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and children。 The man fought wellhe slew three of my people。 Then
this dog was afraid to meet him face to face。 He killed him with a
throwing assegai； and afterwards he stabbed the woman。 That is
nothing； but he should have fought the husband hand to hand。 Now I
will do him honour。 He shall fight to the death with one of these pigs
from thy sty；〃 and he pointed with his spear to the men of my father's
kraal； 〃and the one who survives shall be run down as they tried to
run you down。 I will send back the other pig to the sty with a
message。 Choose； children of Makedama； which of you will live。〃
Now the two men of my tribe were brothers； and loved one another； and
each of them was willing to die that the other might go free。
Therefore； both of them stepped forward； saying that they would fight
the Zulu。
〃What； is there honour among pigs？〃 said Chaka。 〃Then I will settle
it。 See this assegai？ I throw it into the air； if the blade falls
uppermost the tall man shall go free； if the shaft falls uppermost；
then life is to the short one； so！〃 And he sent the little spear
whirling round and round in the air。 Every eye watched it as it
wheeled and fell。 The haft struck the ground first。
〃Come hither； thou；〃 said Chaka to the tall brother。 〃Hasten back to
the kraal of Makedama； and say to him； Thus says Chaka； the Lion of
the Zulu…ka…Malandela； 'Years ago thy tribe refused me milk。 To…day
the dog of thy son Mopo howls upon the roof of thy hut。' Begone！〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Among the Zulus it is a very bad omen for a dog to climb the roof
of a hut。 The saying conveyed a threat to be appreciated by every
Zulu。ED。
The man turned； shook his brother by the hand； and went； bearing the
words of evil omen。
Then Chaka called to the Zulu and the last of those who had followed
us to kill us； bidding them fight。 So； when they had praised the
prince they fought fiercely； and the end of it was that the man of my
people conquered the Zulu。 But as soon as he had found his breath
again he was set to run for his life； and after him ran five chosen
men。
Still； it came about that he outran them； doubling like a hare； and
got away safely。 Nor was Chaka angry at this； for I think that he bade
the men who hunted him to make speed slowly。 There was only one good
thing in the cruel heart of Chaka； that he would always save the life
of a brave man if he could do so without making his word nothing。 And
for my part； I was glad to think that the man of my people had
conquered him who murdered the children of the dying woman that we
found at the kraal beyond the river。
CHAPTER V
MOPO BECOMES THE KING'S DOCTOR
These； then； my father； were the events that ended in the coming of
me； Mopo； and of my sister Baleka to the kraal of Chaka； the Lion of
the Zulu。 Now you may ask why have I kept you so long with this tale；
which is as are other tales of our people。 But that shall be seen； for
from these matters； as a tree from a seed； grew the birth of
Umslopogaas Bulalio； Umslopogaas the Slaughterer； and Nada the
Beautiful； of whose love my story has to tell。 For Nada was my
daughter； and Umslopogaas； though few knew it； was none other than the
son of Chaka； born of my sister Baleka。
Now when Baleka recovered from the weariness of our flight； and had
her beauty again； Chaka took her to wife； numbering her among his
women； whom he named his 〃sisters。〃 And me Chaka took to be one of his
doctors； of his izinyanga of medicine； and he was so well pleased with
my medicine that in the end I became his head doctor。 Now this was a
great post； in which； during the course of years； I grew fat in cattle
and in wives； but also it was one of much danger。 For when I rose
strong and well in the morning； I could never know but that at night I
should sleep stiff and red。 Many were the doctors whom Chaka slew；
doctored they never so well； they were killed at last。 For a day would
surely come when the king felt ill in his body or heavy in his mind；
and then to the assegai or the torment with the wizard who had
doctored him！ Yet I escaped； because of the power of my medicine； and
also because of that oath which Chaka had sworn to me as a child。 So
it came about that where the king went there I went with him。 I slept
near his hut； I sat behind him at council； in the battle I was ever at
his side。
Ah！ the battle！ the battle！ In those days we knew how to fight； my
father！ In those days the vultures would follow our impis by
thousands； the hyenas would steal along our path in packs； and none
went empty away。 Never may I forget the first fight I stood in at the
side of Chaka。 It was just after the king had built his great kraal on
the south bank of the Umhlatuze。 Then it was that the chief Zwide
attacked his rival Chaka for the third time and Chaka moved out to
meet him with ten full regiments；＇1＇ now for the first time armed with
the short stabbing…spear。
＇1＇ About 30；000 men。ED。
The ground lay this： On a long； low hill in front of our impi were
massed the regiments of Zwide； there were seventeen of them； the earth
was black with their number； their plumes filled the air like snow。
We； too； were on a hill； and between us lay a valley down which there
ran a little stream。 All night our fires shone out across the valley；
all night the songs of soldiers echoed down the hills。 Then the grey
dawning came； the oxen lowed to the light； the regiments arose from
their bed of spears； they sprang up and shook the dew from hair and
shieldyes！ they arose！ the glad to die！ The impi assumed its array
regiment by regiment。 There was the breast of spears； there were the
horns of spears； they were numberless as the stars； and like the stars
they shone。 The morning breeze came up and fanned them； their plumes
bent in the breeze； like a plain of seeding grass they bent； the
plumes of the soldiers ripe for the assegai。 Up over the shoulder of
the hill came the sun of Slaughter； it glowed red upon the red
shields； red grew the place of killing； the white plumes of the chiefs
were dipped in the blood of heaven。 They knew it； they saw the omen of
death； and； ah！ they laughed in the joy of the waking of battle。 What
was death？ Was it not well to die on the spear？ What was death？ Was it
not well to die for the king？ Death was the arms of Victory。 Victory
would be their bride that night； and oh！ her breast is fair。
Hark！ the war…song； the Ingomo； the music of which has the power to
drive men mad； rose far away to the left； and was thrown along from
regiment to regimenta rolling ball of sound
We are the king's kine； bred to be butchered；
You； too； are one of us！
We are the Zulu； children of the Lion；
What！ did you tremble？
Suddenly Chaka was seen stalking through the ranks； followed by his
captains； his indunas； and by me。 He walked along like a great buck；
death was in his eyes； and like a buck he sniffed the air； scenting
the air