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〃O Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃if I thought that； I would go over to
Cetewayo； although Saduko is my son…in…law。 But it is not possible；
since the King loves Umbelazi's mother most of all his wives； and； as I
chance to know； has sworn to her that he favours Umbelazi's cause； since
he is the dearest to him of all his sons； and will do everything that he
can to help him； even to the sending of his own regiment to his
assistance； if there should be need。 Also； it is said that Zikali；
Opener…of…Roads； who has all wisdom； has prophesied that Umbelazi will
win more than he ever hoped for。〃
〃The King！〃 I said； 〃a straw blown hither and thither between two great
winds； waiting to be wafted to rest by that which is strongest！ The
prophecy of Zikali！ It seems to me that it can be read two ways； if；
indeed； he ever made one。 Well； Umbezi； I hope that you are right； for；
although it is no affair of mine； who am but a white trader in your
country； I like Umbelazi better than Cetewayo； and think that he has a
kinder heart。 Also； as you have chosen his side； I advise you to stick
to it； since traitors to a cause seldom come to any good； whether it
wins or loses。 And now； will you take count of the guns and powder
which I have brought with me？〃
Ah！ better would it have been for Umbezi if he had listened to my advice
and remained faithful to the leader he had chosen； for then； even if he
had lost his life； at least he would have kept his good name。 But of
him presently； as they say in pedigrees。
Next day I went to pay my respects to Nandie； whom I found engaged in
nursing her new baby and as quiet and stately in her demeanour as ever。
Still； I think that she was very glad to see me； because I had tried to
save the life of her first child； whom she could not forget； if for no
other reason。 Whilst I was talking to her of that sad matter； also of
the political state of the country； as to which I think she wished to
say something to me； Mameena entered the hut； without waiting to be
asked； and sat down； whereon Nandie became suddenly silent。
This； however； did not trouble Mameena； who talked away about anything
and everything； completely ignoring the head…wife。 For a while Nandie
bore it with patience； but at length she took advantage of a pause in
the conversation to say in her firm； low voice：
〃This is my hut； daughter of Umbezi； a thing which you remember well
enough when it is a question whether Saduko； our husband； shall visit
you or me。 Can you not remember it now when I would speak with the
white chief； Watcher…by…Night； who has been so good as to take the
trouble to come to see me？〃
On hearing these words Mameena leapt up in a rage； and I must say I
never saw her look more lovely。
〃You insult me； daughter of Panda； as you always try to do； because you
are jealous of me。〃
〃Your pardon； sister；〃 replied Nandie。 〃Why should I； who am Saduko's
Inkosikazi； and； as you say； daughter of Panda； the King； be jealous of
the widow of the wizard； Masapo； and the daughter of the headman；
Umbezi； whom it has pleased our husband to take into his house to be the
companion of his leisure？〃
〃Why？ Because you know that Saduko loves my little finger more than he
does your whole body； although you are of the King's blood and have
borne him brats；〃 she answered； looking at the infant with no kindly
eye。
〃It may be so； daughter of Umbezi； for men have their fancies； and
without doubt you are fair。 Yet I would ask you one thingif Saduko
loves you so much； how comes it he trusts you so little that you must
learn any matter of weight by listening at my door； as I found you doing
the other day？〃
〃Because you teach him not to do so； O Nandie。 Because you are ever
telling him not to consult with me； since she who has betrayed one
husband may betray another。 Because you make him believe my place is
that of his toy； not that of his companion； and this although I am
cleverer than you and all your House tied into one bundle； as you may
find out some day。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Nandie； quite undisturbed； 〃I do teach him these things；
and I am glad that in this matter Saduko has a thinking head and listens
to me。 Also I agree that it is likely I shall learn many more ill
things through and of you one day； daughter of Umbezi。 And now； as it
is not good that we should wrangle before this white lord； again I say
to you that this is my hut； in which I wish to speak alone with my
guest。〃
〃I go； I go！〃 gasped Mameena； 〃but I tell you that Saduko shall hear of
this。〃
〃Certainly he will hear of it； for I shall tell him when he comes
to…night。〃
Another instant and Mameena was gone； having shot out of the hut like a
rabbit from its burrow。
〃I ask your pardon； Macumazahn； for what has happened；〃 said Nandie；
〃but it had become necessary that I should teach my sister； Mameena；
upon which stool she ought to sit。 I do not trust her； Macumazahn。 I
think that she knows more of the death of my child than she chooses to
say； she who wished to be rid of Masapo for a reason you can guess。 I
think also she will bring shame and trouble upon Saduko； whom she has
bewitched with her beauty； as she bewitches all menperhaps even
yourself a little； Macumazahn。 And now let us talk of other matters。〃
To this proposition I agreed cordially； since； to tell the truth； if I
could have managed to do so with any decent grace； I should have been
out of that hut long before Mameena。 So we fell to conversing on the
condition of Zululand and the dangers that lay ahead for all who were
connected with the royal Housea state of affairs which troubled Nandie
much； for she was a clear…headed woman； and one who feared the future。
〃Ah！ Macumazahn；〃 she said to me as we parted； 〃I would that I were the
wife of some man who did not desire to grow great； and that no royal
blood ran in my veins。〃
On the next day the Prince Umbelazi arrived； and with him Saduko and a
few other notable men。 They came quite quietly and without any
ostensible escort； although Scowl； my servant； told me he heard that the
bush at a little distance was swarming with soldiers of the Isigqosa
party。 If I remember rightly； the excuse for the visit was that Umbezi
had some of a certain rare breed of white cattle whereof the prince
wished to secure young bulls and heifers to improve his herd。
Once inside the kraal； however； Umbelazi； who was a very open…natured
man； threw off all pretence； and； after greeting me heartily enough；
told me with plainness that he was there because this was a convenient
spot on which to arrange the consolidation of his party。
Almost every hour during the next two weeks messengersmany of whom
were chiefs disguisedcame and went。 I should have liked to follow
their examplethat is； so far as their departure was concernedfor I
felt that I was being drawn into a very dangerous vortex。 But； as a
matter of fact； I could not escape； since I was obliged to wait to
receive payment for my stuff； which； as usual； was made in cattle。
Umbelazi talked with me a good deal at that time； impressing upon me how
friendly he was towards the English white men of Natal； as distin