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Mother of the Heavens is no more。
〃Who shall bring him comfort？ There is comfort in the crying of his
children。
〃Mourn； people of the Langeni； let the voice of your mourning beat
against the skies and rend them。
〃Ou…ai！ Ou…ai！ Ou…ai！〃
Thus sang the old man； my father Makedama； far down in the deeps of
the cleft。 He sang it in a still； small voice； but； line after line；
his song was caught up by the thousands who stood on the slopes above；
and thundered to the heavens till the mountains shook with its sound。
Moreover； the noise of their crying opened the bosom of a heavy rain…
cloud that had gathered as they mourned； and the rain fell in great
slow drops； as though the sky also wept； and with the rain came
lightning and the roll of thunder。
Chaka listened； and large tears coursed down his cheeks； whose heart
was easily stirred by the sound of song。 Now the rain hissed fiercely；
making as it were a curtain about the thousands of the people； but
still their cry went up through the rain； and the roll of the thunder
was lost in it。 Presently there came a hush； and I looked to the
right。 There； above the heads of the people； coming over the brow of
the hill； were the plumes of warriors； and in their hands gleamed a
hedge of spears。 I looked to the left； there also I saw the plumes of
warriors dimly through the falling rain； and in their hands a hedge of
spears。 I looked before me； towards the end of the cleft； there also
loomed the plumes of warriors； and in their hands was a hedge of
spears。
Then； from all the people there arose another cry； a cry of terror and
of agony。
〃Ah！ now they mourn indeed； Mopo；〃 said Chaka in my ear； 〃now thy
people mourn from the heart and not with the lips alone。〃
As he spoke the multitude of the people on either side of the rift
surged forward like a wave； surged back again； once more surged
forward； then； with a dreadful crying； driven on by the merciless
spears of the soldiers； they began to fall in a torrent of men； women；
and children； far into the black depths below。
* * * * *
My father； forgive me the tears that fall from these blind eyes of
mine； I am very aged； I am but as a little child； and as a little
child I weep。 I cannot tell it。 At last it was done； and all grew
still。
* * * * *
Thus was Makedama buried beneath the bodies of his people； thus was
ended the tribe of the Langeni； as my mother had dreamed； so it came
about； and thus did Chaka take vengeance for that cup of milk which
was refused to him many a year before。
〃Thou hast not won thy bet； Mopo；〃 said the king presently。 〃See there
is a little space where one more may find room to sleep。 Full to the
brim is this corn…chamber with the ears of death； in which no living
grain is left。 Yet there is one little space； and is there not one to
fill it？ Are all the tribe of the Langeni dead indeed？〃
〃There is one； O King！〃 I answered。 〃I am of the tribe of the Langeni；
let my carcase fill the place。〃
〃Nay； Mopo； nay！ Who then should take the bet？ Moreover； I slay thee
not； for it is against my oath。 Also； do we not mourn together； thou
and I？〃
〃There is no other left living of the tribe of the Langeni； O King！
The bet is lost； it shall be paid。〃
〃I think that there is another；〃 said Chaka。 〃There is a sister to
thee and me； Mopo。 Ah； see； she comes！〃
I looked up； my father； and I saw this： I saw Baleka； my sister；
walking towards us； and on her shoulders was a kaross of wild…cat
skins； and behind her were two soldiers。 She walked proudly； holding
her head high； and her step was like the step of a queen。 Now she saw
the sight of death； for the dead lay before her like black water in a
sunless pool。 A moment she stood shivering； having guessed all； then
walked on and stood before Chaka。
〃What is thy will with me； O King？〃 she said。
〃Thou art come in a good hour； sister；〃 said Chaka； turning his eyes
from hers。 〃It is thus： Mopo； my servant and thy brother； made a bet
with me； a bet of cattle。 It was a little matter that we wagered on
as to whether the people of the Langeni tribethine own tribe；
Baleka； my sisterwould fill yonder place； U'Donga…lu…ka…Tatiyana。
When they heard of the bet； my sister； the people of the Langeni
hurled themselves into the rift by thousands； being eager to put the
matter to the proof。 And now it seems that thy brother has lost the
bet； for there is yet place for one yonder ere the donga is full。
Then； my sister； thy brother Mopo brought it to my mind that there was
still one of the Langeni tribe left upon the earth； who； should she
sleep in that place； would turn the bet in his favour； and prayed me
to send for her。 So； my sister； as I would not take that which I have
not won； I have done so； and now do thou go apart and talk with Mopo；
thy brother； alone upon this matter； as once before thou didst talk
when a child was born to thee； my sister！〃
Now Baleka took no heed of the words of Chaka which he spoke of me；
for she knew his meaning well。 Only she looked him in the eyes and
said：
〃Ill shalt thou sleep from this night forth； Chaka； till thou comest
to a land where no sleep is。 I have spoken。〃
Chaka saw and heard； and of a sudden he quailed； growing afraid in his
heart； and turned his head away。
〃Mopo； my brother；〃 said Baleka； 〃let us speak together for the last
time； it is the king's word。〃
So I drew apart with Baleka； my sister； and a spear was in my hand。 We
stood together alone by the people of the dead and Baleka threw the
corner of the kaross about her brows and spoke to me swiftly from
beneath its shadow。
〃What did I say to you a while ago； Mopo？ It has come to pass。 Swear
to me that you will live on and that this same hand of yours shall
taken vengeance for me。〃
〃I swear it； my sister。〃
〃Swear to me that when the vengeance is done you will seek out my son
Umslopogaas if he still lives； and bless him in my name。〃
〃I swear it； my sister。〃
〃Fare you well； Mopo！ We have always loved each other much； and now
all fades； and it seems to me that once more we are little children
playing about the kraals of the Langeni。 So may we play again in
another land！ Now； Mopo〃and she looked at me steadily； and with
great eyes〃I am weary。 I would join the spirits of my people。 I hear
them calling in my ears。 It is finished。〃
* * * * *
For the rest； I will not tell it to you； my father。
CHAPTER XIX
MASILO COMES TO THE KRAAL DUGUZA
That night the curse of Baleka fell upon Chaka； and he slept ill。 So
ill did he sleep that he summoned me to him； bidding me walk abroad
with him。 I went； and we walked alone and in silence； Chaka leading
the way and I following after him。 Now I saw that his feet led him
towards the U'Donga…lu…ka…Tatiyana； that place where all my people lay