child of storm-第42章
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bush at a little distance was swarming with soldiers of the Isigqosa
party。 If I remember rightly； the excuse for the visit was that Umbezi
had some of a certain rare breed of white cattle whereof the prince
wished to secure young bulls and heifers to improve his herd。
Once inside the kraal； however； Umbelazi； who was a very open…natured
man； threw off all pretence； and； after greeting me heartily enough；
told me with plainness that he was there because this was a convenient
spot on which to arrange the consolidation of his party。
Almost every hour during the next two weeks messengersmany of whom
were chiefs disguisedcame and went。 I should have liked to follow
their examplethat is； so far as their departure was concernedfor I
felt that I was being drawn into a very dangerous vortex。 But； as a
matter of fact； I could not escape； since I was obliged to wait to
receive payment for my stuff； which； as usual； was made in cattle。
Umbelazi talked with me a good deal at that time； impressing upon me how
friendly he was towards the English white men of Natal； as distinguished
from the Boers； and what good treatment he was prepared to promise to
them； should he ever attain to authority in Zululand。 It was during one
of the earliest of these conversations； which； of course； I saw had an
ultimate object； that he met Mameena； I think； for the first time。
We were walking together in a little natural glade of the bush that
bordered one side of the kraal； when； at the end of it； looking like
some wood nymph of classic fable in the light of the setting sun；
appeared the lovely Mameena； clothed only in her girdle of fur； her
necklace of blue beads and some copper ornaments； and carrying upon her
head a gourd。
Umbelazi noted her at once； and； ceasing his political talk； of which he
was obviously tired； asked me who that beautiful intombi （that is； girl）
might be。
She is not an intombi； Prince；〃 I answered。 〃She is a widow who is
again a wife； the second wife of your friend and councillor； Saduko； and
the daughter of your host； Umbezi。〃
〃Is it so； Macumazahn？ Oh； then I have heard of her； though； as it
chances； I have never met her before。 No wonder that my sister Nandie
is jealous； for she is beautiful indeed。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃she looks pretty against the red sky； does she not？〃
By now we were drawing near to Mameena； and I greeted her； asking if she
wanted anything。
〃Nothing； Macumazahn；〃 she answered in her delicate； modest way； for
never did I know anyone who could seem quite so modest as Mameena； and
with a swift glance of her shy eyes at the tall and splendid Umbelazi；
〃nothing。 Only；〃 she added； 〃I was passing with the milk of one of the
few cows my father gave me； and saw you； and I thought that perhaps； as
the day has been so hot； you might like a drink of it。〃
Then； lifting the gourd from her head； she held it out to me。
I thanked her； drank somewho could do less？and returned it to her；
whereon she made as though she would hasten to depart。
〃May I not drink also； daughter of Umbezi？〃 asked Umbelazi； who could
scarcely take his eyes off her。
〃Certainly； sir； if you are a friend of Macumazahn；〃 she replied；
handing him the gourd。
〃I am that； Lady； and more than that； since I am a friend of your
husband； Saduko； also； as you will know when I tell you that my name is
Umbelazi。〃
〃I thought it must be so；〃 she replied； 〃because of yourof your
stature。 Let the Prince accept the offering of his servant； who one day
hopes to be his subject；〃 and； dropping upon her knee； she held out the
gourd to him。 Over it I saw their eyes meet。 He drank； and as he
handed back the vessel she said：
〃O Prince； may I be granted a word with you？ I have that to tell which
you would perhaps do well to hear； since news sometimes reaches the ears
of humble women that escapes those of the men； our masters。〃
He bowed his head in assent； whereon； taking a hint which Mameena gave
me with her eyes； I muttered something about business and made myself
scarce。 I may add that Mameena must have had a great deal to tell
Umbelazi。 Fully an hour and a half had gone by before； by the light of
the moon； from a point of vantage on my wagon…box； whence； according to
my custom； I was keeping a lookout on things in general； I saw her slip
back to the kraal silently as a snake； followed at a little distance by
the towering form of Umbelazi。
Apparently Mameena continued to be the recipient of information which
she found it necessary to communicate in private to the prince。 At any
rate； on sundry subsequent evenings the dullness of my vigil on the
wagon…box was relieved by the sight of her graceful figure gliding home
from the kloof that Umbelazi seemed to find a very suitable spot for
reflection after sunset。 On one of the last of these occasions I
remember that Nandie chanced to be with me； having come to my wagon for
some medicine for her baby。
〃What does it mean； Macumazahn？〃 she asked； when the pair had gone by；
as they thought unobserved； since we were standing where they could not
see us。
〃I don't know； and I don't want to know；〃 I answered sharply。
〃Neither do I； Macumazahn； but without doubt we shall learn in time。 If
the crocodile is patient and silent the buck always drops into its jaws
at last。〃
On the day after Nandie made this wise remark Saduko started on a
mission； as I understood； to win over several doubtful chiefs to the
cause of Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti （the Elephant…with…the…tuft…of…hair）； as
the Prince Umbelazi was called among the Zulus； though not to his face。
This mission lasted ten days； and before it was concluded an important
event happened at Umbezi's kraal。
One evening Mameena came to me in a great rage； and said that she could
bear her present life no longer。 Presuming on her rank and position as
head…wife； Nandie treated her like a servantnay； like a little dog； to
be beaten with a stick。 She wished that Nandie would die。
〃It will be very unlucky for you if she does；〃 I answered； 〃for then；
perhaps； Zikali will be summoned to look into the matter； as he was
before。〃
What was she to do； she went on； ignoring my remark。
〃Eat the porridge that you have made in your own pot； or break the pot〃
（i。e。 go away）； I suggested。 〃There was no need for you to marry
Saduko； any more than there was for you to marry Masapo。〃
〃How can you talk to me like that； Macumazahn；〃 she answered； stamping
her foot； 〃when you know well it is your fault if I married anyone？
Piff！ I hate them all； and； since my father would only beat me if I took
my troubles to him； I will run off； and live in the wilderness alone and
become a witch…doctoress。〃
〃I am afraid you will find it very dull； Mameena；〃 I began in a
bantering tone； for； to tell the truth； I did not think it wise to show
her too much sympathy while she was so excited。
Mameena never waited for the end of the sentence； but； sobbing out that
I was false and cruel； she turned and departed swiftly。 Oh！ little did
I foresee how and where we should meet again。
Next morning I was awakened shortly after sunrise by Scowl； whom I had
sent out with another man the night before to look for a lost ox。
〃Well； have you found the ox？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； Baas； but I did not waken you to tell you that。 I have a message
for you； Baas； from Mameena； wife of Saduko； whom I met about four hours
ago upon the plain yonder。〃
I bade him set it out。
These were the words of Mameena； Baas： 'Say to Macumazahn； your master；
that Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti； taking pity on my wrongs and loving me with
his heart； has offered to take me into his House and that I have
accepted his offer； since I think it better to become the Inkosazana of
the Zulus； as I shall one day； than to remain a servant in the house of
Nandie。 Say to Macumazahn that when Saduko returns he is to tell him
that this is all his fault； since if he had kept Nandie in her place I
would have died rather than leave him。 Let him say to Saduko also that；
although from henceforth we can be no more than friends； my heart is
still tender towards him； and that by day and by night I will strive to
wate
