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grew by the roadside for all men to nibble at？〃 and he glared at
Mameena。
〃Aye； Child of Senzangakona；〃 answered Zikali； 〃I heard Saduko say this
with his own lips； but the voice that spoke from the lips was not the
voice of Saduko； as； were you a skilled Nyanga like me； you would have
known as well as I do； and as well as does the white man；
Watcher…by…Night； who is a reader of hearts。
〃Hearken now； O King； and you great ones around the King； and I will
tell you a story。 Matiwane； the father of Saduko； was my friend； as he
was yours； O King； and when Bangu slew him and his people； by leave of
the Wild Beast ＇Chaka＇； I saved the child； his son； aye； and brought him
up in my own House； having learned to love him。 Then； when he became a
man； I； the Opener…of…Roads； showed him two roads； down either of which
he might choose to walkthe Road of Wisdom and the Road of War and
Women： the white road that runs through peace to knowledge； and the red
road that runs through blood to death。
〃But already there stood one upon this red road who beckoned him； she
who sits yonder； and he followed after her； as I knew he would。 From
the beginning she was false to him； taking a richer man for her husband。
Then； when Saduko grew great； she grew sorry； and came to ask my
counsel as to how she might be rid of Masapo； whom she swore she hated。
I told her that she could leave him for another man； or wait till her
Spirit moved him from her path； but I never put evil into her heart；
seeing that it was there already。
〃Then she and no other； having first made Saduko love her more than
ever； murdered the child of Nandie； his Inkosikazi； and so brought about
the death of Masapo and crept into Saduko's arms。 Here she slept a
while； till a new shadow fell upon her； that of the
'Elephant…with…the…tuft…of…hair；' who will walk the woods no more。 Him
she beguiled that she might grow great the quicker； and left the house
of Saduko； taking his heart with her； she who was destined to be the
doom of men。
〃Now； into Saduko's breast； where his heart had been； entered an evil
spirit of jealousy and of revenge； and in the battle of Endondakusuka
that spirit rode him as a white man rides a horse。 As he had arranged
to do with the Prince Cetewayo yondernay； deny it not； O Prince； for
I know all； did you not make a bargain together； on the third night
before the battle； among the bushes； and start apart when the buck leapt
out between you？〃 （Here Cetewayo； who had been about to speak； threw the
corner of his kaross over his face。） 〃As he had arranged to do； I say；
he went over with his regiments from the Isigqosa to the Usutu； and so
brought about the fall of Umbelazi and the death of many thousands。
Yes； and this he did for one reason onlybecause yonder woman had left
him for the Prince； and he cared more for her than for all the world
could give him； for her who had filled him with madness as a bowl is
filled with milk。 And now； O King； you have heard this man tell you a
story； you have heard him shout out that he is viler than any man in all
the land； that he murdered his own child； the child he loved so well； to
win this witch； that afterwards he gave her to his friend and lord to
buy more of his favour； and that lastly he deserted that lord because he
thought that there was another lord from whom he could buy more favour。
Is it not so； O King？〃
〃It is so；〃 answered Panda； 〃and therefore must Saduko be thrown out to
the jackals。〃
〃Wait a while； O King。 I say that Saduko has spoken not with his own
voice； but with the voice of Mameena。 I say that she is the greatest
witch in all the land； and that she has drugged him with the medicine of
her eyes； so that he knows not what he says； even as she drugged the
Prince who is dead。〃
〃Then prove it； or he dies！〃 exclaimed the King。
Now the dwarf went to Panda and whispered in his ear； whereon Panda
whispered in turn into the ears of two of his councillors。 These men；
who were unarmed； rose and made as though to leave the isi…gohlo。 But
as they passed Mameena one of them suddenly threw his arms about her；
pinioning her arms； the other tearing off the kaross he worefor the
weather was coldflung it over her head and knotted it behind her so
that she was hidden except for her ankles and feet。 Then； although she
did not move or struggle； they caught hold of her and stood still。
Now Zikali hobbled to Saduko and bade him rise； which he did。 Then he
looked at him for a long while and made certain movements with his hands
before his face； after which Saduko uttered a great sigh and stared
about him。
〃Saduko；〃 said Zikali； 〃I pray you tell me； your foster…father； whether
it is true； as men say； that you sold your wife； Mameena； to the Prince
Umbelazi in order that his favour might fall on you like heavy rain？〃
〃Wow！ Zikali；〃 said Saduko； with a start of rage； 〃If were you as others
are I would kill you； you toad； who dare to spit slander on my name。
She ran away with the Prince； having beguiled him with the magic of her
beauty。〃
〃Strike me not； Saduko；〃 went on Zikali； 〃or at least wait to strike
until you have answered one more question。 Is it true； as men say； that
in the battle of Endondakusuka you went over to the Usutu with your
regiments because you thought that Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti would be
beaten； and wished to be on the side of him who won？〃
〃What； Toad！ More slander？〃 cried Saduko。 〃I went over for one reason
onlyto be revenged upon the Prince because he had taken from me her
who was more to me than life or honour。 Aye； and when I went over
Umbelazi was winning； it was because I went that he lost and died； as I
meant that he should die； though now；〃 he added sadly； 〃I would that I
had not brought him to ruin and the dust； who think that； like myself；
he was but wet clay in a woman's fingers。
〃O King；〃 he added； turning to Panda； 〃kill me； I pray you； who am not
worthy to live； since to him whose hand is red with the blood of his
friend； death alone is left； who； while he breathes； must share his
sleep with ghosts that watch him with their angry eyes。〃
Then Nandie sprang up and said：
〃Nay； Father； listen not to him who is mad； and therefore holy。* What
he has done； he has done； who； as he has said； was but a tool in
another's hand。 As for our babe； I know well that he would have died
sooner than harm it； for he loved it much； and when it was taken away；
for three whole days and nights he wept and would touch no food。 Give
this poor man to me； my Fatherto me； his wife； who loves himand let
us go hence to some other land； where perchance we may forget。〃
＇*The Zulus suppose that insane people are inspired。A。 Q。＇
〃Be silent； daughter；〃 said the King； 〃and you； O Zikali； the Nyanga； be
silent also。〃
They obeyed； and； after thinking awhile； Panda made a motion with his
hand； whereon the two councillors lifted the kaross from off Mameena；
who looked about her calmly and asked if she were taking part in some
child's game。
〃Aye； woman；〃 answered Panda； 〃you are taking part in a great game； but
not； I think； such as is played by childrena game of life and death。
Now； have you heard the tale of Zikali the Little and Wise； and the
words of Saduko； who was once your husband； or must they be repeated to
you？〃
〃There is no need； O King； my ears are too quick to be muffled by a fur
bag； and I would not waste your time。〃
〃Then what have you to say； woman？〃
〃Not much；〃 she answered with a shrug of her shoulders； 〃except that I
have lost in this game。 You will not believe me； but if you had left me
alone I should have told you so； who did not wish to see that poor fool；
Saduko； killed for deeds he had never done。 Still； the tale he told you
was not told because I had bewitched him； it was told for love of me；
whom he desired to save。 It was Zikali yonder； Zikali； the enemy of
your House； who in the end will destroy your House； O Son of
Senzangakona； that bewitched him； as he has bewitched you all； and
forced the truth out of his unwilling heart。
〃Now； what more is there to say？ Very little； as I think。 I did the
things that are laid to my charge； and worse things which have not been
stated。 Oh； I played for great stakes； I； who meant to be the
Inkosazana of the Zulus； and； as it chances； by the weight of a hair I
have lost。 I thought that I had counted everything； but the hair's
weight which turned the balance against me was the mad jealousy of this
fool； Saduko； upon which I had not reckoned。 I see now that when I left
Saduko I should have left him dead。 Thrice I had thought of it。 Once I
mixed the poison in his drink； and then he came in； weary with his
plottings； and kissed me ere he drank； and my woman's heart grew soft
and I overset the bowl that was at his lips。 Do you not remember；
Saduko？
〃So； so！ For that folly alone I deserve to die； for she who would
reign〃and her beautiful eyes flashed royally〃must have a tiger's
heart； not that of a woman。 Well； because I was too kind I must die；
and； after all is said； it is well to die； who go hence awaited by
thousands upon thousands that I have sent before me； and who shall be