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another glint of light which I guessed came from the spear of Saduko；
who was seated by the ashes of the cooking fire wrapped in his kaross of
wildcatskins。 Slipping from the voorkisse； or driving…box； I came
behind him softly and touched him on the shoulder。 He leapt up with a
start which revealed his nervous nature； then recognising me through the
soft grey gloom； said：
〃You are early； Macumazahn。〃
〃Of course；〃 I answered； 〃am I not named Watcher…by…Night？ Now let us
go to Umbezi and tell him that I shall be ready to start on our hunting
trip on the third morning from to…day。〃
So we went； to find that Umbezi was in a hut with his last wife and
asleep。 Fortunately enough； however； as under the circumstances I did
not wish to disturb him； outside the hut we found the Old Cow； whose
sore ear had kept her very wide awake； who； for purposes of her own；
although etiquette did not allow her to enter the hut； was waiting for
her husband to emerge。
Having examined her wound and rubbed some ointment on it； with her I
left my message。 Next I woke up my servant Scowl； and told him that I
was going on a short journey； and that he must guard all things until my
return； and while I did so； took a nip of raw rum and made ready a bag
of biltong； that is sun…dried flesh； and biscuits。
Then； taking with me a single…barrelled gun； that same little Purdey
rifle with which I shot the vultures on the Hill of Slaughter at
Dingaan's Kraal；* we started on foot； for I would not risk my only horse
on such a journey。
＇*For the story of this shooting of the vultures by Allan Quatermain；
see the book called 〃Marie。〃EDITOR。＇
A rough journey it proved to be indeed； over a series of bush…clad hills
that at their crests were covered with rugged stones among which no
horse could have travelled。 Up and down these hills we went； and across
the valleys that divided them； following some path which I could not
see； for all that live…long day。 I have always been held a good walker；
being by nature very light and active； but I am bound to say that my
companion taxed my powers to the utmost； for on he marched for hour
after hour； striding ahead of me at such a rate that at times I was
forced to break into a run to keep up with him。 Although my pride would
not suffer me to complain； since as a matter of principle I would never
admit to a Kafir that he was my master at anything； glad enough was I
when； towards evening； Saduko sat himself down on a stone at the top of
a hill and said：
〃Behold the Black Kloof； Macumazahn；〃 which were almost the first words
he had uttered since we started。
Truly the spot was well named； for there； cut out by water from the
heart of a mountain in some primeval age； lay one of the most gloomy
places that ever I had beheld。 It was a vast cleft in which granite
boulders were piled up fantastically； perched one upon another in great
columns； and upon its sides grew dark trees set sparsely among the
rocks。 It faced towards the west； but the light of the sinking sun that
flowed up it served only to accentuate its vast loneliness； for it was a
big cleft； the best part of a mile wide at its mouth。
Up this dreary gorge we marched； mocked at by chattering baboons and
following a little path not a foot wide that led us at length to a large
hut and several smaller ones set within a reed fence and overhung by a
gigantic mass of rock that looked as though it might fall at any moment。
At the gate of the fence two natives of I know not what tribe； men of
fierce and forbidding appearance； suddenly sprang out and thrust their
spears towards my breast。
〃Whom bring you here； Saduko？〃 asked one of them sternly。
〃A white man that I vouch for；〃 he answered。 〃Tell Zikali that we wait
on him。〃
〃What need to tell Zikali that which he knows already？〃 said the sentry。
〃Your food and that of your companion is already cooked in yonder hut。
Enter； Saduko； with him for whom you vouch。〃
So we went into the hut and ate； also I washed myself； for it was a
beautifully clean hut； and the stools； wooden bowls； etc。； were finely
carved out of red ivory wood； this work； Saduko informed me； being done
by Zikali's own hand。 just as we were finishing our meal a messenger
came to tell us that Zikali waited our presence。 We followed him across
an open space to a kind of door in the tall reed fence； passing which I
set eyes for the first time upon the famous old witch…doctor of whom so
many tales were told。
Certainly he was a curious sight in those strange surroundings； for they
were very strange； and I think their complete simplicity added to the
effect。 In front of us was a kind of courtyard with a black floor made
of polished ant…heap earth and cow…dung； two…thirds of which at least
was practically roofed in by the huge over…hanging mass of rock whereof
I have spoken； its arch bending above at a height of not less than sixty
or seventy feet from the ground。 Into this great； precipice…backed
cavity poured the fierce light of the setting sun； turning it and all
within it； even the large straw hut in the background； to the deep hue
of blood。 Seeing the wonderful effect of the sunset in that dark and
forbidding place； it occurred to me at once that the old wizard must
have chosen this moment to receive us because of its impressiveness。
Then I forgot these scenic accessories in the sight of the man himself。
There he sat on a stool in front of his hut； quite unattended； and
wearing only a cloak of leopard skins open in front； for he was
unadorned with the usual hideous trappings of a witch…doctor； such as
snake…skins； human bones； bladders full of unholy compounds； and so
forth。
What a man he was； if indeed he could be called quite human。 His
stature； though stout； was only that of a child； his head was enormous；
and from it plaited white hair fell down on to his shoulders。 His eyes
were deep and sunken； his face was broad and very stern。 Except for
this snow…white hair； however； he did not look ancient； for his flesh
was firm and plump； and the skin on his cheeks and neck unwrinkled；
which suggested to me that the story of his great antiquity was false。
A man who was over a hundred years old； for instance； surely could not
boast such a beautiful set of teeth； for even at that distance I could
see them gleaming。 On the other hand； evidently middle age was far
behind him； indeed； from his appearance it was quite impossible to guess
even approximately the number of his years。 There he sat； red in the
red light； perfectly still； and staring without a blink of his eyes at
the furious ball of the setting sun； as an eagle is said to be able to
do。
Saduko advanced； and I walked after him。 My stature is not great； and I
have never considered myself an imposing person； but somehow I do not
think that I ever felt more insignificant than on this occasion。 The
tall and splendid native beside； or rather behind whom I walked； the
gloomy magnificence of the place； the blood…red light in which it was
bathed； and the solemn； solitary； little figure with wisdom stamped upon
its face before me； all tended to induce humility in a man not naturally
vain。 I felt myself growing smaller and smaller； both in a moral and a
physical sense； I wished that my curiosity had not prompted me to seek
an interview with yonder uncanny being。
Well； it was too late to retreat； indeed； Saduko was already standing
before the dwarf and lifting his right arm above his head as he gave him
the salute of 〃Makosi！〃* whereon； feeling that something was expected of
me； I took off my shabby cloth hat and bowed； then； remembering my white
man's pride； replaced it on my head。
＇*〃Makosi〃； the plural of 〃Inkoosi〃； is the salute given to Zulu
wizards； because they are not one but many； since in them （as in the
possessed demoniac in the Bible） dwell an unnumbered horde of
spirits。EDITOR。＇
The wizard suddenly seemed to become aware of our presence； for； ceasing
his contemplation of the sinking sun； he scanned us both with his slow；
thoughtful eyes； which somehow reminded me of those of a chameleon；
although they were not prominent； but； as I have said； sunken。
〃Greeting； son Saduko！〃 he said in a deep； rumbling voice。 〃Why are you
back here so soon； and why do you bring this flea of a white man with
you？〃
Now this was more than I could bear； so without waiting for my
companion's answer I broke in：
〃You give me a poor name； O Zikali。 What would you think of me if I
called you a beetle of a wizard？〃
〃I should think you clever；〃 he answered after reflection； 〃for after
all I must look something like a beetle with a white head。 But why
should you mind being compared to a flea？ A flea works by night and so
do you； Macumazahn； a flea is active and so are you； a flea is very hard
to catch and kill and so are you； and lastly a flea drinks its fill of
that which it desires； the blood of man and beast； and so you have done；
do； and will； Macumazahn；〃 and he broke into a great laugh that rolled
and echoed about the rocky roof above。
Once； long years before； I had heard that laugh； when I was a prisoner
in Dingaan's kraal； after the massacre o