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The men were running； two and two； with the length of a spear throw
between them。 But of the first pair one was five or six paces in front
of the other。 This man shouted out loud and charged me； shield and
spear up。 Now I had no shieldnothing but the assegai； but I was
crafty and he was overbold。 On he came。 I stood waiting for him till
he drew back the spear to stab me。 Then suddenly I dropped to my knees
and thrust upward with all my strength； beneath the rim of his shield；
and he also thrust； but over me； his spear only cutting the flesh of
my shouldersee！ here is its scar； yes； to this day。 And my assegai？
Ah！ it went home； it ran through and through his middle。 He rolled
over and over on the plain。 The dust hid him； only I was now
weaponless； for the haft of my spearit was but a light throwing
assegaibroke in two； leaving nothing but a little bit of stick in my
hand。 And the other one was upon me。 Then in the darkness I saw a
light。 I fell on to my hands and knees and flung myself over sideways。
My body struck the legs of the man who was about to stab me； lifting
his feet from beneath him。 Down he came heavily。 Before he had touched
the ground I was off it。 His spear had fallen from his hand。 I
stooped； seized it； and as he rose I stabbed him through the back。 It
was all done in the shake of a leaf； my father； in the shake of a leaf
he also was dead。 Then I ran； for I had no stomach for the other two；
my valour was gone。
About a hundred paces from me Baleka was staggering along with her
arms out like one who has drunk too much beer。 By the time I caught
her she was some forty paces from the gate of the kraal。 But then her
strength left her altogether。 Yes！ there she fell senseless； and I
stood by her。 And there； too； I should have been killed； had not this
chanced； since the other two men； having stayed one instant by their
dead fellows； came on against me mad with rage。 For at that moment the
gate of the kraal opened； and through it ran a party of soldiers
dragging a prisoner by the arms。 After them walked a great man； who
wore a leopard skin on his shoulders； and was laughing； and with him
were five or six ringed councillors； and after them again came a
company of warriors。
The soldiers saw that killing was going on； and ran up just as the
slayers reached us。
〃Who are you？〃 they cried； 〃who day to kill at the gate of the
Elephant's kraal？ Here the Elephant kills alone。〃
〃We are of the children of Makedama；〃 they answered； 〃and we follow
these evildoers who have done wickedness and murder in our kraal。 See！
but now two of us are dead at their hands； and others lie dead along
the road。 Suffer that we slay them。〃
〃Ask that of the Elephant；〃 said the soldiers； 〃ask too that he suffer
you should not be slain。〃
Just then the tall chief saw blood and heard words。 He stalked up； and
he was a great man to look at； though still quite young in years。 For
he was taller by a head than any round him； and his chest was big as
the chests of two； his face was fierce and beautiful； and when he grew
angry his eye flashed like a smitten brand。
〃Who are these that dare to stir up dust at the gates of my kraal？〃 he
asked； frowning。
〃O Chaka； O Elephant！〃 answered the captain of the soldiers； bending
himself double before him； 〃the men say that these are evildoers and
that they pursue them to kill them。〃
〃Good！〃 he answered。 〃Let them slay the evildoers。〃
〃O great chief！ thanks be to thee； great chief！〃 said those men of my
people who sought to kill us。
〃I hear you；〃 he answered； then spoke once more to the captain。 〃And
when they have slain the evildoers； let themselves be blinded and
turned loose to seek their way home； because they have dared to lift a
spear within the Zulu gates。 Now praise on； my children！〃 And he
laughed； while the soldiers murmured； 〃Ou！ he is wise； he is great；
his justice is bright and terrible like the sun！〃
But the two men of my people cried out in fear； for they did not seek
such justice as this。
〃Cut out their tongues also；〃 said Chaka。 〃What？ shall the land of the
Zulus suffer such a noise？ Never！ lest the cattle miscarry。 To it； ye
black ones！ There lies the girl。 She is asleep and helpless。 Kill her！
What？ you hesitate？ Nay； then； if you will have time for thought； I
give it。 Take these men； smear them with honey； and pin them over ant…
heaps； by to…morrow's sun they will know their own minds。 But first
kill these two hunted jackals；〃 and he pointed to Baleka and myself。
〃They seem tired and doubtless they long for sleep。〃
Then for the first time I spoke； for the soldiers drew near to slay
us。
〃O Chaka；〃 I cried； 〃I am Mopo； and this is my sister Baleka。〃
I stopped； and a great shout of laughter went up from all who stood
round。
〃Very well； Mopo and thy sister Baleka；〃 said Chaka； grimly。 〃Good…
morning to you； Mopo and Balekaalso； good…night！〃
〃O Chaka；〃 I broke in； 〃I am Mopo； son of Makedama of the Langeni
tribe。 It was I who gave thee a gourd of water many years ago； when we
were both little。 Then thou badest me come to thee when thou hadst
grown great； vowing that thou wouldst protect me and never do me harm。
So I have come； bringing my sister with me； and now； I pray thee； do
not eat up the words of long ago。〃
As I spoke； Chaka's face changed； and he listened earnestly； as a man
who holds his hand behind his ear。 〃Those are no liars；〃 he said。
〃Welcome； Mopo！ Thou shalt be a dog in my hut； and feed from my hand。
But of thy sister I said nothing。 Why； then； should she not be slain
when I swore vengeance against all thy tribe； save thee alone？〃
〃Because she is too fair to slay； O Chief！〃 I answered； boldly； 〃also
because I love her； and ask her life as a boon！〃
〃Turn the girl over；〃 said Chaka。 And they did so； showing her face。
〃Again thou speakest no lie； son of Makedama；〃 said the chief。 〃I
grant thee the boon。 She also shall lie in my hut； and be of the
number of my 'sisters。' Now tell me thy tale； speaking only the
truth。〃
So I sat down and told him all。 Nor did he grow weary of listening。
But； when I had done； he said but one thingthat he would that the
dog Koos had not been killed； since； if he had still been alive； he
would have set him on the hut of my father Makedama； and made him
chief over the Langeni。
Then he spoke to the captain of the soldiers。 〃I take back my words；〃
he said。 〃Let not these men of the Langeni be mutilated。 One shall die
and the other shall go free。 Here；〃 and he pointed to the man whom we
had seen led out of the kraal…gate； 〃here； Mopo； we have a man who has
proved himself a coward。 Yesterday a kraal of wizards yonder was eaten
up by my orderperhaps you two saw it as you travelled。 This man and
three others attacked a soldier of that kraal who defended his wife
and children。 The man fought wellhe slew three of my people。 Then
this dog was afraid to me