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〃Tell me of the cattle that I sent thee to number； Mopo； son of
Makedama；〃 said Chaka。 〃Have my servants dealt honestly with my
cattle？〃
〃They have dealt honestly； O king；〃 I answered。
〃Tell me； then； of the number of the cattle and of their markings；
Mopo； forgetting none。〃
So I sat and told him； ox by ox； cow by cow； and heifer by heifer；
forgetting none； and Chaka listened silently as one who is asleep。 But
I knew that he did not sleep； for all the while the firelight
flickered in his fierce eyes。 Also I knew that he did but torment me；
or that； perhaps； he would learn of the cattle before he killed me。 At
length all the tale was told。
〃So；〃 said the king； 〃it goes well。 There are yet honest men left in
the land。 Knowest thou； Mopo； that sorrow has come upon thy house
while thou wast about my business。〃
〃I have heard it； O king！〃 I answered； as one who speaks of a small
matter。
〃Yes； Mopo； sorrow has come upon thy house； the curse of Heaven has
fallen upon thy kraal。 They tell me； Mopo； that the fire from above
ran briskly through they huts。〃
〃I have heard it； I king！〃
〃They tell me； Mopo； that those within thy gates grew mad at the sight
of the fire； and dreaming there was no escape； that they stabbed
themselves with assegais or leaped into the flames。〃
〃I have heard it； O king！ What of it？ Any river is deep enough to
drown a fool！〃
〃Thou hast heard these things； Mopo； but thou hast not yet heard all。
Knowest thou； Mopo； that among those who died in thy kraal was she who
bore me； she who was named Mother of the Heavens？〃
Then； my father； I； Mopo； acted wisely； because of the thought which
my good spirit gave me； for I cast myself upon the ground； and wailed
aloud as though in utter grief。
〃Spare my ears； Black One！〃 I wailed。 〃Tell me not that she who bore
thee is dead； O Lion of the Zulu。 For the others； what is it？ It is a
breath of wind； it is a drop of water； but this trouble is as the gale
or as the sea。〃
〃Cease； my servant； cease！〃 said the mocking voice of Chaka； 〃but know
this； thou hast done well to grieve aloud； because the Mother of the
Heavens is no more； and ill wouldst thou have done to grieve because
the fire from above has kissed thy gates。 For hadst thou done this
last thing or left the first undone； I should have known that thy
heart was wicked； and by now thou wouldst have wept indeedtears of
blood； Mopo。 It is well for thee； then； that thou hast read my riddle
aright。〃
Now I saw the depths of the pit that Chaka had dug for me； and blessed
my Ehlose who had put into my heart those words which I should answer。
I hoped also that Chaka would now let me go； but it was not to be； for
this was but the beginning of my trial。
〃Knowest thou； Mopo；〃 said the king； 〃that as my mother died yonder in
the flames of thy kraal she cried out strange and terrible words which
came to my ears through the singing of the fire。 These were her words：
that thou； Mopo； and thy sister Baleka； and thy wives； had conspired
together to give a child to me who would be childless。 These were her
words； the words that came to me through the singing of the fire。 Tell
me now； Mopo； where are those children that thou leddest from thy
kraal； the boy with the lion eyes who is named Umslopogaas； and the
girl who is named Nada？〃
〃Umslopogaas is dead by the lion's mouth； O king！〃 I answered； 〃and
Nada sits in the Swazi caves。〃 And I told him of the death of
Umslopogaas and of how I had divorced Macropha； my wife。
〃The boy with the lion eyes to the lion's mouth！〃 said Chaka。 〃Enough
of him； he is gone。 Nada may yet be sought for with the assegai in the
Swazi caves； enough of her。 Let us speak of this song that my mother
who； alas！ is dead； Mopothis song she sang through the singing of
the flames。 Tell me； Mopo； tell me now； was it a true tale。〃
〃Nay； O king！ surely the Mother of the Heavens was maddened by the
Heavens when she sang that song；〃 I answered。 〃I know nothing of it； O
king。〃
〃Thou knowest naught of it； Mopo？〃 said the king。 And again he looked
at me terribly through the reek of the fire。 〃Thou knowest naught of
it； Mopo？ Surely thou art a…cold； thy hands shake with cold。 Nay； man；
fear notwarm them； warm them； Mopo。 See； now； plunge that hand of
thine into the heart of the flame！〃 And he pointed with his little
assegai； the assegai handled with the royal wood； to where the fire
glowed reddestay； he pointed and laughed。
Then； my father； I grew cold indeedyes； I grew cold who soon should
be hot； for I saw the purpose of Chaka。 He would put me to the trial
by fire。
For a moment I sat silent； thinking。 Then the king spoke again in a
great voice： 〃Nay； Mopo； be not so backward； shall I sit warm and see
thee suffer cold？ What； my councillors； rise； take the hand of Mopo；
and hold it to the flame； that his heart may rejoice in the warmth of
the flame while we speak together of this matter of the child that
was； so my mother sang； born to Baleka； my wife； the sister of Mopo；
my servant。〃
〃There is little need for that； O king；〃 I answered； being made bold
by fear； for I saw that if I did nothing death would swiftly end my
doubts。 Once； indeed； I bethought me of the poison that I bore； and
was minded to swallow it and make an end； but the desire to live is
great； and keen is the thirst for vengeance； so I said to my heart；
〃Not yet awhile； I will endure this also； afterwards； if need be； I
can die。〃
〃I thank the king for his graciousness； and I will warm me at the
fire。 Speak on； O king； while I warm myself； and thou shalt hear true
words；〃 I said boldly。
Then； my father； I stretched out my left hand and plunged it into the
firenot into the hottest of the fire； but where the smoke leapt from
the flame。 Now my flesh was wet with the sweat of fear； and for a
little moment the flames curled round it and did not burn me。 But I
knew that the torment was to come。
For a short while Chaka watched me； smiling。 Then he spoke slowly；
that the fire might find time to do its work。
〃Say； then； Mopo； thou knowest nothing of this matter of the birth of
a son to thy sister Baleka？〃
〃I know this only； O king！〃 I answered； 〃that a son was born in past
years to thy wife Baleka； that I killed the child in obedience to thy
word； and laid its body before thee。〃
Now； my father； the steam from my flesh had been drawn from my hand by
the heat； and the flame got hold of me and ate into my flesh； and its
torment was great。 But of this I showed no sign upon my face； for I
knew well that if I showed sign or uttered cry； then； having failed in
the trial； death would be my portion。
Then the king spoke again； 〃Dost thou swear by my head； Mopo； that no
son of mine was suckled in thy kraals？〃
〃I swear it； O king！ I swear it by thy head；〃 I answered。
And now； my father； the agony of the fire was such as may not be told。
I felt my eyes start forward in their sockets； my blood seemed to boil
within me； it rushed into my head； and down my face their ran two
tears of blood。 But yet I held my hand in the fire and made no sign；
while the king and his councillors watched me curiously。 Still； for a
moment Chak