按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the slopes of the grass that run down to the lips of the rift。〃
So Makedama； my father； bade the people do the bidding of the king；
for neither he nor the indunas saw his purpose； but I； who knew his
wicked heart； I saw it。 Then the people filed past to the right and to
the left by hundreds and by thousands； and presently the grass of the
slopes could be seen no more； because of their number。 When all had
passed； Chaka spoke again to Makedama； my father； bidding him climb
down to the bottom of the donga； and thence lift up his voice in
mourning。 The old man obeyed the king。 Slowly； and with much pain； he
clambered to the bottom of the rift and stood there。 It was so deep
and narrow that the light scarcely seemed to reach to where he stood；
for I could only see the white of his hair gleaming far down in the
shadows。
Then； standing far beneath； he lifted up his voice； and it reached the
thousands of those who clustered upon the slopes。 It seemed still and
small； yet it came to them faintly like the voice of one speaking from
a mountain…top in a time of snow：
〃Mourn； children of Makedama！〃
And all the thousands of the peoplemen； women； and childrenechoed
his words in a thunder of sound； crying：
〃Mourn； children of Makedama！〃
Again he cried：
〃Mourn； people of the Langeni； mourn with the whole world！〃
And the thousands answered：
〃Mourn； people of the Langeni； mourn with the whole world！〃
A third time came his voice：
〃Mourn； children of Makedama； mourn； people of the Langeni； mourn with
the whole world！
〃Howl； ye warriors； weep； ye women； beat your breasts； ye maidens；
sob； ye little children！
〃Drink of the water of tears； cover yourselves with the dust of
affliction。
〃Mourn； O tribe of the Langeni； because the Mother of the Heavens is
no more。
〃Mourn； children of Makedama； because the Spirit of Fruitfulness is no
more。
〃Mourn； O ye people； because the Lion of the Zulu is left so desolate。
〃Let your tears fall as the rain falls； let your cries be as the cries
of women who bring forth。
〃For sorrow is fallen like the rain； the world has conceived and
brought forth death。
〃Great darkness is upon us； darkness and the shadow of death。
〃The Lion of the Zulu wanders and wanders in desolation； because the
Mother of the Heavens is no more。
〃Who shall bring him comfort？ There is comfort in the crying of his
children。
〃Mourn； people of the Langeni； let the voice of your mourning beat
against the skies and rend them。
〃Ou…ai！ Ou…ai！ Ou…ai！〃
Thus sang the old man； my father Makedama； far down in the deeps of
the cleft。 He sang it in a still； small voice； but； line after line；
his song was caught up by the thousands who stood on the slopes above；
and thundered to the heavens till the mountains shook with its sound。
Moreover； the noise of their crying opened the bosom of a heavy rain…
cloud that had gathered as they mourned； and the rain fell in great
slow drops； as though the sky also wept； and with the rain came
lightning and the roll of thunder。
Chaka listened； and large tears coursed down his cheeks； whose heart
was easily stirred by the sound of song。 Now the rain hissed fiercely；
making as it were a curtain about the thousands of the people； but
still their cry went up through the rain； and the roll of the thunder
was lost in it。 Presently there came a hush； and I looked to the
right。 There； above the heads of the people； coming over the brow of
the hill； were the plumes of warriors； and in their hands gleamed a
hedge of spears。 I looked to the left； there also I saw the plumes of
warriors dimly through the falling rain； and in their hands a hedge of
spears。 I looked before me； towards the end of the cleft； there also
loomed the plumes of warriors； and in their hands was a hedge of
spears。
Then； from all the people there arose another cry； a cry of terror and
of agony。
〃Ah！ now they mourn indeed； Mopo；〃 said Chaka in my ear； 〃now thy
people mourn from the heart and not with the lips alone。〃
As he spoke the multitude of the people on either side of the rift
surged forward like a wave； surged back again； once more surged
forward； then； with a dreadful crying； driven on by the merciless
spears of the soldiers； they began to fall in a torrent of men； women；
and children； far into the black depths below。
* * * * *
My father； forgive me the tears that fall from these blind eyes of
mine； I am very aged； I am but as a little child； and as a little
child I weep。 I cannot tell it。 At last it was done； and all grew
still。
* * * * *
Thus was Makedama buried beneath the bodies of his people； thus was
ended the tribe of the Langeni； as my mother had dreamed； so it came
about； and thus did Chaka take vengeance for that cup of milk which
was refused to him many a year before。
〃Thou hast not won thy bet； Mopo；〃 said the king presently。 〃See there
is a little space where one more may find room to sleep。 Full to the
brim is this corn…chamber with the ears of death； in which no living
grain is left。 Yet there is one little space； and is there not one to
fill it？ Are all the tribe of the Langeni dead indeed？〃
〃There is one； O King！〃 I answered。 〃I am of the tribe of the Langeni；
let my carcase fill the place。〃
〃Nay； Mopo； nay！ Who then should take the bet？ Moreover； I slay thee
not； for it is against my oath。 Also； do we not mourn together； thou
and I？〃
〃There is no other left living of the tribe of the Langeni； O King！
The bet is lost； it shall be paid。〃
〃I think that there is another；〃 said Chaka。 〃There is a sister to
thee and me； Mopo。 Ah； see； she comes！〃
I looked up； my father； and I saw this： I saw Baleka； my sister；
walking towards us； and on her shoulders was a kaross of wild…cat
skins； and behind her were two soldiers。 She walked proudly； holding
her head high； and her step was like the step of a queen。 Now she saw
the sight of death； for the dead lay before her like black water in a
sunless pool。 A moment she stood shivering； having guessed all； then
walked on and stood before Chaka。
〃What is thy will with me； O King？〃 she said。
〃Thou art come in a good hour； sister；〃 said Chaka； turning his eyes
from hers。 〃It is thus： Mopo； my servant and thy brother； made a bet
with me； a bet of cattle。 It was a little matter that we wagered on
as to whether the people of the Langeni tribethine own tribe；
Baleka； my sisterwould fill yonder place； U'Donga…lu…ka…Tatiyana。
When they heard of the bet； my sister； the people of the Langeni
hurled themselves into the rift by thousands； being eager to put the
matter to the proof。 And now it seems that thy brother has lost the
bet； for there is yet place for one yonder ere the donga is full。
Then； my sister； thy brother Mopo brought it to my mind that there was
still one of the Langeni tribe left upon the earth； who； should she
sleep in that place； would turn the bet in his favour； and prayed me
to send for her。 So； my sister； as I would not take that which I have
not won； I have done so； and now do thou go apart and talk with Mopo；
thy brother； alone upon this matter； as once befo