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mind flew to him whom she believed to be the king's child。
〃Ah！〃 she said； sitting upon the ground and pointing to her own son；
Moosa； who squatted frightened against the wall of the hut。 〃Kiss him；
Mother of the Heavens； kiss him！ Whom do they call him； the young cub
who brings ill…fortune to our doors？ They call him the son of Mopo and
Macropha！〃 And she laughed wildly； stopped speaking； and sank back
upon the bed of skins。
〃They call him the son of Mopo and Macropha；〃 said the king in a low
voice。 〃Whose son is he； then； woman？〃
〃Oh； ask her not； O king；〃 cried his mother and his wife； casting
themselves upon the ground before him； for they were mad with fear。
〃Ask her not； she has strange fancies such as are not meet for your
ears to hear。 She is bewitched； and has dreams and fancies。〃
〃Peace！〃 he answered。 〃I will listen to this woman's wanderings。
Perhaps some star of truth shines in her darkness； and I would see
light。 Who； then； is he； woman？〃
〃Who is he？〃 she answered。 〃Are you a fool that ask who he is？ He is
hush！put your ear closelet me speak low lest the reeds of the hut
speak it to the king。 He isdo you listen？ He isthe son of Chaka
and Baleka； the sister of Mopo； the changeling whom Unandi； Mother of
the Heavens； palmed off upon this house to bring a curse on it； and
whom she would lead out before the people when the land is weary of
the wickedness of the king； her son； to take the place of the king。〃
〃It is false； O king！〃 cried the two women。 〃Do not listen to her； it
is false。 The boy is her own son； Moosa； whom she does not know in her
sickness。〃
But Chaka stood up in the hut and laughed terribly。 〃Truly； Nobela
prophesied well；〃 he cried； 〃and I did ill to slay her。 So this is the
trick thou hast played upon me； my mother。 Thou wouldst give a son to
to me who will have no son： thou wouldst give me a son to kill me。
Good！ Mother of the Heavens； take thou the doom of the Heavens！ Thou
wouldst give me a son to slay me and rule in my place； now； in turn；
I； thy son； will rob me of a mother。 Die； Unandi！die at the hand
thou didst bring forth！〃 And he lifted the little assegai and smote it
through her。
For a moment Unandi； Mother of the Heavens； wife of Senzangacona；
stood uttering no cry。 Then she put up her hand； and drew the assegai
from her side。
〃So shalt thou die also； Chaka the Evil！〃 she cried； and fell down
dead there in the hut。
Thus； then； did Chaka murder his mother Unandi。
Now when Baleka saw what had been done； she turned and fled from the
hut into the Emposeni； and so swiftly that the guards at the gates
could not stop her。 But when she reached her own hut Baleka's strength
failed her； and she fell senseless on the ground。 But the boy Moosa；
my son； being overcome with terror； stayed where he was； and Chaka；
believing him to be his son； murdered him also； and with his own hand。
Then he stalked out of the hut； and leaving the three guards at the
gate； commanded a company of soldiers to surround the kraal and fire
it。 This they did； and as the people rushed out they killed them； and
those who did not run out were burned in the fire。 Thus； then；
perished all my wives； my children； my servants； and those who were
within the gates in their company。 The tree was burned； and the bees
in it； and I alone was left livingI and Macropha and Nada； who were
far away。
Nor was Chaka yet satisfied with blood； for； as has been told； he sent
messengers bidding them kill Macropha； my wife； and Nada； my daughter；
and him who was named by son。 But he commanded the messengers that
they should not slay me； but bring me living before them。
Now when the soldiers did not kill me I took counsel with myself； for
it was my belief that I was saved alive only that I might die later；
and in a more cruel fashion。 Therefore for awhile I thought that it
would be well if I did that for myself which another purposed to do
for me。 Why should I； who was already doomed； wait to meet my doom？
What had I left to keep me in the place of life； seeing that all whom
I loved were dead or gone？ To die would be easy； for I knew the ways
of death。 In my girdle I carried a secret medicine； he who eats of it；
my father； will see the sun's shadow move no more； and will never look
upon the stars again。 But I was minded to know the assegai or the
kerrie； nor would I perish more slowly beneath the knives of the
tormentors； nor be parched by the pangs of thirst； or wander eyeless
to my end。 Therefore it was that； since I had sat in the doom ring
looking hour after hour into the face of death； I had borne this
medicine with me by night and by day。 Surely now was the time to use
it。
So I thought as I sat through the watches of the night； ay！ and drew
out the bitter drug and laid it on my tongue。 But as I did so I
remembered my daughter Nada； who was left to me； though she sojourned
in a far country； and my wife Macropha and my sister Baleka； who still
lived； so said the soldiers； though how it came about that the king
had not killed her I did not know then。 Also another thought was born
in my heart。 While life remained to me； I might be revenged upon him
who had wrought me this woe； but can the dead strike？ Alas！ the dead
are strengthless； and if they still have hearts to suffer； they have
no hands to give back blow for blow。 Nay； I would live on。 Time to die
when death could no more be put away。 Time to die when the voice of
Chaka spoke my doom。 Death chooses for himself and answers no
questions； he is a guest to whom none need open the door of his hut；
for when he wills he can pass through the thatch like air。 Not yet
would I taste of that medicine of mine。
So I lived on； my father； and the soldiers led me back to the kraal of
Chaka。 Now when we came to the kraal it was night； for the sun had
sunk as we passed through the gates。 Still； as he had been commanded；
the captain of those who watched me went in before the king and told
him that I lay without in bonds。 And the king said； 〃Let him be
brought before me； who was my physician； that I may tell him how I
have doctored those of his house。〃
So they took me and led me to the royal house； and pushed me through
the doorway of the great hut。
Now a fire burned in the hut； for the night was cold； and Chaka sat on
the further side of the fire； looking towards the opening of the hut；
and the smoke from the fire wreathed him round； and its light shone
upon his face and flickered in his terrible eyes。
At the door of the hut certain councillors seized me by the arms and
dragged me towards the fire。 But I broke from them； and prostrating
myself； for my arms were free； I praised the king and called him by
his royal names。 The councillors sprang towards me to seize me again；
but Chaka said； 〃Let him be； I would talk with my servant。〃 Then the
councillors bowed themselves on either side； and laid their hands on
their sticks； their foreheads touching the ground。 But I sat down on
the floor of the hut over against the king； and we talked through the
fire。
〃Tell me of the cattle that I sent thee to number； Mopo； son of
Makedama；〃 said Chaka。 〃Have my servants dealt honestly w