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My answer is； because of the extraordinary impression that it produced
upon me。 Although so little was said； I felt all the while that those
few words were a veil hiding terrible events to be。 I was sure that
some dreadful scheme had been hatched between the old dwarf and Mameena
whereof the issue would soon become apparent； and that he had sent me
away in a hurry after he learned that she had told me nothing； because
he feared lest I should stumble on its cue and perhaps cause it to fail。
At any rate； as I walked back to my wagons by moonlight down that
dreadful gorge； the hot； thick air seemed to me to have a physical taste
and smell of blood； and the dank foliage of the tropical trees that grew
there； when now and again a puff of wind stirred them； moaned like the
fabled imikovu； or as men might do in their last faint agony。 The
effect upon my nerves was quite strange； for when at last I reached my
wagons I was shaking like a reed； and a cold perspiration； unnatural
enough upon that hot night； poured from my face and body。
Well； I took a couple of stiff tots of 〃squareface〃 to pull myself
together； and at length went to sleep； to awake before dawn with a
headache。 Looking out of the wagon； to my surprise I saw Scowl and the
hunters； who should have been snoring； standing in a group and talking
to each other in frightened whispers。 I called Scowl to me and asked
what was the matter。
〃Nothing； Baas；〃 he said with a shamefaced air； 〃only there are so many
spooks about this place。 They have been passing in and out of it all
night。〃
〃Spooks； you idiot！〃 I answered。 〃Probably they were people going to
visit the Nyanga； Zikali。〃
〃Perhaps； Baas； only then we do not know why they should all look like
dead peopleprinces； some of them； by their dressand walk upon the
air a man's height from the ground。〃
〃Pooh！〃 I replied。 〃Do you not know the difference between owls in the
mist and dead kings？ Make ready； for we trek at once； the air here is
full of fever。〃
〃Certainly； Baas；〃 he said； springing off to obey； and I do not think I
ever remember two wagons being got under way quicker than they were that
morning。
I merely mention this nonsense to show that the Black Kloof could affect
other people's nerves as well as my own。
In due course I reached Nodwengu without accident； having sent forward
one of my hunters to report my approach to Panda。 When my wagons
arrived outside the Great Place they were met by none other than my old
friend； Maputa； he who had brought me back the pills before our attack
upon Bangu。
〃Greeting； Macumazahn；〃 he said。 〃I am sent by the King to say that you
are welcome and to point you out a good place to outspan； also to give
you permission to trade as much as you will in this town； since he knows
that your dealings are always fair。〃
I returned my thanks in the usual fashion； adding that I had brought a
little present for the King which I would deliver when it pleased him to
receive me。 Then I invited Maputa； to whom I also offered some trifle
which delighted him very much； to ride with me on the wagon…box till we
came to the selected outspan。
This； by the way； proved； to be a very good place indeed； a little
valley full of grass for the cattlefor by the King's order it had not
been grazedwith a stream of beautiful water running down it。 Moreover
it overlooked a great open space immediately in front of the main gate
of the town； so that I could see everything that went on and all who
arrived or departed。
〃You will be comfortable here； Macumazahn；〃 said Maputa； 〃during your
stay； which we hope will be long； since； although there will soon be a
mighty crowd at Nodwengu； the King has given orders that none except
your own servants are to enter this valley。〃
〃I thank the King； but why will there be a crowd； Maputa？〃
〃Oh！〃 he answered with a shrug of the shoulders； 〃because of a new
thing。 All the tribes of the Zulus are to come up to be reviewed。 Some
say that Cetewayo has brought this about； and some say that it is
Umbelazi。 But I am sure that it is the work of neither of these； but of
Saduko； your old friend； though what his object is I cannot tell you。 I
only trust；〃 he added uneasily； 〃that it will not end in bloodshed
between the Great Brothers。〃
〃So Saduko has grown tall； Maputa？〃
〃Tall as a tree； Macumazahn。 His whisper in the King's ear is louder
than the shouts of others。 Moreover； he has become a 'self…eater' ＇that
is a Zulu term which means one who is very haughty＇。 You will have to
wait on him； Macumazahn； he will not wait on you。〃
〃Is it so？ 〃 I answered。 〃Well； tall trees are blown down sometimes。〃
He nodded his wise old head。 〃Yes； Macumazahn； I have seen plenty grow
and fall in my time； for at last the swimmer goes with the stream。
Anyhow； you will be able to do a good trade among so many； and； whatever
happens； none will harm you whom all love。 And now farewell； I bear
your messages to the King； who sends an ox for you to kill lest you
should grow hungry in his house。〃
That same evening I saw Saduko and the others； as I shall tell。 I had
been up to visit the King and give him my present； a case of English
table…knives with bone handles； which pleased him greatly； although he
did not in the least know how to use them。 Indeed； without their
accompanying forks these are somewhat futile articles。 I found the old
fellow very tired and anxious； but as he was surrounded by indunas； I
had no private talk with him。 Seeing that he was busy； I took my leave
as soon as I could； and when I walked away whom should I meet but
Saduko。
I saw him while he was a good way off； advancing towards the inner gate
with a train of attendants like a royal personage； and knew very well
that he saw me。 Making up my mind what to do at once； I walked straight
on to him； forcing him to give me the path； which he did not wish to do
before so many people； and brushed past him as though he were a
stranger。 As I expected； this treatment had the desired effect； for
after we had passed each other he turned and said：
〃Do you not know me； Macumazahn？〃
〃Who calls？〃 I asked。 〃Why； friend； your face is familiar to me。 How
are you named？〃
〃Have you forgotten Saduko？〃 he said in a pained voice。
〃No； no； of course not；〃 I answered。 〃I know you now； although you seem
somewhat changed since we went out hunting and fighting togetherI
suppose because you are fatter。 I trust that you are well； Saduko？
Good…bye。 I must be going back to my wagons。 If you wish to see me you
will find me there。〃
These remarks； I may add； seemed to take Saduko very much aback。 At any
rate； he found no reply to them； even when old Maputa； with whom I was
walking； and some others sniggered aloud。 There is nothing that Zulus
enjoy so much as seeing one whom they consider an upstart set in his
place。
Well； a couple of hours afterwards； just as the sun was sinking； who
should walk up to my wagons but Saduko himself； accompanied by a woman
whom I recognised at once as his wife； the Princess Nandie； who carried
a fine baby boy in her arms。 Rising； I saluted Nandie and offered