child of storm-第44章
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Therefore my counsel to you is to let this business pass over and keep
silent。 Above all； seek not to avenge yourself upon Umbelazi； since I
am sure that he has taken vengeance to dwell with him in his own hut。 I
have spoken。〃
That this moderate and reasoned speech of Nandie's produced a great
effect upon Saduko I could see； but at the time the only answer he made
to it was：
〃Let the name of Mameena be spoken no more within hearing of my ears。
Mameena is dead。〃
So her name was heard no more in the Houses of Saduko and of Umbezi； and
when it was necessary for any reason to refer to her； she was given a
new name； a composite Zulu word； 〃O…we…Zulu〃； I think it was； which is
〃Storm…child〃 shortly translated； for 〃Zulu〃 means a storm as well as
the sky。
I do not think that Saduko spoke of her to me again until towards the
climax of this history； and certainly I did not mention her to him。 But
from that day forward I noted that he was a changed man。 His pride and
open pleasure in his great success； which had caused the Zulus to name
him the 〃Self…eater；〃 were no longer marked。 He became cold and silent；
like a man who is thinking deeply； but who shutters his thoughts lest
some should read them through the windows of his eyes。 Moreover； he
paid a visit to Zikali the Little and Wise； as I found out by accident；
but what advice that cunning old dwarf gave to him I did not find
outthen。
The only other event which happened in connection with this elopement
was that a message came from Umbelazi to Saduko； brought by one of the
princes； a brother of Umbelazi； who was of his party。 As I know； for I
heard it delivered； it was a very humble message when the relative
positions of the two men are consideredthat of one who knew that he
had done wrong； and； if not repentant； was heartily ashamed of himself。
〃Saduko；〃 it said； 〃I have stolen a cow of yours； and I hope you will
forgive me； since that cow did not love the pasture in your kraal； but
in mine she grows fat and is content。 Moreover； in return I will give
you many other cows。 Everything that I have to give； I will give to you
who are my friend and trusted councillor。 Send me word； O Saduko； that
this wall which I have built between us is broken down； since ere long
you and I must stand together in war。〃
To this message Saduko's answer was：
〃O Prince； you are troubled about a very little thing。 That cow which
you have taken was of no worth to me； for who wishes to keep a beast
that is ever tearing and lowing at the gates of the kraal； disturbing
those who would sleep inside with her noise？ Had you asked her of me； I
would have given her to you freely。 I thank you for your offer； but I
need no more cows； especially if； like this one； they have no calves。
As for a wall between us； there is none； for how can two men who； if the
battle is to be won； must stand shoulder to shoulder； fight if divided
by a wall？ O Son of the King； I am dreaming by day and night of the
battle and the victory； and I have forgotten all about the barren cow
that ran away after you； the great bull of the herd。 Only do not be
surprised if one day you find that this cow has a sharp horn。〃
CHAPTER XII
PANDA'S PRAYER
About six weeks later； in the month of November； 1856； I chanced to be
at Nodwengu when the quarrel between the princes came to a head。
Although none of the regiments was actually allowed to enter the
townthat is； as a regimentthe place was full of people； all of them
in a state of great excitement； who came in during the daytime and went
to sleep in the neighbouring military kraals at night。 One evening； as
some of these soldiersabout a thousand of them； if I remember
rightwere returning to the Ukubaza kraal； a fight occurred between
them； which led to the final outbreak。
As it happened； at that time there were two separate regiments stationed
at this kraal。 I think that they were the Imkulutshana and the Hlaba；
one of which favoured Cetewayo and the other Umbelazi。 As certain
companies of each of these regiments marched along together in parallel
lines； two of their captains got into dispute on the eternal subject of
the succession to the throne。 From words they came to blows； and the
end of it was that he who favoured Umbelazi killed him who favoured
Cetewayo with his kerry。 Thereon the comrades of the slain man； raising
a shout of 〃Usutu；〃 which became the war…cry of Cetewayo's party； fell
upon the others； and a dreadful combat ensued。 Fortunately the soldiers
were only armed with sticks； or the slaughter would have been very
great； but as it was； after an indecisive engagement； about fifty men
were killed and many more injured。
Now； with my usual bad luck； I； who had gone out to shoot a few birds
for the potpauw； or bustard； I think they werewas returning across
this very plain to my old encampment in the kloof where Masapo had been
executed； and so ran into the fight just as it was beginning。 I saw the
captain killed and the subsequent engagement。 Indeed； as it happened； I
did more。 Not knowing where to go or what to do； for I was quite alone；
I pulled up my horse behind a tree and waited till I could escape the
horrors about me； for I can assure anyone who may ever read these words
that it is a very horrible sight to see a thousand men engaged in fierce
and deadly combat。 In truth； the fact that they had no spears； and
could only batter each other to death with their heavy kerries； made it
worse； since the duels were more desperate and prolonged。
Everywhere men were rolling on the ground； hitting at each other's
heads； until at last some blow went home and one of them threw out his
arms and lay still； either dead or senseless。 Well； there I sat
watching all this shocking business from the saddle of my trained
shooting pony； which stood like a stone； till presently I became aware
of two great fellows rushing at me with their eyes starting out of their
heads and shouting as they came：
〃Kill Umbelazi's white man！ Kill！ Kill！〃
Then； seeing that the matter was urgent and that it was a question of my
life or theirs； I came into action。
In my hand I held a double…barrelled shotgun loaded with what we used to
call 〃loopers；〃 or B。B。 shot； of which but a few went to each charge；
for I had hoped to meet with a small buck on my way to camp。 So； as
these soldiers came； I lifted the gun and fired； the right barrel at one
of them and the left barrel at the other； aiming in each case at the
centre of the small dancing shields； which from force of habit they held
stretched out to protect their throats and breasts。 At that distance；
of course； the loopers sank through the soft hide of the shields and
deep into the bodies of those who carried them； so that both of them
dropped dead； the left…hand man being so close that he fell against my
pony； his uplifted kerry striking me upon the thigh and bruising me。
When I saw what I had done； and that my danger was over for the moment；
without waiting to reload I dug the spurs into my horse's sides and
galloped off to Nodwengu； passing between the groups of struggling men。
On arriving unharmed at the town； I went instantly to the royal huts and
demanded to see the King； who sent word that I was to be admitted。 On
coming before him I told him exactly what had happenedthat I had
killed two of Cetewayo's men in order to save my own life； and on that
account submitted myself to his justice。
〃O Macumazana；〃 said Panda in great distress； 〃I know well that you are
not to blame； and already I have sent out a regiment to stop this
fighting； with command that those who caused it should be brought before
me to…morrow for judgment。 I am glad indeed； Macumazahn； that you have
escaped without harm； but I must tell you that I fear henceforth your
life will be in danger； since all the Usutu party will hold it forfeit
if they can catch you。 While you are in my town I can protect you； for
I will set a strong guard about your camp； but here you will have to
stay until these troubles are done with； since if you leave you may be
murdered on the road。〃
〃I thank you for your kindness； King；〃
