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bidding must be done； and though their magic failed them here； victims
must be found。 So they smelt out this man and that man till we were a
great company of the doomed； who sat in silence on the ground looking
at each other with sad eyes and watching the sun； which we deemed our
last； climb slowly down the sky。 And ever as the day waned those who
were left untried of the witch…doctors grew madder and more fierce。
They leaped into the air； they ground their teeth； and rolled upon the
ground。 They drew forth snakes and devoured them alive； they shrieked
out to the spirits and called upon the names of ancient kings。
At length it drew on to evening； and the last company of the witch…
doctors did their work； smelling out some of the keepers of the
Emposeni； the house of the women。 But there was one man of their
company； a young man and a tall； who held back and took no share in
the work； but stood by himself in the centre of the great circle；
fixing his eyes on the heavens。
And when this company had been ordered to stand aside also together
with those whom they had smelt out； the king called aloud to the last
of the witch…doctors； asking him of his name and tribe； and why he
alone did not do his office。
〃My name is Indabazimbi； the son of Arpi； O king；〃 he answered； 〃and I
am of the tribe of the Maquilisini。 Does the king bid me to smell out
him of whom the spirits have spoken to me as the worker of this deed？〃
〃I bid thee；〃 said the king。
Then the young man Indabazimbi stepped straight forward across the
ring； making no cries or gestures； but as one who walks from his gate
to the cattle kraal； and suddenly he struck the king in the face with
the tail in his hand； saying； 〃I smell out the Heavens above me！〃＇2＇
＇2＇ A Zulu title for the king。ED。
Now a great gasp of wonder went up from the multitude； and all looked
to see this fool killed by torture。 But Chaka rose and laughed aloud。
〃Thou hast said it；〃 he cried； 〃and thou alone！ Listen； ye people！ I
did the deed！ I smote blood upon the gateways of my kraal； with my own
hand I smote it； that I might learn who were the true doctors and who
were the false！ Now it seems that in the land of the Zulu there is one
true doctorthis young manand of the false； look at them and count
them； they are like the leaves。 See！ there they stand； and by them
stand those whom they have doomedthe innocent whom； with their wives
and children； they have doomed to the death of the dog。 Now I ask you；
my people； what reward shall be given to them？〃
Then a great roar went up from all the multitude； 〃Let them die； O
king！〃
〃Ay！〃 he answered。 〃Let them die as liars should！〃
Now the Isanusis； men and women； screamed aloud in fear； and cried for
mercy； tearing themselves with their nails； for least of all things
did they desire to taste of their own medicine of death。 But the king
only laughed the more。
〃Hearken ye！〃 he said； pointing to the crowd of us who had been smelt
out。 〃Ye were doomed to death by these false prophets。 Now glut
yourselves upon them。 Slay them； my children！ slay them all！ wipe them
away！ stamp them out！all！ all； save this young man！〃
Then we bounded from the ground； for our hearts were fierce with hate
and with longing to avenge the terrors we had borne。 The doomed slew
the doomers； while from the circle of the Ingomboco a great roar of
laughter went up； for men rejoiced because the burden of the witch…
doctors had fallen from them。
At last it was done； and we drew back from the heap of the dead。
Nothing was heard there nowno more cries or prayers or curses。 The
witch…fingers travelled the path on which they had set the feet of
many。 The king drew near to look。 He came alone； and all who had done
his bidding bent their heads and crept past him； praising him as they
went。 Only I stood still； covered； as I was with mire and filth； for I
did not fear to stand in the presence of the king。 Chaka drew near；
and looked at the piled…up heaps of the slain and the cloud of dust
that yet hung over them。
〃There they lie； Mopo；〃 he said。 〃There lie those who dared to
prophecy falsely to the king！ That was a good word of thine； Mopo；
which taught me to set the snare for them； yet methought I saw thee
start when Nobela； queen of the witch…doctresses； switched death on
thee。 Well； they are dead； and the land breathes more freely； and for
the evil which they have done； it is as yonder dust； that shall soon
sink again to earth and there be lost。〃
Thus he spoke； then ceasedfor lo！ something moved beneath the cloud
of dust； something broke a way through the heap of the dead。 Slowly it
forced its path； pushing the slain this way and that； till at length
it stood upon its feet and tottered towards usa thing dreadful to
look on。 The shape was the shape of an aged woman； and even through
the blood and mire I knew her。 It was Nobela； she who had doomed me；
she whom but now I had smitten to earth； but who had come back from
the dead to curse me！
On she tottered； her apparel hanging round her in red rags； a hundred
wounds upon her face and form。 I saw that she was dying； but life
still flickered in her； and the fire of hate burned in her snaky eyes。
〃Hail； king！〃 she screamed。
〃Peace； liar！〃 he answered； 〃thou art dead！〃
〃Not yet； king。 I heard thy voice and the voice of yonder dog； whom I
would have given to the jackals； and I will not die till I have
spoken。 I smelt him out this morning when I was alive； now that I am
as one already dead； I smell him out again。 He shall bewitch thee with
blood indeed； Chakahe and Unandi； thy mother； and Baleka； thy wife。
Think of my words when the assegai reddens before thee for the last
time； king！ Farewell！〃 And she uttered a great cry and rolled upon the
ground dead。
〃The witch lies hard and dies hard；〃 said the king carelessly； and
turned upon his heel。 But those words of dead Nobela remained fixed in
his memory； or so much of them as had been spoken of Unandi and
Baleka。 There they remained like seeds in the earth； there they grew
to bring forth fruit in their season。
And thus ended the great Ingomboco of Chaka； the greatest Ingomboco
that ever was held in Zululand。
CHAPTER IX
THE LOSS OF UMSLOPOGAAS
Now； after the smelling out of the witch…doctors； Chaka caused a watch
to be kept upon his mother Unandi； and his wife Baleka； my sister； and
report was brought to him by those who watched； that the two women
came to my huts by stealth； and there kissed and nursed a boyone of
my children。 Then Chaka remembered the prophecy of Nobela； the dead
Isanusi； and his heart grew dark with doubt。 But to me he said nothing
of the matter； for then； as always； his eyes looked over my head。 He
did not fear me or believe that I plotted against him； I who was his
dog。 Still； he did this； though whether by chance or design I do not
know： he bade me go on a journey to a distant tribe that lived near
the borders of the Amaswazi； there to take count of certain of the
king's cattle which were in the charge of that tribe； and to bring him
account of the tale of their increase。 So I bowed before the king； and
said that I would run like a dog