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spears； though whether in salutation to Saduko or to myself I did not
know； and sat themselves down on an open space between us and the
river…bank。 Although it was difficult to say whence they came； for they
appeared like ghosts out of the bush； I thought it well to take no
notice of them； since I guessed that their coming was prearranged。
〃Who are they？〃 I whispered to Scowl； as he brought me my tot of
〃squareface。〃
〃Saduko's wild men；〃 he answered in the same low voice； 〃outlaws of his
tribe who live among the rocks。〃
Now I scanned them sideways； while pretending to light my pipe and so
forth； and certainly they seemed a remarkably savage set of people。
Great； gaunt fellows with tangled hair； who wore tattered skins upon
their shoulders and seemed to have no possessions save some snuff； a few
sleeping…mats； and an ample supply of large fighting shields； hardwood
kerries or knob…sticks； and broad ixwas； or stabbing assegais。 Such was
the look of them as they sat round us in silent semicircles； like
aas…vogelsas the Dutch call vulturessit round a dying ox。
Still I smoked on and took no notice。
At length； as I expected； Saduko grew weary of my silence and spoke。
〃These are men of the Amangwane tribe； Macumazahn； three hundred of
them； all that Bangu left alive； for when their fathers were killed； the
women escaped with some of the children； especially those of the
outlying kraals。 I have gathered them to be revenged upon Bangu； I who
am their chief by right of blood。〃
〃Quite so；〃 I answered。 〃I see that you have gathered them； but do they
wish to be revenged on Bangu at the risk of their own lives？〃
〃We do； white Inkoosi；〃 came the deep…throated answer from the three
hundred。
〃And do they acknowledge you； Saduko； to be their chief？〃
〃We do；〃 again came the answer。 Then a spokesman stepped forward； one
of the few grey…haired men among them； for most of these Amangwane were
of the age of Saduko； or even younger。
〃O Watcher…by…Night；〃 he said； 〃I am Tshoza； the brother of Matiwane；
Saduko's father； the only one of his brothers that escaped the slaughter
on the night of the Great Killing。 Is it not so？〃
〃It is so；〃 exclaimed the serried ranks behind him。
〃I acknowledge Saduko as my chief； and so do we all；〃 went on Tshoza。
〃So do we all；〃 echoed the ranks。
〃Since Matiwane died we have lived as we could； O Macumazana； like
baboons among the rocks； without cattle； often without a hut to shelter
us； here one； there one。 Still； we have lived； awaiting the hour of
vengeance upon Bangu； that hour which Zikali the Wise； who is of our
blood； has promised to us。 Now we believe that it has come； and one and
all； from here； from there； from everywhere； we have gathered at the
summons of Saduko to be led against Bangu and to conquer him or to die。
Is it not so； Amangwane？〃
〃It is； it is so！〃 came the deep； unanimous answer； that caused the
stirless leaves to shake in the still air。
〃I understand； O Tshoza； brother of Matiwane and uncle of Saduko the
chief；〃 I replied。 〃But Bangu is a strong man； living； I am told； in a
strong place。 Still； let that go； for have you not said that you come
out to conquer or to die； you who have nothing to lose； and if you
conquer； you conquer； and if you die； you die and the tale is told。 But
supposing that you conquer。 What will Panda； King of the Zulus； say to
you； and to me also； who stir up war in his country？〃
Now the Amangwane looked behind them； and Saduko cried out：
〃Appear； messenger from Panda the King！〃
Before his words had ceased to echo I saw a little； withered man
threading his way between the tall； gaunt forms of the Amangwane。 He
came and stood before me； saying：
〃Hail； Macumazahn。 Do you remember me？〃
〃Aye；〃 I answered； 〃I remember you as Maputa； one of Panda's indunas。〃
〃Quite so； Macumazahn； I am Maputa； one of his indunas； a member of his
Council； a captain of his impis ＇that is； armies＇； as I was to his
brothers who are gone； whose names it is not lawful that I should name。
Well； Panda the King has sent me to you； at the request of Saduko there；
with a message。〃
〃How do I know that you are a true messenger？〃 I asked。 〃Have you
brought me any token？〃
〃Aye；〃 he answered； and； fumbling under his cloak； he produced something
wrapped in dried leaves； which he undid and handed to me； saying：
〃This is the token that Panda sends to you； Macumazahn； bidding me to
tell you that you will certainly know it again； also that you are
welcome to it； since the two little bullets which he swallowed as you
directed made him very ill； and he needs no more of them。〃
I took the token； and； examining it in the moonlight； recognised it at
once。
It was a cardboard box of strong calomel pills； on the top of which was
written： 〃Allan Quatermain； Esq。： One _only_ to be taken as directed。〃
Without entering into explanations； I may state that I had taken 〃one as
directed；〃 and subsequently presented the rest of the box to King Panda；
who was very anxious to 〃taste the white man's medicine。〃
〃Do you recognise the token； Macumazahn？〃 asked the induna。
〃Yes；〃 I replied gravely； 〃and let the King return thanks to the spirits
of his ancestors that he did not swallow three of the balls； for if he
had done so； by now there would have been another Head in Zululand。
Well； speak on； Messenger。〃
But to myself I reflected； not for the first time； how strangely these
natives could mix up the sublime with the ridiculous。 Here was a matter
that must involve the death of many men； and the token sent to me by the
autocrat who stood at the back of it all； to prove the good faith of his
messenger； was a box of calomel pills！ However； it served the purpose
as well as anything else。
Maputa and I drew aside； for I saw that he wished to speak with me
alone。
〃O Macumazana；〃 he said； when we were out of hearing of the others；
〃these are the words of Panda to you： 'I understand that you；
Macumazahn； have promised to accompany Saduko； son of Matiwane； on an
expedition of his against Bangu； chief of the Amakoba。 Now； were anyone
else concerned； I should forbid this expedition； and especially should I
forbid you； a white man in my country； to share therein。 But this dog
of a Bangu is an evil…doer。 Many years ago he worked on the Black One
who went before me to send him to destroy Matiwane； my friend； filling
the Black One's ears with false accusations； and thereafter he did
treacherously destroy him and all his tribe save Saduko； his son； and
some of the people and children who escaped。 Moreover； of late he has
been working against me； the King； striving to stir up rebellion against
me； because he knows that I hate him for his crimes。 Now I； Panda；
unlike those who went before me； am a man of peace who do not wish to
light the fire of civil war in the land； for who knows where such fires
will stop； or whose kraals they will consume？ Yet I do wish to see
Bangu punished for his wickedness； and his pride abated。 Therefore I
give Saduko leave； and those people of the Amangwane who remain to him；
to avenge their private wrongs upon Bangu if they can； and I give you
leave； Macumazahn； to be of his party。 Moreover； if any cattle are
taken； I shall ask no account of them； you and Saduko may divide them as
you wish。 But understand； O Macumazana； that if you or your people are
killed or wounded； or robbed of your goods； I know nothing of the
matter； and am not responsible to you or to the white House of Natal； it
is your own matter。 These are my words。 I have spoken。'〃
〃I see；〃 I answered。 〃I am to pull Panda's hot iron out of the fire and
to extinguish the fire。 If I succeed I may keep a piece of the iron
when it gets cool； and if I burn my fingers it is my own fault； and I or
my House must not come crying to Panda。〃
〃O Watcher…by…Night； you have speared the bull in the heart；〃 replied
Maputa； the messenger； nodding his shrewd old head。 〃Well； will you go
up with Saduko？〃
〃Say to the King； O Messenger； that I will go up with Saduko because I
promised him that I would； being moved by the tale of his wrongs； and
not for the sake of the cattle； although it is true that if I hear any
of them lowing in my camp I may keep them。 Say to Panda also that if
aught of ill befalls me he shall hear nothing of it； nor will I bring
his high name into this business； but that he； on his part； must not
blame me for anything that may happen afterwards。 Have you the
message？〃
〃I have it word for word； and may your Spirit be with you； Macumazahn；
when you attack the strong mountain of Bangu； which； were I you；〃 Maputa
added reflectively； 〃I think I should do just at the dawn； since the
Amakoba drink much beer and are heavy sleepers。〃
Then we took a pinch of snuff together； and he departed at once for
Nodwengu； Panda's Great Place。
Fourteen days had gone by； and Saduko and I； with our ragged band of
Amangwane； sat one morning； after a long night march； in the hilly
country looking across a broad vale； which was sprinkled with trees like
an English park； at that mountain on the side of which Bangu； chief of
the Amakoba； had his kraal。