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Axe； moreover； it saw me coming； and； headed by Umslopogaas； who
walked behind them all； ran to meet me。 Then the soldiers who followed
to kill me hung back out of reach of the axe。
〃Here with the king is no place for me any more； my son；〃 I said to
Umslopogaas。
〃Fear not； my father； I will find you a place；〃 he answered。
Then I called a message to the soldiers who followed me； saying：
〃Tell this to the king： that he has done ill to drive me from him； for
I； Mopo； set him on the throne and I alone can hold him there。 Tell
him this also； that he will do yet worse to seek me where I am； for
that day when we are once more face to face shall be his day of death。
Thus speaks Mopo the inyanga； Mopo the doctor； who never yet
prophesied that which should not be。〃
Then we marched from the kraal Umgugundhlovu； and when next I saw that
kraal it was to burn all of it which Dingaan had left unburnt； and
when next I saw Dingaanah！ that is to be told of； my father。
We marched from the kraal； none hindering us； for there were none to
hinder； and after we had gone a little way Umslopogaas halted and
said：
〃Now it is in my mind to return whence we came and slay this Dingaan；
ere he slay me。〃
〃Yet it is well to leave a frightened lion in his thicket； my son； for
a lion at bay is hard to handle。 Doubt not that every man； young and
old； in Umgugundhlovu now stands armed about the gates； lest such a
thought should take you； my son； and though just now he was afraid；
yet Dingaan will strike for his life。 When you might have killed you
did not kill； now the hour has gone。〃
〃Wise words！〃 said Galazi。 〃I would that the Watcher had fallen where
his shadow fell。〃
〃What is your counsel now； father？〃 asked Umslopogaas。
〃This； then： that you two should abide no more beneath the shadow of
the Ghost Mountain； but should gather your people and your cattle； and
pass to the north on the track of Mosilikatze the Lion； who broke away
from Chaka。 There you may rule apart or together； and never dream of
Dingaan。〃
〃I will not do that； father；〃 he answered。 〃I will dwell beneath the
shadow of the Ghost Mountain while I may。〃
〃And so will I；〃 said Galazi； 〃or rather among its rocks。 What！ shall
my wolves lack a master when they would go a…hunting？ Shall Greysnout
and Blackfang； Blood and Deathgrip； and their company black and grey；
howl for me in vain？〃
〃So be it； children。 Ye are young and will not listen to the counsel
of the old。 Let it befall as it chances。〃
I spoke thus； for I did not know then why Umslopogaas would not leave
his kraals。 It was for this reason： because he had bidden Nada to meet
him there。
Afterwards； when he found her he would have gone； but then the sky was
clear； the danger…clouds had melted for awhile。
Oh！ that Umslopogaas my fosterling had listened to me！ Now he would
have reigned as a king； not wandered an outcast in strange lands I
know not where； and Nada should have lived； not died； nor would the
People of the Axe have ceased to be a people。
This of Dingaan。 When he heard my message he grew afraid once more；
for he knew me to be no liar。
Therefore he held his hand for awhile； sending no impi to smite
Umslopogaas； lest it might come about that I should bring him his
death as I had promised。 And before the fear had worn away； it
happened that Dingaan's hands were full with the war against the
Amaboona； because of his slaughter of the white people； and he had no
soldiers to spare with whom to wreak vengeance on a petty chief living
far away。
Yet his rage was great because of what had chanced； and； after his
custom； he murdered many innocent people to satisfy it。
CHAPTER XXIX
MOPO TELLS HIS TALE
Now afterwards； as we went upon our road； Umslopogaas told me all
there was to tell of the slaying of the Halakazi and of the finding of
Nada。
When I heard that Nada； my daughter； still lived； I wept for joy；
though like Umslopogaas I was torn by doubt and fear； for it is far
for an unaided maid to travel from Swaziland to the Ghost Mountain。
Yet all this while I said nothing to Umslopogaas of the truth as to
his birth； because on the journey there were many around us； and the
very trees have ears； and the same wind to which we whispered might
whisper to the king。 Still I knew that the hour had come now when I
must speak； for it was in my mind to bring it about that Umslopogaas
should be proclaimed the son of Chaka； and be made king of the Zulus
in the place of Dingaan； his uncle。 Yet all these things had gone
cross for us； because it was fated so； my father。 Had I known that
Umslopogaas still lived when I slew Chaka； then I think that I could
have brought it about that he should be king。 Or had things fallen out
as I planned； and the Lily maid been brought to Dingaan； and
Umslopogaas grew great in his sight； then； perhaps； I could have
brought it about。 But all things had gone wrong。 The Lily was none
other than Nada； and how could Umslopogaas give Nada； whom he thought
his sister； and who was my daughter； to Dingaan against her will？
Also； because of Nada； Dingaan and Umslopogaas were now at bitter
enmity； and for this same cause I was disgraced and a fugitive； and my
counsels would no longer be heard in the ear of the king。
So everything must be begun afresh： and as I walked with the impi
towards the Ghost Mountain； I thought much and often of the manner in
which this might be done。 But as yet I said nothing。
Now at last we were beneath the Ghost Mountain； and looked upon the
face of the old Witch who sits there aloft forever waiting for the
world to die； and that same night we came to the kraal of the People
of the Axe； and entered it with a great singing。 But Galazi did not
enter at that time； he was away to the mountain to call his flock of
wolves； and as we passed its foot we heard the welcome that the wolves
howled in greeting to him。
Now as we drew near the kraal； all the women and children came out to
meet us； headed by Zinita； the head wife of Umslopogaas。 They came
joyfully； but when they found how many were wanting who a moon before
had gone thence to fight； their joy was turned to mourning； and the
voice of their weeping went up to heaven。
Umslopogaas greeted Zinita kindly； and yet I thought that there was
something lacking。 At first she spoke to him softly； but when she
learned all that had come to pass； her words were not soft； for she
reviled me and sang a loud song at Umslopogaas。
〃See now； Slaughterer；〃 she said； 〃see now what has came about because
you listened to this aged fool！〃that was I； my father〃this fool
who calls himself 'Mouth'！ Ay； a mouth he is； a mouth out of which
proceed folly and lies！ What did he counsel you to do？to go up
against these Halakazi and win a girl for Dingaan！ And what have you
done？you have fallen upon the Halakazi； and doubtless have killed
many innocent people with that great axe of yours； also you have left
nearly half of the soldiers of the Axe to whiten in the Swazi caves；
and in exchange have brought back certain cattle of a small breed； and
girls and children whom we must nourish！
〃Nor does the matter end here。 You went； it seems； to win a girl whom
Dingaan desired； yet when you find that girl you let her go； because；
indeed； you say she was your sister and would not wed Dingaan。
Forsooth； is not the king good enough for this sister of yours？ Now
what is the end of the tale？ You try to play tricks on the king；
because of your sister； and are found out。 Then you kill a man before
Dingaan and escape； bringing this fool of an aged Mouth with you； that
he may teach you his own folly。 So you have lost half of your men； and
you have gained the king for a foe who shall bring about the death of
all of us； and a fool for a councillor。 Wow！ Slaughterer； keep to your
trade and let others find you wit。〃
Thus she spoke without ceasing； and there was some truth in her words。
Zinita had a bitter tongue。 I sat silent till she had finished； and
Umslopogaas also remained silent； though his anger was great； because
there was no crack in her talk through which a man might thrust a
word。
〃Peace； woman！〃 I said at length； 〃do not speak ill of those who are
wise and who had seen much before you were born。〃
〃Speak no ill of him who is my father；〃 growled Umslopogaas。 〃Ay！
though you do not know it； this Mouth whom you revile is Mopo； my
father。〃
〃Then there is a man among the People of the Axe who has a fool for a
father。 Of all tidings this is the worst。〃
〃There is a man among the People of the Axe who has a jade and a scold
for a wife；〃 said Umslopogaas； springing up。 〃Begone； Zinita！and
know this； that if I hear you snarl such words of him who is my
father； you shall go further than your own hut； for I will put you
away and drive you from my kraal。 I have suffered you too long。〃
〃I go；〃 said Zinita。 〃Oh！ I am well served！ I made you chief； and now
you threaten to put me away。〃
〃My own hands made me chief；〃 said Umslopogaas； and； springing up； he
thrust her from the hut。
〃It is a poor thing to be wedded to such a woman； my father；〃 he said
presently。
〃Yes； a poor thing； Umslopogaas； yet these are th