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take snuff； whereon both of them ejaculated：
〃We hear you； Father。〃
〃Well； my sons； the matter is that of Saduko； the son of Matiwane； chief
of the Amangwane； whom Bangu； chief of the Amakoba； ate up years ago by
leave of Him who went before me。 Now； this Bangu； as you know； has for
some time been a thorn in my foota thorn that caused it to festerand
yet I did not wish to make war on him。 So I spoke a word in the ear of
Saduko； saying； 'He is yours； if you can kill him； and his cattle are
yours。' Well； Saduko is not dull。 With the help of this white man；
Macumazahn； our friend from of old； he has killed Bangu and taken his
cattle； and already my foot is beginning to heal。〃
〃We have heard it；〃 said Cetewayo。
〃It was a great deed；〃 added Umbelazi； a more generous critic。
〃Yes；〃 continued Panda； 〃I； too； think it was a great deed； seeing that
Saduko had but a small regiment of wanderers to back him〃
〃Nay；〃 interrupted Cetewayo； 〃it was not those eaters of rats who won
him the day； it was the wisdom of this Macumazahn。〃
〃Macumazahn's wisdom would have been of little use without the courage
of Saduko and his rats；〃 commented Umbelazi； and from this moment I saw
that the two brothers were taking sides for and against Saduko； as they
did upon every other matter； not because they cared for the right of
whatever was in question； but because they wished to oppose each other。
〃Quite so；〃 went on the King； 〃I agree with both of you； my sons。 But
the point is this： I think Saduko a man of promise； and one who should
be advanced that he may learn to love us all； especially as his House
has suffered wrong from our House； since He…who…is…gone listened to the
evil counsel of Bangu； and allowed him to kill out Matiwane's tribe
without just cause。 Therefore； in order to wipe away this stain and
bind Saduko to us； I think it well to re…establish Saduko in the
chieftainship of the Amangwane； with the lands that his father held； and
to give him also the chieftainship of the Amakoba； of whom it seems that
the women and children； with some of the men； remain； although he
already holds their cattle which he has captured in war。〃
〃As the King pleases；〃 said Umbelazi； with a yawn； for he was growing
weary of listening to the case of Saduko。
But Cetewayo said nothing； for he appeared to be thinking of something
else。
〃I think also；〃 went on Panda in a rather uncertain voice； 〃in order to
bind him so close that the bonds may never be broken； it would be wise
to give him a woman of our family in marriage。〃
〃Why should this little Amangwane be allowed to marry into the royal
House？〃 asked Cetewayo； looking up。 〃If he is dangerous； why not kill
him； and have done？〃
〃For this reason； my son。 There is trouble ahead in Zululand； and I do
not wish to kill those who may help us in that hour； nor do I wish them
to become our enemies。 I wish that they may be our friends； and
therefore it seems to me wise； when we find a seed of greatness； to
water it； and not to dig it up or plant it in a neighbour's garden。
From his deeds I believe that this Saduko is such a seed。〃
〃Our father has spoken；〃 said Umbelazi； 〃and I like Saduko； who is a man
of mettle and good blood。 Which of our sisters does our father propose
to give to him？〃
〃She who is named after the mother of our race； O Umbelazi； she whom
your own mother boreyour sister Nandie〃 （in English； 〃The Sweet〃）。
〃A great gift； O my Father； since Nandie is both fair and wise。 Also；
what does she think of this matter？〃
〃She thinks well of it； Umbelazi； for she has seen Saduko and taken a
liking to him。 She told me herself that she wishes no other husband。〃
〃Is it so？〃 replied Umbelazi indifferently。 〃Then if the King commands；
and the King's daughter desires； what more is there to be said？〃
〃Much； I think；〃 broke in Cetewayo。 〃I hold that it is out of place
that this little man； who has but conquered a little tribe by borrowing
the wit of Macumazahn here； should be rewarded not only with a
chieftainship； but with the hand of the wisest and most beautiful of the
King's daughters； even though Umbelazi；〃 he added； with a sneer； 〃should
be willing to throw him his own sister like a bone to a passing dog。〃
〃Who threw the bone； Cetewayo？〃 asked Umbelazi； awaking out of his
indifference。 〃Was it the King； or was it I； who never heard of the
matter till this moment？ And who are we that we should question the
King's decrees？ Is it our business to judge or to obey？〃
〃Has Saduko perchance made you a present of some of those cattle which
he stole from the Amakoba； Umbelazi？〃 asked Cetewayo。 〃As our father
asks no lobola； perhaps you have taken the gift instead。〃
〃The only gift that I have taken from Saduko；〃 said Umbelazi； who； I
could see； was hard pressed to keep his temper； 〃is that of his service。
He is my friend； which is why you hate him； as you hate all my
friends。〃
〃Must I then love every stray cur that licks your hand； Umbelazi？ Oh；
no need to tell me he is your friend； for I know it was you who put it
into our father's heart to allow him to kill Bangu and steal his cattle；
which I hold to be an ill deed； for now the Great House is thatched with
his reeds and Bangu's blood is on its doorposts。 Moreover； he who
wrought the wrong is to come and dwell therein； and for aught I know to
be called a prince； like you and me。 Why should he not； since the
Princess Nandie is to be given to him in marriage？ Certainly； Umbelazi；
you would do well to take the cattle which this white trader has
refused； for all men know that you have earned them。〃
Now Umbelazi sprang up； straightening himself to the full of his great
height； and spoke in a voice that was thick with passion。
〃I pray your leave to withdraw； O King；〃 he said； 〃since if I stay here
longer I shall grow sorry that I have no spear in my hand。 Yet before I
go I will tell the truth。 Cetewayo hates Saduko； because； knowing him
to be a chief of wit and courage； who will grow great； he sought him for
his man； saying； 'Sit you in my shadow；' after he had promised to sit in
mine。 Therefore it is that he heaps these taunts upon me。 Let him deny
it if he can。〃
〃That I shall not trouble to do； Umbelazi；〃 answered Cetewayo； with a
scowl。 〃Who are you that spy upon my doings； and with a mouth full of
lies call me to account before the King？ I will hear no more of it。 Do
you bide here and pay Saduko his price with the person of our sister。
For； as the King has promised her； his word cannot be changed。 Only let
your dog know that I keep a stick for him； if he should snarl at me。
Farewell； my Father。 I go upon a journey to my own lordship； the land
of Gikazi； and there you will find me when you want me； which I pray may
not be till after this marriage is finished； for on that I will not
trust my eyes to look。〃
Then； with a salute； he turned and departed； bidding no good…bye to his
brother。
My hand； however； he shook in farewell； for Cetewayo was always friendly
to me； perhaps because he thought I might be useful to him。 Also； as I
learned afterwards； he was very pleased with me for the reason that I
had refused my share of the Amakoba cattle； and that he knew I had no
part in this proposed marriage between Saduko and Nandie； of which；
indeed； I now heard for the first time。
〃My Father；〃 said Umbelazi； when Cetewayo had gone； 〃is this to be
borne？ Am I to blame in the matter？ You have heard and seenanswer
me； my Father。〃
〃No； you are not to blame this time； Umbelazi；〃 replied the King； with a
heavy sigh。 〃But oh！ my sons； my sons； where will your quarrelling end？
I think that only a river of blood can quench so fierce a fire； and
then which of you will live to reach its bank？〃
For a while he looked at Umbelazi； and I saw love and fear in his eye；
for towards him Panda always had more affection than for any of his
other children。
〃Cetewayo has behaved ill；〃 he said at length； 〃and before a white man；
who will report the matter； which makes it worse。 He has no right to
dictate to me to whom I shall or shall not give my daughters in
marriage。 Moreover； I have spoken； nor do I change my word because he
threatens me。 It is known throughout the land that I never change my
word； and the white men know it also； do they not； O Macumazana？〃
I answered yes； they did。 Also； this was true； for； like most weak men；
Panda was very obstinate； and honest； too； in his own fashion。
He waved his hand； to show that the subject was ended； then bade
Umbelazi go to the gate and send a messenger to bring in 〃the son of
Matiwane。〃
Presently Saduko arrived； looking very stately and composed as he lifted
his right hand and gave Panda the 〃Bayete〃the royal salute。
〃Be seated；〃 said the King。 〃I have words for your ear。〃
Thereon； with the most perfect grace； without hurrying and without undue
delay； Saduko crouched himself down upon his knees； with one of his
elbows resting on the ground； as only a native knows how to do without
looking absurd； and waited。
〃Son of Matiwane；〃 said the King； 〃I have heard all the story of how；
with a small company； you destroyed Bangu and most of