按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
awful。 Saduko thanked me also in his magnificent manner。 Yet I do not
think that he was altogether pleased； although my great gift relieved
him from the necessity of sharing up the spoil with his companions。 The
truth was； or so I believe； that he understood that henceforth the
Amangwane would love me better than they loved him。 This； indeed；
proved to be the case； for I am sure that there was no man among all
those wild fellows who would not have served me to the death； and to
this day my name is a power among them and their descendants。 Also it
has grown into something of a proverb among all those Kafirs who know
the story。 They talk of any great act of liberality in an idiom as 〃a
gift of Macumazana；〃 and in the same way of one who makes any remarkable
renunciation； as 〃a wearer of Macumazana's blanket；〃 or as 〃he who has
stolen Macumazana's shadow。〃
Thus did I earn a great reputation very cheaply； for really I could not
have taken those cattle； also I am sure that had I done so they would
have brought me bad luck。 Indeed； one of the regrets of my life is that
I had anything whatsoever to do with the business。
Our journey back to Umbezi's kraalfor thither we were headingwas
very slow； hampered as we were with wounded and by a vast herd of
cattle。 Of the latter； indeed； we got rid after a while； for； except
those which I had given to my men； and a hundred or so of the best
beasts that Saduko took with him for a certain purpose； they were sent
away to a place which he had chosen； in charge of about half of his
people； under the command of his uncle； Tshoza； there to await his
coming。
Over a month had gone by since the night of the ambush when at last we
outspanned quite close to Umbezi's； in that bush where first I had met
the Amangwane free…spears。 A very different set of men they looked on
this triumphant day to those fierce fellows who had slipped out of the
trees at the call of their chief。 As we went through the country Saduko
had bought fine moochas and blankets for them； also head…dresses had
been made with the long black feathers of the sakabuli finch； and
shields and leglets of the hides and tails of oxen。 Moreover； having
fed plentifully and travelled easily； they were fat and well…favoured；
as； given good food； natives soon become after a period of abstinence。
The plan of Saduko was to lie quiet in the bush that night； and on the
following morning to advance in all his grandeur； accompanied by his
spears； present the hundred head of cattle that had been demanded； and
formally ask his daughter's hand from Umbezi。 As the reader may have
gathered already； there was a certain histrionic vein in Saduko； also
when he was in feather he liked to show off his plumage。
Well； this plan was carried out to the letter。 On the following
morning； after the sun was well up； Saduko； as a great chief does； sent
forward two bedizened heralds to announce his approach to Umbezi； after
whom followed two other men to sing his deeds and praises。 （By the way；
I observed that they had clearly been instructed to avoid any mention of
a person called Macumazahn。） Then we advanced in force。 First went
Saduko； splendidly apparelled as a chief； carrying a small assegai and
adorned with plumes； leglets and a leopard…skin kilt。 He was attended
by about half a dozen of the best…looking of his followers； who posed as
〃indunas〃 or councillors。 Behind these I walked； a dusty； insignificant
little fellow； attended by the ugly； snub…nosed Scowl in a very greasy
pair of trousers； worn…out European boots through which his toes peeped；
and nothing else； and by my three surviving hunters； whose appearance
was even more disreputable。 After us marched about four score of the
transformed Amangwane； and after them came the hundred picked cattle
driven by a few herdsmen。
In due course we arrived at the gate of the kraal； where we found the
heralds and the praisers prancing and shouting。
〃Have you seen Umbezi？〃 asked Saduko of them。
〃No；〃 they answered； 〃he was asleep when we got here； but his people say
that he is coming out presently。〃
〃Then tell his people that he had better be quick about it； or I shall
turn him out；〃 replied the proud Saduko。
Just at this moment the kraal gate opened and through it appeared
Umbezi； looking extremely fat and foolish； also； it struck me；
frightened； although this he tried to conceal。
〃Who visits me here；〃 he said； 〃with so muchumceremony？〃 and with
the carved dancing…stick he carried he pointed doubtfully at the lines
of armed men。 〃Oh； it is you； is it； Saduko？〃 and he looked him up and
down； adding： 〃How grand you are to be sure。 Have you been robbing
anybody？ And you； too； Macumazahn。 Well； _you_ do not look grand。 You
look like an old cow that has been suckling two calves on the winter
veld。 But tell me； what are all these warriors for？ I ask because I
have not food for so many； especially as we have just had a feast here。〃
〃Fear nothing； Umbezi；〃 answered Saduko in his grandest manner。 〃I have
brought food for my own men。 As for my business； it is simple。 You
asked a hundred head of cattle as the lobola ＇that is； the marriage
gift＇ of your daughter； Mameena。 They are there。 Go send your servants
to the kraal and count them。〃
〃Oh； with pleasure；〃 Umbezi replied nervously； and he gave some orders
to certain men behind him。 〃I am glad to see that you have become rich
in this sudden fashion； Saduko； though how you have done so I cannot
understand。〃
〃Never mind how I have become rich；〃 answered Saduko。 〃I _am_ rich；
that is enough for the present。 Be pleased to send for Mameena； for I
would talk with her。〃
〃Yes； yes； Saduko； I understand that you would talk with Mameena；
but〃and he looked round him desperately〃I fear that she is still
asleep。 As you know； Mameena was always a late riser； and； what is
more； she hates to be disturbed。 Don't you think that you could come
back； say； to…morrow morning？ She will be sure to be up by then； or；
better still； the day after？〃
〃In which hut is Mameena？〃 asked Saduko sternly； while I； smelling a
rat； began to chuckle to myself。
〃I really do not know； Saduko；〃 replied Umbezi。 〃Sometimes she sleeps
in one； sometimes in another； and sometimes she goes several hours'
journey away to her aunt's kraal for a change。 I should not be in the
least surprised if she had done so last night。 I have no control over
Mameena。〃
Before Saduko could answer； a shrill； rasping voice broke upon our ears；
which after some search I saw proceeded from an ugly and ancient female
seated in the shadow； in whom I recognised the lady who was known by the
pleasing name of 〃Worn…out…Old…Cow。〃
〃He lies！〃 screeched the voice。 〃He lies。 Thanks be to the spirit of
my ancestors that wild cat Mameena has left this kraal for good。 She
slept last night； not with her aunt； but with her husband； Masapo； to
whom Umbezi gave her in marriage two days ago； receiving in payment a
hundred and twenty head of cattle； which was twenty more than _you_ bid；
Saduko。〃
Now when Saduko heard these words I thought that he would really go mad
with rage。 He turned quite grey under his dark skin and for a while
trembled like a leaf； looking as though he were about to fall to the
ground。 Then he leapt as a lion leaps； and seizing Umbezi by the
throat； hurled him backwards； standing over him with raised spear。
〃You dog！〃 he cried in a terrible voice。 〃Tell me the truth or I will
rip you up。 What have you done with Mameena？〃
〃Oh！ Saduko；〃 answered Umbezi in choking tones； 〃Mameena has chosen to
get married。 It was no fault of mine； she would have her way。〃
He got no farther； and had I not intervened by throwing my arms about
Saduko and dragging him back； that moment would have been Umbezi's last；
for Saduko was about to pin him to the earth with his spear。 As it
proved； I was just in time； and Saduko； being weak with emotion； for I
felt his heart going like a sledge…hammer； could not break from my grasp
before his reason returned to him。
At length he recovered himself a little and threw down his spear as
though to put himself out of temptation。 Then he spoke； always in the
same terrible voice； asking：
〃Have you more to say about this business； Umbezi？ I would hear all
before I answer you。〃
〃Only this； Saduko；〃 replied Umbezi； who had risen to his feet and was
shaking like a reed。 〃I did no more than any other father would have
done。 Masapo is a very powerful chief； one who will be a good stick for
me to lean on in my old age。 Mameena declared that she wished to marry
him〃
〃He lies！〃 screeched the 〃Old Cow。〃 〃What Mameena said was that she had
no will towards marriage with any Zulu in the land； so I suppose she is
looking after a white man；〃 and she leered in my direction。 〃She said；
however； that if her father wished to marry her to Masapo； she must be a
dutiful daughter and obey him； but that if blood and trouble came of
that marriage； let it be on his head and not on hers。〃
〃Would you also stick your claws into me； cat？〃 shouted Umbezi； catching
the old woman a savage cut across the back with the light dancing…sti