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！
not died； since once more I look upon your facethe face that I
thought dead； but which yet lives； though it be sorely changed； as
though by grief and years。〃
〃Peace； Umslopogaas； my son；〃 I said。 〃I also deemed you dead in the
lion's mouth； though in truth it seemed strange to me that any other
man than Umslopogaas could have wrought the deeds which I have heard
of as done by Bulalio； Chief of the People of the Axeay； and thrown
defiance in the teeth of Chaka。 But you are not dead； and I； I am not
dead。 It was another Mopo whom Chaka killed； I slew Chaka； Chaka did
not slay me。〃
〃And of Nada； what of Nada； my sister？〃 he said。
〃Macropha； your mother； and Nada； your sister； are dead； Umslopogaas。
They are dead at the hands of the people of the Halakazi； who dwell in
Swaziland。〃
〃I have heard of that people；〃 he answered presently； 〃and so has
Galazi the Wolf； yonder。 He has a hate to satisfy against themthey
murdered his father； now I have two； for they have murdered my mother
and my sister。 Ah； Nada； my sister！ Nada； my sister！〃 and the great
man covered his face with his hands； and rocked himself to and fro in
his grief。
Now； my father； it came into my thoughts to make the truth plain to
Umslopogaas； and tell him that Nada was no sister of his； and that he
was no son of mine； but rather of that Chaka whom my hand had
finished。 And yet I did not； though now I would that I had done so。
For I saw well how great was the pride and how high was the heart of
Umslopogaas； and I saw also that if once he should learn that the
throne of Zululand was his by right； nothing could hold him back； for
he would swiftly break into open rebellion against Dingaan the king；
and in my judgment the time was not ripe for that。 Had I known；
indeed； but one short year before that Umslopogaas still lived； he had
sat where Dingaan sat this day； but I did not know it； and the chance
had gone by for a while。 Now Dingaan was king and mustered many
regiments about him； for I had held him back from war； as in the case
of the raid that he wished to make upon the Swazis。 The chance had
gone by； but it would come again； and till it came I must say nothing。
I would do this rather； I would bring Dingaan and Umslopogaas
together； that Umslopogaas might become known in the land as a great
chief and the first of warriors。 Then I would cause him to be advanced
to be an induna； and a general ready to lead the impis of the king；
for he who leads the impis is already half a king。
So I held my peace upon this matter； but till the dawn was grey
Umslopogaas and I sat together and talked； each telling the tale of
those years that had gone since he was borne from me in the lion's
mouth。 I told him how all my wives and children had been killed； how I
had been put to the torment； and showed him my white and withered
hand。 I told him also of the death of Baleka； my sister； and of all my
people of the Langeni； and of how I had revenged my wrongs upon Chaka；
and made Dingaan to be king in his place； and was now the first man in
the land under the king； though the king feared me much and loved me
little。 But I did not tell him that Baleka； my sister； was his own
mother。
When I had done my tale； Umslopogaas told me his： how Galazi had
rescued him from the lioness； how he became one of the Wolf…Brethren；
how he had conquered Jikiza and the sons of Jikiza； and become chief
of the People of the Axe； and taken Zinita to wife； and grown great in
the land。
I asked him how it came about that he still hunted with the wolves as
he had done last night。 He answered that now he was great and there
was nothing more to win； and at times a weariness of life came upon
him； and then he must up； and together with Galazi hunt and harry with
the wolves； for thus only could he find rest。
I said that I would show him better game to hunt before all was done；
and asked him further if he loved his wife； Zinita。 Umslopogaas
answered that he would love her better if she loved him not so much；
for she was jealous and quick to anger； and that was a sorrow to him。
Then； when he had slept awhile； he led me from the hut； and I and
my people were feasted with the best； and I spoke with Zinita and with
Galazi the Wolf。 For the last； I liked him well。 This was a good man
to have at one's back in battle； but my heart spoke to me against
Zinita。 She was handsome and tall； but with fierce eyes which always
watched Umslopogaas； my fosterling； and I noted that he who was
fearless of all other things yet seemed to fear Zinita。 Neither did
she love me； for when she saw how the Slaughterer clung to me； as it
wee； instantly she grew jealousas already she was jealous of Galazi
and would have been rid of me if she might。 Thus it came about that
my heart spoke against Zinita； nor did it tell me worse things of her
than those which she was to do。
CHATPER XXIV
THE SLAYING OF THE BOERS
On the morrow I led Umslopogaas apart； and spoke to him thus：
〃My son； yesterday； when you did not know me except as the Mouth of
Dingaan； you charged me with a certain message for Dingaan the king；
that； had it been delivered into the ears of the king； had surely
brought death upon you and all your people。 The tree that stands by
itself on a plain； Umslopogaas； thinks itself tall and that there is
no shade to equal its shade。 Yet are there other and bigger trees。 You
are such a solitary tree； Umslopogaas； but the topmost branches of him
whom I serve are thicker than your trunk； and beneath his shadow live
many woodcutters； who go out to lop those that would grow too high。
You are no match for Dingaan； though； dwelling here alone in an empty
land； you have grown great in your own eyes and in the eyes of those
about you。 Moreover； Umslopogaas； know this： Dingaan already hates you
because of the words which in bygone years you sent by Masilo the fool
to the Black One who is dead； for he heard those words； and it is his
will to eat you up。 He has sent me hither for one reason only； to be
rid of me awhile； and； whatever the words I bring back to him； the end
will be the samethat night shall come when you will find an impi at
your gates。〃
〃Then what need to talk more of the matter； my father？〃 asked
Umslopogaas。 〃That will come which must come。 Let me wait here for the
impi of Dingaan； and fight till I do。〃
〃Not so； Umslopogaas； my son； there are more ways of killing a man
than by the assegai； and a crooked stick can still be bent straight in
the stream。 It is my desire； Umslopogaas； that instead of hate Dingaan
should give you love； instead of death； advancement； and that you
shall grow great in his shadow。 Listen！ Dingaan is not what Chaka was；
though； like Chaka； he is cruel。 This Dingaan is a fool； and it may
well come about that a man can be found who； growing up in his shadow；
in the end shall overshadow him。 I might do itI myself； but I am
old； and； being worn