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rolled his eyes first at one and then at the other； and finally put his
hands over his ears that he might hear no more。
〃Choose； choose； O King！〃 shouted the audience。 〃Who is to succeed you；
Cetewayo or Umbelazi？〃
Watching Panda； I saw that he fell into a kind of agony； his fat sides
heaved； and； although the day was cold； sweat ran from his brow。
〃What would the white men do in such a case？〃 he said to me in a hoarse；
low voice； whereon I answered； looking at the ground and speaking so
that few could hear me：
〃I think； O King； that a white man would do nothing。 He would say that
others might settle the matter after he was dead。〃
〃Would that I could say so； too；〃 muttered Panda； 〃but it is not
possible。〃
Then followed a long pause； during which all were silent； for every man
there felt that the hour was big with doom。 At length Panda rose with
difficulty； because of his unwieldy weight； and uttered these fateful
words； that were none the less ominous because of the homely idiom in
which they were couched：
_〃When two young bulls quarrel they must fight it out。〃_
Instantly in one tremendous roar volleyed forth the royal salute of
〃Bayete〃； a signal of the acceptance of the King's wordthe word that
meant civil war and the death of many thousands。
Then Panda turned and； so feebly that I thought he would fall； walked
through the gateway behind him； followed by the rival queens。 Each of
these ladies struggled to be first after him in the gate； thinking that
it would be an omen of success for her son。 Finally； however； to the
disappointment of the multitude； they only succeeded in passing it side
by side。
When they had gone the great audience began to break up； the men of each
party marching away together as though by common consent； without
offering any insult or molestation to their adversaries。 I think that
this peaceable attitude arose； however； from the knowledge that matters
had now passed from the stage of private quarrel into that of public
war。 It was felt that their dispute awaited decision； not with sticks
outside the Nodwengu kraal； but with spears upon some great battlefield；
for which they went to prepare。
Within two days； except for those regiments which Panda kept to guard
his person； scarcely a soldier was to be seen in the neighbourhood of
Nodwengu。 The princes also departed to muster their adherents； Cetewayo
establishing himself among the Mandhlakazi that he commanded； and
Umbelazi returning to the kraal of Umbezi； which happened to stand
almost in the centre of that part of the nation which adhered to him。
Whether he took Mameena with him there I am not certain。 I believe；
however； that； fearing lest her welcome at her birthplace should be
warmer than she wished； she settled herself at some retired and outlying
kraal in the neighbourhood； and there awaited the crisis of her fortune。
At any rate； I saw nothing of her； for she was careful to keep out of
my way。
With Umbelazi and Saduko； however； I did have an interview。 Before they
left Nodwengu they called on me together； apparently on the best of
terms； and said in effect that they hoped for my support in the coming
war。
I answered that； however well I might like them personally； a Zulu civil
war was no affair of mine； and that； indeed； for every reason； including
the supreme one of my own safety； I had better get out of the way at
once。
They argued with me for a long while； making great offers and promises
of reward； till at length； when he saw that my determination could not
be shaken； Umbelazi said：
〃Come； Saduko； let us humble ourselves no more before this white man。
After all； he is right； the business is none of his； and why should we
ask him to risk his life in our quarrel； knowing as we do that white men
are not like us； they think a great deal of their lives。 Farewell；
Macumazahn。 If I conquer and grow great you will always be welcome in
Zululand； whereas if I fail perhaps you will be best over the Tugela
river。〃
Now； I felt the hidden taunt in this speech very keenly。 Still； being
determined that for once I would be wise and not allow my natural
curiosity and love of adventure to drag me into more risks and trouble；
I replied：
〃The Prince says that I am not brave and love my life； and what he says
is true。 I fear fighting； who by nature am a trader with the heart of a
trader； not a warrior with the heart of a warrior； like the great
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti〃words at which I saw the grave Saduko smile
faintly。 〃So farewell to you； Prince； and may good fortune attend you。〃
Of course； to call the Prince to his face by this nickname； which
referred to a defect in his person； was something of an insult； but I
had been insulted； and meant to give him 〃a Roland for his Oliver。〃
However； he took it in good part。
〃What is good fortune； Macumazahn？〃 Umbelazi replied as he grasped my
hand。 〃Sometimes I think that to live and prosper is good fortune； and
sometimes I think that to die and sleep is good fortune； for in sleep
there is neither hunger nor thirst of body or of spirit。 In sleep there
come no cares； in sleep ambitions are at rest； nor do those who look no
more upon the sun smart beneath the treacheries of false women or false
friends。 Should the battle turn against me； Macumazahn； at least that
good fortune will be mine； for never will I live to be crushed beneath
Cetewayo's heel。〃
Then he went。 Saduko accompanied him for a little way； but； making some
excuse to the Prince； came back and said to me：
〃Macumazahn； my friend； I dare say that we part for the last time； and
therefore I make a request to you。 It is as to one who is dead to me。
Macumazahn； I believe that Umbelazi the thief〃these words broke from
his lips with a hiss〃has given her many cattle and hidden her away
either in the kloof of Zikali the Wise； or near to it； under his care。
Now； if the war should go against Umbelazi and I should be killed in it；
I think evil will fall upon that woman's head； I who have grown sure
that it was she who was the wizard and not Masapo the Boar。 Also； as
one connected with Umbelazi； who has helped him in his plots； she will
be killed if she is caught。 Macumazahn； hearken to me。 I will tell you
the truth。 My heart is still on fire for that woman。 She has bewitched
me； her eyes haunt my sleep and I hear her voice in the wind。 She is
more to me than all the earth and all the sky； and although she has
wronged me I do not wish that harm should come to her。 Macumazahn； I
pray you if I die； do your best to befriend her； even though it be only
as a servant in your house； for I think that she cares more for you than
for anyone； who only ran away with him〃and he pointed in the direction
that Umbelazi had taken〃because he is a prince； who； in her folly； she
believes will be a king。 At least take her to Natal； Macumazahn； where；
if you wish to be free of her； she can marry whom she will and will live
safe until night comes。 Panda loves you much； and； whoever conquers in
the war； will give you her life if you ask it of him。〃
Then this strange man drew the back of his hand across his eyes； from
which I saw the tears were running； and； muttering； 〃If you would have
good fortune remember my prayer；〃 turned and left me before I could
answer a single word。
As for me； I sat down upon an ant…heap and whistled a whole hymn tune
that my mother had taught me before I could think at all。 To be left
the guardian of Mameena！ Talk of a 〃damnosa hereditas；〃 a terrible and
mischievous inheritancewhy； this was the worst that ever I heard of。
A servant in my house indeed； knowing what _I_ did about her！ Why； I
had sooner share the 〃good fortune〃 which Umbelazi anticipated beneath
the sod。 However； that was not in the question； and without it the
alternative of acting as her guardian was bad enough； though I comforted
myself with the reflection that the circumstances in which this would
become necessary might never arise。 For； alas！ I was sure that if they
did arise I should have to live up to them。 True； I had made no promise
to Saduko with my lips； but I felt； as I knew he felt； that this promise
had passed from my heart to his。
〃That thief Umbelazi！〃 Strange words to be uttered by a great vassal of
his lord； and both of them about to enter upon a desperate enterprise。
〃A prince whom in her folly she believes will be a king。〃 Stranger
words still。 Then Saduko did not believe that he _would_ be a king！
And yet he was about to share the fortunes of his fight for the throne；
he who said that his heart was still on fire for the woman whom
〃Umbelazi the thief〃 had stolen。 Well； if I were Umbelazi； thought I to
myself； I would rather that Saduko were not my chief councillor and
general。 But； thank Heaven！ I was not Umbelazi； or Saduko； or any of
them！ And； thank Heaven still more； I was going to begin my trek from
Zululand on the morrow！
Man proposes but God disposes。 I did not trek from Zululand for many a
long day。 When I got back to my wagons it was to find that my oxen had
mysteriously disappeared from the veld on which they were accustomed to
graze。 They were lost；