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第51章

nada the lily-第51章

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shields; and knew from their colour that they had been carried in the

hands of those soldiers who; years ago; were sent out by Chaka to seek

for Umslopogaas; but who had returned no more。



〃Now;〃 I said; 〃it has fared ill with those soldiers of the Black One

who is gone; for I think that these are the shields they bore; and

that their eyes once looked upon the world through the holes in yonder

skulls。〃



〃These are the shields they bore; and those are the skulls they wore;〃

answered one。 〃See; Mopo; son of Makedama; this is no man's work that

has brought them to their death。 Men do not break the bones of their

foes in pieces as these bones are broken。 Wow! men do not break them;

but wolves do; and last night we saw wolves a…hunting; nor did they

hunt alone; Mopo。 Wow! this is a haunted land!〃



Then we went on in silence; and all the way the stone face of the

Witch who sits aloft forever stared down on us from the mountain top。

At length; an hour before sundown; we came to the open lands; and

there; on the crest of a rise beyond the river; we saw the kraal of

the People of the Axe。 It was a great kraal and well built; and their

cattle were spread about the plains like to herds of game for number。

We went to the river and passed it by the ford; then sat down and

waited; till presently I saw the man whom I had sent forward returning

towards us。 He came and saluted me; and I asked him for news。



〃This is my news; Mopo;〃 he said: 〃I have seen him who is named

Bulalio; and he is a great manlong and lean; with a fierce face; and

carrying a mighty axe; such an axe as he bore last night who hunted

with the wolves。 When I had been led before the chief I saluted him

and spoke to himthe words you laid upon my tongue I told to him。 He

listened; then laughed aloud; and said: 'Tell him who sent you that

the mouth of Dingaan shall be welcome; and shall speak the words of

Dingaan in peace; yet I would that it were the head of Dingaan that

came and not his mouth only; for then Axe Groan…Maker would join in

our talkay; because of one Mopo; whom his brother Chaka murdered; it

would also speak with Dingaan。 Still; the mouth is not the head; so

the mouth may come in peace。'〃



Now I started when for the second time I heard talk of one Mopo; whose

name had been on the lips of Bulalio the Slaughterer。 Who was there

that would thus have loved Mopo except one who was long dead? And yet;

perhaps the chief spoke of some other Mopo; for the name was not my

own onlyin truth; Chaka had killed a chief of that name at the great

mourning; because he said that two Mopos in the land were one too

many; and that though this Mopo wept sorely when the tears of others

were dry。 So I said only that this Bulalio had a high stomach; and we

went on to the gates of the kraal。



There were none to meet us at the gates; and none stood by the doors

of the huts within them; but beyond; from the cattle kraal that was in

the centre of the huts; rose a dust and a din as of men gathering for

war。 Now some of those were with me were afraid; and would have turned

back; fearing treachery; and they were yet more afraid when; on coming

to the inner entrance of the cattle kraal; we saw some five hundred

soldiers being mustered there company by company; by two great men;


who ran up and down the ranks shouting。



But I cried; 〃Nay! nay! Turn not back! Bold looks melt the hearts of

foes。 Moreover; if this Bulalio would have murdered us; there was no

need for him to call up so many of his warriors。 He is a proud chief;

and would show his might; not knowing that the king we serve can

muster a company for every man he has。 Let us go on boldly。〃



So we walked forward towards the impi that was gathered on the further

side of the kraal。 Now the two great men who were marshalling the

soldiers saw us; and came to meet us; one following the other。 He who

came first bore the axe upon his shoulder; and he who followed swung a

huge club。 I looked upon the foremost of them; and ah! my father; my

heart grew faint with joy; for I knew him across the years。 It was

Umslopogaas! my fosterling; Umslopogaas! and none other; now grown

into manhooday; into such a man as was not to be found beside him in

Zululand。 He was great and fierce; somewhat spare in frame; but wide

shouldered and shallow flanked。 His arms were long and not over big;

but the muscles stood out on them like knots in a rope; his legs were

long also; and very thick beneath the knee。 His eye was like an

eagle's; his nose somewhat hooked; and he held his head a little

forward; as a man who searches continually for a hidden foe。 He seemed

to walk slowly; and yet he came swiftly; but with a gliding movement

like that of a wolf or a lion; and always his fingers played round the

horn handle of the axe Groan…Maker。 As for him who followed; he was

great also; shorter than Umslopogaas by the half of a head; but of a

sturdier build。 His eyes were small; and twinkled unceasingly like

little stars; and his look was very wild; for now and again he

grinned; showing his white teeth。



When I saw Umslopogaas; my father; my bowels melted within me; and I

longed to run to him and throw myself upon his neck。 Yet I took

council with myself and did notnay; I dropped the corner of the

kaross I wrote over my eyes; hiding my face lest he should know me。

Presently he stood before me; searching me out with his keen eyes; for

I drew forward to greet him。



〃Greeting; Mouth of Dingaan!〃 he said in a loud voice。 〃You are a

little man to be the mouth of so big a chief。〃



〃The mouth is a little member; even of the body of a great king; O

Chief Bulalio; ruler of the People of the Axe; wizard of the wolves

that are upon the Ghost Mountain; who aforetime was named Umslopogaas;

son of Mopo; son of Makedama。〃



Now when Umslopogaas heard these words he started like a child at a

rustling in the dark and stared hard at me。



〃You are well instructed;〃 he said。



〃The ears of the king are large; if his mouth be small; O Chief

Bulalio;〃 I answered; 〃and I; who am but the mouth; speak what the

ears have heard。〃



〃How know you that I have dwelt with the wolves upon the Ghost

Mountain; O Mouth?〃 he asked。



〃The eyes of the king see far; O Chief Bulalio。 Thus last night they

saw a great chase and a merry。 It seems that they saw a koodoo bull

running at speed; and after him countless wolves making their music;

and with the wolves two men clad in wolves' skins; such men as you;

Bulalio; and he with the club who follows you。〃



Now Umslopogaas lifted the axe Groan…Maker as though he would cut me

down; then let it fall again; while Galazi the Wolf glared at me with

wide…opened eyes。



〃How know you that once I was named Umslopogaas; who have lost that

name these many days? Speak; O Mouth; lest I kill you。〃



〃Slay if you will; Umslopogaas;〃 I answered; 〃but know that when the

brains are scattered the mouth is dumb。 He who scatters brains loses

wisdom。〃



〃Answer!〃 he said。



〃I answer not。 Who are you that I should answer you? I know; it is

enough。 To my business。〃



Now Umslopogaas ground his teeth in anger。 〃I am not wont to be

thwarted here in my own kraal;〃 he said; 〃but do your business。 Speak

it; little Mouth。〃



〃This is my business; little Chief。 When the Black One who is gone yet

lived; you sent him a message by one Masilosuch a message as his

ears had never heard; and that had been your death; O fool puffed up

with pride; but death came first upon the Black One; and his hand was

stayed。 Now Dingaan; whose shadow lies upon the land; the king whom I

serve; and who sits in the place of the Black One who is gone; speaks

to you by me; his mouth。 He would know this: if it is true that you

refuse to own his sovereignty; to pay tribute to him in men and maids

and cattle; and to serve him in his wars? Answer; you little headman!

answer in few words and short!〃



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