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a fine baby boy in her arms。 Rising； I saluted Nandie and offered her
my camp…stool； which she looked at suspiciously and declined； preferring
to seat herself on the ground after the native fashion。 So I took it
back again； and after I had sat down on it； not before； stretched out my
hand to Saduko； who by this time was quite humble and polite。
Well； we talked away； and by degrees； without seeming too much
interested in them； I was furnished with a list of all the advancements
which it had pleased Panda to heap upon Saduko during the past year。 In
their way they were remarkable enough； for it was much as though some
penniless country gentleman in England had been promoted in that short
space of time to be one of the premier peers of the kingdom and endowed
with great offices and estates。 When he had finished the count of them
he paused； evidently waiting for me to congratulate him。 But all I said
was：
〃By the Heavens above I am sorry for you； Saduko！ How many enemies you
must have made！ What a long way there will be for you to fall one
night！〃a remark at which the quiet Nandie broke into a low laugh that
I think pleased her husband even less than my sarcasm。 〃Well；〃 I went
on； 〃I see that you have got a baby； which is much better than all these
titles。 May I look at it； Inkosazana？〃
Of course she was delighted； and we proceeded to inspect the baby； which
evidently she loved more than anything on earth。 Whilst we were
examining the child and chatting about it； Saduko sitting by meanwhile
in the sulks； who on earth should appear but Mameena and her fat and
sullen…looking husband； the chief Masapo。
〃Oh； Macumazahn；〃 she said； appearing to notice no one else； 〃how
pleased I am to see you after a whole long year！〃
I stared at her and my jaw dropped。 Then I recovered myself； thinking
she must have made a mistake and meant to say 〃week。〃
〃Twelve moons；〃 she went on； 〃and； Macumazahn； not one of them has gone
by but I have thought of you several times and wondered if we should
ever meet again。 Where have you been all this while？〃
〃In many places；〃 I answered； 〃amongst others at the Black Kloof； where
I called upon the dwarf； Zikali； and lost my looking…glass。〃
〃The Nyanga； Zikali！ Oh； how often have I wished to see him。 But； of
course； I cannot； for I am told he will not receive any women。〃
〃I don't know； I am sure；〃 I replied； 〃but you might try； perhaps he
would make an exception in your favour。〃
〃I think I will； Macumazahn；〃 she murmured； whereon I collapsed into
silence； feeling that things were getting beyond me。
When I recovered myself a little it was to hear Mameena greeting Saduko
with much effusion； and complimenting him on his rise in life； which she
said she had always foreseen。 This remark seemed to bowl out Saduko
also； for he made no answer to it； although I noticed that he could not
take his eyes off Mameena's beautiful face。 Presently； however； he
seemed to become aware of Masapo； and instantly his whole demeanour
changed； for it grew proud and even terrible。 Masapo tendered him some
greeting； whereon Saduko turned upon him and said：
〃What； chief of the Amasomi； do you give the good…day to an umfokazana
and a mangy hyena？ Why do you do this？ Is it because the low
umfokazana has become a noble and the mangy hyena has put on a tiger's
coat？〃 And he glared at him like a veritable tiger。
Masapo made no answer that I could catch。 Muttering some inaudible
words； he turned to depart； and in doing soquite innocently； I
thinkstruck Nandie； knocking her over on to her back and causing the
child to fall out of her arms in such fashion that its tender head
struck against a pebble with sufficient force to cause it to bleed。
Saduko leapt at him； smiting him across the shoulders with the little
stick that he carried。 For a moment Masapo paused； and I thought that
he was going to show fight。 If he had any such intention； however； he
changed his mind； for without a word； or showing any resentment at the
insult which he had received； he broke into a heavy run and vanished
among the evening shadows。 Mameena； who had observed all； broke into
something else； namely； a laugh。
〃Piff！ My husband is big yet not brave；〃 she said； 〃but I do not think
he meant to hurt you； woman。〃
〃Do you speak to me； wife of Masapo？〃 asked Nandie with gentle dignity；
as she gained her feet and picked up the stunned child。 〃If so； my name
and titles are the Inkosazana Nandie； daughter of the Black One and wife
of the lord Saduko。〃
〃Your pardon；〃 replied Mameena humbly； for she was cowed at once。 〃I
did not know who you were； Inkosazana。〃
〃It is granted； wife of Masapo。 Macumazahn； give me water； I pray you；
that I may bathe the head of my child。〃
The water was brought； and presently； when the little one seemed all
right again； for it had only received a scratch； Nandie thanked me and
departed to her own huts； saying with a smile to her husband as she
passed that there was no need for him to accompany her； as she had
servants waiting at the kraal gate。 So Saduko stayed behind； and
Mameena stayed also。 He talked with me for quite a long while； for he
had much to tell me； although all the time I felt that his heart was not
in his talk。 His heart was with Mameena； who sat there and smiled
continually in her mysterious way； only putting in a word now and again；
as though to excuse her presence。
At length she rose and said with a sigh that she must be going back to
where the Amasomi were in camp； as Masapo would need her to see to his
food。 By now it was quite dark； although I remember that from time to
time the sky was lit up by sheet lightning； for a storm was brewing。 As
I expected； Saduko rose also； saying that he would see me on the morrow；
and went away with Mameena； walking like one who dreams。
A few minutes later I had occasion to leave the wagons in order to
inspect one of the oxen which was tied up by itself at a distance；
because it had shown signs of some sickness that might or might not be
catching。 Moving quietly； as I always do from a hunter's habit； I
walked alone to the place where the beast was tethered behind some
mimosa thorns。 Just as I reached these thorns the broad lightning shone
out vividly； and showed me Saduko holding the unresisting shape of
Mameena in his arms and kissing her passionately。
Then I turned and went back to the wagons even more quietly than I had
come。
I should add that on the morrow I found out that； after all； there was
nothing serious the matter with my ox。
CHAPTER X
THE SMELLING…OUT
After these events matters went on quietly for some time。 I visited
Saduko's hutsvery fine hutsabout the doors of which sat quite a
number of his tribesmen； who seemed glad to see me again。 Here I
learned from the Lady Nandie that her babe； whom she loved dearly； was
none the worse for its little accident。 Also I learned from Saduko
himself； who came in before I left； attended like a prince by several
notable men； that he had made up his quarrel with Masapo； and； indeed；
apologised to him； as he found that he had not really meant to i