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with the wolves。 When I had been led before the chief I saluted him
and spoke to himthe words you laid upon my tongue I told to him。 He
listened； then laughed aloud； and said： 'Tell him who sent you that
the mouth of Dingaan shall be welcome； and shall speak the words of
Dingaan in peace； yet I would that it were the head of Dingaan that
came and not his mouth only； for then Axe Groan…Maker would join in
our talkay； because of one Mopo； whom his brother Chaka murdered； it
would also speak with Dingaan。 Still； the mouth is not the head； so
the mouth may come in peace。'〃
Now I started when for the second time I heard talk of one Mopo； whose
name had been on the lips of Bulalio the Slaughterer。 Who was there
that would thus have loved Mopo except one who was long dead？ And yet；
perhaps the chief spoke of some other Mopo； for the name was not my
own onlyin truth； Chaka had killed a chief of that name at the great
mourning； because he said that two Mopos in the land were one too
many； and that though this Mopo wept sorely when the tears of others
were dry。 So I said only that this Bulalio had a high stomach； and we
went on to the gates of the kraal。
There were none to meet us at the gates； and none stood by the doors
of the huts within them； but beyond； from the cattle kraal that was in
the centre of the huts； rose a dust and a din as of men gathering for
war。 Now some of those were with me were afraid； and would have turned
back； fearing treachery； and they were yet more afraid when； on coming
to the inner entrance of the cattle kraal； we saw some five hundred
soldiers being mustered there company by company； by two great men；
who ran up and down the ranks shouting。
But I cried； 〃Nay！ nay！ Turn not back！ Bold looks melt the hearts of
foes。 Moreover； if this Bulalio would have murdered us； there was no
need for him to call up so many of his warriors。 He is a proud chief；
and would show his might； not knowing that the king we serve can
muster a company for every man he has。 Let us go on boldly。〃
So we walked forward towards the impi that was gathered on the further
side of the kraal。 Now the two great men who were marshalling the
soldiers saw us； and came to meet us； one following the other。 He who
came first bore the axe upon his shoulder； and he who followed swung a
huge club。 I looked upon the foremost of them； and ah！ my father； my
heart grew faint with joy； for I knew him across the years。 It was
Umslopogaas！ my fosterling； Umslopogaas！ and none other； now grown
into manhooday； into such a man as was not to be found beside him in
Zululand。 He was great and fierce； somewhat spare in frame； but wide
shouldered and shallow flanked。 His arms were long and not over big；
but the muscles stood out on them like knots in a rope； his legs were
long also； and very thick beneath the knee。 His eye was like an
eagle's； his nose somewhat hooked； and he held his head a little
forward； as a man who searches continually for a hidden foe。 He seemed
to walk slowly； and yet he came swiftly； but with a gliding movement
like that of a wolf or a lion； and always his fingers played round the
horn handle of the axe Groan…Maker。 As for him who followed； he was
great also； shorter than Umslopogaas by the half of a head； but of a
sturdier build。 His eyes were small； and twinkled unceasingly like
little stars； and his look was very wild； for now and again he
grinned； showing his white teeth。
When I saw Umslopogaas； my father； my bowels melted within me； and I
longed to run to him and throw myself upon his neck。 Yet I took
council with myself and did notnay； I dropped the corner of the
kaross I wrote over my eyes； hiding my face lest he should know me。
Presently he stood before me； searching me out with his keen eyes； for
I drew forward to greet him。
〃Greeting； Mouth of Dingaan！〃 he said in a loud voice。 〃You are a
little man to be the mouth of so big a chief。〃
〃The mouth is a little member； even of the body of a great king； O
Chief Bulalio； ruler of the People of the Axe； wizard of the wolves
that are upon the Ghost Mountain； who aforetime was named Umslopogaas；
son of Mopo； son of Makedama。〃
Now when Umslopogaas heard these words he started like a child at a
rustling in the dark and stared hard at me。
〃You are well instructed；〃 he said。
〃The ears of the king are large； if his mouth be small； O Chief
Bulalio；〃 I answered； 〃and I； who am but the mouth； speak what the
ears have heard。〃
〃How know you that I have dwelt with the wolves upon the Ghost
Mountain； O Mouth？〃 he asked。
〃The eyes of the king see far； O Chief Bulalio。 Thus last night they
saw a great chase and a merry。 It seems that they saw a koodoo bull
running at speed； and after him countless wolves making their music；
and with the wolves two men clad in wolves' skins； such men as you；
Bulalio； and he with the club who follows you。〃
Now Umslopogaas lifted the axe Groan…Maker as though he would cut me
down； then let it fall again； while Galazi the Wolf glared at me with
wide…opened eyes。
〃How know you that once I was named Umslopogaas； who have lost that
name these many days？ Speak； O Mouth； lest I kill you。〃
〃Slay if you will； Umslopogaas；〃 I answered； 〃but know that when the
brains are scattered the mouth is dumb。 He who scatters brains loses
wisdom。〃
〃Answer！〃 he said。
〃I answer not。 Who are you that I should answer you？ I know； it is
enough。 To my business。〃
Now Umslopogaas ground his teeth in anger。 〃I am not wont to be
thwarted here in my own kraal；〃 he said； 〃but do your business。 Speak
it； little Mouth。〃
〃This is my business； little Chief。 When the Black One who is gone yet
lived； you sent him a message by one Masilosuch a message as his
ears had never heard； and that had been your death； O fool puffed up
with pride； but death came first upon the Black One； and his hand was
stayed。 Now Dingaan； whose shadow lies upon the land； the king whom I
serve； and who sits in the place of the Black One who is gone； speaks
to you by me； his mouth。 He would know this： if it is true that you
refuse to own his sovereignty； to pay tribute to him in men and maids
and cattle； and to serve him in his wars？ Answer； you little headman！
answer in few words and short！〃
Now Umslopogaas gasped for breath in his rage； and again he fingered
the great axe。 〃It is well for you； O Mouth；〃 he said； 〃that I swore
safe conduct to you； else you had not gone henceelse you had been
served as I served certain soldiers who in bygone years were sent to
search out one Umslopogaas。 Yet I answer you in few words and short。
Look on those spearsthey are but a fourth part of the number I can
muster： that is my answer。 Look now on yonder mountain； the mountain
of ghosts and wolvesunknown； impassable； save to me and one other：
that is my answer。 Spears and mountains shall come togetherthe
mountain shall be alive with spears and with the fangs of beasts。 Let
Dingaan seek his tribute there！ I have spoken！〃
Now I laughed shrilly； desiring to try the heart of Umslopogaas； my
fosterling； yet further。
〃Fool！〃 I said。 〃Boy with the brain of a monkey； for every spear you
have Dingaan； whom I serve； can send a hundred； and your mountain
shall be stamped flat； and for your ghosts and wolves； see； with the
mouth of Dingaan I spit upon them！〃 and I spat upon the ground。
Now Umslopogaas shook in his rage； and the great axe glimmered as he
shook。 He turned to the captain who was behind him； and said： 〃Say；
Galazi the Wolf； shall we kill this man and those with him？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the Wolf； grinning； 〃do not kill them； you have given
them safe conduct。 Moreover； let them go back to their dog of a king；
that he may send out his puppies to do battle with our wolves。 It will
be a pretty fight。〃
〃Get you gone； O Mouth；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃get you gone swiftly； lest
mischief befall you！ Without my gates you shall find food to satisfy
your hunger。 Eat of it and begone； for if to…morrow at the noon you
are found within a spear's throw of this kraal； you and those with you
shall bide there forever； O Mouth of Dingaan the king！〃
Now I made as though I would depart； then； turning suddenly； I spoke
once more； saying：
〃There were words in your message to the Black One who is dead of a
certain mannay； how was he named？of a certain Mopo。〃
Now Umslopogaas started as one starts who is wounded by a spear； and
stared at me。
〃Mopo！ What of Mopo； O Mouth； whose eyes are veiled？ Mopo is dead；
whose son I was！〃
〃Ah！〃 I said； 〃yes； Mopo is deadthat is； the Black One who is gone
killed a certain Mopo。 How came it； O Bulalio； that you were his son？〃
〃Mopo is dead；〃 quoth Umslopogaas again； 〃he is dead with all his
house； his kraal is stamped flat； and that is why I hated the Black
One； and therefore I hate Dingaan； his brother； and will be as are
Mopo and the house of Mopo before I pay him tribute of a single ox。〃
All this while I had spoken to Umslopogaas in a feigned voice； my
father； but now I spoke again and in my own voice； saying：
〃So！ Now you speak from your heart； young man； and by digging I have
reached the root of the matter。 It is because of this dead dog of a
Mopo