child of storm-第47章
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did arise I should have to live up to them。 True； I had made no promise
to Saduko with my lips； but I felt； as I knew he felt； that this promise
had passed from my heart to his。
〃That thief Umbelazi！〃 Strange words to be uttered by a great vassal of
his lord； and both of them about to enter upon a desperate enterprise。
〃A prince whom in her folly she believes will be a king。〃 Stranger
words still。 Then Saduko did not believe that he _would_ be a king！
And yet he was about to share the fortunes of his fight for the throne；
he who said that his heart was still on fire for the woman whom
〃Umbelazi the thief〃 had stolen。 Well； if I were Umbelazi； thought I to
myself； I would rather that Saduko were not my chief councillor and
general。 But； thank Heaven！ I was not Umbelazi； or Saduko； or any of
them！ And； thank Heaven still more； I was going to begin my trek from
Zululand on the morrow！
Man proposes but God disposes。 I did not trek from Zululand for many a
long day。 When I got back to my wagons it was to find that my oxen had
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
