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At any rate； if only I had held my tongue at this moment； and allowed
Saduko to make a fool of himself； as he wished to dofor where Mameena
was concerned he never could be wiseI verily believe that all the
history of Zululand would have run a different course； and that many
thousands of men； white and black； who are now dead would be alive
to…day。 But Fate ordered it otherwise。 Yes； it was not I who spoke；
but Fate。 The Angel of Doom used my throat as his trumpet。
Seeing that Panda dozed； I slipped behind Saduko and gripped him by the
arm。
〃Are you mad？〃 I whispered into his ear。 〃Will you throw away your
fortune； and your life also？〃
〃But Mameena；〃 he whispered back。 〃I would marry none save Mameena。〃
〃Fool！ 〃 I answered。 〃Mameena has betrayed and spat upon you。 Take
what the Heavens send you and give thanks。 Would you wear Masapo's
soiled blanket？〃
〃Macumazahn；〃 he said in a hollow voice； 〃I will follow your head； and
not my own heart。 Yet you sow a strange seed； Macumazahn； or so you may
think when you see its fruit。〃 And he gave me a wild looka look that
frightened me。
There was something in this look which caused me to reflect that I might
do well to go away and leave Saduko； Mameena； Nandie； and the rest of
them to 〃dree their weirds；〃 as the Scotch say； for； after all； what was
my finger doing in that very hot stew？ Getting burnt； I thought； and
not collecting any stew。
Yet； looking back on these events； how could I foresee what would be the
end of the madness of Saduko； of the fearful machinations of Mameena；
and of the weakness of Umbelazi when she snared him in the net of her
beauty； thus bringing about his ruin； through the hate of Saduko and the
ambition of Cetewayo？ How could I know that； at the back of all these
events； stood the old dwarf； Zikali the Wise； working night and day to
slake the enmity and fulfil the vengeance which long ago he had
conceived and planned against the royal House of Senzangakona and the
Zulu people over whom it ruled？
Yes； he stood there like a man behind a great stone upon the brow of a
mountain； slowly； remorselessly； with infinite skill； labour； and
patience； pushing that stone to the edge of the cliff； whence at length；
in the appointed hour； it would thunder down upon those who dwelt
beneath； to leave them crushed and no more a people。 How could I guess
that we； the actors in this play； were all the while helping him to push
that stone； and that he cared nothing how many of us were carried with
it into the abyss； if only we brought about the triumph of his secret；
unutterable rage and hate？
Now I see and understand all these things； as it is easy to do； but then
I was blind； nor did the Voices reach my dull ears to warn me； as； how
or why I cannot tell； they did； I believe； reach those of Zikali。
Oh； what was the sum of it？ Just this； I think； and nothing morethat；
as Saduko and the others were Mameena's tools； and as all of them and
their passions were Zikali's tools； so he himself was the tool of some
unseen Power that used him and us to accomplish its design。 Which； I
suppose； is fatalism； or； in other words； all these things happened
because they must happen。 A poor conclusion to reach after so much
thought and striving； and not complimentary to man and his boasted
powers of free will； still； one to which many of us are often driven；
especially if we have lived among savages； where such dramas work
themselves out openly and swiftly； unhidden from our eyes by the veils
and subterfuges of civilisation。 At least； there is this comfort about
itthat； if we are but feathers blown by the wind； how can the
individual feather be blamed because it did not travel against； turn or
keep back the wind？
Well； let me return from these speculations to the history of the facts
that caused them。
Just asa little too lateI had made up my mind that I would go after
my own business； and leave Saduko to manage his； through the fence
gateway appeared the great； tall Umbelazi leading by the hand a woman。
As I saw in a moment； it did not need certain bangles of copper；
ornaments of ivory and of very rare pink beads； called infibinga； which
only those of the royal House were permitted to wear； to proclaim her a
person of rank； for dignity and high blood were apparent in her face；
her carriage； her gestures； and all that had to do with her。
Nandie the Sweet was not a great beauty； as was Mameena； although her
figure was fine； and her stature like that of all the race of
Senzangakonaconsiderably above the average。 To begin with； she was
darker in hue； and her lips were rather thick； as was her nose； nor were
her eyes large and liquid like those of an antelope。 Further； she
lacked the informing mystery of Mameena's face； that at times was broken
and ＇it up by flashes of alluring light and quick； sympathetic
perception； as a heavy evening sky； that seems to join the dim earth to
the dimmer heavens； is illuminated by pulsings of fire； soft and
many…hued； suggesting； but not revealing； the strength and splendour
that it veils。 Nandie had none of these attractions； which； after all；
anywhere upon the earth belong only to a few women in each generation。
She was a simple； honest…natured； kindly； affectionate young woman of
high birth； no more； that is； as these qualities are understood and
expressed among her people。
Umbelazi led her forward into the presence of the King； to whom she
bowed gracefully enough。 Then； after casting a swift； sidelong glance
at Saduko； which I found it difficult to interpret； and another of
inquiry at me； she folded her hands upon her breast and stood silent；
with bent head； waiting to be addressed。
The address was brief enough； for Panda was still sleepy。
〃My daughter；〃 he said； with a yawn； 〃there stands your husband；〃 and he
jerked his thumb towards Saduko。 〃He is a young man and a brave； and
unmarried； also one who should grow great in the shadow of our House；
especially as he is a friend of your brother； Umbelazi。 I understand
also that you have seen him and like him。 Unless you have anything to
say against it； for as； not being a common father； the King receives no
cattleat least in this caseI am not prejudiced； but will listen to
your words；〃 and he chuckled in a drowsy fashion。 〃I propose that the
marriage should take place to…morrow。 Now； my daughter； have you
anything to say？ For if so； please say it at once； as I am tired。 The
eternal wranglings between your brethren； Cetewayo and Umbelazi； have
worn me out。〃
Now Nandie looked about her in her open； honest fashion； her gaze
resting first on Saduko； then on Umbelazi； and lastly upon me。
〃My Father；〃 she said at length； in her soft； steady voice； 〃tell me； I
beseech you； who proposes this marriage？ Is it the Chief Saduko； is it
the Prince Umbelazi； or is it the white lord whose true name I do not
know； but who is called Macumazahn； Watcher…by…Night？〃
〃I can't remember which of them proposed it；〃 yawned Panda。 〃Who can
keep on talking about things from night till morning？ At any rate； I
propose it； and I will make your husband a big man among our people。