Forging the Blades Part 34

Reference has been made to the impa.s.sable barrier to unions between white and colour existing, and rightly so, throughout the whole of South Africa; but the repulsion and degradation attaching to such is deepened tenfold when it is the woman who represents the white race. In Verna, of course, such tradition was part of her being, and now that this was put broadly before her, her horror and disgust were unlimited. She to be one of the many wives of a squalid savage! for such the stately and fine-looking Zulu chieftain had now become in her eyes; a mere despised black man--Sapazani's colour was copper red--why, she must be dreaming.

No living being in his senses dare make such a proposal to her. But she checked the scathing reply that rose to her lips--she could not hide the flashing fury in her eyes--for she must not lose sight of the end for which she was there, the finding of Alaric.

"Listen, Izibu, and I will tell a story," said the chief, who had been watching her keenly, but outwardly unconcerned. "There were two bulls grazing together near the banks of Makanya River. They began to roar at each other, perhaps one wanted the pasture to himself, or this or that heifer, no one knows. Suddenly one gored the other to death and pushed him into the river, then went on his way. These bulls were of the Amangisi [English], and among such for one to kill another is death.

There were those who looked down upon this conflict from high up on the other side of the river. They will be there to speak when wanted."

Now a new light broke upon Verna. Alaric had positively declared that n.o.body could have witnessed the encounter or the restiveness of the horses would have betrayed the presence of such. But they had been on the other side of the water, hence the very pointed reference on the part of Mandevu to the double feat of snake-charming. To her, of course, the parable needed no interpretation. This hateful fiend had got Alaric into his power to compa.s.s his own object, and that object-- good Heavens!

"But you would not betray him, you who are our friend!" urged Verna, clasping and unclasping her hands in an agony of appeal.

"The magistrate," went on Sapazani, "_our_ magistrate at Esifeni, will be surprised, he who is never tired of saying Sapazani is not loyal. He will be surprised when Sapazani the disloyal hands over to him one of his own people who has broken the white man's sternest law, and says, 'Here, take him, I want not such among my people.' This is what will happen if the child of U' Ben refuses to become my new _inkosikazi_."

Verna was beside herself. Here, then, was the missing link in the chain. The deed had been actually witnessed. Nothing could save him.

The mention of her father inspired her with an idea.

"You would not dare do this thing," she said. "My father would kill you, would never rest until he had done so. Every white man in Zululand would combine to hunt you down, nor could you long escape."

"Why, for that, Izibu, there will be no white men left in Zululand to do it before many days have pa.s.sed. Well? Is it to be his life, or--?"

Verna saw no way out. She, of course, did not intend to accept the dreadful alternative. She would kill herself. That afterwards; but now she must save this precious life. Then another idea struck her. What if Alaric were delivered over to the authorities, might it not be that the evidence would not be strong enough? Was it not worthwhile risking this? She knew what Alaric's answer would be. But Sapazani seemed to have been reading her thoughts, for now he said--

"My mind is different in this matter. It is too far to Esifeni, and the man might escape. Therefore I shall have him killed here--to-day-- killed by torture, and thou shalt see it done, child of U' Ben."

Verna's face was stony with despair.

"And if I agree?" she said slowly. "He will be placed beyond all reach of danger?"

"That will he, Izibu. My word stands."

"Where is he now?"

"Here."

She turned to follow the sweep of his hand. From the direction of the kraal a group was approaching, and her heart beat quicker as she recognised the central figure. Alaric Denham stared in amazement. He made a move to join Verna, but was prevented by the guard surrounding him. Incidentally the said guard was bristling with a.s.segais.

"What is the meaning of this, Verna?" he said. "There's no war. Yet these fellows collared me unawares, and here I am. But what is it, darling?" becoming alive to the stamp of piteous misery upon her face.

"You will go free now," she answered, "right away out of the country.

It's no longer safe here."

"Well, I'm agreeable. Are you ready?"

"Yes--no--that is, not yet," she faltered hurriedly.

"Take him back," commanded the chief, and the guards moved away with their prisoner, who, of course, understood nothing of what had been said, but supposed that Verna would contrive to straighten it out somehow. "Well, Izibu, he is going to be got ready for the torture. Do you agree to save him? It is the last chance."

"Oh, G.o.d! G.o.d, help me!" she sobbed forth, sinking to the earth, her face buried in her hands; Sapazani, watching her, gloated over her fine form, soon voluntarily to be placed within his power. So taken up was he that he failed to perceive the approach of the man who now stood at his elbow. Turning angrily, he beheld Mandevu.

The latter whispered a word or two. Sapazani was astonished, but did not show it.

"Wait here, child of U' Ben," he said, rising, "until my return."

"But they will torture him!"

"Not until my return."

He moved towards the kraal gate. The word which Mandevu had whispered in his ear was "Opondo."

The renegade was seated within the chief's princ.i.p.al hut. His hard, vindictive face was firm and impenetrable.

"Greeting, Sapazani," he began, without ceremony. "Thou must give up thy purpose. The two yonder must be allowed to go free."

The s.n.a.t.c.hing of a bone from a hungry mastiff might convey some sort of idea of the expression which came over Sapazani's face at this utterance; the very tone of which admitted of no dispute.

"Must?" he repeated.

"Yes, _must_."

"_Hau_! I am no chief!" he said sneeringly, "no chief. And if I refuse?"

"Then thou wilt indeed be no chief, son of Umlali, for it would ruin the whole of our plan to carry out thy purpose."

Sapazani brought his hand to his mouth and sat thinking. He knew that the other spoke truly, and yet--

"Further," went on his visitor, "U' Ben is my friend. He saved my life once, and has done me good service in the past. His child must not be harmed. For the other, the man, he will be able to do me--to do us-- good service in the future, when the time comes, for which reason Mandevu has been constantly near him so that I could find him at any time, therefore he must go free."

Verna, seated there, alone, in stony-eyed misery, was wondering if it were not all a hideous nightmare. "I have bought his life. I have bought his life," she kept moaning to herself.

"Rise up, child of U' Ben," said a voice, whose owner she had not heard approach. "The word of the chief is that thou and the white man are to go home together, now at once."

"Do not mock me, Mandevu," she answered stonily.

"Mock? _Au_! See. There he comes," pointing with his stick.

Verna raised her eyes. From the direction where she had last beheld him Alaric Denham was approaching--alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

VOLCANIC.

"I hope the brute won't turn obstreperous, Vidler," said the magistrate of Esifeni to the clerk of the court, as the two met on the verandah.

"'Pon my soul it isn't fair to stick us in such a position. Here we are, with three or four police, stuck away in the thick of a perfect hotbed of rebellion, and expected to keep it in order."

The other shrugged, but said nothing. He was fully alive to the difficulties of their position. The "brute" referred to was no less a personage than Sapazani, who was expected that morning to answer to a summons with regard to certain matters, specially ordered by the Chief Commissioner.