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his man； saying； 'Sit you in my shadow；' after he had promised to sit in
mine。 Therefore it is that he heaps these taunts upon me。 Let him deny
it if he can。〃
〃That I shall not trouble to do； Umbelazi；〃 answered Cetewayo； with a
scowl。 〃Who are you that spy upon my doings； and with a mouth full of
lies call me to account before the King？ I will hear no more of it。 Do
you bide here and pay Saduko his price with the person of our sister。
For； as the King has promised her； his word cannot be changed。 Only let
your dog know that I keep a stick for him； if he should snarl at me。
Farewell； my Father。 I go upon a journey to my own lordship； the land
of Gikazi； and there you will find me when you want me； which I pray may
not be till after this marriage is finished； for on that I will not
trust my eyes to look。〃
Then； with a salute； he turned and departed； bidding no good…bye to his
brother。
My hand； however； he shook in farewell； for Cetewayo was always friendly
to me； perhaps because he thought I might be useful to him。 Also； as I
learned afterwards； he was very pleased with me for the reason that I
had refused my share of the Amakoba cattle； and that he knew I had no
part in this proposed marriage between Saduko and Nandie； of which；
indeed； I now heard for the first time。
〃My Father；〃 said Umbelazi； when Cetewayo had gone； 〃is this to be
borne？ Am I to blame in the matter？ You have heard and seenanswer
me； my Father。〃
〃No； you are not to blame this time； Umbelazi；〃 replied the King； with a
heavy sigh。 〃But oh！ my sons； my sons； where will your quarrelling end？
I think that only a river of blood can quench so fierce a fire； and
then which of you will live to reach its bank？〃
For a while he looked at Umbelazi； and I saw love and fear in his eye；
for towards him Panda always had more affection than for any of his
other children。
〃Cetewayo has behaved ill；〃 he said at length； 〃and before a white man；
who will report the matter； which makes it worse。 He has no right to
dictate to me to whom I shall or shall not give my daughters in
marriage。 Moreover； I have spoken； nor do I change my word because he
threatens me。 It is known throughout the land that I never change my
word； and the white men know it also； do they not； O Macumazana？〃
I answered yes； they did。 Also； this was true； for； like most weak men；
Panda was very obstinate； and honest； too； in his own fashion。
He waved his hand； to show that the subject was ended； then bade
Umbelazi go to the gate and send a messenger to bring in 〃the son of
Matiwane。〃
Presently Saduko arrived； looking very stately and composed as he lifted
his right hand and gave Panda the 〃Bayete〃the royal salute。
〃Be seated；〃 said the King。 〃I have words for your ear。〃
Thereon； with the most perfect grace； without hurrying and without undue
delay； Saduko crouched himself down upon his knees； with one of his
elbows resting on the ground； as only a native knows how to do without
looking absurd； and waited。
〃Son of Matiwane；〃 said the King； 〃I have heard all the story of how；
with a small company； you destroyed Bangu and most of the men of the
Amakoba； and ate up their cattle every one。〃
〃Your pardon； Black One；〃 interrupted Saduko。 〃I am but a boy； I did
nothing。 It was Macumazahn； Watcher…by…Night； who sits yonder。 His
wisdom taught me how to snare the Amakoba； after they were decoyed from
their mountain； and it was Tshoza； my uncle； who loosed the cattle from
the kraals。 I say that I did nothing； except to strike a blow or two
with a spear when I must； just as a baboon throws stones at those who
would steal its young。〃
〃I am glad to see that you are no boaster； Saduko；〃 said Panda。 〃Would
that more of the Zulus were like you in that matter； for then I must not
listen to so many loud songs about little things。 At least； Bangu was
killed and his proud tribe humbled； and； for reasons of state； I am glad
that this happened without my moving a regiment or being mixed up with
the business； for I tell you that there are some of my family who loved
Bangu。 But II loved your father； Matiwane； whom Bangu butchered； for
we were brought up together as boysyes； and served together in the
same regiment； the Amawombe； when the Wild One； my brother； ruled〃 （he
meant Chaka； for among the Zulus the names of dead kings are
hlonipathat is； they must not be spoken if it can be avoided）。
〃Therefore；〃 went on Panda； 〃for this reason； and for others； I am glad
that Bangu has been punished； and that； although vengeance has crawled
after him like a footsore bull； at length he has been tossed with its
horns and crushed with its knees。〃
〃Yebo； Ngonyama！〃 （Yes； O Lion！） said Saduko。
〃Now； Saduko；〃 went on Panda； 〃because you are your father's son； and
because you have shown yourself a man； although you are still little in
the land； I am minded to advance you。 Therefore I give to you the
chieftainship over those who remain of the Amakoba and over all of the
Amangwane blood whom you can gather。〃
〃Bayete！ As the King pleases；〃 said Saduko。
〃And I give you leave to become a kehlaa wearer of the
head…ringalthough； as you have said； you are still but a boy； and with
it a place upon my Council。〃
〃Bayete！ As the King pleases；〃 said Saduko； still apparently unmoved by
the honours that were being heaped upon him。
〃And； Son of Matiwane；〃 went on Panda； 〃you are still unmarried； are you
not？〃
Now； for the first time； Saduko's face changed。 〃Yes； Black One；〃 he
said hurriedly； 〃but〃
Here he caught my eye； and； reading some warning in it； was silent。
〃But；〃 repeated Panda after him； 〃doubtless you would like to be？ Well；
it is natural in a young man who wishes to found a House； and therefore
I give you leave to marry。〃
〃Yebo； Silo！〃 （Yes； O Wild Beast！） I thank the King； but〃
Here I sneezed loudly； and he ceased。
〃But；〃 repeated Panda； 〃of course； you do not know where to find a wife
between the time the hawk stoops and the rat squeaks in its claws。 How
should you who have never thought of the matter？ Also；〃 he continued；
with a smile； 〃it is well that you have not thought of it； since she
whom I shall give to you could not live in the second hut in your kraal
and call another 〃Inkosikazi〃 ＇that is； head lady or chieftainess＇。
Umbelazi； my son； go fetch her of whom we have thought as a bride for
this boy。〃
Now Umbelazi rose； and went with a broad smile upon his face； while
Panda； somewhat fatigued with all his speech…makingfor he was very fat
and the day was very hotleaned his head back against the hut and
closed his eyes。
〃O Black One！ O thou who consumeth with rage！ ＇Dhlangamandhla＇〃 broke
out Saduko； who； I could see； was much disturbed。 〃I have something to
say to you。〃
〃No doubt； no doubt；〃 answered Panda drowsily； 〃but save up your thanks
till you have seen； or you will have none left afterwards；〃 and he
snored slightly。
Now I； perceiving that Saduko was about to ruin himself； thought it well
to interfere； though what business of mine it was to do so I cannot say。
At any rate； if only I had held my tongue at this moment； and allowed
Saduko