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第36章

nada the lily-第36章

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Afterwards; when the head is hewn from his foe; Jikiza goes back to

the meeting of the headmen; and they talk as before。 All are free to

come to the meeting; and Jikiza must fight with them if they wish it;

whoever they be。〃



〃Perhaps I shall be there;〃 said Umslopogaas。



〃After this meeting at the new moon; I am to be given in marriage to

Masilo;〃 said the maid。 〃But should one conquer Jikiza; then he will

be chief; and can give me in marriage to whom he will。〃



Now Umslopogaas understood her meaning; and knew that he had found

favour in her sight; and the thought moved him a little; for women

were strange to him as yet。



〃If perchance I should be there;〃 he said; 〃and if perchance I should

win the iron chieftainess; the axe Groan…Maker; and rule over the

People of the Axe; you should not live far from the shadow of the axe

thenceforward; maid Zinita。〃



〃It is well; Wolf…Man; though some might not wish to dwell in that

shadow; but first you must win the axe。 Many have tried; and all have

failed。〃



〃Yet one must succeed at last;〃 he said; 〃and so; farewell!〃 and he

leaped into the torrent of the river; and swam it with great strokes。



Now the maid Zinita watched him till he was gone; and love of him

entered into her hearta love that was fierce and jealous and strong。

But as he wended to the Ghost Mountain Umslopogaas thought rather of

axe Groan…Maker than of Maid Zinita; for ever; at the bottom;

Umslopogaas loved war more than women; though this has been his fate;

that women have brought sorrow on his head。



Fifteen days must pass before the day of the new moon; and during this

time Umslopogaas thought much and said little。 Still; he told Galazi

something of the tale; and that he was determined to do battle with

Jikiza the Unconquered for the axe Groan…Maker。 Galazi said that he

would do well to let it be; and that it was better to stay with the

wolves than to go out seeking strange weapons。 He said also that even

if he won the axe; the matter might not stay there; for he must take

the girl also; and his heart boded no good of women。 It had been a

girl who poisoned his father in the kraals of the Halakazi。 To all of

which Umslopogaas answered nothing; for his heart was set both on the

axe and the girl; but more on the first than the last。



So the time wore on; and at length came the day of the new moon。 At

the dawn of that day Umslopogaas arose and clad himself in a moocha;

binding the she…wolf's skin round his middle beneath the moocha。 In

his hand he took a stout fighting…shield; which he had made of buffalo

hide; and that same light moon…shaped axe with which he had slain the

captain of Chaka。



〃A poor weapon with which to kill Jikiza the Unconquerable;〃 said

Galazi; eyeing it askance。



〃It shall serve my turn;〃 answered Umslopogaas。



Now Umslopogaas ate; and then they moved together slowly down the

mountain and crossed the river by a ford; for he wished to save his

strength。 On the farther side of the river Galazi hid himself in the

reeds; because his face was known; and there Umslopogaas bade him

farewell; not knowing if he should look upon him again。 Afterwards he

walked up to the Great Place of Jikiza。 Now when he reached the gates

of the kraal; he saw that many people were streaming through them; and

mingled with the people。 Presently they came to the open space in

front of the huts of Jikiza; and there the headmen were gathered

together。 In the centre of them; and before a heap of the skulls of

men which were piled up against his doorposts; sat Jikiza; a huge man;

a hairy and a proud; who glared about him rolling his eyes。 Fastened

to his arm by a thong of leather was the great axe Groan…Maker; and

each man as he came up saluted the axe; calling it 〃Inkosikaas;〃 or

chieftainess; but he did not salute Jikiza。 Umslopogaas sat down with

the people in front of the councillors; and few took any notice of

him; except Zinita; who moved sullenly to and fro bearing gourds of

beer to the councillors。 Near to Jikiza; on his right hand; sat a fat

man with small and twinkling eyes; who watched the maid Zinita

greedily。



〃Yon man;〃 thought Umslopogaas; 〃is Masilo。 The better for blood…

letting will you be; Masilo。〃



Presently Jikiza spoke; rolling his eyes: 〃This is the matter before

you; councillors。 I have settled it in my mind to give my step…

daughter Zinita in marriage to Masilo; but the marriage gift is not

yet agreed on。 I demand a hundred head of cattle from Masilo; for the

maid is fair and straight; a proper maid; and; moreover; my daughter;

though not of my blood。 But Masilo offers fifty head only; therefore I

ask you to settle it。〃



〃We hear you; Lord of the Axe;〃 answered one of the councillors; 〃but

first; O Unconquered; you must on this day of the year; according to

ancient custom; give public challenge to any man to fight you for the

Groan…Maker and for your place as chief of the People of the Axe。〃



〃This is a wearisome thing;〃 grumbled Jikiza。 〃Can I never have done

in it? Fifty…and…three have I slain in my youth without a wound; and

now for many years I have challenged; like a cock on a dunghill; and

none crow in answer。〃



〃Ho; now! Is there any man who will come forward and do battle with

me; Jikiza; for the great axe Groan…Maker? To him who can win it; it

shall be; and with it the chieftainship of the People of the Axe。〃



Thus he spoke very fast; as a man gabbles a prayer to a spirit in whom

he has little faith; then turned once more to talk of the cattle of

Masilo and of the maid Zinita。 But suddenly Umslopogaas stood up;

looking at him over the top of his war shield; and crying; 〃Here is

one; O Jikiza; who will do battle with you for the axe Groan…Maker and

for the chieftainship that is to him who holds the axe。〃



Now; all the people laughed; and Jikiza glared at him。



〃Come forth from behind that big shield of yours;〃 he said。 〃Come out

and tell me your name and lineageyou who would do battle with the

Unconquered for the ancient axe。〃



Then Umslopogaas came forward; and he looked so fierce; though he was

but young; that the people laughed no more。



〃What is my name and lineage to you; Jikiza?〃 he said。 〃Let it be; and

hasten to do me battle; as you must by the custom; for I am eager to

handle the Groan…Maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter

of the cattle of Masilo the Pig。 When I have killed you I will take a

name who now have none。〃



Now once more the people laughed; but Jikiza grew mad with wrath; and

sprang up gasping。



〃What!〃 he said; 〃you dare to speak thus to me; you babe unweaned; to

me the Unconquered; the holder of the axe! Never did I think to live

to hear such talk from a long…legged pup。 On to the cattle kraal; to

the cattle kraal; People of the Axe; that I may hew this braggart's

head from his shoulders。 He would stand in my place; would he?the

place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue

of the axe。 I tell you all; that presently I will stand upon his head;

and then we will settle the matter of Masilo。〃



〃Babble not so fast; man;〃 quoth Umslopogaas; 〃or if you must babble;

speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell。〃



Now; Jikiza choked with rage; and foam came from his lips so that he

could not speak; but the people found this sportall except Masilo;

who looked askance at the stranger; tall and fierce; and Zinita; who

looked at Masilo; and with no love。 So they moved down to the cattle

kraal; and Galazi; seeing it from afar; could keep away no longer; but

drew near and mingled with the crowd。







CHAPTER XVII



UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE AXE



Now; when Umslopogaas and Jikiza the Unconquered had come to the

cattle kraal; they were set in its centre and there were ten paces

between them。 Umslopogaas was armed with the great shield and the

light moon…shaped axe;

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