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It was on the day after the impi had left that Masilo came to the
kraal Duguza； craving leave to speak with the king。 Chaka sat before
his hut； and with him were Dingaan and Umhlangana； his royal brothers。
I was there also； and certain of the indunas； councillors of the king。
Chaka was weary that morning； for he had slept badly； as now he always
did。 Therefore； when one told him that a certain wanderer named Masilo
would speak with him； he did not command that the man should be
killed； but bade them bring him before him。 Presently there was a
sound of praising； and I saw a fat man； much worn with travel； who
crawled through the dust towards us giving the sibonga； that is；
naming the king by his royal names。 Chaka bade him cease from praising
and tell his business。 Then the man sat up and told all that tale
which you have heard； my father； of how a young man； great and strong；
came to the place of the People of the Axe and conquered Jikiza； the
holder of the axe； and become chief of that people； and of how he had
taken the cattle of Masilo and driven him away。 Now Chaka knew nothing
of this People of the Axe； for the land was great in those days； my
father； and there were many little tribes in it； living far away； of
whom the king had not even heard； so he questioned Masilo about them；
and of the number of their fighting…men； of their wealth in cattle； of
the name of the young man who ruled them； and especially as to the
tribute which they paid to the king。
Masilo answered； saying that the number of their fighting…men was
perhaps the half of a full regiment； that their cattle were many； for
they were rich； that they paid no tribute； and that the name of the
young man was Bulalio the Slaughtererat the least； he was known by
that name； and he had heard no other。
Then the king grew wroth。 〃Arise； Masilo；〃 he said； 〃and run to this
people； and speak in the ear of the people； and of him who is named
the Slaughterer； saying： 'There is another Slaughterer； who sits in a
kraal that is named Duguza； and this is his word to you； O People of
the Axe； and to thee； thou who holdest the axe。 Rise up with all the
people； and with all the cattle of your people； and come before him
who sits in the kraal Duguza； and lay in his hands the great axe
Groan…Maker。 Rise up swiftly and do this bidding； lest ye sit down
shortly and for the last time of all。'〃＇1＇
＇1＇ The Zulu are buried sitting。
Masilo heard； and said that it should be so； though the way was far；
and he feared greatly to appear before him who was called the
Slaughterer； and who sat twenty days' journey to the north； beneath
the shadow of the Witch Mountain。
〃Begone；〃 said the king； 〃and stand before me on the thirtieth day
from now with the answer of this boy with an axe！ If thou standest not
before me； then some shall come to seek thee and the boy with an axe
also。〃
So Masilo turned and fled swiftly to do the bidding of the king； and
Chaka spoke no more of that matter。 But I wondered in my heart who
this young man with an axe might be； for I thought that he had dealt
with Jikiza and with the sons of Jikiza as Umslopogaas would have
dealt with them had he come to the years of his manhood。 But I also
said nothing of the matter。
Now on this day also there came to me news that my wife Macropha and
my daughter Nada were dead among their people in Swaziland。 It was
said that the men of the chief of the Halakazi tribe had fallen on
their kraal and put all in it to the assegai； and among them Macropha
and Nada。 I heard the news； but I wept no tear； for； my father； I was
so lost in sorrows that nothing could move me any more。
CHAPTER XX
MOPO BARGAINS WITH THE PRINCES
Eight…and…twenty days went by； my father； and on the nine…and…
twentieth it befell that Chaka； having dreamed a dream in his troubled
sleep； summoned before him certain women of the kraal； to the number
of a hundred or more。 Some of these were his women； whom he named his
〃sisters；〃 and some were maidens not yet given in marriage； but all
were young and fair。 Now what this dream of Chaka may have been I do
not know； or have forgotten； for in those days he dreamed many dreams；
and all his dreams led to one end； the death of men。 He sat in front
of his hut scowling； and I was with him。 To the left of him were
gathered the girls and women； and their knees were weak with fear。 One
by one they were led before him； and stood before him with bowed
heads。 Then he would bid them be of good cheer； and speak softly to
them； and in the end would ask them this question： 〃Hast thou； my
sister； a cat in thy hut？〃
Now； some would say that they had a cat； and some would say that they
had none； and some would stand still and make no answer； being dumb
with fear。 But； whatever they said； the end was the same； for the king
would sigh gently and say： 〃Fare thee well； my sister； it is
unfortunate for thee that there is a cat in thy hut；〃 or 〃that there
is no cat in thy hut；〃 or 〃that thou canst not tell me whether there
be a cat in thy hut or no。〃
Then the woman would be taken by the slayers； dragged without the
kraal； and their end was swift。 So it went on for the most part of
that day； till sixty…and…two women and girls had been slaughtered。 But
at last a maiden was brought before the king； and to this one her
snake had given a ready wit； for when Chaka asked her whether or no
there was a cat in her hut； she answered； saying that she did not
know； 〃but that there was a half a cat upon her；〃 and she pointed to a
cat's…skin which was bound about her loins。
Then the king laughed； and clapped his hands； saying that at length
his dream was answered； and he killed no more that day nor ever again
save once only。
That evening my heart was heavy within me； and I cried in my heart；
〃How long？〃nor might I rest。 So I wandered out from the kraal that
was named Duguza to the great cleft in the mountains yonder； and sat
down upon a rock high up in the cleft； so that I could see the wide
lands rolling to the north and the south； to my right and to my left。
Now； the day was drawing towards the night； and the air was very
still； for the heat was great and a tempest was gathering； as I； who
am a Heaven…Herd； knew well。 The sun sank redly； flooding the land
with blood； it was as though all the blood that Chaka had shed flowed
about the land which Chaka ruled。 Then from the womb of the night
great shapes of cloud rose up and stood before the sun； and he crowned
them with his glory； and in their hearts the lightning quivered like a
blood of fire。 The shadow of their wings fell upon the mountain and
the plains； and beneath their wings was silence。 Slowly the sun sank；
and the shapes of cloud gathered together like a host at the word of
its captain； and the flicker of the lightning was as the flash of the
spears of a host。 I looked； and my heart grew afraid。 The lightning
died away； the silence deepened and deepened till I could hear it； no
leaf moved； no bird called； the world seemed deadI alone lived in
the dead world。
Now； of a sudden； my father； a bright star fell from the height of
heaven and lit upon the crest of the storm； and