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thy brother； alone upon this matter； as once before thou didst talk
when a child was born to thee； my sister！〃
Now Baleka took no heed of the words of Chaka which he spoke of me；
for she knew his meaning well。 Only she looked him in the eyes and
said：
〃Ill shalt thou sleep from this night forth； Chaka； till thou comest
to a land where no sleep is。 I have spoken。〃
Chaka saw and heard； and of a sudden he quailed； growing afraid in his
heart； and turned his head away。
〃Mopo； my brother；〃 said Baleka； 〃let us speak together for the last
time； it is the king's word。〃
So I drew apart with Baleka； my sister； and a spear was in my hand。 We
stood together alone by the people of the dead and Baleka threw the
corner of the kaross about her brows and spoke to me swiftly from
beneath its shadow。
〃What did I say to you a while ago； Mopo？ It has come to pass。 Swear
to me that you will live on and that this same hand of yours shall
taken vengeance for me。〃
〃I swear it； my sister。〃
〃Swear to me that when the vengeance is done you will seek out my son
Umslopogaas if he still lives； and bless him in my name。〃
〃I swear it； my sister。〃
〃Fare you well； Mopo！ We have always loved each other much； and now
all fades； and it seems to me that once more we are little children
playing about the kraals of the Langeni。 So may we play again in
another land！ Now； Mopo〃and she looked at me steadily； and with
great eyes〃I am weary。 I would join the spirits of my people。 I hear
them calling in my ears。 It is finished。〃
* * * * *
For the rest； I will not tell it to you； my father。
CHAPTER XIX
MASILO COMES TO THE KRAAL DUGUZA
That night the curse of Baleka fell upon Chaka； and he slept ill。 So
ill did he sleep that he summoned me to him； bidding me walk abroad
with him。 I went； and we walked alone and in silence； Chaka leading
the way and I following after him。 Now I saw that his feet led him
towards the U'Donga…lu…ka…Tatiyana； that place where all my people lay
dead； and with them Baleka； my sister。 We climbed the slope of the
hill slowly； and came to the mouth of the cleft； to that same spot
where Chaka had stood when the people fell over the lips of the rock
like water。 Then there had been noise and crying； now there was
silence； for the night was very still。 The moon was full also； and
lighted up the dead who lay near to us； so that I could see them all；
yes； I could see even the face of Baleka； my sisterthey had thrown
her into the midst of the dead。 Never had it looked so beautiful as in
this hour； and yet as I gazed I grew afraid。 Only the far end of the
donga was hid in shadow。
〃Thou wouldst not have won thy bet now； Mopo； my servant；〃 said Chaka。
〃See； they have sunk together！ The donga is not full by the length of
a stabbing…spear。〃
I did not answer； but at the sound of the king's voice jackals stirred
and slunk away。
Presently he spoke again； laughing loudly as he spoke： 〃Thou shouldst
sleep well this night； my mother； for I have sent many to hush thee to
rest。 Ah； people of the Langeni tribe； you forgot； but I remembered！
You forgot how a woman and a boy came to you seeking food and shelter；
and you would give them noneno； not a gourd of milk。 What did I
promise you on that day； people of the Langeni tribe？ Did I not
promise you that for every drop the gourd I craved would hold I would
take the life of a man？ And have I not kept my promise？ Do not men lie
here more in number than the drops of water in a gourd； and with them
woman and children countless as the leaves？ O people of the Langeni
tribe； who refused me milk when I was little； having grown great； I am
avenged upon you！ Having grown great！ Ah！ who is there so great as I？
The earth shakes beneath my feet； when I speak the people tremble；
when I frown they diethey die in thousands。 I have grown great； and
great I shall remain！ The land is mine； far as the feet of man can
travel the land is mine； and mine are those who dwell in it。 And I
shall grow greater yetgreater； ever greater。 Is it thy face； Baleka；
that stares upon me from among the faces of the thousands whom I have
slain？ Thou didst promise me that I should sleep ill henceforth。
Baleka； I fear thee notat the least； thou sleepest sound。 Tell me；
Balekarise from thy sleep and tell me whom there is that I should
fear！〃and suddenly he ceased the ravings of his pride。
Now； my father； while Chaka the king spoke thus； it came into my mind
to make an end of things and kill him； for my heart was made with rage
and the thirst of vengeance。 Already I stood behind him； already the
stick in my hand was lifted to strike out his brains； when I stopped
also； for I saw something。 There； in the midst of the dead； I saw an
arm stir。 It stirred； it lifted itself； it beckoned towards the shadow
which hid the head of the cleft and the piled…up corpses that lay
there； and it seemed to me that the arm was the arm of Baleka。
Perchance it was not her arm； perchance it was but the arm of one who
yet lived among the thousands of the dead； say you； my father！ At the
least； the arm rose at her side； and was ringed with such bracelets as
Baleka wore； and it beckoned from her side； though her cold face
changed not at all。 Thrice the arm rose； thrice it stood awhile in
air； thrice it beckoned with crooked finger； as though it summoned
something from the depths of the shadow； and from the multitudes of
the dead。 Then it fell down； and in the utter silence I heard its fall
and a clank of brazen bracelets。 And as it fell there rose from the
shadow a sound of singing； of singing wild and sweet； such as I had
never heard。 The words of that song came to me then； my father； but
afterwards they passed from me； and I remember them no more。 Only I
know this； that the song was of the making of Things； and of the
beginning and the end of Peoples。 It told of how the black folk grew；
and of how the white folk should eat them up； and wherefore they were
and wherefore they should cease to be。 It told of Evil and of Good； of
Woman and of Man； and of how these war against each other； and why it
is that they war； and what are the ends of the struggle。 It told also
of the people of the Zulu； and it spoke of a place of a Little Hand
where they should conquer； and of a place where a White Hand should
prevail against them； and how they shall melt away beneath the shadow
of the White Hand and be forgotten； passing to a land where things do
not die； but live on forever； the Good with the Good； the Evil with
the Evil。 It told of Life and of Death； of Joy and of Sorrow； of Time
and of that sea in which Time is but a floating leaf； and of why all
these things are。 Many names also came into the song； and I knew but a
few of them； yet my own was there； and the name of Baleka and the name
of Umslopogaas； and the name of Chaka the Lion。 But a little while did
the voice sing； yet all this was in the songay； and much more； but
the meaning of the song is gone from me； though I knew it once； and
shall know it again when all is done。 The voice in the shadow sang on
till the whole place was full of the sound of its singing； and even
th