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think me but a child； yet my heart is large； and it does not lie to
me。〃
Now I upbraided the girl no more； because I knew that Umslopogaas was
not her brother； but one whom she might have married。 Only I marvelled
that the voice of nature should speak so truly in her； telling her
that which was lawful； even when it seemed to be most unlawful。
〃Speak no more of Umslopogaas；〃 I said； 〃for surely he is dead； and
though you cannot forget him； yet speak of him no more； and I pray of
you； my daughter； that if we do not meet again； yet you should keep me
in your memory； and the love I bear you； and the words which from time
to time I have said to you。 The world is a thorny wilderness； my
daughter； and its thorns are watered with a rain of blood； and we
wander in our wretchedness like lost travellers in a mist； nor do I
know why our feet are set on this wandering。 But at last there comes
an end； and we die and go hence； none know where； but perhaps where we
go the evil may change to the good； and those who were dear to each
other on the earth may become yet dearer in the heavens； for I believe
that man is not born to perish altogether； but is rather gathered
again to the Umkulunkulu who sent him on his journeyings。 Therefore
keep hope； my daughter； for if these things are not so； at least sleep
remains； and sleep is soft； and so farewell。〃
Then we kissed and parted； and I watched Macropha； my wife； and Nada；
my daughter； till they melted into the sky； as they walked upon their
journey to Swaziland； and was very sad； because； having lost
Umslopogaas； he who in after days was named the Slaughterer and the
Woodpecker； I must lose them also。
CHAPTER X
THE TRIAL OF MOPO
Now I sat four days in the huts of the tribe whither I had been sent；
and did the king's business。 And on the fifth morning I rose up；
together with those with me； and we turned our faces towards the
king's kraal。 But when we had journeyed a little way we met a party of
soldiers； who commanded us to stand。
〃What is it； king's men？〃 I asked boldly。
〃This； son of Makedama；〃 answered their spokesman： 〃give over to us
your wife Macropha and your children Umslopogaas and Nada； that we may
do with them as the king commands。〃
〃Umslopogaas；〃 I answered； 〃has gone where the king's arm cannot
stretch； for he is dead； and for my wife Macropha and my daughter
Nada； they are by now in the caves of the Swazis； and the king must
seek them there with an army if he will find them。 To Macropha he is
welcome； for I hate her； and have divorced her； and as for the girl；
well； there are many girls； and it is no great matter if she lives or
dies； yet I pray him to spare her。〃
Thus I spoke carelessly； for I knew well that my wife and child were
beyond the reach of Chaka。
〃You do well to ask the girl's life；〃 said the soldier； laughing； 〃for
all those born to you are dead； by order of the king。〃
〃Is it indeed so？〃 I answered calmly； though my knees shook and my
tongue clove to my lips。 〃The will of the king be done。 A cut stick
puts out new leaves； I can have more children。〃
〃Ay； Mopo； but first you must get new wives； for yours are dead also；
all five of them。〃
〃Is it indeed so？〃 I answered。 〃The king's will be done。 I wearied of
those brawling women。〃
〃So； Mopo；〃 said the soldier； 〃but to get other wives and have more
children born to you； you must live yourself； for no children are born
to the dead； and I think that Chaka has an assegai which you shall
kiss。〃
〃Is it so？〃 I answered。 〃The king's will be done。 The sun is hot； and
I tire of the road。 He who kisses the assegai sleeps sound。〃
Thus I spoke； my father； and； indeed； in that hour I desired to die。
The world was empty for me。 Macropha and Nada were gone； Umslopogaas
was dead； and my other wives and children were murdered。 I had no
heart to begin to build up a new house； none were left for me to love；
and it seemed well that I should die also。
The soldiers asked those with me if that tale was true which I told of
the death of Umslopogaas and of the going of Macropha and Nada into
Swaziland。 They said； Yes； it was true。 Then the soldiers said that
they would lead me back to the king； and I wondered at this； for I
thought that they would kill me where I stood。 So we went on； and
piece by piece I learned what had happened at the king's kraal。
On the day after I left； it came to the ears of Chaka； by the mouth of
his spies； that my second wifeAnadiwas sick and spoke strange
words in her sickness。 Then； taking three soldiers with him； he went
to my kraal at the death of the day。 He left the three soldiers by the
gates of the kraal； bidding them to suffer none to come in or go out；
but Chaka himself entered the large hut where Anadi lay sick； having
his toy assegai； with the shaft of the royal red wood； in his hand。
Now； as it chanced； in the hut were Unandi； the mother of Chaka； and
Baleka； my sister； the wife of Chaka； for； not knowing that I had
taken away Umslopogaas； the son of Baleka； according to their custom；
these two foolish women had come to kiss and fondle the lad。 But when
they entered the hut they found it full of my other wives and
children。 These they sent away； all except Moosa； the son of Anadi
that boy who was born eight days before Umslopogaas； the son of Chaka。
But they kept Moosa in the hut； and kissed him； giving him imphi＇1＇ to
eat； fearing lest it should seem strange to the women； my wives； if；
Umslopogaas being gone； they refused to take notice of any other
child。
＇1＇ A variety of sugar…cane。ED。
Now as they sat this； presently the doorway was darkened； and； behold！
the king himself crept through it； and saw them fondling the child
Moosa。 When they knew who it was that entered； the women flung
themselves upon the ground before him and praised him。 But he smiled
grimly； and bade them be seated。 Then he spoke to them； saying； 〃You
wonder； Unandi； my mother； and Baleka； my wife； why it is that I am
come here into the hut of Mopo； son of Makedama。 I will tell you： it
is because he is away upon my business； and I hear that his wife Anadi
is sickit is she who lies there； is it not？ Therefore； as the first
doctor in the land； I am come to cure her； Unandi； my mother； and
Baleka； my sister。〃
Thus he spoke； eyeing them as he did so； and taking snuff from the
blade of his little assegai； and though his words were gentle they
shook with fear； for when Chaka spoke thus gently he meant death to
many。 But Unandi； Mother of the Heavens； answered； saying that it was
well that the king had come； since his medicine would bring rest and
peace to her who lay sick。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃it is well。 It is pleasant； moreover； my mother
and sister； to see you kissing yonder child。 Surely； were he of your
own blood you could not love him more。〃
Now they trembled again； and prayed in their hearts that Anadi； the
sick woman； who lay asleep； might not wake and utter foolish words in
her wandering。 But the prayer was answered from below and not from
above； for Anadi woke； and； hearing the voice of the king； her sick
mind flew to him whom she believed to be the king's child。
〃Ah！〃 she sai