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it was not enough； till in the end both of them swore by their heads；
and by the bones of Senzangacona； their father； and by many other
things； that I should be the first man in the land； after them； its
kings； and should command the impis of the land； if I would but show
them a way to kill Chaka and become kings。 Then； when they had done
swearing； I spoke； weighing my words：
〃In the great kraal beyond the river； O ye Princes； there sit； not one
regiment but two。 One is named the Slayers and loves Chaka the king；
who has done well by them； giving them cattle and wives。 The other is
named the Bees； and that regiment is hungry and longs for cattle and
girls； moreover； of that regiment the Prince Umhlangana is the
general； and it loves him。 Now this is my planto summon the Bees in
the name of Umhlangana； not the Slayers in the name of Chaka。 Bend
forward； O Princes； that I may whisper in your ears。〃
So they bent forward； and I whispered awhile of the death of a king；
and the sons of Senzangacona nodded their heads as one man in answer。
Then I rose up； and crept from the hut as I had entered it； and
rousing certain trusty messengers； I dispatched them； running swiftly
through the night。
CHAPTER XXI
THE DEATH OF CHAKA
Now； on the morrow； two hours before midday； Chaka came from the hut
where he had sat through the night； and moved to a little kraal
surrounded by a fence that was some fifty paces distant from the hut。
For it was my duty； day by day； to choose that place where the king
should sit to hear the counsel of his indunas； and give judgment on
those whom he would kill； and to…day I had chosen this place。 Chaka
went alone from his hut to the kraal； and； for my own reasons； I
accompanied him； walking after him。 As we went the king glanced back
at me over his shoulder； and said in a low voice：
〃Is all prepared； Mopo？〃
〃All is prepared； Black One；〃 I answered。 〃The regiment of the Slayers
will be here by noon。〃
〃Where are the princes； Mopo？〃 asked the king again。
〃The princes sit with their wives in the houses of their women； O
King；〃 I answered； 〃they drink beer and sleep in the laps of their
wives。〃
Chaka smiled grimly； 〃For the last time； Mopo！〃
〃For the last time； O King。〃
We came to the kraal； and Chaka sat down in the shade of the reed
fence； upon an ox…hide that was brayed soft。 Near to him stood a girl
holding a gourd of beer； there were also present the old chief
Inguazonca； brother of Unandi； Mother of the Heavens； and the chief
Umxamama； whom Chaka loved。 When we had sat a little while in the
kraal； certain men came in bearing cranes' feathers； which the king
had sent them to gather a month's journey from the kraal Duguza； and
they were admitted before the king。 These men had been away long upon
their errand； and Chaka was angry with them。 Now the leader of the men
was an old captain of Chaka's； who had fought under him in many
battles； but whose service was done； because his right hand had been
shorn away by the blow of an axe。 He was a great man and very brave。
Chaka asked the man why he had been so long in finding the feathers；
and he answered that the birds had flown from that part of the country
whither he was sent； and he must wait there till they returned； that
he might snare them。
〃Thou shouldst have followed the cranes； yes； if they flew through the
sunset； thou disobedient dog！〃 said the king。 〃Let him be taken away；
and all those who were with him。〃
Now some of the men prayed a little for mercy； but the captain did but
salute the king； calling him 〃Father；〃 and craving a boon before he
died。
〃What wouldst thou？〃 asked Chaka。
〃My father；〃 said the man； 〃I would ask thee two things。 I have fought
many times at thy side in battle while we both were young； nor did I
ever turn my back upon the foe。 The blow that shore the hand from off
this arm was aimed at thy head； O King； I stayed it with my naked arm。
It is nothing； at thy will I live； and at thy will I die。 Who am I
that I should question the word of the king？ Yet I would ask this；
that thou wilt withdraw the kaross from about thee； O King； that for
the last time my eyes may feast themselves upon the body of him whom；
above all men； I love。〃
〃Thou art long…winded；〃 said the king； 〃what more？〃
〃This； my father； that I may bid farewell to my son； he is a little
child； so high； O King；〃 and he held his hand above his knee。
〃Thy first boon is granted；〃 said the king； slipping the kaross from
his shoulders and showing the great breast beneath。 〃For the second it
shall be granted also； for I will not willingly divide the father and
the son。 Bring the boy here； thou shalt bid him farewell； then thou
shalt slay him with thine own hand ere thou thyself art slain； it will
be good sport to see。〃
Now the man turned grey beneath the blackness of his skin； and
trembled a little as he murmured； 〃The king's will is the will of his
servant； let the child be brought。〃
But I looked at Chaka and saw that the tears were running down his
face； and that he only spoke thus to try the captain who loved him to
the last。
〃Let the man go；〃 said the king； 〃him and those with him。〃
So they went glad at heart； and praising the king。
I have told you this； my father； though it has not to do with my
story； because then； and then only； did I ever see Chaka show mercy to
one whom he had doomed to die。
As the captain and his people left the gate of the kraal； it was
spoken in the ear of the king that a man sought audience with him。 He
was admitted crawling on his knees。 I looked and saw that this was
that Masilo whom Chaka had charged with a message to him who was named
Bulalio； or the Slaughterer； and who ruled over the People of the Axe。
It was Masilo indeed； but he was no longer fat； for much travel had
made him thin； moreover； on his back were the marks of rods； as yet
scarcely healed over。
〃Who art thou？〃 said Chaka。
〃I am Masilo； of the People of the Axe； to whom command was given to
run with a message to Bulalio the Slaughterer； their chief； and to
return on the thirtieth day。 Behold； O King； I have returned； though
in a sorry plight！〃
〃It seems so！〃 said the king； laughing aloud。 〃I remember now： speak
on； Masilo the Thin； who wast Masilo the Fat； what of this
Slaughterer？ Does he come with his people to lay the axe Groan…Maker
in my hands？〃
〃Nay； O King； he comes not。 He met me with scorn； and with scorn he
drove me from his kraal。 Moreover； as I went I was seized by the
servants of Zinita； she whom I wooed； but who is now the wife of the
Slaughterer； and laid on my face upon the ground and beaten cruelly
while Zinita numbered the strokes。〃
〃Hah！〃 said the king。 〃And what were the words of this puppy？〃
〃These were his words； O King： 'Bulalio the Slaughterer； who sits
beneath the shadow of the Witch Mountain； to Bulalio the Slaughterer
who sits in the kraal DuguzaTo thee I pay no tribute； if thou
wouldst have the axe Groan…Maker； come to the Ghost Mountain and take
it。 This I promise thee： thou shalt look on a face thou knowest； for
there is one there who would be avenged for the blood of a certain
Mopo。'〃
Now； while Masilo told this tale I had seen two thingsfirst； that a
little piece of stick was thrust through the straw of the fence； and；
secondly； that the regiment of the Bees was swarming on the slope
opposite to the kraal in obedience to the summons I had sent them in
the name of Umhlangana。 The stick told me that the princes were hidden
behind the fence waiting the signal； and the coming of the regiment
that it was time to do the deed。
When Masilo had spoken Chaka sprang up in fury。 His eyes rolled； his
face worked； foam flew from his lips； for such words as these had
never offended his ears since he was king； and Masilo knew him little；
else he had not dared to utter them。
For a while he gasped； shaking his small spear； for at first he could
not speak。 At length he found words：
〃The dog；〃 he hissed； 〃the dog who dares thus to spit in my face！
Hearken all！ As with my last breath I command that this Slaughterer be
torn limb from limb； he and all his tribe！ And thou； thou darest to
bring me this talk from a skunk of the mountains。 And thou； too； Mopo；
thy name is named in it。 Well； of thee presently。 Ho！ Umxamama； my
servant； slay me this slave of a messenger； beat out his brains with
thy stick。 Swift！ swift！〃
Now； the old chief Umxamama sprang up to do the king's bidding； but he
was feeble with age； and the end of it was that Masilo； being mad with
fear； killed Umxamama； not Umxamama Masilo。 Then Inguazonca； brother
of Unandi； Mother of the Heavens； fell upon Masilo and ended him； but
was hurt himself in so doing。 Now I looked at Chaka； who stood shaking
the little red spear； and thought swiftly； for the ho