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！
Umslopogaas did not answer； but walked slowly through the archway in
the mountain side。
〃How is this； chief？〃 said he who was captain of the guard。 〃Three
went out； but only two return。〃
〃Fool！〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃Are you drunk with Halakazi beer； or
blind with sleep？ Two went out； and two return。 I sent him who was
with us back to the camp。〃
〃So be it； father；〃 said the captain。 〃Two went out； and two return。
All is well！〃
CHAPTER XXVII
THE STAMPING OF THE FIRE
On the morrow the impi awoke refreshed with sleep； and； after they had
eaten； Umslopogaas mustered them。 Alas！ nearly half of those who had
seen the sun of yesterday would wake no more forever。 The Slaughterer
mustered them and thanked them for that which they had done； winning
fame and cattle。 They were merry； recking little of those who were
dead； and sang his praises and the praises of Galazi in a loud song。
When the song was ended Umslopogaas spoke to them again； saying that
the victory was great； and the cattle they had won were countless。 Yet
something was lackingshe was lacking whom he came to seek to be a
gift to Dingaan the king； and for whose sake this war was made。 Where
now was the Lily？ Yesterday she had been here； clad in a moocha like a
man and bearing a shield； this he knew from the captives。 Where； then；
was she now？
Then all the soldiers said that they had seen nothing of her。 When
they had done； Galazi spoke a word； as was agreed between him and
Umslopogaas。 He said that when they stormed the cave he had seen a man
run at a warrior in the cave to kill him。 Then as he came； he who was
about to be slain threw down the shield and cried for mercy； and
Galazi knew that this was no warrior of the Halakazi； but a very
beautiful girl。 So he called to the man to let her alone and not to
touch her； for the order was that no women should be killed。 But the
soldier； being made with the lust of fight； shouted that maid or man
she should die； and slew her。 Thereon； heGalaziin his wrath ran up
and smote the man with the Watcher and killed him also； and he prayed
that he had done no wrong。
〃You have done well； my brother；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Come now； some of
you； and let us look at this dead girl。 Perhaps it is the Lily； and if
so that is unlucky for us； for I do not know what tale we shall tell
to Dingaan of the matter。〃
So the captains went with Umslopogaas and Galazi； and came to the spot
where the girl had been laid； and by her the man of the People of the
Axe。
〃All is as the Wolf； my brother； has told；〃 said Umslopogaas； waving
the torch in his hand over the two who lay dead。 〃Here； without a
doubt； lies she who was named the Lily； whom we came to win； and by
her that fool who slew her； slain himself by the blow of the Watcher。
An ill sight to see； and an ill tale for me to tell at the kraal of
Dingaan。 Still； what is is； and cannot be altered； and this maid who
was the fairest of the fair is now none to lovely to look on。 Let us
away！〃 And he turned swiftly； then spoke again； saying：
〃Bind up this dead girl in ox hides； cover her with salt； and let her
be brought with us。〃 And they did so。
Then the captains said： 〃Surely it is so； my father； now it cannot be
altered； and Dingaan must miss his bride。〃 So said they all except
that man who had been captain of the guard when Umslopogaas and Galazi
and another passed through the archway。 This man； indeed； said
nothing； yet he was not without his thoughts。 For it seemed to him
that he had seen three pass through the archway； and not two。 It
seemed to him； moreover； that the kaross which the third wore had
slipped aside as she pressed past him； and that beneath it he had seen
the shape of a beautiful woman； and above it had caught the glint of a
woman's eyean eye full and dark； like a buck's。
Also； this captain noted that Bulalio called none of the captives to
swear to the body of the Lily maid； and that he shook the torch to and
fro as he held it over herhe whose hand was of the steadiest。 All of
this he kept in his mind； forgetting nothing。
Now it chanced afterwards； on the homeward march； my father； that
Umslopogaas had cause to speak angrily to this man； because he tried
to rob another of his share of the spoil of the Halakazi。 He spoke
sharply to him； degrading him from his rank； and setting another over
him。 Also he took cattle from the man； and gave them to him whom he
would have robbed。
And thereafter； though he was justly served； this man thought more and
more of the third who had passed through the arch of the cave and had
not returned； and who seemed to him to have a fair woman's shape； and
eyes which gleamed like those of a woman。
On that day； then； Umslopogaas began his march to the kraal
Umgugundhlovu； where Dingaan sat。 But before he set his face
homewards； in the presence of the soldiers； he asked Galazi the Wolf
if he would come back with him； or if he desired to stay to be chief
of the Halakazi； as he was by right of birth and war。 Then the Wolf
laughed； and answered that he had come out to seek for vengeance； and
not for the place of a chief； also that there were few of the Halakazi
people left over whom he might rule if he wished。 Moreover； he added
this： that； like twin trees； they two blood…brethren had grown up side
by side till their roots were matted together； and that； were one of
them dug up and planted in Swazi soil； he feared lest both should
wither； or； at the last； that he； Galazi； would wither； who loved but
one man and certain wolves。
So Umslopogaas said no more of the chieftainship； but began his
journey。 With him he brought a great number of cattle； to be a gift
for Dingaan； and a multitude of captives； young women and children；
for he would appease the heart of Dingaan； because he did not bring
her whom he soughtthe Lily； flower of flowers。 Yet； because he was
cautious and put little faith in the kindness of kings； Umslopogaas；
so soon as he reached the borders of Zululand； sent the best of the
cattle and the fairest of the maids and children on to the kraal of
the People of the Axe by the Ghost Mountain。 And he who had been
captain of the guard but now was a common soldier noticed this also。
Now it chanced that on a certain morning I； Mopo； sat in the kraal
Umgugundhlovu in attendance on Dingaan。 For still I waited on the
king； though he had spoken no word to me； good or bad； since the
yesterday； when I foretold to him that in the blood of the white men
whom he had betrayed grew the flower of his own death。 For； my father；
it was on the morrow of the slaying of the Amaboona that Umslopogaas
came to the kraal Umgugundhlovu。
Now the mind of Dingaan was heavy； and he sought something to lighten
it。 Presently he bethought himself of the white praying man； who had
come to the kraal seeking to teach us people of the Zulu to worship
other gods than the assegai and the king。