按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the king's pass。〃
〃A man may put away his wife；〃 she replied。 〃The king does not stand
between a man and his wife。 Say； my husband； that you love me no
longer； that I bear you no more children； and that therefore you send
me back whence I came。 By…and…bye we will come together again if we
are left among the living。〃
〃So be it；〃 I answered。 〃Leave the kraal with Nada and Umslopogaas
this night； and to…morrow morning meet me at the river bank； and we
shall go on together； and for the rest may the spirits of our fathers
hold us safe。〃
So we kissed each other； and Macropha went on secretly with the
children。
Now at the dawning on the morrow I summoned the men whom the king had
given me； and we started upon our journey。 When the sun was well up we
came to the banks of the river； and there I found my wife Macropha；
and with her the two children。 They rose as I came； but I frowned at
my wife and she gave me no greeting。 Those with me looked at her
askance。
〃I have divorced this woman；〃 I said to them。 〃She is a withered tree；
a worn out old hag； and now I take her with me to send her to the
country of the Swazis； whence she came。 Cease weeping；〃 I added to
Macropha； 〃it is my last word。〃
〃What says the king？〃 asked the men。
〃I will answer to the king；〃 I said。 And we went on。
Now I must tell how we lost Umslopogaas； the son of Chaka； who was
then a great lad drawing on to manhood； fierce in temper； well grown
and broad for his years。
We had journeyed seven days； for the way was long； and on the night of
the seventh day we came to a mountainous country in which there were
few kraals； for Chaka had eaten them all up years before。 Perhaps you
know the place； my father。 In it is a great and strange mountain。 It
is haunted also； and named the Ghost Mountain； and on the top of it is
a grey peak rudely shaped like the head of an aged woman。 Here in this
wild place we must sleep； for darkness drew on。 Now we soon learned
that there were many lions in the rocks around； for we heard their
roaring and were much afraid； all except Umslopogaas； who feared
nothing。 So we made a circle of thorn…bushes and sat in it； holding
our assegais ready。 Presently the moon came upit was a full…grown
moon and very bright； so bright that we could see everything for a
long way round。 Now some six spear…throws from where we sat was a
cliff； and at the top of the cliff was a cave； and in this cave lived
two lions and their young。 When the moon grew bright we saw the lions
come out and stand upon the edge of the cliff； and with them were two
little ones that played about like kittens； so that had we not been
frightened it would have been beautiful to see them。
〃Oh！ Umslopogaas；〃 said Nada； 〃I wish that I had one of the little
lions for a dog。〃
The boy laughed； saying； 〃Then； shall I fetch you one； sister？〃
〃Peace； boy；〃 I said。 〃No man may take young lions from their lair and
live。〃
〃Such things have been done； my father；〃 he answered； laughing。 And no
more was said of the matter。
Now when the cubs had played awhile； we saw the lioness take up the
cubs in her mouth and carry them into the cave。 Then she came out
again； and went away with her mate to seek food； and soon we heard
them roaring in the distance。 Now we stacked up the fire and went to
sleep in our enclosure of thorns without fear； for we knew that the
lions were far away eating game。 But Umslopogaas did not sleep； for he
had determined that he would fetch the cub which Nada had desired；
and； being young and foolhardy； he did not think of the danger which
he would bring upon himself and all of us。 He knew no fear； and now；
as ever； if Nada spoke a word； nay； even if she thought of a thing to
desire it； he would not rest till it was won for her。 So while we
slept Umslopogaas crept like a snake from the fence of thorns； and；
taking an assegai in his hand； he slipped away to the foot of the
cliff where the lions had their den。 Then he climbed the cliff； and；
coming to the cave； entered there and groped his way into it。 The cubs
heard him； and； thinking that it was their mother who returned； began
to whine and purr for food。 Guided by the light of their yellow eyes；
he crept over the bones； of which there were many in the cave； and
came to where they lay。 Then he put out his hands and seized one of
the cubs； killing the other with his assegai； because he could not
carry both of them。 Now he made haste thence before the lions
returned； and came back to the thorn fence where we lay just as dawn
as breaking。
I awoke at the coming of the dawn； and； standing up； I looked out。 Lo！
there； on the farther side of the thorn fence； looking large in the
grey mist； stood the lad Umslopogaas； laughing。 In his teeth he held
the assegai； yet dripping with blood； and in his hands the lion cub
that； despite its whines and struggles； he grasped by the skin of the
neck and the hind legs。
〃Awake； my sister！〃 he cried； 〃here is the dog you seek。 Ah！ he bites
now； but he will soon grow tame。〃
Nada awoke； and rising； cried out with joy at the sight of the cub；
but for a moment I stood astonished。
〃Fool！〃 I cried at last； 〃let the cub go before the lions come to rend
us！〃
〃I will not let it go； my father；〃 he answered sullenly。 〃Are there
not five of us with spears； and can we not fight two cats？ I was not
afraid to go alone into their den。 Are you all afraid to meet them in
the open？〃
〃You are mad；〃 I said； 〃let the cub go！〃 And I ran towards Umslopogaas
to take it from him。 But he sprang aside and avoided me。
〃I will never let that go of which I have got hold；〃 he said； 〃at
least not living！〃 And suddenly he seized the head of the cub and
twisted its neck； then threw it on to the ground； and added； 〃See； now
I have done your bidding； my father！〃
As he spoke we heard a great sound of roaring from the cave in the
cliff。 The lions had returned and found one cub dead and the other
gone。
〃Into the fence！back into the fence！〃 I cried； and we sprang over
the thorn…bushes where those with us were making ready their spears；
trembling as they handled them with fear and the cold of the morning。
We looked up。 There； down the side of the cliff； came the lions；
bounding on the scent of him who had robbed them of their young。 The
lion ran first； and as he came he roared； then followed the lioness；
but she did not roar； for in her mouth was the cub that Umslopogaas
had assegaied in the cave。 Now they drew near； mad with fury； their
manes bristling； and lashing their flanks with their long tails。
〃Curse you for a fool； son of Mopo；〃 said one of the men with me to
Umslopogaas； 〃presently I will beat you till the blood comes for this
trick。〃
〃First beat the lions； then beat me if you can；〃 answered the lad；
〃and wait to curse till you have done both。〃
Now the lions were close to us； they came to the body of the sec