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Now Umslopogaas glanced up sharply； for in those days he was
ambitious； and desired to be first among the people。 Indeed； having
the blood of Chaka in his veins； how could it be otherwise？
〃What is your plan； my father？〃 he asked。 〃Say how can this be brought
about？〃
〃This and thus； Umslopogaas。 Among the tribe of the Halakazi in
Swaziland there dwells a maid who is named the Lily。 She is a girl of
the most wonderful beauty； and Dingaan is afire with longing to have
her to wife。 Now； awhile since Dingaan dispatched an embassy to the
chief of the Halakazi asking the Lily in marriage； and the chief of
the Halakazi sent back insolent words； saying that the Beauty of the
Earth should be given to no Zulu dog as a wife。 Then Dingaan was
angry； and he would have gathered his impis and sent them against the
Halakazi to destroy them； and bring him the maid； but I held him back
from it； saying that now was no time to begin a new war； and it is for
this cause that Dingaan hates me； he is so set upon the plucking of
the Swazi Lily。 Do you understand now； Umslopogaas？〃
〃Something；〃 he answered。 〃But speak clearly。〃
〃Wow； Umslopogaas！ Half words are better than whole ones in this land
of ours。 Listen； then！ This is my plan： that you should fall upon the
Halakazi tribe； destroy it； and bring back the maid as a peace…
offering to Dingaan。〃
〃That is a good plan； my father；〃 he answered。 〃At the least； maid or
no maid； there will be fighting in it； and cattle to divide when the
fighting is done。〃
〃First conquer； then reckon up the spoils； Umslopogaas。〃
Now he thought awhile； then said； 〃Suffer that I summon Galazi the
Wolf； my captain。 Do not fear； he is trusty and a man of few words。〃
Presently Galazi came and sat down before us。 Then I put the matter to
him thus： that Umslopogaas would fall upon the Halakazi and bring to
Dingaan the maid he longed for as a peace…offering； but that I wished
to hold him back from the venture because the Halakazi people were
great and strong。 I spoke in this sense so that I might have a door to
creep out should Galazi betray the plot； and Umslopogaas read my
purpose； though my craft was needless； for Galazi was a true man。
Galazi the Wolf listened in silence till I had finished； then he
answered quietly； but it seemed to me that a fire shone in his eyes as
he spoke：
〃I am chief by right of the Halakazi； O Mouth of Dingaan； and know
them well。 They are a strong people； and can put two full regiments
under arms； whereas Bulalio here can muster but one regiment； and that
a small one。 Moreover； they have watchmen out by night and day； and
spies scattered through the land； so that it will be hard to take them
unawares； also their stronghold is a vast cave open to the sky in the
middle； and none have won that stronghold yet； nor could it be found
except by those who know its secret。 They are few； yet I am one of
them； for my father showed it to me when I was a lad。 Therefore； Mouth
of Dingaan； you will know that this is no easy task which Bulalio
would set himself and usto conquer the Halakazi。 That is the face of
the matter so far as it concerns Bulalio； but for me； O Mouth； it has
another face。 Know that； long years ago； I swore to my father as he
lay dying by the poison of a witch of this people that I would not
rest till I had avenged himay； till I had stamped out the Halakazi；
and slain their men； and brought their women to the houses of
strangers； and their children to bonds！ Year by year and month by
month； and night by night； as I have lain alone upon the Ghost
Mountain yonder； I have wondered how I might bring my oath to pass；
and found no way。 Now it seems that there is a way； and I am glad。 Yet
this is a great adventure； and perhaps before it is done with the
People of the Axe will be no more。〃 And he ceased and took snuff；
watching our faces over the spoon。
〃Galazi the Wolf；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃for me also the matter has
another face。 You have lost your father at the hands of these Halakazi
dogs； and； though till last night I did not know it； I have lost my
mother by their spears； and with her one whom I loved above all in the
world； my sister Nada； who loved me also。 Both are dead and the
Halakazi have killed them。 This man； the mouth of Dingaan；〃 and he
pointed to me； Mopo； 〃this man says that if I can stamp out the
Halakazi and make captive of the Lily maid； I shall win the heart of
Dingaan。 Little do I care for Dingaan； I who would go my way alone；
and live while I may live； and die when I must； by the hands of
Dingaan as by those of anotherwhat does it matter？ Yet； for this
reason； because of the death of Macropha； my mother； and Nada； the
sister who was dear to me； I will make war upon these Halakazi and
conquer them； or be conquered by them。 Perhaps； O Mouth of Dingaan；
you will see me soon at the king's kraal on the Mahlabatine； and with
me the Lily maid and the cattle of the Halakazi； or perhaps you shall
not see me； and then you will know that I am dead； and the Warriors of
the Axe are no more。〃
So Umslopogaas spoke to me before Galazi the Wolf； but afterwards he
embraced me and bade me farewell； for he had no great hope that we
should meet again。 And I also doubted it； for； as Galazi said； the
adventure was great； yet； as I had seen many times； it is the bold
thrower who oftenest wins。 So we partedI to return to Dingaan and
tell him that Bulalio； Chief of the People of the Axe； had gone up
against the Halakazi to win the Lily maid and bring her to him in
atonement； while Umslopogaas remained to make ready his impi for war。
I went swiftly from the Ghost Mountain back to the kraal
Umgugundhlovu； and presented myself before Dingaan； who at first
looked on me coldly。 But when I told him my message； and how that the
Chief Bulalio the Slaughterer had taken the war…path to win him the
Lily； his manner changed。 He took me by the hand and said that I had
done well； and he had been foolish to doubt me when I lifted up my
voice to persuade him from sending an impi against the Halakazi。 Now
he saw that it was my purpose to rake this Halakazi fire with another
hand than his； and to save his hand from the burning； and he thanked
me。
Moreover； he said； that if this Chief of the People of the Axe brought
him the maid his heart desired； not only would he forgive him the
words he had spoken by the mouth of Masilo to the Black One who was
dead； but also all the cattle of the Halakazi should be his； and he
would make him great in the land。 I answered that all this was as the
king willed。 I had but done my duty by the king and worked so that；
whatever befell； a proud chief should be weakened and a foe should be
attacked at no cost to the king； in such fashion also that perhaps it
might come about that the king would shortly have the Lily at his
side。
Then I sat down to wait what might befall。
Now it is； my father； that the white men come into my story； whom we
named the Amaboona； but you call the Boers。 Ou！ I think ill of those
Amaboona； though it was I who gave them the victory over DingaanI
and Umslopogaas。
Before this time； indeed； a few white men had come to and fro to the
kraals of Chaka and Dingaan； but these came to pray and not to fight。
Now the Boers both fight and pray； also they steal； or used to steal；
which I do not understand； for the prayers of you white men say that
these things should not be done。
Well； when I had been back from the Ghost Mountain something less than
a moon； the Boers came； sixty of them commanded by a captain named
Retief； a big man； and armed with roersthe long guns they had in
those daysor； perhaps they numbered a hundred in all； counting their
servants and after…riders。 This was their purpose： to get a grant of
the land in Natal that lies between the Tugela and the Umzimoubu
rivers。 But； by my council and that of other indunas； Dingaan；
bargained with the Boers that first they should attack a certain chief
named Sigomyela； who had stolen some of the king's cattle； and who
lived near the Quathlamba Mountains； and bring back those cattle。 This
the Boers agreed to； and went to attack the chief； and in a little
while they came back again； having destroyed the people of Sigomyela；
and driving his cattle before them as well as those which had been
stolen from the king。
The face of Dingaan shone when he saw the cattle； and that night he
called us； the council of the Amapakati； together； and asked us as to
the granting of the country。 I spoke the first； and said that it
mattered little if he granted it； seeing that the Black One who was
dead had already given it to the English； the People of George； and
the end of the matter would be that the Amaboona and the People of
George would fight for the land。 Yet the words of the Black One were
coming to pass； for already it seemed we could hear the sound of the
running of a white folk who should eat up the kingdom。
Now when I had spoken thus the heart of Dingaan grew heavy and his
face dark； for my words stuck in his breast like a barbed spear。
Still； he made no answer； but dismissed the council。
On the morrow the king promised to sign the paper giving the lands
they ask