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Well； I did him an injustice； for presently he turned and said； with
something of an effort：
〃Macumazahn； half of all these belong to you； and truly you have earned
them； for it was your cunning and good counsel that gained us the
victory。 Now we will choose them beast by beast。〃
So I chose a fine ox； then Saduko chose one； and so it went on till I
had eight of my number driven out。 As the eighth was taken I turned to
Saduko and said：
〃There； that will do。 These oxen I must have to replace those in my
teams which died on the trek； but I want no more。〃
〃Wow！〃 said Saduko； and all those who stood with him； while one of them
addedI think it was old Tshoza：
〃He refuses six hundred cattle which are fairly his！ He must be mad！〃
〃No friends；〃 I answered； 〃I am not mad； but neither am I bad。 I
accompanied Saduko on this raid because he is dear to me and stood by me
once in the hour of danger。 But I do not love killing men with whom I
have no quarrel； and I will not take the price of blood。〃
〃Wow！〃 said old Tshoza again； for Saduko seemed too astonished to speak；
〃he is a spirit； not a man。 He is _holy！_〃
〃Not a bit of it；〃 I answered。 〃If you think that； ask Mameena〃a dark
saying which they did not understand。 〃Now； listen。 I will not take
those cattle because I do not think as you Kafirs think。 But as they
are mine； according to your law； I am going to dispose of them。 I give
ten head to each of my hunters； and fifteen head to the relations of him
who was killed。 The rest I give to Tshoza and to the other men of the
Amangwane who fought with us； to be divided among them in such
proportions as they may agree； I being the judge in the event of any
quarrel arising。〃
Now these men raised a great cry of 〃Inkoosi！〃 and； running up； old
Tshoza seized my hand and kissed it。
〃Your heart is big；〃 he cried； 〃you drop fatness！ Although you are so
small； the spirit of a king lives in you； and the wisdom of the
heavens。〃
Thus he praised me； while all the others joined in； till the din was
awful。 Saduko thanked me also in his magnificent manner。 Yet I do not
think that he was altogether pleased； although my great gift relieved
him from the necessity of sharing up the spoil with his companions。 The
truth was； or so I believe； that he understood that henceforth the
Amangwane would love me better than they loved him。 This； indeed；
proved to be the case； for I am sure that there was no man among all
those wild fellows who would not have served me to the death； and to
this day my name is a power among them and their descendants。 Also it
has grown into something of a proverb among all those Kafirs who know
the story。 They talk of any great act of liberality in an idiom as 〃a
gift of Macumazana；〃 and in the same way of one who makes any remarkable
renunciation； as 〃a wearer of Macumazana's blanket；〃 or as 〃he who has
stolen Macumazana's shadow。〃
Thus did I earn a great reputation very cheaply； for really I could not
have taken those cattle； also I am sure that had I done so they would
have brought me bad luck。 Indeed； one of the regrets of my life is that
I had anything whatsoever to do with the business。
Our journey back to Umbezi's kraalfor thither we were headingwas
very slow； hampered as we were with wounded and by a vast herd of
cattle。 Of the latter； indeed； we got rid after a while； for； except
those which I had given to my men； and a hundred or so of the best
beasts that Saduko took with him for a certain purpose； they were sent
away to a place which he had chosen； in charge of about half of his
people； under the command of his uncle； Tshoza； there to await his
coming。
Over a month had gone by since the night of the ambush when at last we
outspanned quite close to Umbezi's； in that bush where first I had met
the Amangwane free…spears。 A very different set of men they looked on
this triumphant day to those fierce fellows who had slipped out of the
trees at the call of their chief。 As we went through the country Saduko
had bought fine moochas and blankets for them； also head…dresses had
been made with the long black feathers of the sakabuli finch； and
shields and leglets of the hides and tails of oxen。 Moreover； having
fed plentifully and travelled easily； they were fat and well…favoured；
as； given good food； natives soon become after a period of abstinence。
The plan of Saduko was to lie quiet in the bush that night； and on the
following morning to advance in all his grandeur； accompanied by his
spears； present the hundred head of cattle that had been demanded； and
formally ask his daughter's hand from Umbezi。 As the reader may have
gathered already； there was a certain histrionic vein in Saduko； also
when he was in feather he liked to show off his plumage。
Well； this plan was carried out to the letter。 On the following
morning； after the sun was well up； Saduko； as a great chief does； sent
forward two bedizened heralds to announce his approach to Umbezi； after
whom followed two other men to sing his deeds and praises。 （By the way；
I observed that they had clearly been instructed to avoid any mention of
a person called Macumazahn。） Then we advanced in force。 First went
Saduko； splendidly apparelled as a chief； carrying a small assegai and
adorned with plumes； leglets and a leopard…skin kilt。 He was attended
by about half a dozen of the best…looking of his followers； who posed as
〃indunas〃 or councillors。 Behind these I walked； a dusty； insignificant
little fellow； attended by the ugly； snub…nosed Scowl in a very greasy
pair of trousers； worn…out European boots through which his toes peeped；
and nothing else； and by my three surviving hunters； whose appearance
was even more disreputable。 After us marched about four score of the
transformed Amangwane； and after them came the hundred picked cattle
driven by a few herdsmen。
In due course we arrived at the gate of the kraal； where we found the
heralds and the praisers prancing and shouting。
〃Have you seen Umbezi？〃 asked Saduko of them。
〃No；〃 they answered； 〃he was asleep when we got here； but his people say
that he is coming out presently。〃
〃Then tell his people that he had better be quick about it； or I shall
turn him out；〃 replied the proud Saduko。
Just at this moment the kraal gate opened and through it appeared
Umbezi； looking extremely fat and foolish； also； it struck me；
frightened； although this he tried to conceal。
〃Who visits me here；〃 he said； 〃with so muchumceremony？〃 and with
the carved dancing…stick he carried he pointed doubtfully at the lines
of armed men。 〃Oh； it is you； is it； Saduko？〃 and he looked him up and
down； adding： 〃How grand you are to be sure。 Have you been robbing
anybody？ And you； too； Macumazahn。 Well； _you_ do not look grand。 You
look like an old cow that has been suckling two calves on the winter
veld。 But tell me； what are all these warriors for？ I ask because I
have not food for so many； especially as we have just had a feast here。〃
〃Fear nothing； Umbezi；〃 answered Saduko in his grandest manner。 〃I have
brought food for my own men。 As for my business； it is simple。 You
aske