 CHAPTER XII. PANDA'S PRAYER About six weeks later in the month of November, 1856, I chanced to be at Nodwangu, when the quarrel between the princes came to a head, although none of the regiments was actually allowed to enter the town, that is, as a regiment. The 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 neighboring military crawls at night. One evening, as some of these soldiers, about a thousand of them, if I remember right, were returning to the Ukubasa crowd, 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 crowd. I think that they were the Imkuluchana and the Halaba, one of which favored Setawayo and the other Umbalazi. As certain companies of each of these regiments marched along together in parallel lines, two of their captains got into a 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 favored Umbalazi killed him who favored Setawayo with his carry. Thereon the comrades of the slain men, raising a shout of Usudo, which became the war cry of Setawayo'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 pot, Pau'u, or Bustard, I think they were, was returning across this very plain to my old encampment in the Clewf where Masapo had been executed, and so ran into the fight just as it was beginning. I saw the captain killed in 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 they could only batter each other to death with their heavy carries made it worse, since the duels were more desperate and prolonged. Everywhere men were rolling on the ground, hitting in 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. While 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, KIL LUMBALAZI'S WHITE MAN, KIL, KIL! Then seeing 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 lupers, or BB-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 the 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 center 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 lupers 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, a left-hand man being so close that he fell against my pony, his uplifted carry striking me on the thigh and bruising me. When I saw what I had done and that the danger was over for the moment, without waiting to reload, I dug the spurs in 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 happened, that I had killed two of Setawayo's men in order to save my own life, and, on that account, submitted myself to his justice. O Makumazana! said Panda in greatest stress, 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, Makumazana, 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, or 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, I answered, but all this is very awkward for me, who hope to trek for Natal to-morrow. Well, there it is, Makumazana. You will have to stay here unless you wish to be killed. He who walks into a store must put up with the hailstones. So it came about that once again fate dragged me into the Zulu Maelstrom. On the-morrow I was summoned to the trial, half as Oatness and half as one of the offenders. Going to the head of the No Dwangu Crown, where Panda was sitting in state with his council, I found the whole great space in front of him crowded with a dense concourse of fierce-faced partisans, those who favored Setawayo and Usutu, sitting on the right, and those who favored Umbalazi, Iziguosa, sitting on the left. At the head of the right-hand section sat Setawayo, his brethren and chief men. At the head of the left-hand section sat Umbalazi, his brethren and his chief men, among whom I saw Saduko take a place immediately behind the prince so that he could whisper into his ear. To myself and my little band of eight hunters, who by Panda's express permission came armed with their guns, as I did also, for I was determined that if the necessity arose we would sell our lives as dearly as we could, was appointed a place almost in front of the king and between the two factions. When everyone was seated the trial began, Panda demanding to know who had caused a tumult of the previous night. I cannot set out what followed in all its details, for it would be too long, also I have forgotten many of them. I remember, however, that Setawayo's people said that Umbalazi's men were the aggressors, and that Umbalazi's people said that Setawayo's men were the aggressors, and that each of their parties backed up these statements which were given at great length with loud shouts. How am I to know the truth? exclaimed Panda alas, Makumazon. You were there. Step forward and tell it to me. So I stood out and told the king what I had seen, namely that the captain who favored Setawayo had begun the quarrel by striking the captain who favored Umbalazi, but that in the end Umbalazi's man had killed Setawayo's man, after which the fighting commenced. Then it would seem that the Usuto are to blame. Said Panda, Upon what grounds do you say so, my father? has Setawayo springing up. Upon the testimony of this white man, who is well known to be the friend of Umbalazi and of his henchmen Saduko, who himself killed two of those who called me chief in the course of the fight? Yes, Setawayo, I broke in, because I thought it better that I should kill them than they should kill me whom they attacked quite unprovoked. At any rate you killed them, little white man, shouted Setawayo, for which cause your blood is forfeit? Say, did Umbalazi give you leave to appear before the king accompanied by men armed with guns, when we who are his sons must come with sticks only? If so, let him protect you. That I will do if there is need, exclaimed Umbalazi. Thank you, prince, I said, but if there is need I will protect myself as I did yesterday, and cocking my double-barreled rifle I looked full at Setawayo. When you leave here, then at least I will come even with you, Makumazan, threatens Setawayo spitting through his teeth, as was his way when mad with passion. For he was beside himself and wished to vent his temper on someone, although in truth he and I were always good friends. If so, I shall stop where I am, I answered coolly. In the shadow of the king your father, moreover, are you so lost and folly, Setawayo, that you should wish to bring the English about your ears? Know that if I am killed you will be asked to give account of my blood. I interrupted Panda, and know that if any one lays a finger on Makumazan, who is my guest, he shall die, whether it be a common man or a prince and my son. Also, Setawayo, I find you twenty head of cattle to be paid to Makumazan, because of the unprovoked attack which your men made upon him when he rightly slew them. The fine shall be paid, my father, said Setawayo more quietly, for he saw that in threatening me he had pushed matters too far. Then, after some more talk, Panda gave judgment and the cause, which judgment really amounted to nothing. As it was impossible to decide which party was most to blame, he fined both an equal number of cattle, accompanying the fine with a lecture on their ill-behavior, which was listened to indifferently. After this matter was disposed of, the real business of the meeting began, rising to his feet, Setawayo addressed Panda. My father, he said, the land wanders and wanders in darkness, and you alone can give light for its feet. I and my brother Rumbalazi are at variance, and the quarrel is a great one, namely, as to which of us is to sit in your place when you are gone down, when we call and you do not answer. Some of the nation favor one of us, and some favor the other, but you, O King, and you alone have the voice of judgment. Still, before you speak, I and those who stand with me would bring this to your mind. My mother, Rumbalazi, is your Ikosikazi, your head wife, and therefore, according to our law, I, her eldest son, should be your heir. Moreover, when you fled to the Boers before the fall of him who sat in your place before you, Dingan, did not they the white Amabunu ask you which amongst your sons was your heir, and did you not point me out to the white men, and thereon did not the Amabunu clothe me in a dress of honor because I was the king to be, but now of late the mother of Rumbalazi has been whispering in your ear, as have others, and he looked at Suduko and some of Rumbalazi's brethren, and your face has grown cold towards me, so cold that many say that you will point out Rumbalazi to be king after you and stamp on my name. If this is so, my father, tell me at once that I may know what to do. Having finished his speech, which certainly did not lack force and dignity, Setawayo sat down again, awaiting the answer in sullen silence. But making none, Panda looked at Rumbalazi, who on rising was greeted with a great cheer, for although Setawayo had the larger following in the land, especially among the distant chiefs, the Zulus individually loved Rumbalazi more, perhaps because of his stature, beauty, and kindly disposition, physical and moral qualities that naturally appeal to a savage nation. My father, he said, like my brother Setawayo, I await your word. Whatever you may have said to the Amabunu in haste or fear, I do not admit that Setawayo was ever proclaimed your heir in the hearing of the Zulu people. I say that my right to the succession is as good as his, and that it lies with you, and you alone to declare which of us shall be put on the royal cross in the days that my heart prays may be distant. Still, to save bloodshed, I am willing to divide the land with Setawayo. Here both Panda and Setawayo shook their heads in the audience roared nay, or if that does not please him, I am willing to meet Setawayo, man to man and spear to spear and fight, till one of us be slain. A safe offer, sneered Setawayo, for is not my brother named Elephant and the strongest warrior among the Zulus? No, I will not set the fortunes of those who cling to me on the chance of a single stab, or on the might of a man's muscles. Decide, O father, say which of the two of us is to sit at the head of your crown after you have gone over to the spirits and our but an ancestor to be worshipped. Now Panda looked much disturbed, as was not wonderful, since rushing out from the fence behind which they had been listening, Um Kumbhazi, Setawayo's mother, whispered into one of his ears, while Um Balazi's mother whispered into with the other. What advice each of them gave I do not know, although obviously it was not the same advice, since the poor man rolled his eyes first at one, then at the other, and finally put his hands over his ears that he might hear no more. Choose, choose, O king, shouted the audience. Who is to succeed you, Setawayo, or Um Balazi? Watching Panda, I saw that he fell into a kind of agony, his fat sides heaved, and although the day was cold, sweat ran from his brow. What would the white man do in such a case? He said to me in a hoarse, low voice, whereon I answered looking at the ground and speaking so that few could hear me. I think, O king, that a white man would do nothing. He would say that others might settle the matter after he was dead. Word that I could say so too, muttered Panda, but it is not possible. Then followed a long pause, during which all were silent, for every man there felt that the hour was big with doom. At length Panda rose with difficulty because of his unwieldy weight, and uttered these fateful words that were nonetheless ominous because of the homily idiom in which they were couched. When two young bulls quarrel, they must fight it out. Instantly, in one tremendous roar, volleied forth the royal salute of a signal of the acceptance of the king's word, the word that meant civil war and the death of many thousands. Then Panda turned and so feebly that I thought he would fall, walked through the gateway behind him, followed by the rival queens. Each of these ladies struggled to be first after him in the gate, thinking that it would be an omen of success for her son. Finally, however, to the disappointment of the multitude, they only succeeded in passing it side by side. When they had gone the great audience began to break up, the men of each party marching away together as though by common consent, without offering any insult or molestation to their adversaries. I think that this peaceable attitude arose, however, from the knowledge that matters had now passed from the stage of private quarrel to that of public war. It was felt that their dispute awaited decision, not with sticks outside the Nodwangu krall, but with spears upon some great battlefield for which they went to prepare. Within two days, except for those regiments which Panda kept to guard his person, scarcely a soldier was to be seen in the neighborhood of Nodwangu. The princes also departed to muster their adherents, Sadawayo establishing himself among the Mandlakazi that he commanded, and Umbilazi returning to the krall of Umbizi, which happened to stand almost in the center of that part of the nation which adhered to him. Whether he took Mamina with him there, I am not certain. I believe, however, that fearing lest her welcome at her birth-place should be warmer than she wished, she settled herself at some retired and outlying krall in the neighborhood, and there awaited the crisis of her fortune. At any rate, I saw nothing of her, for she was careful to keep out of my way. With Umbilazi and Sadawako, however, I did have an interview. Before they left Nodwangu they called on me together, apparently on the best of terms, and said, in effect, that they hoped for my support in the coming war. I answered that, however well I might like them personally, a Zulu civil war was no affair of mine, and that, indeed, for every reason including the supreme one of my own safety, I had better get out of the way at once. They argued with me for a long while, making great offers and promises of reward, till at length, when he saw that my determination could not be shaken, Umbilazi said, Come, Sadawako, let us humble ourselves no more before this white man. After all, he is right. The business is none of his. And why should we ask him to risk his life in our quarrel, knowing as we do that the white man are not like us? They think a great deal of their lives. Farewell, Makumazan, if I conquer and grow great you will always be welcome in Zululand, whereas if I fail perhaps you will be best over the Tugola river. Now I felt the hidden taunt in his speech very keenly. Still, being determined that for once I would be wise and not allow my natural curiosity and love of adventure to drag me into more risks and trouble, I replied. The prince says that I am not brave and love my life, and what he says is true. I fear fighting, who by nature am a traitor with the heart of a traitor, not a warrior with the heart of a warrior, like the great in Lovu and his Siluante, words at which I saw the grave Sadawako smile faintly. So farewell to you, prince, and may good fortune attend you. Of course, to call the prince to his face by his nickname, which referred to a defect in his person, was something of an insult. But I had been insulted and meant to give him a Roland for his Oliver. However, he took it in good part. What is good fortune, Makumazan? Umbalazi replied as he grasped my hand. Sometimes I think that to live and prosper is good fortune, and sometimes I think that to die and sleep is good fortune. For in sleep there is neither hunger nor thirst of body or of spirit. In sleep there come no cares. In sleep ambitions are rest, nor do those who look no more upon the sun smart beneath the treacheries of false women or false friends. Should the battle turn against me, Makumazan, at least that good fortune will be mine, for never will I live to be crushed beneath Setawayo's heel. Then he went. Sadawako accompanied him for a little way, but making some excuse to the prince, he came back and said to me, Makumazan, my friend, I dare say that we part for the last time, and therefore I make a request of you. It is as to one who is dead to me. Makumazan, I believe that Umbalazi, the thief, these words broke from his lips with a hiss, has given her many cattle and hidden her away either in the cloof of Zikali the wise or near to it, under his care. Now if the wars should go against Umbalazi, and I should be killed in it, I think evil will fall upon that woman's head. I who have grown sure that it was she who was the wizard and not Masapo the boar, also as one connected with Umbalazi, who has helped him in his plots, she will be killed if she is caught. Makumazan hearken to me. I will tell you the truth. My heart is still on fire for that woman. She has bewitched me. Her eyes haunt my sleep and I hear her voice in the wind. She is more to me than all the earth and all the sky. And although she has wronged me, I do not wish that harm should come to her. Makumazan I pray you if I die, do your best to pre-friend her, even though it be only as a servant in your house. For I think that she cares more for you than for anyone who only ran away with him. And he pointed in the direction that Umbalazi had taken. Because he is a prince who, in her folly, she believes will be a king. At least take her to Natal, Makumazan, where if you wish to be free of her, she can marry whom she will and will live safe until night comes. Panda loves you much, and whoever conquers in the war will give you her life if you ask it of him. Then the strange man drew the back of his hand across his eyes, from which I saw the tears were running and muttering if you would have good fortune remember my prayer. Turned and left me before I could answer a single word. As for me, I sat down upon an ant-heap and whistled a whole hymn-tune that my mother had taught me before I could think at all. To be left the guardian of Mamina, talk of a damn noza hereditas. A terrible and mischievous inheritance. Why, this was the worst that I had ever heard of. A servant in my house, indeed, knowing what I did about her. Why, I had sooner share the good fortune which Umbilazi anticipated beneath the sod. However, that was not in the question, and without it the alternative of acting as her guardian was bad enough. Though I comforted myself with the reflection that the circumstances in which this would become necessary might never arise. For alas, I was sure that if they did arise I should have to live up to them. True, I had made no promise to Suduko with my lips, but I felt, as I knew he felt, that this promise had passed from my heart to his. That thief Umbilazi, 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 Suduko did not believe that he would be a king, and yet he was about to share his fortunes of his fight for the throne, he who said that his heart was still on fire for the woman whom Umbilazi the thief had stolen. Well, if I were Umbilazi, thought I to myself, I would rather that Suduko were not my chief counselor in general. But, thank heaven, I was not Umbilazi or Suduko 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 Skal 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 I lost 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 Notwangu had been driven by some of the Usutsu, that is, by Sarawayo's party, across the Tugala into Natau, whence they dared not attempt to return. For once in my life I went into a rage and cursed the nondescript kind of messenger, sent by I know not whom in language that I think he will not forget. Then, realizing the futility of swearing at a mere tool, I went up to the Great House and demanded an audience with Panda himself, presently the Inseku 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 that the king sitting at the head of the crowd 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 tract in Natau just now you would have been killed on the road by the Usutu who believe you to be a counselor of Umbalazi. 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 Makumazan, for as you know that 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 Nodwangu? No, Makumazan, when the trouble begins I want you to go with the regiment of my own that I shall send to the assistance of my son Umbalazi, so that he may have the benefit of your wisdom. O Makumazana, I will tell you the truth. My heart loves Umbalazi, and I fear me that he is overmatched by Setawayo. 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 Setawayo wins I shall certainly be killed, and all for no reward. Ne Makumazan, I will give orders that whoever conquers the man that dares to lift a spear against you shall die. On 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 Umbalazi. 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 Zulula and Epti-handed, Makumazan. Still I hesitated, for I mistrusted me of this business. Oh, watch her by night, exclaimed Panda. You will not desert me, will you? I am afraid for the son of my heart, Umbalazi, whom I love above all my children. I am much afraid for Umbalazi. 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 Umbalazi. CHAPTER XIII. OF CHILD OF STORM. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. CHILD OF STORM by H. Ryder Haggard. CHAPTER XIII. Umbalazi, the Fallen. So I stayed on at Nandwangu, 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 Sanghu and the Amawambe. This letter was a royal regiment, kind of household guards to which the kings Chaka, Dingan, 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 Setawayo or Umbalazi. 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 counselors, however, remained with Panda, among whom was old Mapuda, the general, who had once brought me the message of the pills. Several times he visited me at night and told me the rumors that were flying about. From these I gathered that some skirmishes had taken place and the battle could not be long delayed. Also the Umbalazi had chosen his fighting-ground, a plain near the banks of the Tugala. 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 Mapuda, but it is said because of a dream that Sadukko, his general, had dreamed thrice. Which dream declares that there and there alone Umbalazi will find honor. 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, whereforth to fly over the Tugala and Wrath, as it well may be after the rains? Oh, surely his spirit has turned from Umbalazi. I, Makumazan, he answered, I too think that Puflatewe is Lossi, that is, his own spirit, has turned its back on him. Also I think that Sadukko is no good counselor. Indeed, were I the prince? added the old fellow shrewdly. I would not keep him whose wife I had stolen as a whisperer in my ear. Nor I, Mapuda. I answered as I bade him good-bye. Two days later, early in the morning Mapuda came to me again and said that Panda wished to see me. I went to the head of the crowd where I found the king seated and before him the captains of the Royal Amawambe 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 Mapuda, the skilled in war to spy out the battle, and I pray that you will go with it, that you may give to the general Mapuda and to the captains help of your wisdom. Now these are my orders to you, Mapuda, and to you, oh captains, that you take no part in the fight unless you should see that the elephant, my son Umbalazi, is fallen into a pit, and that then you shall drag him out if you can and save him alive. Now repeat my words to me. So they repeated the words, speaking with one voice. Your answer, O Makumazana? He said when they had spoken. O king, I have told you that I will go, though I do not like war and I will keep my promise, I replied. Then make ready Makumazana, and be back here within an hour, for the regiment marches ere noon. So I went up to my wagons and handed them over to the care of some men whom Panda had sent to take charge of them. Also Scowl and I saddled our horses for this faithful fellow insisted upon accompanying me, although I advised him to stay behind, and got out our rifles and as much ammunition as we could possibly need, and with them a few other necessities. These things done we rode back to the gathering place, taking farewell of the wagons with a sad heart, since I for one never expected to see them again. As we went I saw that the regiment of the Amawambe picked men every one of them, all fifty years of age or over. Nearly four thousand strong was marshaled on the dancing ground, where they stood company by company, a magnificent sight they were, with their white fighting shields, their gleaming spears, their otterskin caps, their kilts and armlets of white bull's tails, and the snowy egret plumes which they wore upon their brows. We rode to the head of them, where I saw Maputa, and as I came they greeted me with a cheer of welcome, for in those days a white man was a power in the land. Moreover, as I have said, the Zulus knew and liked me well. Also, the fact that I was to watch, or perchance to fight with them, put a good heart into the Amawambe. There we stood until the lads, several hundreds of them who bore the mats and cooking vessels and drove the cattle that were to be our commissariat, had wended away in a long line. Then suddenly Panda appeared out of his hut, accompanied by a few servants, and seemed to utter some kind of prayer, as he did so throwing dust or powdered medicine towards us. Though what this ceremony meant I did not understand. When he had finished Maputa raised a spear, whereon the whole regimen, in perfect time, shouted out the royal salute, Bayete, with a sound like that of thunder. Thrice, they repeated this tremendous and impressive salute, and then were silent. Again Maputa raised his spear and all the four thousand voices broke out into the ignoma, or national chant, to its deep awe-inspiring music we began our march. As I do not think it has ever been written down, I will quote the words they ran thus. Literally translated, this famous chant now I think published for the first time, which I suppose will never again pass the lips of a Zulu impi, means they, i.e. the enemy, bear him, i.e. the king, hatred. They called down curses on his head. All of them throughout this land, abhor our king. The ignoma when sung by twenty or thirty thousand men rushing down to battle must indeed have been a song to hear. The spirit of this fierce ignoma conveyed by sound, gesture, and inflection of voice, not the exact words, remember, which are very rude and simple, leaving much to the imagination. May perhaps be rendered somewhat as follows, an exact translation in English verse is almost impossible, at any rate, to me. Loud on their lips is lying, rebels their king defying. There shall be dead and dying. Red other eyes with hate, low where our impas wait. Vengeance in satiate. It was early on the morning of second of December, a cold, miserable morning that came with wind and driving mist, that I found myself with the Amawambe at the place known as Endon-Dakusuka, a plain with some copches in it that lies within six miles of the Natal border, from which it is separated by the Tugla River. As the orders of the Amawambe were to keep out of the fray if that were possible, we had taken up a position about a mile to the right of what proved to be the actual battlefield, choosing as our camping-ground a rising knoll that looked like a huge tumulus, and was fronted at a distance of about five hundred yards by another smaller knoll. Behind us stretched bushland, a rather broken land, where Mimosa thorns grew in scattered groups, sloping down to the banks of the Tugla, about four miles away. Shortly after dawn I was roused from the place where I slept, wrapped up in some blankets under a Mimosa tree, for, of course, we had no tents, by a messenger who said that the Prince Umbalazi and the white man, John Dunn, wished to see me. I rose and tidied to myself as best I could, since, if I can avoid it, I never like to appear before natives in a disheveled condition. I remember that I had just finished brushing my hair when Umbalazi arrived. I can see him now, looking a veritable giant in that morning mist. Indeed, there was something quite unearthly about his appearance as he arose out of those rolling vapours, such light as there was being concentrated upon the blade of his big spear, which was well known as the broadest carried by any warrior in Zululand, and a copper torque he wore about his throat. There he stood, rolling his eyes and hugging his cross around him because of the cold, and something in his anxious, indeterminate expression told me at once that he knew himself to be a man in terrible danger. Just behind him, dark and brooding, his arms folded on the breast, his eyes fixed upon the ground, looking to my moved imagination like an evil genius, stood the stately and graceful Sadduko. On his left was a young and sturdy white man carrying a rifle and smoking a pipe, whom I guessed to be John Dunn, a gentleman whom, as a chance, I had never met, while behind were a force of Natal government Zulus, clad in some kind of uniform and armed with guns, and with them a number of natives also from Natal. Kral Khafirs, who carried stabbing Asagais. One of these led John Dunn's horse. Of those government men there may have been thirty or forty, and of the Kral Khafirs anything between two and three hundred. I shook umbalazi's hand and gave him good day. That is an ill day upon which no sun shines, O Makumazana! He answered, words that struck me as ominous. Then he introduced me to John Dunn, who seemed glad to meet another white man. Next, not knowing what to say, I asked the exact object of their visit, whereon Dunn began to talk. He said that he had been sent over on the previous afternoon by Captain Walmsley, who was an officer of the Natal government stationed across the border, to try to make peace between the Zulu factions, but that when he spoke of peace, one of umbalazi's brothers, I think it was Montandashia, had mocked at him, saying that they were quite strong enough to cope with the Usutu, that was Setuaio's party. Also he added that when he suggested that the thousands of women and children and the cattle should be got across the Tukala Drift during the previous night into safety in Natal, Montandashia would not listen, and umbalazi, being absent, seeking the aid of the Natal government, he could do nothing. Quem Deus vul perdere perias demantant, whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad. Quoted I to myself beneath my breath, this was one of the Latin tags that my old father, who was a scholar, had taught me, and at that moment it came back to my mind. But as I suspected that John Dunn knew no Latin, I only said aloud, What an infernal fool! we were talking in English. Can't you get umbalazi to do it now? I meant to send the women and children across the river. I feared it was too late, Mr. Cordemain. He answered, Usutu are in sight. Look for yourself. And he handed me a telescope which he had with him. I climbed onto some rocks and scanned the plane in front of us, from which just then a puff of wind rolled away the mist. It was black with advancing men, as yet they were a considerable distance away, quite two miles, I should think, and coming on very slowly in a great half-moon with thin horns and a deep breast. But a ray from the sun glittered upon their countless spears. It seemed to me that there must be quite twenty or thirty thousand of them in this breast, which was in three divisions, commanded, as I learned afterwards, by Setawayo, Uzumela, and by a young boar named Groening. There they are, right enough, I said, climbing down from my rocks. What are you going to do, Mr. Dunn? Obey orders and try to make peace. If I can find anyone who will make peace with, and if I can't, well, fight, I suppose, and you, Mr. Cordemain. Obey orders and stop here, I suppose, unless, I added doubtfully. These Amawambe take the bit between their teeth and run away with me. They will do that before nightfall, Mr. Cordemain. If I know anything of the Zulus, look here. Why don't you get on your horse and come off with me? This is a queer place for you. Because I promised not to, I answered with a groan, for really, as I looked at those savages round me who were already fingering their spears in a disagreeable fashion, and those other thousands of savages advancing toward us, I felt such little courage as I possessed sinking into my boots. Very well, Mr. Cordemain. You know your own business best, but I hope you will come out of it safely. That's all. Same to you, I replied. Then John Dunn turned, and in my hearing asked Umbalazi what he knew of the movements of the Zutu and their plan of battle. The Prince replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. Nothing at present, son of Mr. Dunn, but doubtless before the sun is high I shall know much. As he spoke a sudden gust of wind struck us and tore the knotting ostrich plume from its fastening on Umbalazi's headring. Wiltzda murmur of dismay rose from all who saw what they considered this very ill-omend accident away floated into the air to fall gently to the ground at the feet of Sadduko. He stooped, picked it up, and reset it in its place, saying as he did so with that ready wit for which some kafirs are remarkable. So I may live, O Prince, to set the crown upon the head of Panda's favorite son. This apt speech served to dispel the general gloom caused by the incident for those who heard it cheered while Umbalazi thanked his captain with a nod and a smile. Only I noted that Sadduko did not mention the name of Panda's favorite son, upon whose head he hoped to live to set the crown. Now Panda had many sons and that day would show which of them was favored. A minute or two later John Dunn and his following departed, as he said to try to make peace with the advancing Usutu, Umbalazi, Sadduko, and Areskort departed also towards the main body of the host of the Izikosa, which was massed to our left, sitting on their spears as the native say in awaiting the attack. As for me I remained alone with the Amawambe, drinking some coffee that Skal had brewed for me and forcing myself to swallow food. I can say honestly that I do not ever remember partaking in a more unhappy meal. Not only did I believe that I was looking on the last son I should ever see, though by the way there was uncommonly little of that orb visible, but what made the matter worse was that if so, I should be called upon to die among savages, with not a single white face near to comfort me. Oh, how I wished I had never allowed myself to be dragged into this dreadful business! Yes, and I was even mean enough to wish that I had broken my word to Panda and gone off with John Dunn when he invited me. Although now I thank goodness that I did not yield to that temptation and thereby sacrifice my self-respect. Soon, however, things grew so exciting that I forgot these and other melancholy reflections in watching the development of events from the summit of the tumulus-like knoll, whence I had a magnificent view of the whole battle, here after seeing that his regiment made a full meal. As a good general should, Old Maputa joined me, whom I asked whether he thought there would be any fighting for him that day. I think so, I think so, he answered cheerfully. It seems to me that the Utsutu greatly outnumber Umbalazi and Yizikosa, and, of course, as you know, Panda's orders are that, if he is in danger, we must help him. Oh, keep a good heart, Makumazan, for I believe I can promise you that you will see our spears grow red today. You will not go hungry from this battle to tell the white people that the Yamawambe are cowards whom you could not flog into the fight. No, no, Makumazan, my spirit looks towards me this morning, and I, who am old and who thought that I should die at length like a cow, shall see one more great fight, my 20th Makumazan, for I fought with the same Yamawambe in all the Black One's big battles, and for Panda against Dingan also. Perhaps it will be your last, I suggested. I dare say Makumazan, but what does it matter if only I in the Royal Regiment can make an end that will be spoken of? Oh, cheer up, cheer up Makumazan, your spirit too looks towards you, as I promise that we all will do when the shields meet. For now, Makumazan, that we poor Black soldiers expect that you will show us how to fight this day, and if need be, how to fall hidden in a heap of the foe. Oh, I replied, so this is what Yuzulu's mean by giving of counsel, is it, you infernal bloodthirsty old scoundrel? I added in English. But I think Maputa never heard me. At any rate, he only sees my arm and pointed in front, a little to the left, where the horn of the great Usutu army was coming up fast, a long, thin line alive with twinkling spears, their moving arms and legs causing them to look like spiders of which the bodies were formed by the great war shields. See their plan? he said. They would close Anumbesi and gore him with their horns, and then charge with their head. The horn will pass between us and the right flank of the Isekosa. Oh, awake, awake, Elephant, are you asleep with Mameena on a hut? Unloose your spears, child of the king, and at them as they mount the slope, behold, he went on. It is the sun of Dun that begins the battle. Didn't I tell you that we must look to the white men to show us the way? Peep through your tomb, Akuma-Zan, and tell me what passes. So I peeped, and the telescope, which Don Dun had kindly left with me, being good though small, saw everything clearly enough. He rode up almost to the point of the left horn of the Usutu, waving a white handkerchief and followed by his small force of police and natal kafirs. Then from somewhere among the Usutu rose a puff of smoke. Dun had been fired at. He dropped the handkerchief and leapt to the ground. Now he and his police were firing rapidly in reply, and men fell fast among the Usutu. They raised their war shout and came on, though slowly for they feared the bullets. Step by step, John Dun and his people were thrust back, fighting gallantly against the overwhelming odds. They were level with us, not a quarter of a mile to our left. They were pushed past us. They vanished among the bush behind us, and a long while passed before ever I heard what became of them, for we met no more that day. Now the horns having done their work and wrapped themselves round Umbalazi's army as the nippers of a wasp closed about a fly. Why did now Umbalazi cut off those horns, I wondered. The Usutu bull began his charge. Twenty or thirty thousand strong, regiment after regiment, said Oayo's men rushed up the slope, and there, near the crust of it, were met by Umbalazi's regiments springing forward to repel the onslaught and shouting their battle cry of Lava! Lava! Lava! Lava! The noise of their meeting shields came to our ears like that of a roll of thunder, and the sheen of their stabbing spears, shown as shines the broad summer lightning. They hung and wavered on the slope. Then from the Amawambe ranks rose a roar of Umbalazi wins! Watching intently we saw the Usutu giving back. Down the slope they went, leaving the ground in front of them covered with black spots which we knew to be dead or wounded men. Why does not the elephant charge home? said Mapudan, a perplexed voice. The Usutu bull is on his back. Why does he not trample him? Because he's afraid, I suppose, I answered and went on watching. There was plenty to see as it happened. Fine in that they were not pursued, Sudawayo's impi reformed swiftly at the bottom of the slope in preparation for another charge. Among that of Umbalazi above them rapid movements took place of which I could not guess the meeting, which movements were accompanied by much noise of angry shouting. Then suddenly, from the midst of the Izikosa army, emerged a great body of men, thousand strong, which ran swiftly, but in open order down the slope towards the Usutu holding their spears reversed. At first I thought that they were charging independently until I saw the Usutu ranks open to receive them with a shout of welcome. Treasury! I said. Who is it? Saduko, with the Amakoba and the Amangwane soldiers and others. I know them by their headdresses. Answered Maputa in a cold voice. Do you mean that Saduko has gone over to Sudawayo with his following? I asked excitedly. What else Makumazan? Saduko is a traitor. Umbalazi is finished. And he passed his hand swiftly across his mouth, a gesture that has only one meaning among the Zulus. As for me, I sat down upon a stone and groaned, for now I understood everything. Presently the Usutu raised fierce, triumphant shouts, and once again their impie swelled with Saduko's power began to advance up the slope. Umbalazi and those of the Izikosa party who clung to him, now I should judge not more than eight thousand men, never stayed to wait the onslaught. They broke. They fled in a hideous route, crashing through the thin left horn of the Usutu by mere weight of numbers, and passing behind us who bleakly on their road to the banks of the Tugla. A messenger rushed up to us, panting. These are the words of Umbalazi, he gasped. Oh, watch it by night, and oh, Maputa, in lovu ene siluante, praise that you will hold back the Usutu as the king beige you do in case of need. And so give to him and those who cling to him, time to escape with the women and children into Natal. His general Saduko has betrayed him and gone over with three regiments to Setawayo, and therefore we can no longer stand against the thousands of the Usutu. Go tell the prince that Makumazan, Maputa, and the Amawambe regiment will do their best. Answered Maputa calmly. Still, this is our advice to him, that he should cross the Tugla swiftly with the women and children, seeing that we are few and Setawayo is many. The messenger leapt away. But, as I heard afterwards, he never found Umbalazi, since the poor man was killed within five hundred yards of where we stood. Then Maputa gave an order, and the Amawambe formed themselves into a triple line, thirteen hundred men in the first line, thirteen hundred men in the second line, and about a thousand in the third, behind whom were the carrier boys, three or four hundred of them. The place assigned to me was in the exact center of the second line, where, being mounted on a horse, it was thought, as I gathered, that I should serve as a convenient rallying point. In this formation we advanced a few hundred yards to our left, evidently with the object of interposing ourselves between the routed impi and the pursuing Usutu, or if the latter should elect to go round us, with that of threatening their flank. Setawayo's generals did not leave us long in doubt as to what they would do. The main body of their army bore away to the right in pursuit of the flying foe, but three regiments, each of about two thousand five hundred spears, halted, five minutes past perhaps while they marshaled, with a distance of some six hundred yards between them. Each regiment was in a triple line like our own. To me that seemed a very long five minutes, but reflecting that it was probably my last on earth, I tried to make the best of it in a fashion that can be guessed. Strange to say, however, I found it impossible to keep my mind fixed upon those matters with which it ought to have been filled. My eyes and thoughts would roam. I looked at the ranks of the veteran Amawambe and noted that they were still and solemn as men about to die should be, although they showed no sign of fear. Indeed, I saw some of those near me, passing their snuff boxes to each other. Two gray-haired men also who evidently were old friends shook hands as people do in their parting before a journey, while two others discussed in a low voice the possibility of our wiping out most of the Asutu before we were wiped out ourselves. It depends, said one of them, whether they attack us regiment by regiment or all together, as they will do if they are wise. Then an officer made them be silent and conversation ceased. Maputa passed through the ranks, giving orders to the captains. From a distance his withered old body with a fighting shield held in front of it looked like that of a huge black ant carrying something in its mouth. He came to wear a scowl and I sat upon our horses. Ah, I see, did you are ready, Makoma-san? He said in a cheerful voice. I told you that you should not go away hungry. Did I not? Maputa, I said in remonstrance. What is the use of this? Umbalazi is defeated. You are not of his impi. Why send all these? And I waved my hand. Down into the darkness. Why not go to the river and try to save the women and children? Because we shall take many of those down into the darkness with us, Makoma-san. And he pointed to the dense masses of the Yasutu. Yet he added with a touch of compunction. This is not your quarrel. You and your servant have horses. Slip out, if you will, and gallop hard to the lower drift. You may get away with your lives. Then my white man's pride came to my aid. Nay, I answered, I will not run while others stay to fight. I never thought you would, Makoma-san, who I am sure do not wish to earn a new ugly name. Well, neither will the Amawambe run to become a mock among their people. The king's orders were that we should try to help Umbalazi if the battle went against him. We obey the king's orders by dying where we stand. Makoma-san, do you think you could hit that big fellow who is shouting insults at us there? If so, I should be obliged to you, as I dislike him very much. And he showed me a captain who was swaggering about in front of the lines of the first of the Yasutu regiments, about six hundred yards away. I will try, I answered, but it's a long shot. Dismounting I climbed a pile of stones, and resting my rifle on the top most of them, took a very full sight, aimed, held my breath, and pressed the trigger. A second afterwards a shouter of insults threw his arms wide, letting fall his spear, and pitched forward on to his face. A roar of delight rose from the watching-amawambe, while Old Maputa clapped his thin brown hands and grin from ear to ear. Thank you, Makoma-san, a very good omen. Now I am sure that whatever those easy-coated dogs of Umbalazi's may do, we king's men shall make an excellent end, which is all that we can hope. Oh, what a beautiful shot! It will be something to think of when I am an Indlozi, a spirit snake, brawling about my own corral. Farewell, Makoma-san, and he took my hand and pressed it. The time has come. I go to lead the charge. The amawambe have orders to defend you to the last, for I wish you to see the finish of this fight. Farewell. Then off he hurried, followed by his orderlies and staff officers. I never saw him again alive, although I think that once and after years I did meet his Indlozi in the corral under strange circumstances. But that has nothing to do with this history. As for me, having reloaded, I mounted my horse again, being afraid lest if I went on shooting I should miss and spoil my reputation. Besides, what was the use of killing more men unless I was obliged? They were plenty ready to do that. Another minute and the regimen in front of us began to move, while the other two behind it ostentatiously sat themselves down in their ranks to show that they did not mean to spoil sport. The fight was to begin with a duel between about six thousand men. Good! muttered the warrior who was next to me. They are in our bag. I, answered another, those little boys, used as a term of contempt, are going to learn their last lesson. For a few seconds there was silence, while the long ranks lent forward between the hedges of lean and cruel spears. A whisper went down the line, it sounded like the noise of wind among trees, and was the signal to prepare. Next, a far-off voice shouted some word, which was repeated again and again by other voices before and behind me. I became aware that we were moving, quite slowly at first, then more quickly. Being lifted above the ranks upon my horse I could see the whole advance. And the general aspect of it was that of a triple black wave, each wave crowned with foam. The white plumes and shields of the Amawambe were the foam, and alive with sparkles of light, their broad spears were the light. We were charging now, and oh, the awful and glorious excitement of that charge! Oh, the rush of the bending plumes and the dull thudding of eight thousand feet! The Asutu came up the slope to meet us. In silence we went, and in silence they came. We drew near to each other, now we could see their faces, peering over the tops of their muddled shields. And now we could see their fierce and rolling eyes. Then a roar, a rolling roar, such as at that time I had never heard, the thunder of the roar of the meeting shields, and a flash, a swift simultaneous flash, the flash of lightning of the stabbing spears, up went the cry of, kill Amawambe, kill! Answered another cry of, toss, Isutu, toss! After that what happened? Heaven knows alone, or at least I do not. But in later years Mr. Osborn, afterwards the resident magistrate at New Castle in Natal, being young and foolish in those days, had swum his horse over the Tugla, and hidden in a little cup chain quite near to us in order to see the battle, told me that it looked as though some huge breaker, that breaker being the splendid Amawambe, rolling in towards the shore with the weight of the ocean behind it, had suddenly struck a ridge of rock and rearing itself up, submerged, and hidden it, at least within three minutes that Isutu Regiment was no more. We had killed them, every one, and from all along our lines rose a fierce hissing sound of Ski, Ski, Zee, and Zulu, uttered as the spears went home in the bodies of the conquered. That regiment had gone, taking nearly a third of our number with it, for in such a battle as this the wounded were as good as dead. Practically our first line had vanished in a fray that did not last more than a few minutes. Before it was well over the second, Isutu Regiment sprang up and charged. With a yell of victory we rushed down the slope towards them. Again there was a roar of the meeting shields, but this time the fight was more prolonged, and, being in the front rank now, I had my share of it. I remember shooting to Isutu, who stabbed at me, after which my gun was wrenched from my hand. I remember the melee swinging backwards and forwards, the groans of the wounded, the shouts of victory and despair, and then Scowl's voice, saying, We have beat them, boss, but here come the otters! The third regiment was on our shattered lines. We closed up, we fought like devils, even the bearer boys rushed into the fray. From all sides they poured down upon us, for we had made a ring. Every minute men died by the hundreds, and though their numbers grew few, not one of the Amawambe yielded. I was fighting with a spear now, though, how it came into my hand I cannot remember for certain. I think, however, I wrenched it from a man who rushed at me and was stabbed before he could strike. I killed a captain with this spear, for as he fell I recognized his face. It was that of one of Setawayo's companions to whom I had sold some cloth at Nodwangu. The fallen were piled up quite thick around me. We were using them as a breastwork. Friend and foe together. I saw Scowl's horse rear into the air and fall. He slipped over its tail, and next instant was fighting at my side, also with a spear, muttering Dutch and English oaths as he struck. BGVARM! A little hot. BGVARM BOSS! I heard him say. Then my horse screamed aloud and something hit me hard upon the head. I suppose it was a thrown carry, after which I remembered nothing for a while, except a sensation of passing through the air. I came to myself again and found that I was still on the horse, which was ambling forward across the veld at a rate of about eight miles an hour, and that Scowl was clinging to my stirrup leather and running at my side. He was covered with blood. So was a horse, and so was I. It may have been our own blood. For all three were more or less wounded. Or it may have been that of others. I am sure I do not know, but we were a terrible sight. I pulled upon the reins and the horse stopped among some thorns. Scowl felt in the saddlebags and found a large flask of Holland's gin and water. Half gin and half water. Which he placed there before the battle. Young corked and gave it to me. I took a long pull at the stuff that tasted like veritable nectar, then handed it to him, who did likewise. New life seemed to flow into my veins. Whatever teetotalers may say, alcohol is good at such a moment. Where are the Amawambi? I asked. All dead by now, I think, boss. As we should be had not your horse bolted. Wow, but they made a great fight. One that we'll be told of. They have carried those three regiments away upon their spears. That's good, I said. But where are we going? To Natal, I hope, boss. I have had enough of the Zulus for the present. The Tugla is not far away, and we will swim it. Come on, before our herds grow stiff. So we went on, till presently we reached the crest of a rise of ground overlooking the river, and there saw and heard dreadful things. For beneath us those devilish Usutu were massacring the fugitives and the camp-followers. These were being driven by the hundred to the edge of the water, there to perish on the banks or in the stream, which was black with drowned or drowning forms. And oh, the sounds! Well, those I will not attempt to describe. Keep upstream, I said shortly, and we struggled across the kind of Dunga where only a few wounded men were hidden, into a somewhat denser patch of bush that had scarcely been entered by the flying Izikosa, perhaps because here the banks of the river were very steep and difficult. Also between them its waters ran swiftly, for this was above the drift. For a while we went on in safety, then suddenly I heard a noise. A great man plunged past me, breaking through the bush like a buffalo, and came to a halt upon a rock which over hung the Tugla, for the floods had eaten away the soil beneath. Said Skowl, and as he spoke we saw another man following as a wild dog follows a buck. Saduko! said Skowl. I rode on, I could not help riding on. Although I knew it would be safer to keep away, I reached the edge of that big rock. Saduko and Umbalazi were fighting there. In ordinary circumstances, strong and active as he was, Saduko would have had no chance against the most powerful Zulu living. But the Prince was utterly exhausted, his sides were going like a blacksmith's bellows, or those of a fat elan bull that has been galloped to a standstill. Moreover, he seemed to me to be distraught with grief, and lastly he had no shield left, nothing but an asegai. A stab from Saduko's spear, which he partially parried, wounded him slightly on the head, and cut loose the fillet of his ostrich plume, that same plume which I had seen blown off in the morning, so that it fell to the ground. Another stab pierced his right arm, making it helpless. He snatched up the asegai with his left hand, striving to continue the fight, and just at that moment we came up. What are you doing, Saduko? I cried. Does a dog bite its own master? He turned and stared at me. Both of them stared at me. Arry, Makumazan! he answered in an icy voice. Sometimes when it is starving and that full fat master has snatched away its bone. Stand aside, Makumazan! For although I was quite unarmed I had stepped between them, lest you should share the fate of this woman-thief. Not I, Saduko. I cried, for this sight made me mad, unless you murder me. Then Umbalazi spoke in a hollow voice, sobbing out his words. I thank you, white man, yet do as this snake bid you. This snake that has lived in my growl and fed out of my cup. Let him have his fear the vengeance because of the woman who bewitched me. Yes, because of the sorceress who has brought me and thousands to the dust. Have you heard, Makumazan, of the great deed of this son of Matewane? Have you heard that all the while he was a traitor in the pay of Setawayo, and that he went over with the regiments of his command to the Asuto just when the battle hung upon the turn. Come, traitor, here is my heart, the heart that loved and trusted you. Strike! Strike hard! Out of the way, Makumazan! His Saduko, but I would not stir. He sprang at me, and although I put up the best fight that I could in my injured state, got his hands about my throat and began to choke me. Scowl ran to help me but his wound, for he was hurt, or his utter exhaustion took effect on him, or perhaps it was excitement, at any rate he fell down in a fit. I thought that all was over, when again I heard Umbalazi's voice and felt Saduko's grip loosen on my throat and sat up. Dog! said the Prince, where is your segae? And as he spoke he threw it from him into the river beneath, for he had picked it up while he struggled, but as I noted retained his own. Now, Dog, why do I not kill you, as would have been easy but now? I will tell you, because I will not mix the blood of a traitor with my own. See? he set the half of his broad spear upon the rock and bent forward over the blade. You and your witch-wife have brought me to nothing, O Saduko. My blood and the blood of all who clung to me is on your head. Your name shall stink forever in the nostrils of all true men, and I whom you have betrayed, I, the Prince Umbalazi, will haunt you while you live. Yes, my spirit shall enter into you, and when you die, ah, then we'll meet again. Tell this tale to the white man Makumazan, my friend, on whom be honor and blessings. He paused, and I saw the tears gush from his eyes, tears mingled with blood from the wound in his head. Then suddenly he uttered the battle cry of, Lava! Lava! And let his weight fall upon the point of the spear. It pierced him through and through, he fell on to his hands and knees, he looked up at us, oh, the piteousness of that look, and then rolled sideways from the edge of the rock, a heavy splash, and that was the end of Umbalazi the Fallen, Umbalazi about whom Amina had cast her net. A sad story in truth, although it happened so many years ago, I weep as I write it, I weep as Umbalazi wept. End of Chapter 13. Recorded by Keith Salas. Chapter 14 Of Child of Storm This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Child of Storm by H. Ryder Haggard. Chapter 14 Umbalazi and the Blood Royal After this I think that some of the Usutu came up, or it seemed to me that I heard Suduko say, Touch not Makumazan or his servant, they are my prisoners. He who harms them dies with all his house. So they put me fainting on my horse, and scowl they carried away upon a shield. When I came, too, I found myself in a little cave, or rather beneath some overhanging rocks at the side of the kopche. And with me scowl, who had recovered from his fit, but seemed in a very bewildered condition. Indeed, neither then nor afterwards did he remember anything of the death of Umbalazi. Nor did I ever tell him that tale. Like many others, he thought that the prince had been drowned in trying to swim the Tugala. Are they going to kill us? I asked of him, since from the triumphant shouting without, I knew that we must be in the midst of the Victoria Susutu. I don't know, boss, he answered. I hope not. After we have gone through so much it would be a pity. Better to have died at the beginning of the battle. I nodded my head in ascent, and just at that moment Azulu, who had very evidently been fighting, entered the place, carrying a dish of toasted lumps of beef and a gourd of water. Situayo sen judiz, macumazan, he said, and is sorry that there is no milk or beer. When you have eaten, a guard waits without to escort you to him. And he went. Well, I said to Skow, if they are going to kill us, they would scarcely take the trouble to feed us first. So let us keep our hearts and eat. Who knows, answered poor Skow, as he crammed a lump of beef into his big mouth. Still it is better to die on a full than on an empty stomach. So we ate and drank, and as we were suffering more from exhaustion and from our hurts, which were not really serious, our strength came back to us. As we finished the last lump of meat, which, although it had been only half cooked upon the point of an esegai, tasted very good. Azulu put his head into the mouth of the shelter and asked if we were ready. I nodded, and, supporting each other, Skowl and I limped from the place. Outside were about fifty soldiers, who greeted us with a shout that, although it was mixed with laughter at our pitiable appearance, struck me as not altogether unfriendly. Amongst these men was my horse, which stood with its head hanging down, looking very depressed. I was helped onto its back, and Skowl clinging to the stirrup leather, we were led a distance of about a quarter of a mile to Setawayo. We found him seated in the full blaze of the evening sun on the eastern slope of one of the land waves of the Veld. With the open plain in front of him, it was a strange and savage scene. There sat the victorious prince surrounded by the captain and Indunas, while before him rushed the triumphant regiments, shouting its titles in the most extravagant language. Isimbongi, also, that is, professional praisers, were running up and down before him, dressed in all sorts of finery, telling his deeds, calling him Eater up of the earth, and yelling out the names of those great ones who had been killed in the battle. Meanwhile, parties of bearers were coming up continually, carrying dead men of distinction upon shields, and laying them out in rows, as game is laid out at the end of a day's shooting in England. It seems that Setawayo had taken a fancy to see them, and, being too tired to walk over the field of battle, ordered that this should be done. Among these, by the way, I saw the body of my old friend Maputa, the general of the Amawambe, and noted that it was literally riddled with spear thrusts, every one of them in front, also that his quaint face still wore a smile. At the head of these lines of corpses were laid six dead, all men of large size, in whom I recognized the brothers of Umbalazi, who had fought on his side, and the half-brothers of Setawayo. Among them were those three princes upon whom the dust had fallen when Zikali, the prophet, smelt out Masapo, the husband of Mamina. Dismounting from my horse, with the help of Skowl, I limped through and over the corpses of these fallen royalties, cut in the Zulu fashion to free their spirits, which otherwise, as they believed, would haunt the slayers, and stood in front of Setawayo. He said, stretching out his hand to me which I took, though I could not find it in my heart wish him good day. I hear that you are leading the Amawambe, whom my father the king sent down to help Umbalazi. I am very glad that you have escaped alive. Also my heart is proud of the fight that they made. For you know, Makumazan, once next to the king, I was general of that regiment. Although afterwards we quarreled, still I am pleased that they did so well, and I have given orders that every one of them who remains alive is to be spared, that they may be officers of the new Amawambe which I shall raise. Do you know, Makumazan, that you have nearly wiped out three whole regiments of the Usutu, killing many more people than did all my brother's army, the Izikosa? Oh, you are a great man. Had it not been for the loyalty, this word was spoken with just a tinge of sarcasm, of Sadduko Yander. You would have won the day for Umbalazi. Well, now that this quarrel is finished, if you will stay with me, I will make you general of a whole division of the king's army, since henceforth I shall have a voice in affairs. You are mistaken, O son of Panda. I answered. The splendor of the Amawambe's great stand against the multitude is on the name of Maputa, the king's counselor in the Induna of the Black One, Chaka, who is gone. He lies yonder in his glory. And I pointed to Maputa's pierced body. But I did but fight as a soldier in his ranks. Oh, yes, we know that. We know all that, Makumazan. And Maputa was a clever monkey in this way. But we know also that you taught him how to jump. Well, he is dead. And nearly all the Amawambe are dead. And of my three regiments but a handful is left. The vultures have the rest of them. That is all finished and forgotten, Makumazan. Though by good fortune the spears went wide of you, who doubtless are a magician, since otherwise you and your servant and your horse would not have escaped with a few scratches when everyone else was killed. But you did escape as you have done before in Zululand. And now you see here lies certain men who were born of my father. Yes, one is missing. He against whom I fought. I and he whom, although we fought, I loved the best of all of them. Now, it has been whispered in my ear that you alone know what became of him and Makumazan. I would learn whether he lives or is dead. Also, if he is dead, by whose hand he died, who would reward that hand? Now, he looked round me, wondering whether I should tell the truth or hold my tongue. And, as I looked, my eyes met those of Sudhuko, who, cold and unconcerned, was seated among the captains, but a little distance away from them, a man apart. And I remembered that he and I alone knew the truth of the end of Umbalazi. Why, I do not know, but it came into my mind that I would keep the secret. Why should I tell the triumphant Setawayo that Umbalazi had been driven to die by his own hand? Why should I lay bare Sudhuko's victory in shame? All these matters had passed into the court of a different tribunal. Who was I that I should reveal them or judge the actors of this terrible drama? Oh, Setawayo, I said. As it chanced I saw the end of Umbalazi. No enemy killed him. He died of a broken heart upon a rock above the river, and for the rest of the story go as the Tugla, into which he fell. For a moment Setawayo hid his eyes with his hand. Is it so? he said, presently. Wow! I say again that had it not been for Sudhuko, the son of Matawane Yander, who had some quarrel with Indulovu and Isilawante about a woman and took his chance of vengeance, it might have been I who died of a broken heart upon a rock above the river. Oh, Sudhuko, I owe you a great debt and will pay you well, but you shall be no friend of mine, lest we also should chance the quarrel about a woman, and I should find myself dying of a broken heart on a rock above a river. Oh, my brother Umbalazi, I mourn for you, my brother, for after all we played together when we were little and loved each other once, who in the end fought for a toy that is called a throne, since, as our father said, two bulls cannot live in the same yard, my brother. Well, you are gone, and I remain, yet who knows but that at the last your lot may be happier than mine. You died of a broken heart, Umbalazi, but of what shall I die, I wander. Footnote, that history of Setawayo's fall and tragic death and of Zikali's vengeance I hope to write one day, for in these events also I was destined to play a part. A-Q. End, footnote. I have given this interview in detail, since it was because of that the saying went abroad that Umbalazi died of a broken heart. So in truth he did, for before his spear pierced it his heart was broken. Now seeing the Setawayo was in one of his soft moods and that he seemed to look upon me kindly, though I had fought against him, I reflected that this would be a good opportunity to ask his leave to depart. Until the truth my nerves were quite shattered with all I had gone through, and I longed to be away from the sights and sounds of that terrible battlefield, on and about which so many thousand people had perished this fateful day, as I had seldom longed for anything before. But while I was making up my mind as to the best way to approach him something happened which caused me to lose my chance. Hearing a noise behind me I looked around to see a stout man arrayed in a very fine wardress, and waving in one hand a gory spear, and in the other a head-bloom of ostrich feathers, who was shouting out, Give me audience of the Son of the King! I have a song to sing to the Prince! I have a tale to tell to the conquerors Setawayo! I stared. I rubbed my eyes. It could not be. Yes, it was Umbezi, eater up of elephants—the father of Mamina. In a few seconds, without waiting for leave to approach, he had bounded through the line of dead princes stopping to kick one of them in the head, and addresses poor Clay in some words of shameful insult, and was prancing about before Setawayo, shouting his praises. Who is this infocusana? That is, low fellow, growled the Prince, bid him cease his noise and speak, lest he should be silent forever. Oh, calf of the black cow, I am Umbezi, eater up of elephants, chief captain of Saduko, the cunning, he who won you the battle. Father of Mamina, the beautiful, whom Saduko wed, and whom the dead dog Umbezi stole away from him. Ah! said Setawayo, screwing up his eyes in a fashion he had when he meant mischief, which among the Zulus caused him to be named Bol who shuts his eyes to toss. And what have you to tell me, eater up of elephants, and father of Mamina, whom the dead dog Umbezi took away from your master Saduko, the cunning? This so mighty one, this so shaker of the earth, that well I am named, eater up of elephants, who have eaten up in Lovu and Isilwante, the elephant himself. Now Saduko seemed to awake from his brooding, and started from his place, but what Setawayo sharply bade him be silent, whereon Umbezi, the fool, noting nothing, continued his tale. Oh! Prince I met Umbalazi in battle, and when he saw me he fled for me, yes, his heart grew soft as water at the sight of me, the warrior whom he had wronged, whose daughter he had stolen. I hear you, said Setawayo, Umbalazi's heart turned to water at the sight of you, because he had wronged you. You who, until this morning, when you deserted him with Saduko, were one of his jackals. Well, and what happened then? He fled, O lion, with the black mane. He fled like the wind, and I, I flew after him like a stronger wind. Far into the bush he fled till that length he came to a rock above the river, and was obliged to stand. Then there we fought. He thrust at me, but I leapt over his spear, thus, and he gambled into the air. He thrust at me again, but I bent myself thus, and he ducked his great head. Then he grew tired, and my time came. He turned and ran round the rock, and I ran after him, stabbing him through the back thus, and thus, and thus, until he fell, crying for mercy, and rolled off the rock into the river. And as he rolled I snatched away his plume. See? Is it not the plume of the dead dog, Umbalazi? Setawayo took the ornament and examined it, showing it to one or two of the captains near him who nodded their heads gravely. Yes, he said, this is the war plume of Umbalazi, beloved of the king, strong and shining pillar of the great horse. We knew it well, that war plume at the sight of which many a knee has loosened. And so you killed him, eater up of elephants, father of Mamina, you who this morning were one of the meanest of his jackals. Now, what reward shall I give you for this mighty deed, O Umbalazi? A great reward, O terrible one! Began Umbalazi but in an awful voice setawayo bade him be silent. Yes, he said, a great reward! Hark and jackal and traitor, your own words bear witness against you. You, you have dared to lift your hand against the blood royal, and with your foul tongue to heap lies and insults upon the name of the mighty dead. Now, understanding at last, Umbalazi began to babble excuses, yes, and to declare that all his tale was false. His fat cheeks fell in, and he sank to his knees. Masadawayo only spat towards the man after this fashion when enraged and looked round him till his eye fell upon Saduko. Saduko, he said, take away the slayer of the prince who boasts that he is red with my own blood, and when he is dead cast him into the river from that rock on which he says he stabbed Panda's son. Saduko looked round him wildly and hesitated. Take him away, thundered Satawayo, and return ere dark to make report to me. Then at a sign from the prince, soldiers flung themselves upon the miserable Umbalazi and dragged him thence, Saduko going with him, nor was the poor liar ever seen again. As he passed by me he called to me, for Mamina's sake, to save him, but I could only shake my head and bethink me of the warning I had once given him as to the fate of traitors. It may be said that the story comes straight from the history of Saul and David, but I can only answer that it happened. Circumstances that were not unlike ended in a similar tragedy. That is all. What David's exact motives were, naturally I cannot tell, but it is easy to guess those of Satawayo, who, although he could make war upon his brother to secure the throne, did not think it wise to let it go abroad that the royal blood might be lightly spilt. Also, knowing that I was a witness of the prince's death, he was well aware that Umbalazi was but a boastful liar who hoped thus to ingratiate himself with an all-powerful conqueror. While this tragic incident had its sequel, it seems, to his honor, be it said, that Saduko refused to be the executioner of his father-in-law, Umbalazi, so those with him performed this office and brought him back a prisoner to Satawayo. When the prince learned that his direct order, spoken in the accustom and fearful formula of take him away, had been disobeyed, his rage was, or seemed to be, great. My own conviction is that he was only seeking a cause to quarrel against Saduko, who, he thought, was a very powerful man, who would probably treat him, should opportunity arise, as he had treated Umbalazi. And perhaps now, that the most of Pandas' sons were dead, except himself, and the lads of Metonga, Sikora, and Mekungo, who had fled into Natal, might even in future days aspire to the throne as the husband of the king's daughter. Still, he was afraid, or did not think it polite at once, to put out of his path this master of many legions, who had played so important a part in the battle. Therefore he ordered him to be kept under guard and taken back to Nodwangu, that the whole matter might be investigated by Panda the king, who still ruled the land, though henceforth only in name. Also he refused to allow me to depart into Natal, saying that I too must come to Nodwangu, as there my testimony might be needed. So having no choice I went, it being faded that I should see the end of the drama. End of chapter 14. Recorded by Keith Salas