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rising； and said：
〃Siyakubona ＇that is； good…day＇； White Man。〃
〃Siyakubona； Black Man；〃 I answered； just touching his fingers； while
Mameena； who had come up again with her beer； and was facing me； made a
little grimace and tittered。
Now I turned on my heel to go； whereon Masapo said in a coarse； growling
voice：
〃O Macumazana； before you leave us I wish to speak with you on a certain
matter。 Will it please you to sit aside with me for a while？〃
〃Certainly； O Masapo。〃 And I walked away a few yards out of hearing；
whither he followed me。
〃Macumazahn；〃 he said （I give the gist of his remarks； for he did not
come to the point at once）； 〃I need guns； and I am told that you can
provide them； being a trader。〃
〃Yes； Masapo； I dare say that I can； at a price； though it is a risky
business smuggling guns into Zululand。 But might I ask what you need
them for？ is it to shoot elephants？〃
〃Yes； to shoot elephants；〃 he replied； rolling his big eyes round him。
〃Macumazahn； I am told that you are discreet； that you do not shout from
the top of a hut what you hear within it。 Now； hearken to me。 Our
country is disturbed； we do not all of us love the seed of Senzangakona；
of whom the present king； Panda； is one。 For instance； you may know
that we Quabiesfor my tribe； the Amansomi； are of that racesuffered
at the spear of Chaka。 Well； we think that a time may come when we who
live on shrubs like goats may again browse on tree…tops like giraffes；
for Panda is no strong king； and he has sons who hate each other； one of
whom may need our spears。 Do you understand？〃
〃I understand that you want guns； O Masapo；〃 I answered dryly。 〃Now； as
to the price and place of delivery。〃
Then we bargained for a while； but the details of that business
transaction of long ago will interest no one。 Indeed； I only mention
the matter to show that Masapo was plotting to bring trouble on the
ruling house； whereof Panda was the representative at that time。
When we had concluded our rather nefarious negotiations； which were to
the effect that I was to receive so many cattle in return for so many
guns； if I could deliver them at a certain spot； namely； Umbezi's kraal；
I returned to the circle where Umbezi； his followers and guests were
sitting； purposing to bid him farewell。 By now； however； meat had been
served； and as I was hungry； having had little breakfast that morning； I
stayed to eat。 When I had finished my meal； and washed it down with a
draught of tshwala （that is； Kafir beer）； I rose to go； but just at that
moment who should walk through the gate but Saduko？
〃Piff！〃 said Mameena； who was standing near me； speaking in a voice that
none but I could hear。 〃When two bucks meet； what happens； Macumazahn？〃
〃Sometimes they fight and sometimes one runs away。 It depends very much
on the doe；〃 I answered in the same low voice； looking at her。
She shrugged her shoulders； folded her arms beneath her breast； nodded
to Saduko as he passed； then leaned gracefully against the fence and
awaited events。
〃Greeting； Umbezi；〃 said Saduko in his proud manner。 〃I see that you
feast。 Am I welcome here？〃
〃Of course you are always welcome； Saduko；〃 replied Umbezi uneasily；
〃although； as it happens； I am entertaining a great man。〃 And he looked
towards Masapo。
〃I see；〃 said Saduko； eyeing the strangers。 〃But which of these may be
the great man？ I ask that I may salute him。〃
〃You know well enough； umfokazana〃 （that is； low fellow）； exclaimed
Masapo angrily。
〃I know that if you were outside this fence； Masapo； I would cram that
word down your throat at the point of my assegai；〃 replied Saduko in a
fierce voice。 〃Oh； I can guess your business here； Masapo； and you can
guess mine；〃 and he glanced towards Mameena。 〃Tell me； Umbezi； is this
little chief of the Amansomi your daughter's accepted suitor？〃
〃Nay； nay； Saduko；〃 said Umbezi； 〃no one is her accepted suitor。 Will
you not sit down and take food with us？ Tell us where you have been；
and why you return here thus suddenly； anduninvited？〃
〃I return here； O Umbezi； to speak with the white chief； Macumazahn。 As
to where I have been； that is my affair； and not yours or Masapo's。〃
〃Now； if I were chief of this kraal；〃 said Masapo； 〃I would hunt out of
it this hyena with a mangy coat and without a hole who comes to devour
your meat and； perhaps；〃 he added with meaning； 〃to steal away your
child。〃
〃Did I not tell you； Macumazahn； that when two bucks met they would
fight？〃 whispered Mameena suavely into my ear。
〃Yes； Mameena； you didor rather I told you。 But you did not tell me
what the doe would do。〃
〃The doe； Macumazahn； will crouch in her form and see what happensas
is the fashion of does；〃 and again she laughed softly。
〃Why not do your own hunting； Masapo？〃 asked Saduko。 〃Come； now； I will
promise you good sport。 Outside this kraal there are other hyenas
waiting who call me chiefa hundred or two of themassembled for a
certain purpose by the royal leave of King Panda； whose House； as we all
know； you hate。 Come； leave that beef and beer and begin your hunting
of hyenas； O Masapo。〃
Now Masapo sat silent； for he saw that he who thought to snare a baboon
had caught a tiger。
〃You do not speak； O Chief of the little Amansomi；〃 went on Saduko； who
was beside himself with rage and jealousy。 〃You will not leave your
beef and beer to hunt the hyenas who are captained by an umfokazana！
Well； then； the umfokazana will speak；〃 and； stepping up to Masapo； with
the spear he carried poised in his right hand； Saduko grasped his
rival's short beard with his left。
〃Listen； Chief；〃 he said。 〃You and I are enemies。 You seek the woman I
seek； and； mayhap； being rich； you will buy her。 But if so； I tell you
that I will kill you and all your House； you sneaking； half…bred dog！〃
With these fierce words he spat in his face and tumbled him backwards。
Then； before anyone could stop him； for Umbezi； and even Masapo's
headmen； seemed paralysed with surprise； he stalked through the kraal
gate； saying as he passed me：
〃Inkoosi； I have words for you when you are at liberty。〃
〃You shall pay for this；〃 roared Umbezi after him； turning almost green
with rage； for Masapo still lay upon his broad back； speechless； 〃you
who dare to insult my guest in my own house。〃
〃Somebody must pay；〃 cried back Saduko from the gate； 〃but who it is
only the unborn moons will see。〃
〃Mameena；〃 I said as I followed him； 〃you have set fire to the grass；
and men will be burned in it。〃
〃I meant to； Macumazahn；〃 she answered calmly。 〃Did I not tell you that
there was a flame in me； and it will break out sometimes？ But；
Macumazahn； it is you who have set fire to the grass； not I。 Remember
that when half Zululand is in ashes。 Farewell； O Macumazana； till we
meet again； and；〃 she added softly； 〃whoever else must burn； may the
spirits have _you_ in their keeping。〃
At the gate； remembering my manners； I turned to bid that company a
polite farewell。 By now Masapo had gained his feet； and was roaring out
like a bull：
〃Kill him！ Kill the hyena！ Umbezi； will you sit still and see me； your
gue