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truth？ Zikali seemed to think also that at last every one of my herd of
cows； old and new； would come to a bad end。 He did not tell me to what
end。〃
She turned her head aside； and when she looked up again I saw that she
was weeping； really weeping this time； not just making her eyes swim； as
she did before。
〃Of course they will come to a bad end； Macumazahn；〃 she went on in a
soft； thick voice； 〃for I and all with whom I have to do were 'torn out
of the reeds' ＇i。e。 created＇ that way。 And that's why I won't tempt you
to run away with me any more； as I meant to do when I saw you； because
it is true； Macumazahn you are the only man I ever liked or ever shall
like； and you know I could make you run away with me if I chose；
although I am black and you are whiteoh； yes； before to…morrow
morning。 But I won't do it； for why should I catch you in my unlucky
web and bring you into all sorts of trouble among my people and your
own？ Go you your road； Macumazahn； and I will go mine as the wind blows
me。 And now give me a cup of water and let me be awaya cup of water；
no more。 Oh； do not be afraid for me； or melt too much； lest I should
melt also。 I have an escort waiting over yonder hill。 There； thank you
for your water； Macumazahn； and good night。 Doubtless we shall meet
again ere long； and I forgot； the Little Wise One said he would like
to have a talk with you。 Good night； Macumazahn； good night。 I trust
that you did a profitable trade with Umbezi my father and Masapo my
husband。 I wonder why such men as these should have been chosen to be
my father and my husband。 Think it over； Macumazahn； and tell me when
next we meet。 Give me that pretty mirror； Macumazahn； when I look in it
I shall see you as well as myself； and that will please meyou don't
know how much。 I thank you。 Good night。〃
In another minute I was watching her solitary little figure； now wrapped
again in the hooded kaross； as it vanished over the brow of the rise
behind us； and really； as she went； I felt a lump rising in my throat。
Notwithstanding all her wickednessand I suppose she was wickedthere
was something horribly attractive about Mameena。
When she had gone； taking my only looking…glass with her； and the lump
in my throat had gone also； I began to wonder how much fact there was in
her story。 She had protested so earnestly that she told me all the
truth that I felt sure there must be something left behind。 Also I
remembered she had said Zikali wanted to see me。 Well； the end of it
was I took a moonlight walk up that dreadful gorge； into which not even
Scowl would accompany me； because he declared that the place was well
known to be haunted by imikovu； or spectres who have been raised from
the dead by wizards。
It was a long and disagreeable walk； and somehow I felt very depressed
and insignificant as I trudged on between those gigantic cliffs； passing
now through patches of bright moonlight and now through deep pools of
shadow； threading my way among clumps of bush or round the bases of tall
pillars of piled…up stones； till at length I came to the overhanging
cliffs at the end； which frowned down on me like the brows of some
titanic demon。
Well； I got to the end at last； and at the gate of the kraal fence was
met by one of those fierce and huge men who served the dwarf as guards。
Suddenly he emerged from behind a stone； and having scanned me for a
moment in silence； beckoned to me to follow him； as though I were
expected。 A minute later I found myself face to face with Zikali； who
was seated in the clear moonlight just outside the shadow of his hut；
and engaged； apparently； in his favourite occupation of carving wood
with a rough native knife of curious shape。
For a while he took no notice of me； then suddenly looked up； shaking
back his braided grey locks； and broke into one of his great laughs。
〃So it is you； Macumazahn；〃 he said。 〃Well； I knew you were passing my
way and that Mameena would send you here。 But why do you come to see
the 'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born'？ To tell me how you fared
with the buffalo with the split horn； eh？〃
〃No； Zikali； for why should I tell you what you know already？ Mameena
said you wished to talk with me； that was all。〃
〃Then Mameena lied；〃 he answered； 〃as is her nature； in whose throat
live four false words for every one of truth。 Still； sit down；
Macumazahn。 There is beer made ready for you by that stool； and give me
the knife and a pinch of the white man's snuff that you have brought for
me as a present。〃
I produced these articles； though how be knew that I had them with me I
cannot tell； nor did I think it worth while to inquire。 The snuff； I
remember； pleased him very much； but of the knife he said that it was a
pretty toy； but he would not know how to use it。 Then we fell to
talking。
〃What was Mameena doing here？〃 I asked boldly。
〃What was she doing at your wagons？〃 he asked。 〃Oh； do not stop to tell
me； I know； I know。 That is a very good Snake of yours； Macumazahn；
which always just lets you slip through her fingers； when； if she chose
to close her hand Well； well； I do not betray the secrets of my
clients； but I say this to yougo on to the kraal of the son of
Senzangakona； and you will see things happen that will make you laugh；
for Mameena will be there； and the mongrel Masapo； her husband。 Truly
she hates him well； and； after all； I would rather be loved than hated
by Mameena； though both are dangerous。 Poor Mongrel！ Soon the jackals
will be chewing his bones。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃 I asked。
〃Only because Mameena tells me that he is a great wizard； and the
jackals eat many wizards in Zululand。 Also he is an enemy of Panda's
House； is he not？〃
〃You have been giving her some bad counsel； Zikali；〃 I said； blurting
out the thought in my mind。
〃Perhaps； perhaps； Macumazahn； only I may call it good counsel。 I have
my own road to walk； and if I can find some to clear away the thorns
that would prick my feet； what of it？ Also she will get her pay； who
finds life dull up there among the Amasomi； with one she hates for a
hut…fellow。 Go you and watch； and afterwards； when you have an hour to
spare； come and tell me what happensthat is； if I do not chance to be
there to see for myself。〃
〃Is Saduko well？〃 I asked to change the subject； for I did not wish to
become privy to the plots that filled the air。
〃I am told that his tree grows great； that it overshadows all the royal
kraal。 I think that Mameena wishes to sleep in the shade of it。 And
now you are weary； and so am I。 Go back to your wagons； Macumazahn； for
I have nothing more to say to you to…night。 But be sure to return and
tell me what chances at Panda's kraal。 Or； as I have said； perhaps I
shall meet you there。 Who knows； who knows？〃
Now； it will be observed that there was nothing very remarkable in this
conversation between Zikali and myself。 He did not tell me any deep
secrets or make any great prophecy。 It may be wondered； indeed； when
there is so much to record； why I set it down at all。
My answer is； because of the extraordinary impression that it produced
upon me。 Altho