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voice； one with the ring of truth in it。
〃Why not？〃
〃Because I saved your life on that day。 You escaped alone of the White
Men； did you not？ And you never could understand why； could you？〃
〃No； I could not； Zikali。 I put it down to what you would call 'the
spirits。'〃
〃Well； I will tell you。 Those spirits of yours wore my kaross；〃 and he
laughed。 〃I saw you with the Boers； and saw； too； that you were of
another peoplethe people of the English。 You may have heard at the
time that I was doctoring at the Great Place； although I kept out of the
way and we did not meet； or at least you never knew that we met； for you
wereasleep。 Also I pitied your youth； for； although you do not
believe it； I had a little bit of heart left in those days。 Also I knew
that we should come together again in the after years； as you see we
have done to…day and shall often do until the end。 So I told Dingaan
that whoever died you must be spared； or he would bring up the 'people
of George' ＇i。e。 the English＇ to avenge you； and your ghost would enter
into him and pour out a curse upon him。 He believed me who did not
understand that already so many curses were gathered about his head that
one more or less made no matter。 So you see you were spared；
Macumazahn； and afterwards you helped to pour out a curse upon Dingaan
without becoming a ghost； which is the reason why Panda likes you so
well to…day； Panda； the enemy of Dingaan； his brother。 You remember the
woman who helped you？ Well； I made her do so。 How did it go with you
afterwards； Macumazahn； with you and the Boer maiden across the Buffalo
River； to whom you were making love in those days？〃
〃Never mind how it went；〃 I replied； springing up； for the old wizard's
talk had stirred sad and bitter memories in my heart。 〃That time is
dead； Zikali。〃
〃Is it； Macumazahn？ Now； from the look upon your face I should have
said that it was still very much alive； as things that happened in our
youth have a way of keeping alive。 But doubtless I am mistaken； and it
is all as dead as Dingaan； and as Retief； and as the others； your
companions。 At least； although you do not believe it； I saved your life
on that red day； for my own purposes； of course； not because one white
life was anything among so many in my count。 And now go to rest；
Macumazahn； go to rest； for although your heart has been awakened by
memories this evening； I promise that you shall sleep well to…night；〃
and throwing the long hair back off his eyes he looked at me keenly；
wagging his big head to and fro； and burst into another of his great
laughs。
So I went。 But； ah！ as I went I wept。
Anyone who knew all that story would understand why。 But this is not
the place to tell it； that tale of my first love and of the terrible
events which befell us in the time of Dingaan。 Still； as I say； I have
written it down； and perhaps one day it will be read。
CHAPTER III
THE BUFFALO WITH THE CLEFT HORN
I slept very well that night； I suppose because I was so dog…tired I
could not help it； but next day； on our long walk back to Umbezi's
kraal； I thought a great deal。
Without doubt I had seen and heard very strange things； both of the past
and the presentthings that I could not in the least understand。
Moreover； they were mixed up with all sorts of questions of high Zulu
policy； and threw a new light upon events that happened to me and others
in my youth。
Now； in the clear sunlight； was the time to analyse these things； and
this I did in the most logical fashion I could command； although without
the slightest assistance from Saduko； who； when I asked him questions；
merely shrugged his shoulders。
These questions； he said； did not interest him； I had wished to see the
magic of Zikali； and Zikali had been pleased to show me some very good
magic； quite of his best indeed。 Also he had conversed alone with me
afterwards； doubtless on high mattersso high that he； Saduko； was not
admitted to share the conversationwhich was an honour he accorded to
very few。 I could form my own conclusions in the light of the White
Man's wisdom； which everyone knew was great。
I replied shortly that I could； for Saduko's tone irritated me。 Of
course； the truth was that he felt aggrieved at being sent off to bed
like a little boy while his foster…father； the old dwarf； made
confidences to me。 One of Saduko's faults was that he had always a very
good opinion of himself。 Also he was by nature terribly jealous； even
in little things； as the readers of his history； if any； will learn。
We trudged on for several hours in silence； broken at length by my
companion。
〃Do you still mean to go on a shooting expedition with Umbezi； Inkoosi？〃
he asked； 〃or are you afraid？〃
〃Of what should I be afraid？〃 I answered tartly。
〃Of the buffalo with the split horn； of which Zikali told you。 What
else？〃
Now； I fear I used strong language about the buffalo with the split
horn； a beast in which I declared I had no belief whatsoever； either
with or without its accessories of dried river…beds and water…holes。
〃If all this old woman's talk has made _you_ afraid； however；〃 I added；
〃you can stop at the kraal with Mameena。〃
〃Why should the talk make me afraid； Macumazahn？ Zikali did not say
that this evil spirit of a buffalo would hurt _me_。 If I fear； it is
for you； seeing that if you are hurt you may not be able to go with me
to look for Bangu's cattle。〃
〃Oh！〃 I replied sarcastically； 〃it seems that you are somewhat selfish；
friend Saduko； since it is of your welfare and not of my safety that you
are thinking。〃
〃If I were as selfish as you seem to believe； Inkoosi； should I advise
you to stop with your wagons； and thereby lose the good gun with two
mouths that you have promised me？ Still； it is true that I should like
well enough to stay at Umbezi's kraal with Mameena； especially if Umbezi
were away。〃
Now； as there is nothing more uninteresting than to listen to other
people's love affairs； and as I saw that with the slightest
encouragement Saduko was ready to tell me all the history of his
courtship over again； I did not continue the argument。 So we finished
our journey in silence； and arrived at Umbezi's kraal a little after
sundown； to find； to the disappointment of both of us； that Mameena was
still away。
Upon the following morning we started on our shooting expedition； the
party consisting of myself； my servant Scowl； who； as I think I said；
hailed from the Cape and was half a Hottentot； Saduko； the merry old
Zulu； Umbezi； and a number of his men to serve as bearers and beaters。
It proved a very successful tripthat is； until the end of itfor in
those days the game in this part of the country was extremely plentiful。
Before the end of the second week I killed four elephants； two of them
with large tusks； while Saduko； who soon developed into a very fair
shot； bagged another with the double…barrelled gun that I had promised
him。 Also； Umbezihow； I have never discovered； for the thing partook
of the nature of a miraclemanaged to slay an elephant cow with fair
ivories； using the old rifle that went off at half…cock