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Hollands gin and waterhalf gin and half waterwhich he had placed
there before the battle。 He uncorked and gave it to me。 I took a long
pull at the stuff； that tasted like veritable nectar； then handed it to
him； who did likewise。 New life seemed to flow into my veins。 Whatever
teetotallers may say； alcohol is good at such a moment。
〃Where are the Amawombe？〃 I asked。
〃All dead by now； I think； Baas； as we should be had not your horse
bolted。 Wow！ but they made a great fightone that will be told of！
They have carried those three regiments away upon their spears。〃
〃That's good；〃 I said。 〃But where are we going？〃
〃To Natal； I hope； Baas。 I have had enough of the Zulus for the
present。 The Tugela is not far away； and we will swim it。 Come on；
before our hurts grow stiff。〃
So we went on； till presently we reached the crest of a rise of ground
overlooking the river； and there saw and heard dreadful things； for
beneath us those devilish Usutu were massacring the fugitives and the
camp…followers。 These were being driven by the hundred to the edge of
the water； there to perish on the banks or in the stream； which was
black with drowned or drowning forms。
And oh！ the sounds！ Well； these I will not attempt to describe。
〃Keep up stream；〃 I said shortly； and we struggled across a kind of
donga； where only a few wounded men were hidden； into a somewhat denser
patch of bush that had scarcely been entered by the flying Isigqosa；
perhaps because here the banks of the river were very steep and
difficult； also； between them its waters ran swiftly； for this was above
the drift。
For a while we went on in safety； then suddenly I heard a noise。 A
great man plunged past me； breaking through the bush like a buffalo； and
came to a halt upon a rock which overhung the Tugela； for the floods had
eaten away the soil beneath。
〃Umbelazi！〃 said Scowl； and as he spoke we saw another man following as
a wild dog follows a buck。
〃Saduko！〃 said Scowl。
I rode on。 I could not help riding on； although I knew it would be
safer to keep away。 I reached the edge of that big rock。 Saduko and
Umbelazi were fighting there。
In ordinary circumstances； strong and active as he was； Saduko would
have had no chance against the most powerful Zulu living。 But the
prince was utterly exhausted； his sides were going like a blacksmith's
bellows； or those of a fat eland bull that has been galloped to a
standstill。 Moreover； he seemed to me to be distraught with grief； and；
lastly； he had no shield left； nothing but an assegai。
A stab from Saduko's spear； which he partially parried； wounded him
slightly on the head； and cut loose the fillet of his ostrich plume；
that same plume which I had seen blown off in the morning； so that it
fell to the ground。 Another stab pierced his right arm； making it
helpless。 He snatched the assegai with his left hand； striving to
continue the fight； and just at that moment we came up。
〃What are you doing； Saduko？〃 I cried。 〃Does a dog bite his own
master？〃
He turned and stared at me； both of them stared at me。
〃Aye； Macumazahn；〃 he answered in an icy voice； 〃sometimes when it is
starving and that full…fed master has snatched away its bone。 Nay；
stand aside； Macumazahn〃 （for； although I was quite unarmed； I had
stepped between them）； 〃lest you should share the fate of this
woman…thief。〃
〃Not I； Saduko；〃 I cried； for this sight made me mad； 〃unless you murder
me。〃
Then Umbelazi spoke in a hollow voice； sobbing out his words：
〃I thank you； White Man； yet do as this snake bids youthis snake that
has lived in my kraal and fed out of my cup。 Let him have his fill of
vengeance because of the woman who bewitched meyes； because of the
sorceress who has brought me and thousands to the dust。 Have you heard；
Macumazahn； of the great deed of this son of Matiwane？ Have you heard
that all the while he was a traitor in the pay of Cetewayo； and that he
went over； with the regiments of his command； to the Usutu just when the
battle hung upon the turn？ Come； Traitor； here is my heartthe heart
that loved and trusted you。 Strikestrike hard！〃
〃Out of the way； Macumazahn！〃 hissed Saduko。 But I would not stir。
He sprang at me； and； though I put up the best fight that I could in my
injured state； got his hands about my throat and began to choke me。
Scowl ran to help me； but his woundfor he was hurtor his utter
exhaustion took effect on him。 Or perhaps it was excitement。 At any
rate； he fell down in a fit。 I thought that all was over； when again I
heard Umbelazi's voice； and felt Saduko's grip loosen at my throat； and
sat up。
〃Dog；〃 said the Prince； 〃where is your assegai？ And as he spoke he
threw it from him into the river beneath； for he had picked it up while
we struggled； but； as I noted； retained his own。 〃Now； dog； why do I
not kill you； as would have been easy but now？ I will tell you。
Because I will not mix the blood of a traitor with my own。 See！〃 He
set the haft of his broad spear upon the rock and bent forward over the
blade。 〃You and your witch…wife have brought me to nothing； O Saduko。
My blood； and the blood of all who clung to me； is on your head。 Your
name shall stink for ever in the nostrils of all true men； and I whom
you have betrayedI； the Prince Umbelaziwill haunt you while you
live； yes； my spirit shall enter into you； and when you dieah！ then
we'll meet again。 Tell this tale to the white men； Macumazahn； my
friend； on whom be honour and blessings。〃
He paused； and I saw the tears gush from his eyestears mingled with
blood from the wound in his head。 Then suddenly he uttered the
battle…cry of 〃Laba！ Laba！〃 and let his weight fall upon the point of
the spear。
It pierced him through and through。 He fell on to his hands and knees。
He looked up at usoh； the piteousness of that look！and then rolled
sideways from the edge of the rock。
A heavy splash； and that was the end of Umbelazi the FallenUmbelazi；
about whom Mameena had cast her net。
A sad story in truth。 Although it happened so many years ago I weep as
I write itI weep as Umbelazi wept。
CHAPTER XIV
UMBEZI AND THE BLOOD ROYAL
After this I think that some of the Usutu came up； for it seemed to me
that I heard Saduko say：
〃Touch not Macumazahn or his servant。 They are my prisoners。 He who
harms them dies； with all his House。〃
So they put me； fainting； on my horse； and Scowl they carried away upon
a shield。
When I came to I found myself in a little cave； or rather beneath some
overhanging rocks； at the side of a kopje； and with me Scowl； who had
recovered from his fit； but seemed in a very bewildered condition。
Indeed； neither then nor afterwards did he remember anything of the
death of Umbelazi； nor did I ever tell him that tale。 Like many others；
he thought that the Prince had been drowned in trying to swim the
Tugela。
〃Are they going to kill us？〃 I asked of him； since； from the triumphant
shouting without； I knew that we must be in the midst of the victorious
Usutu。
〃I don't know； Baas；〃 he answered。 〃I hope not； after we have gone
through so much it would be a pit