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for already I saw that at some sign from Kambula I was being surrounded
by Zulus。 He did so； and presently Retief came back himself accompanied
only by one man； and asked me what was the matter now。 I informed him；
translating Kambula's words； which he repeated in his presence。
〃Does the fellow mean that you will be seized if you do not go； or I
refuse to allow you to do so？〃
To this question Kambula's answer was：
〃That is so； Inkoos； since the king has private words for the ear of
Macumazahn。 Therefore we must obey orders； and take him before the
king； living or dead。〃
〃Allemachte！〃 exclaimed Retief； 〃this is serious；〃 and； as though to
summon them to my help； he looked behind him towards the main body of
the Boers； who by this time were nearly all of them through the gate；
which was guarded by a great number of Zulus。 〃Allan；〃 he went on； 〃if
you are not afraid； I think that you must go。 Perhaps it is only that
Dingaan has some message about the treaty to send to me through you。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 I answered。 〃What is the use of being afraid in a
place like this？〃
〃Ask that Kaffir if the king gives you safe conduct；〃 said Retief。
I did so； and Kambula answered：
〃Yes； for this visit。 Who am I that I can speak the king's unspoken
words？〃 ＇which meant； guarantee his will in the future。＇
〃A dark saying；〃 commented Retief。 〃But go； Allan； since you must； and
God bring you back safe again。 It is clear that Dingaan did not ask
that you should come with me for nothing。 Now I wish I had left you at
home with that pretty wife of yours。〃
So we parted； I going to the king's private enclosure on foot and
without my rifle； since I was not allowed to appear before him armed；
and the commandant towards the gate of the kraal accompanied by Hans；
who led my horse。 Ten minutes later I stood before Dingaan； who greeted
me kindly enough； and began to ask a number of questions about the
Boers； especially if they were not people who had rebelled against their
own king and run away from him。
I answered； Yes； they had run away； as they wanted more room to live；
but I had told him all about that when I saw him before。 He said he
knew I had； but he wished to hear 〃whether the same words came out of
the same mouth； or different words；〃 so that he might know if I were a
true man or not。 Then； after pausing a while； he looked at me in his
piercing fashion and asked：
〃Have you brought me a present of that tall white girl with eyes like
two stars； Macumazahn？ I mean the girl whom you refused to me； and whom
I could not take because you had won your bet； which gave all the white
people to you； she for whose sake you make brothers of these Boers； who
are traitors to their king？〃
〃No； O Dingaan；〃 I answered； 〃there are no women among us。 Moreover；
this maid is now my wife。〃
〃Your wife！〃 he exclaimed angrily。 〃By the Head of the Black One； have
you dared to make a wife of her whom I desired？ Now say； boy； you
clever Watcher by Night； you little white ant； who work in the dark and
only peep out at the end of your tunnel when it is finished； you wizard；
who by your magic can snatch his prey out of the hand of the greatest
king in all the worldfor it was magic that killed those vultures on
Hloma Amabutu； not your bullets； Macumazahnsay； why should I not make
an end of you at once for this trick？〃
I folded my arms and looked at him。 A strange contrast we must have
made； this huge； black tyrant with the royal air； for to do him justice
he had that； at whose nod hundreds went the way of death； and I； a mere
insignificant white boy； for in appearance； at any rate； I was nothing
more。
〃O Dingaan；〃 I said coolly； knowing that coolness was my only chance； 〃I
answer you in the words of the Commandant Retief； the great chief。 Do
you take me for a child that I should give up my own wife to you who
already have so many？ Moreover； you cannot kill me because I have the
word of your captain； Kambula； that I am safe with you。〃
This reply seemed to amuse him。 At any rate； with one of those almost
infantile changes of mood which are common to savages of every degree；
he passed from wrath to laughter。
〃You are quick as a lizard；〃 he said。 〃Why should I； who have so many
wives； want one more； who would certainly hate me？ Just because she is
white； and would make the others； who are black； jealous； I suppose。
Indeed； they would poison her； or pinch her to death in a month； and
then come to tell me she had died of fretting。 Also； you are right； you
have my safe conduct； and must go hence unharmed this time。 But look
you； little lizard； although you escape me between the stones； I will
pull off your tail。 I have said that I want to pluck this tall white
flower of yours； and I will pluck her。 I know where she dwells。 Yes；
just where the wagon she sleeps in stands in the line； for my spies have
told me； and I will give orders that whoever is killed； she is to be
spared and brought to me living。 So perhaps you will meet this wife of
yours here； Macumazahn。〃
Now； at these ominous words； that might mean so much or so little； the
sweat started to my brow； and a shiver went down my back。
〃Perhaps I shall and perhaps I shall not； O king；〃 I answered。 〃The
world is as full of chances to…day as it was not long ago when I shot at
the sacred vultures on Hloma Amabutu。 Still； I think that my wife will
never be yours； O king。〃
〃Ow！〃 said Dingaan； 〃this little white ant is making another tunnel；
thinking that he will come up at my back。 But what if I put down my
heel and crush you； little white ant？ Do you know；〃 he added
confidentially； 〃that the Boer who mends my guns and whom here we call
'Two…faces；' because he looks towards you Whites with one eye and
towards us Blacks with the other； is still very anxious that I should
kill you？ Indeed； when I told him that my spies said that you were to
ride with the Boers； as I had requested that you should be their Tongue；
he answered that unless I promised to give you to the vultures； he would
warn them against coming。 So； since I wanted them to come as I had
arranged with him； I promised。〃
〃Is it so； O king？〃 I asked。 〃And pray why does this Two…faces； whom we
name Pereira； desire that I should be killed？〃
〃Ow！〃 chuckled the obese old ruffian； 〃cannot you with all your
cleverness guess that； O Macumazahn？ Perhaps it is he who needs the
tall white maiden； and not I。 Perhaps if he does certain things for me；
I have promised her to him in payment。 And perhaps；〃 he added； laughing
quite loud； 〃I shall trick him after all； keeping her for myself； and
paying him in another way； for can a cheat grumble if he is
out…cheated？〃
I answered that I was an honest man； and knew nothing about cheats； or
at what they could or could not grumble。
〃Yes； Macumazahn；〃 replied Dingaan quite genially。 〃That is where you
and I are alike。 We are both honest； quite honest； and therefore
friends； which I can never be with these Amaboona； who； as you and
others have told me； are traitors。 We play our game in the light； like
men； and who wins； wins； and who loses； loses。 Now hear me； Macumazahn；
and remember what I say。 Whatever happens to others； whatever you may
see； you are safe while I live。 Dingaan has spoken。 Whether I get the
tall white girl； or do not get her； still _you_ are safe； it is on my
head；〃 and he touched the gum…ring in his hair。
〃And why should I be safe if others are unsafe； O king？〃 I asked。
〃Oh！ if you would know that； ask a certain ancient prophet named Zikali；
who was in this land in the days of Senzangacona； my father； and before
thenthat is； if you can find him。 Also； I like you； who are not a
flat…faced fool like these Amaboona； but have a brain that turns in and
out through difficulties； as a snake does through reeds； and it would be
a pity to kill one who can shoot birds wheeling high above him in the
air； which no one else can do。 So whatever you see and whatever you
hear； remember that you are safe； and shall go safely from this land； or
stay safely in it if you will； to be my voice to speak with the Sons of
George。
〃Now return to the commandant； and say to him that my heart is his
heart； and that I am very pleased to see him here。 To…morrow； and
perhaps the next day； I will show him some of the dances of my people；
and after that I will sign the writing； giving him all the land he asks
and everything else he may desire； more than he can wish； indeed。 Hamba
gachle； Macumazahn；〃 and； rising with surprising quickness from his
chair； which was cut out of a single block of wood； he turned and
vanished through the little opening in the reed fence behind him that
led to his private huts。
As I was being conducted back to the Boer camp by Kambula； who was
waiting for me outside the gate of the labyri