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river。〃
Now； I felt the hidden taunt in this speech very keenly。 Still； being
determined that for once I would be wise and not allow my natural
curiosity and love of adventure to drag me into more risks and trouble；
I replied：
〃The Prince says that I am not brave and love my life； and what he says
is true。 I fear fighting； who by nature am a trader with the heart of a
trader； not a warrior with the heart of a warrior； like the great
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti〃words at which I saw the grave Saduko smile
faintly。 〃So farewell to you； Prince； and may good fortune attend you。〃
Of course； to call the Prince to his face by this nickname； which
referred to a defect in his person； was something of an insult； but I
had been insulted； and meant to give him 〃a Roland for his Oliver。〃
However； he took it in good part。
〃What is good fortune； Macumazahn？〃 Umbelazi replied as he grasped my
hand。 〃Sometimes I think that to live and prosper is good fortune； and
sometimes I think that to die and sleep is good fortune； for in sleep
there is neither hunger nor thirst of body or of spirit。 In sleep there
come no cares； in sleep ambitions are at rest； nor do those who look no
more upon the sun smart beneath the treacheries of false women or false
friends。 Should the battle turn against me； Macumazahn； at least that
good fortune will be mine； for never will I live to be crushed beneath
Cetewayo's heel。〃
Then he went。 Saduko accompanied him for a little way； but； making some
excuse to the Prince； came back and said to me：
〃Macumazahn； my friend； I dare say that we part for the last time； and
therefore I make a request to you。 It is as to one who is dead to me。
Macumazahn； I believe that Umbelazi the thief〃these words broke from
his lips with a hiss〃has given her many cattle and hidden her away
either in the kloof of Zikali the Wise； or near to it； under his care。
Now； if the war should go against Umbelazi and I should be killed in it；
I think evil will fall upon that woman's head； I who have grown sure
that it was she who was the wizard and not Masapo the Boar。 Also； as
one connected with Umbelazi； who has helped him in his plots； she will
be killed if she is caught。 Macumazahn； hearken to me。 I will tell you
the truth。 My heart is still on fire for that woman。 She has bewitched
me； her eyes haunt my sleep and I hear her voice in the wind。 She is
more to me than all the earth and all the sky； and although she has
wronged me I do not wish that harm should come to her。 Macumazahn； I
pray you if I die； do your best to befriend her； even though it be only
as a servant in your house； for I think that she cares more for you than
for anyone； who only ran away with him〃and he pointed in the direction
that Umbelazi had taken〃because he is a prince； who； in her folly； she
believes will be a king。 At least take her to Natal； Macumazahn； where；
if you wish to be free of her； she can marry whom she will and will live
safe until night comes。 Panda loves you much； and； whoever conquers in
the war； will give you her life if you ask it of him。〃
Then this strange man drew the back of his hand across his eyes； from
which I saw the tears were running； and； muttering； 〃If you would have
good fortune remember my prayer；〃 turned and left me before I could
answer a single word。
As for me； I sat down upon an ant…heap and whistled a whole hymn tune
that my mother had taught me before I could think at all。 To be left
the guardian of Mameena！ Talk of a 〃damnosa hereditas；〃 a terrible and
mischievous inheritancewhy； this was the worst that ever I heard of。
A servant in my house indeed； knowing what _I_ did about her！ Why； I
had sooner share the 〃good fortune〃 which Umbelazi anticipated beneath
the sod。 However； that was not in the question； and without it the
alternative of acting as her guardian was bad enough； though I comforted
myself with the reflection that the circumstances in which this would
become necessary might never arise。 For； alas！ I was sure that if they
did arise I should have to live up to them。 True； I had made no promise
to Saduko with my lips； but I felt； as I knew he felt； that this promise
had passed from my heart to his。
〃That thief Umbelazi！〃 Strange words to be uttered by a great vassal of
his lord； and both of them about to enter upon a desperate enterprise。
〃A prince whom in her folly she believes will be a king。〃 Stranger
words still。 Then Saduko did not believe that he _would_ be a king！
And yet he was about to share the fortunes of his fight for the throne；
he who said that his heart was still on fire for the woman whom
〃Umbelazi the thief〃 had stolen。 Well； if I were Umbelazi； thought I to
myself； I would rather that Saduko were not my chief councillor and
general。 But； thank Heaven！ I was not Umbelazi； or Saduko； or any of
them！ And； thank Heaven still more； I was going to begin my trek from
Zululand on the morrow！
Man proposes but God disposes。 I did not trek from Zululand for many a
long day。 When I got back to my wagons it was to find that my oxen had
mysteriously disappeared from the veld on which they were accustomed to
graze。 They were lost； or perhaps they had felt the urgent need of
trekking from Zululand back to a more peaceful country。 I sent all the
hunters I had with me to look for them； only Scowl and I remaining at
the wagons； which in those disturbed times I did not like to leave
unguarded。
Four days went by； a week went by； and no sign of either hunters or
oxen。 Then at last a message； which reached me in some roundabout
fashion； to the effect that the hunters had found the oxen a long way
off； but on trying to return to Nodwengu had been driven by some of the
Usututhat is； by Cetewayo's partyacross the Tugela into Natal；
whence they dared not attempt to return。
For once in my life I went into a rage and cursed that nondescript kind
of messenger； sent by I know not whom； in language that I think he will
not forget。 Then； realising the futility of swearing at a mere tool； I
went up to the Great House and demanded an audience with Panda himself。
Presently the inceku； or household servant； to whom I gave my message；
returned； saying that I was to be admitted at once； and on entering the
enclosure I found the King sitting at the head of the kraal quite alone；
except for a man who was holding a large shield over him in order to
keep off the sun。
He greeted me warmly； and I told him my trouble about the oxen； whereon
he sent away the shield…holder； leaving us two together。
〃Watcher…by…Night；〃 he said； 〃why do you blame me for these events； when
you know that I am nobody in my own House？ I say that I am a dead man；
whose sons fight for his inheritance。 I cannot tell you for certain who
it was that drove away your oxen。 Still； I am glad that they are gone；
since I believe that if you had attempted to trek to Natal just now you
would have been killed on the road by the Usutu； who believe you to be a
councillor of Umbelazi。〃
〃I understand； O King；〃 I answered； 〃and I dare say that the accident of
the loss of my oxen is fortunate for me。 But tell me now； what am I to
do