child of storm-第42节

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mysteriously　disappeared　from　the　veld　on　which　they　were　accustomed　to
graze。　　They　were　lost；　or　perhaps　they　had　felt　the　urgent　need　of
trekking　from　Zululand　back　to　a　more　peaceful　country。　　I　sent　all　the
hunters　I　had　with　me　to　look　for　them；　only　Scowl　and　I　remaining　at
the　wagons；　which　in　those　disturbed　times　I　did　not　like　to　leave
unguarded。

Four　days　went　by；　a　week　went　by；　and　no　sign　of　either　hunters　or
oxen。　　Then　at　last　a　message；　which　reached　me　in　some　roundabout
fashion；　to　the　effect　that　the　hunters　had　found　the　oxen　a　long　way
off；　but　on　trying　to　return　to　Nodwengu　had　been　driven　by　some　of　the
Usututhat　is；　by　Cetewayo's　partyacross　the　Tugela　into　Natal；
whence　they　dared　not　attempt　to　return。

For　once　in　my　life　I　went　into　a　rage　and　cursed　that　nondescript　kind
of　messenger；　sent　by　I　know　not　whom；　in　language　that　I　think　he　will
not　forget。　　Then；　realising　the　futility　of　swearing　at　a　mere　tool；　I
went　up　to　the　Great　House　and　demanded　an　audience　with　Panda　himself。　
Presently　the　inceku；　or　household　servant；　to　whom　I　gave　my　message；
returned；　saying　that　I　was　to　be　admitted　at　once；　and　on　entering　the
enclosure　I　found　the　King　sitting　at　the　head　of　the　kraal　quite　alone；
except　for　a　man　who　was　holding　a　large　shield　over　him　in　order　to
keep　off　the　sun。

He　greeted　me　warmly；　and　I　told　him　my　trouble　about　the　oxen；　whereon
he　sent　away　the　shield…holder；　leaving　us　two　together。

〃Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　said；　〃why　do　you　blame　me　for　these　events；　when
you　know　that　I　am　nobody　in　my　own　House？　　I　say　that　I　am　a　dead　man；
whose　sons　fight　for　his　inheritance。　　I　cannot　tell　you　for　certain　who
it　was　that　drove　away　your　oxen。　　Still；　I　am　glad　that　they　are　gone；
since　I　believe　that　if　you　had　attempted　to　trek　to　Natal　just　now　you
would　have　been　killed　on　the　road　by　the　Usutu；　who　believe　you　to　be　a
councillor　of　Umbelazi。〃

〃I　understand；　O　King；〃　I　answered；　〃and　I　dare　say　that　the　accident　of
the　loss　of　my　oxen　is　fortunate　for　me。　　But　tell　me　now；　what　am　I　to
do？　　I　wish　to　follow　the　example　of　John　Dunn　＇another　white　man　in　the
country　who　was　much　mixed　up　with　Zulu　politics＇　and　leave　the　land。　
Will　you　give　me　more　oxen　to　draw　my　wagons？〃

〃I　have　none　that　are　broken　in；　Macumazahn；　for；　as　you　know；　we　Zulus
possess　few　wagons；　and　if　I　had　I　would　not　lend　them　to　you；　who　do
not　desire　that　your　blood　should　be　upon　my　head。〃

〃You　are　hiding　something　from　me；　O　King；〃　I　said　bluntly。　　〃What　is　it
that　you　want　me　to　do？　　Stay　here　at　Nodwengu？〃

〃No；　Macumazahn。　　When　the　trouble　begins　I　want　you　to　go　with　a
regiment　of　my　own　that　I　shall　send　to　the　assistance　of　my　son；
Umbelazi；　so　that　he　may　have　the　benefit　of　your　wisdom。　　O　Macumazana；
I　will　tell　you　the　truth。　　My　heart　loves　Umbelazi；　and　I　fear　me　that
he　is　overmatched　by　Cetewayo。　　If　I　could　I　would　save　his　life；　but　I
know　not　how　to　do　so；　since　I　must　not　seem　to　take　sides　too　openly。　
But　I　can　send　down　a　regiment　as　your　escort；　if　you　choose　to　go　to
view　the　battle　as　my　agent　and　make　report　to　me。　　Say；　will　you　not
go？〃

〃Why　should　I　go？〃　I　answered；　〃seeing　that　whoever　wins　I　may　be
killed；　and　that　if　Cetewayo　wins　I　shall　certainly　be　killed；　and　all
for　no　reward。〃

〃Nay；　Macumazahn；　I　will　give　orders　that　whoever　conquers；　the　man　that
dares　to　lift　a　spear　against　you　shall　die。　　In　this　matter；　at　least；
I　shall　not　be　disobeyed。　　Oh！　I　pray　you；　do　not　desert　me　in　my
trouble。　　Go　down　with　the　regiment　that　I　shall　send　and　breathe　your
wisdom　into　the　ear　of　my　son；　Umbelazi。　　As　for　your　reward；　I　swear　to
you　by　the　head　of　the　Black　One　＇Chaka＇　that　it　shall　be　great。　　I　will
see　to　it　that　you　do　not　leave　Zululand　empty…handed；　Macumazahn。〃

Still　I　hesitated；　for　I　mistrusted　me　of　this　business。

〃O　Watcher…by…Night；〃　exclaimed　Panda；　〃you　will　not　desert　me；　will
you？　　I　am　afraid　for　the　son　of　my　heart；　Umbelazi；　whom　I　love　above
all　my　children；　I　am　much　afraid　for　Umbelazi；〃　and　he　burst　into　tears
before　me。

It　was　foolish；　no　doubt；　but　the　sight　of　the　old　King　weeping　for　his
best…beloved　child；　whom　he　believed　to　be　doomed；　moved　me　so　much　that
I　forgot　my　caution。

〃If　you　wish　it；　O　Panda；〃　I　said；　〃I　will　go　down　to　the　battle　with
your　regiment　and　stand　there　by　the　side　of　the　Prince　Umbelazi。〃



CHAPTER　XIII




UMBELAZI　THE　FALLEN





So　I　stayed　on　at　Nodwengu；　who；　indeed；　had　no　choice　in　the　matter；
and　was　very　wretched　and　ill　at　ease。　　The　place　was　almost　deserted；
except　for　a　couple　of　regiments　which　were　quartered　there；　the　Sangqu
and　the　Amawombe。　　This　latter　was　the　royal　regiment；　a　kind　of
Household　Guards；　to　which　the　Kings　Chaka；　Dingaan　and　Panda　all
belonged　in　turn。　　Most　of　the　headmen　had　taken　one　side　or　the　other；
and　were　away　raising　forces　to　fight　for　Cetewayo　or　Umbelazi；　and　even
the　greater　part　of　the　women　and　children　had　gone　to　hide　themselves
in　the　bush　or　among　the　mountains；　since　none　knew　what　would　happen；
or　if　the　conquering　army　would　not　fall　upon　and　destroy　them。

A　few　councillors；　however；　remained　with　Panda；　among　whom　was　old
Maputa；　the　general；　who　had　once　brought　me　the　〃message　of　the　pills。〃
　Several　times　he　visited　me　at　night　and　told　me　the　rumours　that　were
flying　about。　　From　these　I　gathered　that　some　skirmishes　had　taken
place　and　the　battle　could　not　be　long　delayed；　also　that　Umbelazi　had
chosen　his　fighting　ground；　a　plain　near　the　banks　of　the　Tugela。

〃Why　has　he　done　this；〃　I　asked；　〃seeing　that　then　he　will　have　a　broad
river　behind　him；　and　if　he　is　defeated　water　can　kill　as　well　as
spears？〃

〃I　know　not　for　certain；〃　answered　Maputa；　〃but　it　is　said　because　of　a
dream　that　Saduko；　his　general；　has　dreamed　thrice；　which　dream　declares
that　there　and　there　alone　Umbelazi　will　find　honour。　　At　any　rate；　he
has　chosen　this　place；　and　I　am　told　that　all　the　women　and　children　of
his　army；　by　thousands；　are　hidden　in　the　bush　along　the　banks　of　the
river；　so　that　they　may　fly　into　Natal　if　there　is　need。〃

〃Have　they　wings；〃　I　asked；　〃wherewith　to　fly　over　the　Tugela　'in
wrath；'　as　it　well　may　be　after　the　rains？　　Oh；　surely　his　Spirit　has
turned　from　Umbelazi！〃

〃Aye；　Macumazahn；〃　he　answered；　〃I；　too；　think　that　ufulatewe　idhlozi
＇that　is；　his　own　Spirit＇　has　turned　its　back　on　him。　　Also　I　think　that
Saduko　is　no　good　councillor。　　Indeed；　were　I　the　prince；〃　added　the　old
fellow　shrewdly；　〃I　would　not　keep　him　whose　wife　I　had　stolen　as　the
whisperer　in　my　ear。〃

〃Nor　I；　Maputa；〃　I　answered　as　I　bade　him　good…bye。

Two　days　later；　early　in　the　morning；　Maputa　came　to　me　again　and　said
that　Panda　wished　to　see　me。　　I　went　to　the　head　of　the　kraal；　where　I
found　the　King　seated　and　before　him　the　captains　of　the　royal　Amawombe
regiment。

〃Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　news　that　the　great　battle　between
my　sons　will　take　place　within　a　few　days。　　Therefore　I　am　sending　down
this；　my　own　royal　regiment；　under　the　command　of　Maputa　the　skilled　in
war　to　spy　out　the　battle；　and　I　pray　that　you　will　go　with　it；　that　you
may　give　to　the　General　Maputa　and　to　the　captains　the　help　of　your
wisdom。　　Now　these　are　my　orders　to　you；　Maputa；　and　to　you；　O
captainsthat　you　take　no　part　in　the　fight　unless　you　should　see　that
the　Elephant；　my　son　Umbelazi；　is　fallen　into　a　pit；　and　that　then　you
shall　drag　him　out　if　you　can　and　save　him　alive。　　Now　repeat　my　words
to　me。〃

So　they　repeated　the　words；　speaking　with　one　voice。

〃Your　answer；　O　Macumazana；〃　he　said　when　they　had　spoken。

〃O　King；　I　have　told　you　that　I　will　gothough　I　do　not　like　warand　I
will　keep　my　promise；〃　I　replied。

〃Then　make　ready；　Macumazahn；　and　be　back　here　within　an　hour；　for　the
regiment　marches　ere　noon。〃

So　I　went　up　to　my　wagons　and　handed　them　over　to　the　care　of　some　men
whom　Panda　had　sent　to　take　charge　of　them。　　Also　Scowl　and　I　saddled
our　horses；　for　this　faithful　fellow　insisted　upon　accompanying　me；
although　I　advised　him　to　stay　behind；　and　got　out　our　rifles　and　as
much　ammunition　as　we　could　possibly　need；　and　with　them　a　few　other
necessaries。　　These　things　done；　we　rode　back　to　the　gathering…place；
taking　farewell　of　the　wagons　with　a　sad　heart；　since　I；　for　one；　never
expected　to　see　them　again。

As　we　went　I　saw　that　the　regiment　of　the　Amawombe；　picked　men　every　one
of　them；　all　fifty　years　of　age　or　over；　nearly　four　thousand　strong；
was　marshalled　on　the　dancing…ground；　where　they　stood　company　by
company。　　A　magnificent　sight　they　were；　with　their　white
fighting…shields；　their　gleaming　spears；　their　otter…skin　caps；　their
kilts　and　armlets　of　white　bulls'　tails；　and　the　snowy　egret　plumes
which　they　wore　upon　their　brows。　　We　rode　to　the　head　of　them；　where　I
saw　Maputa；　and　as　I　came　they　greeted　me　with　a　cheer　of　welcome；　for
in　those　days　a　white　man　was　a　power　in　the　land。　　Moreover；　as　I　have
said；　the　Zulus　knew　and　liked　me　well。　　Also　the　fact　that　I　was　to
watch；　or　perchance　to　fight　with　them；　put　a　good　heart　into　the
Amawombe。

There　we　stood　until　the　lad