameena suavely into my ear。
〃Yes； Mameena； you didor rather I told you。 But you did not tell me
what the doe would do。〃
〃The doe； Macumazahn； will crouch in her form and see what happensas
is the fashion of does；〃 and again she laughed softly。
〃Why not do your own hunting； Masapo？〃 asked Saduko。 〃Come； now； I will
promise you good sport。 Outside this kraal there are other hyenas
waiting who call me chiefa hundred or two of themassembled for a
certain purpose by the royal leave of King Panda； whose House； as we all
know； you hate。 Come； leave that beef and beer and begin your hunting
of hyenas； O Masapo。〃
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 passed me：
〃Inkoosi； I have words for you when you are at liberty。〃
〃