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！
heard the tale； so he said no more of the message。
〃How is it that ye dare to come before me armed？ Know ye not the rule
that he who appears armed before the king dies？〃
〃We have not heard that law； O King；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Moreover；
there is this to be told： my virtue of the axe I bear I rule alone。 If
I am seen without the axe； then any man may take my place who can； for
the axe is chieftainess of the People of the Axe； and he who holds it
is its servant。〃
〃A strange custom；〃 said Dingaan； 〃but let it pass。 And thou； Wolf；
what hast thou to say of that great club of thine？〃
〃There is this to be told of the club； O King；〃 answered Galazi： 〃by
virtue of the club I guard my life。 If I am seen without the club；
then may any man take my life who can； for the club is my Watcher； not
I Watcher of the club。〃
〃Never wast thou nearer to the losing of both club and life；〃 said
Dingaan； angrily。
〃It may be so； O King；〃 answered the Wolf。 〃When the hour is； then；
without a doubt； the Watcher shall cease from his watching。〃
〃Ye are a strange pair；〃 quoth Dingaan。 〃Where have you been now； and
what is your business at the Place of the Elephant？〃
〃We have been in a far country； O King！〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃We
have wandered in a distant land to search for a Flower to be a gift to
a king； and in our searching we have trampled down a Swazi garden； and
yonder are some of those who tended it〃and he pointed to the
captives〃and without are the cattle that ploughed it。〃
〃Good； Slaughterer！ I see the gardeners； and I hear the lowing of the
cattle； but what of the Flower？ Where is this Flower ye went so far to
dig in Swazi soil？ Was it a Lily…bloom； perchance？〃
〃It was a Lily…bloom； O King！ and yet； alas！ the Lily has withered。
Nothing is left but the stalk； white and withered as are the bones of
men。〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 said Dingaan； starting to his feet。
〃That the king shall learn；〃 answered Umslopogaas； and； turning； he
spoke a word to the captains who were behind him。 Presently the ranks
opened up； and four men ran forward from the rear of the companies。 On
their shoulders they bore a stretcher； and upon the stretcher lay
something wrapped about with raw ox…hides； and bound round with
rimpis。 The men saluted； and laid their burden down before the king。
〃Open！〃 said the Slaughterer； and they opened； and there within the
hides； packed in salt； lay the body of a girl who once was tall and
fair。〃
〃Here lies the Lily's stalk； O King！〃 said Umslopogaas； pointing with
the axe； 〃but if her flower blooms on any air； it is not here。〃
Now Dingaan stared at the sight of death； and bitterness of heart took
hold of him； since he desired above all things to win the beauty of
the Lily for himself。
〃Bear away this carrion and cast it to the dogs！〃 he cried； for thus
he could speak of her whom he would have taken to wife； when once he
deemed her dead。 〃Take it away； and thou； Slaughterer； tell me how it
came about that the maid was slain。 It will be well for thee if thou
hast a good answer； for know thy life hangs on the words。〃
So Umslopogaas told the king all that tale which had been made ready
against the wrath of Dingaan。 And when he had finished Galazi told his
story； of how he had seen the soldier kill the maid； and in his wrath
had killed the soldier。 Then certain of the captains who had seen the
soldier and the maid lying in one death came forward and spoke to it。
Now Dingaan was very angry； and yet there was nothing to be done。 The
Lily was dead； and by no fault of any except of one； who was also dead
and beyond his reach。
〃Get you hence； you and your people；〃 he said to the Wolf…Brethren。 〃I
take the cattle and the captives。 Be thankful that I do not take all
your lives alsofirst； because ye have dared to make war without my
word； and secondly； because； having made war； ye have so brought it
about that； though ye bring me the body of her I sought； ye do not
bring the life。〃
Now when the king spoke of taking the lives of all the People of the
Axe； Umslopogaas smiled grimly and glanced at his companies。 Then
saluting the king； he turned to go。 But as he turned a man sprang
forwards from the ranks and called to Dingaan； saying：
〃Is it granted that I may speak truth before the king； and afterwards
sleep in the king's shadow？〃
Now this was that man who had been captain of the guard on the night
when three passed out through the archway and two returned； that same
man whom Umslopogaas had degraded from his rank。
〃Speak on； thou art safe；〃 answered Dingaan。
〃O King； thy ears have been filled with lies；〃 said the soldier。
〃Hearken； O King！ I was captain of the guard of the gate on that night
of the slaying of the Halakazi。 Three came to the gate of the mountain
they were Bulalio； the Wolf Galazi； and another。 That other was tall
and slim； bearing a shield highso。 As the third passed the gate； the
kaross he wore brushed against me and slipped aside。 Beneath that
kaross was no man's breast； O King； but the shape of a woman； almost
white in colour； and very fair。 In drawing back the kaross this third
one moved the shield。 Behind that shield was no man's face； O King；
but the face of a girl； lovelier than the moon； and having eyes
brighter than the stars。 Three went out at the mountain gate； O King；
only two returned； and； peeping after them； it seemed that I saw the
third running swiftly across the plains； as a young maid runs； O King。
This also； Elephant； Bulalio yonder denied me when； as captain of the
guard； I asked for the third who had passed the gate； saying that only
two had passed。 Further； none of the captives were called to swear to
the body of the maid； and now it is too late； and that man who lay
beside her was not killed by Galazi in the cave。 He was killed outside
the cave by a blow of a Halakazi kerrie。 I saw him fall with my own
eyes； and slew the man who smote him。 One thing more； King of the
World； the best of the captives and the cattle are not here for a gift
to theethey are at the kraal of Bulalio； Chief of the People of the
Axe。 I have spoken； O King； yes； because my heart loves not lies。 I
have spoken the truth； and now do thou protect me from these Wolf…
Brethren； O King； for they are very fierce。〃
Now all this while that the traitor told his tale Umslopogaas； inch by
inch； was edging near to him and yet nearer； till at length he might
have touched him with an outstretched spear。 None noted him except I；
Mopo； alone； and perhaps Galazi； for all were watching the face of
Dingaan as men watch a storm that is about to burst。
〃Fear thou not the Wolf…Brethren； soldier；〃 gasped Dingaan； rolling
his red eyes； 〃the paw of the Lion guards thee； my servant。〃
Ere the words had left the king's lips the Slaughterer leapt。 He
leaped full on to the traitor； speaking never a word； and oh！ his eyes
were awful。 He leaped upon him； he seized him with his hands； lifting
no weapon； and in his terrible might he broke him as a child breaks a
sticknay； I know not how； it was too swift to see。 He broke him；
and； hurling him on high； cast him dead at the feet of Dingaan； crying
in a great voice：