The King's Assegai Part 15

"For ten days longer we wandered through the mountains, and, in truth, it seemed that we were but getting deeper and deeper into them, for we knew not the way, and often our wanderings would bring us into a closed defile, which meant perhaps a whole day's journey thrown away, for we would have to retrace our steps. Still no sign did we see of the presence of man, no sign of that tribe which was waiting to hail me as chief.

"And now, as the days sped on, the gloom of the mountains, the iron solitude in which we moved, began to tell upon us. At first, with the excitement of our flight stirring our blood, we laughed, and sang, and loved, and were happy as children. But as the days went by we grew more client. We began to think of the life and cheeriness of Ekupumuleni, of our dances and fun, of our laughter from morning till night. I, too, thought of the fierce excitement of the war-dance, of the mad shock and joy of battle, of my comrades in arms whom I delighted to rival in the field, of the King, who had ever shown me favour, whom, in spite of my soreness and anger, I still loved with a loyal affection, and whom I had deserted--for the sake of a girl. Then my good spirit, as well as my evil one, cried out upon me for the chief of all fools. I had deserted my nation; I had renounced bearing arms in its behalf; I had become a wanderer and an outcast--never more to behold the face of my people, never more to converse with their tongue. I might have lived to become head _induna_, head fighting chief of our armies; and all this I had thrown away--for the sake of a girl.

"Then my heart would grow heavy and bitter as I went forth to hunt, leaving Nangeza in order that I might be alone with my heaviness. There were times when my heart so weighed me down that I was minded to return and pay forfeit with my life, rather than drag it on in ignominy and exile; for now my eyes were opened, and I saw clearly that the man who should throw away his career as a warrior, and such dazzling chances as mine were--for the sake of a girl--is such a fool that he deserves not to live at all.

"Now, of all this, I said nothing to Nangeza; yet I could see that she divined in great measure my thoughts; nor was she pleased thereat--nor, indeed, did she more than slightly share them. For to a woman it matters not overmuch where she is, being devoid of mind; but to us--_au_! we may become fools, but we know it, _Nkose_; whereas the more a woman acts like a fool, the more will she cry aloud her wisdom.

"The nights became gloomy and wet and cold, and at times we would see gigantic spectres of men stalking aloft in the mists which overwreathed the cliff-brows; and strange wailing cries would go forth upon the night, as though the ghosts of those who had been slain and devoured by the _Izimu_ and such _abatagati_ were wandering abroad; and we would cower over our fire and still more wish we were back at Ekupumuleni, for we seemed to have got into the drear strongholds of wizardry, which would only end where the limits of the world fall off into dark s.p.a.ce.

But Nangeza would speak words of encouragement, how any day we might suddenly find ourselves looking down upon a fair and beauteous land beyond this region of gloom, even as we had done when we pa.s.sed the Kwahlamba mountains to build up a new nation.

"One morning we were journeying, I with my shield and weapons in hand, Nangeza bearing the skin coverings and baskets we had made, for we had brought scarcely anything with us in our flight--thus were we journeying, when suddenly upon the mountain-side we came upon some people. There were perhaps thirty, and they, like ourselves, seemed to be moving from place to place, for the women were laden with household goods as well as with their infants. There were about twelve men with the party, and these, as soon as they saw us, stopped short and held their a.s.segais and axes ready for defence. But I made signs to them that we were for peace, naming to them Masuka's name, and calling out such words of his language as Masuka had taught me. For I judged these people to be akin to him in race, because in appearance they closely resembled the Baputi against whom we had fought. And it seemed to answer, for they turned to each other and talked very fast, but I could hear the names Masuka and Bapedi often repeated. Then, seeing that we were but two, and one of these a woman, they suffered us to draw near.

"These people were short, but broadly formed, especially as to the flanks. So short were they that Nangeza and I towered above them by the height of our heads, in many cases by even more. Their faces were ugly and wrinkled, and though shrewd, it was the craft and cunning of the monkey. That they were _Izimu_ I had little doubt, so like were they to those I had seen in the cave, and for this reason I did not care to partake of their food, not knowing whether they might set before me the flesh of men. For they seemed desirous of treating us well, once we had made it clear that no _impi_ followed on behind. Yet I bade Nangeza be on the alert, for their fair treatment might be a blind to cover the revenge they should take for their own people whom we had slain.

"So we journeyed with them, discoursing by signs and such few words as Masuka had taught me, and at night we lay down together, but it was little I slept, fearing treachery, and the next day joined others of their people. These, seeing a big Zulu warrior, fully armed, marching towards them, were at first almost as frightened as those others when I had burst upon them from out of the cave. However, they were at length shown we were not enemies.

"The camp of these people was a round hollow under the cliffs, and, indeed, it was as foul and uncleanly as were their persons. _Au_! it was a horrible place! But we endured it, for we did not wish to arouse their hostility, and also we hoped they would show us some way out of the mountains. So we lay by their fires, yet, as before, not sleeping very soundly.

"'So this is the tribe of which I am to be chief!' I said grimly to Nangeza. 'These are the people out of which we are to weld a nation!'

"'Not so,' she answered. 'We shall find others better than these.'

"It was towards morning, when all is dark and cold, and slumber lieth heaviest upon the eyelids of men. Even then it lay not heavy upon mine, although Nangeza, beside me, was slumbering deeply. But it seemed to me that somebody moved--stealthily moved. And then, in the dim light of dawn, I beheld the man who slept nearest to me roll over towards me, and roll over again--this time nearer. Then he raised his head, I through my eyelids watching him. Nearer still he crept, looked hard at me, and listened. But the sound of my breathing was regular. He was satisfied that I was fast asleep, and crawled back to where he first had lain.

"'Ha-ha!' laughed I to myself, gripping my broad spear beneath the skin blanket. 'Now we shall see! Now we shall see!'

"I dared not waken Nangeza, lest, moving too suddenly, she should put these treacherous _abatagati_ on their guard; wherefore I lay still and watched. Then I saw the man who had first moved raise his arm, and in his hand was a long wand. With this he touched lightly the faces of five or six sleepers lying beyond him. They rose quickly, noiselessly, and in their hideous faces was the expression of a snake which is angry and about to strike. Each held in his hand an a.s.segai and a battle-axe.

"Then I sprang to my feet with a fearful roar. I whirled in among them while yet the terror of surprise was upon them, and cut down two, ripping them with my broad spear. Another I brained with my k.n.o.bstick, but by that time the whole tribe was upon me shrieking. a.s.segais whizzed past my ears, one slightly wounding Nangeza, who, wakened suddenly, had sprung to my aid armed with a heavy k.n.o.bstick of her own.

"'Come, Nangeza!' I cried. 'They are too many. We must run!'

"So we plunged over the lip of the hollow, and side by side coursed down the steep slope without, the whole evil tribe howling upon our heels and flinging their long light-handled spears, too near us to be pleasant.

But we soon distanced them, and reaching the bottom of the valley, where the thorn bushes grew thick, we slackened speed and, turning our heads back, jeered those who came on.

"'Ho, dogs!' I cried, 'who are ye that think to outstrip the fastest of the King's runners?'

"'Who is running back to the King!' called out a great voice behind.

And starting round to deal with this new enemy, lo! we were surrounded by our own people, hemmed in by spear-points as by a thorn fence, each blade ready to enter our hearts. Our doom had overtaken us at last.

"'Drop thy weapons or die, son of Ntelani,' said the leader of the _impi_. 'The "word" of the Great Great One was "dead or alive"; if not alive, then dead.'

"I glanced swiftly at the force surrounding us. It numbered about fifty men, all young, strong, determined warriors like myself. To resist would be to die. I looked at the leader, who was well known to me, and friendly. Then I said:

"'I will disarm, Ngubu. But first let me aid you in stamping out yon race of evil-doers. Then I will offer no resistance. This will be my last battle.'

"'The King's orders did not say that, Untuswa. Nothing was in them about fighting,' answered Ngubu; yet there was a longing look in his face as he glanced at the Baputi who had cl.u.s.tered on the ridge and were watching us, uncertain whether to stand or to fly.

"'And the girl?' he said, looking at Nangeza. 'I will answer for her.

You know my word stands, Ngubu, and not to save my own life will I sacrifice yours and those of all here to the wrath of the King. Come!

Tarry no longer!'

"'I will trust you, Untuswa. _Whou_! but it will be a strange battle for you, and I fear it will indeed be thy last, for I think no man ever yet took away an inmate of the _IsiG.o.dhlo_ and lived.'

"'This cannot be!' cried another, running up. 'The King's orders were to bring back these two. How, then, can you loosen them, perhaps to flee again, Ngubu?'

"'Peace, Njalo-njalo! I know Untuswa. Now--at them!'

"While we charged up the hill I made up my mind as to one thing, which was, that if this was to be my last battle, so also should it be Njalo-njalo's last. But the Baputi did not wait for us; they scattered and fled among the rocks, and although we spent half the day hunting them out and slaying all whom we found, the greater portion of them escaped; which enraged me, whom they had treacherously tried to kill when a guest at their fires. In the eagerness of the pursuit I had distanced my own people, when I heard Njalo-njalo's voice crying: 'After him! He is trying to escape!' I turned at this and ran straight back to where he stood amid a group of others.

"'Trying to escape, is he?' I roared. 'Now, Njalo-njalo, come forth and meet me! a.s.suredly thou art well named--as to thy sleeping powers, that is--for to-day thou shalt sleep "for ever and ever"--but in death!'

[Njalo-njalo means "for ever and ever."]

"Most of them grinned at this, and Njalo-njalo answered:

"'You are talking like a fool, boy! Why should I fight one whose life is forfeited to the King?'

"'Good! Then I will treat thee even as one of these miserable Baputi.'

And, quick as thought, before a hand could be lifted to prevent it, I hurled my great k.n.o.bstick at his head. It struck him fair between the eyes, crashing with terrific force. Njalo-njalo dropped like an ox smitten by lightning. He never moved afterward:

"'He is a coward and deserved such an end!' I cried. 'I am not, and my word stands. Take my weapons, men--I disarm.' And I threw my a.s.segais and shield on the ground beyond reach, and stood waiting.

"They surrounded me at once. Nangeza, who had been helping to kill the Baputi, stood by, also cool, brave, and fearless.

"'You have made more trouble by slaying Njalo-njalo,' said Ngubu discontentedly. '_Whau_, Untuswa! It is on us the King's wrath will fall.'

"'The King's wrath never yet fell upon anybody who slew a coward, for he loves not such,' I answered. 'And now, Ngubu, being unarmed, I need no bonds. I have done with hope. I care not to flee again into this region of wizards and ghosts.'

"Herein I spoke the truth. So weighed down had my mind become by the gloom and the solitude, and being cut off from my kind, that I welcomed capture. So joyous a sound in my ears was that of their voices, so cheering a sight to my eyes was that of my fellow-warriors in their fighting array, that I even looked with calmness upon the now near approach of my certain death; and thus walking in their midst as one of themselves, except that I was unarmed, I journeyed back to doom.

"Indeed, when after many days we got clear of the mountains and drew near to Ekupumuleni, my guards were even more sad of heart than myself as they thought upon my sure fate. But so glad was I to see the great kraal--'the resting-place,' and, as regarded myself, too surely the last--once more, that it was like coming home; but it would be to me in a brief s.p.a.ce a home of darkness and of night!

"A guard of women presently met us, accompanied by an _inceku_, bringing word from the King that Nangeza was to be handed over to them. So they led her away in their midst, and I knew we had looked upon each other's faces for the last time, unless perchance we should look upon them once more again at the place of doom."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE KING'S SENTENCE.

"As we drew near Ekupumuleni we pa.s.sed by the mound where the slayers were wont to do their work, and which robe at no long distance from the great kraal. I could see skulls glistening white among the gra.s.s on the mound, and I knew that in a very brief s.p.a.ce my bones would lie there too, picked clean by the wild beasts of the waste. But even then I cannot say that I exactly feared. Too often had I gazed upon Death's face and laughed--for, indeed, to look for death was the daily portion of a warrior. Still, that was in the roar and excitement of battle, feeling an enemy sink down beneath each of my blows, while now--It might be that the King in his wrath would order me, would order us, a lingering death of torture. Well, still I was a warrior, and must die, in whatsoever manner death met me, strong, fearless to the last.

"As we entered the lower gate of the kraal, I, in the midst of my guards, unarmed, but unbound and free of limb, I began to hum a song--a song which came to me at the moment, a wild, elated song of battle and of death. My head was thrown back, my eyes looked straight in front of me while I sang, as though I were marching in the ranks of the _impi_ to victory instead of to the evil-doer's doom. Those who guarded me stared and shrugged their shoulders.

"'_Hau_!' one of them cried. 'He must be mad! The coming anger of the King, the Great Great One, has turned his brain.'

"'Not so, Ncongula,' I answered, for the speaker was well known to me.