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〃I don't know； Baas；〃 he answered。 〃I hope not； after we have gone
through so much it would be a pity。 Better to have died at the
beginning of the battle。〃
I nodded my head in assent； and just at that moment a Zulu； who had very
evidently been fighting； entered the place carrying a dish of toasted
lumps of beef and a gourd of water。
〃Cetewayo sends you these； Macumazahn；〃 he said； 〃and is sorry that
there is no milk or beer。 When you have eaten a guard waits without to
escort you to him。〃 And he went。
〃Well；〃 I said to Scowl； 〃if they were going to kill us； they would
scarcely take the trouble to feed us first。 So let us keep up our
hearts and eat。〃
〃Who knows？〃 answered poor Scowl； as he crammed a lump of beef into his
big mouth。 〃Still； it is better to die on a full than on an empty
stomach。〃
So we ate and drank； and； as we were suffering more from exhaustion than
from our hurts； which were not really serious； our strength came back to
us。 As we finished the last lump of meat； which； although it had been
only half cooked upon the point of an assegai； tasted very good； the
Zulu put his head into the mouth of the shelter and asked if we were
ready。 I nodded； and； supporting each other； Scowl and I limped from
the place。 Outside were about fifty soldiers； who greeted us with a
shout that； although it was mixed with laughter at our pitiable
appearance； struck me as not altogether unfriendly。 Amongst these men
was my horse； which stood with its head hanging down； looking very
depressed。 I was helped on to its back； and； Scowl clinging to the
stirrup leather； we were led a distance of about a quarter of a mile to
Cetewayo。
We found him seated； in the full blaze of the evening sun； on the
eastern slope of one of the land…waves of the veld； with the open plain
in front of him。 It was a strange and savage scene。 There sat the
victorious prince； surrounded by his captains and indunas； while before
him rushed the triumphant regiments； shouting his titles in the most
extravagant language。 Izimbongi alsothat is； professional
praiserswere running up and down before him dressed in all sorts of
finery； telling his deeds； calling him 〃Eater…up…of…the…Earth；〃 and
yelling out the names of those great ones who had been killed in the
battle。
Meanwhile parties of bearers were coming up continually； carrying dead
men of distinction upon shields and laying them out in rows； as game is
laid out at the end of a day's shooting in England。 It seems that
Cetewayo had taken a fancy to see them； and； being too tired to walk
over the field of battle； ordered that this should be done。 Among
these； by the way； I saw the body of my old friend； Maputa； the general
of the Amawombe； and noted that it was literally riddled with spear
thrusts； every one of them in front； also that his quaint face still
wore a smile。
At the head of these lines of corpses were laid six dead； all men of
large size； in whom I recognised the brothers of Umbelazi； who had
fought on his side； and the half…brothers of Cetewayo。 Among them were
those three princes upon whom the dust had fallen when Zikali； the
prophet； smelt out Masapo； the husband of Mameena。
Dismounting from my horse； with the help of Scowl； I limped through and
over the corpses of these fallen royalties； cut in the Zulu fashion to
free their spirits； which otherwise； as they believed； would haunt the
slayers； and stood in front of Cetewayo。
〃Siyakubona； Macumazahn；〃 he said； stretching out his hand to me； which
I took； though I could not find it in my heart to wish _him_ 〃good day。〃
〃I hear that you were leading the Amawombe； whom my father； the King；
sent down to help Umbelazi； and I am very glad that you have escaped
alive。 Also my heart is proud of the fight that they made； for you
know； Macumazahn； once； next to the King； I was general of that
regiment； though afterwards we quarrelled。 Still； I am pleased that
they did so well； and I have given orders that every one of them who
remains alive is to be spared； that they may be officers of a new
Amawombe which I shall raise。 Do you know； Macumazahn； that you have
nearly wiped out three whole regiments of the Usutu； killing many more
people than did all my brother's army； the Isigqosa？ Oh； you are a
great man。 Had it not been for the loyalty〃this word was spoken with
just a tinge of sarcasm〃of Saduko yonder； you would have won the day
for Umbelazi。 Well； now that this quarrel is finished； if you will stay
with me I will make you general of a whole division of the King's army；
since henceforth I shall have a voice in affairs。〃
〃You are mistaken； O Son of Panda；〃 I answered； 〃the splendour of the
Amawombe's great stand against a multitude is on the name of Maputa； the
King's councillor and the induna of the Black One ＇Chaka＇； who is gone。
He lies yonder in his glory；〃 and I pointed to Maputa's pierced body。
〃I did but fight as a soldier in his ranks。〃
〃Oh； yes； we know that； we know all that； Macumazahn； and Maputa was a
clever monkey in his way； but we know also that you taught him how to
jump。 Well； he is dead； and nearly all the Amawombe are dead； and of my
three regiments but a handful is left； the vultures have the rest of
them。 That is all finished and forgotten； Macumazahn； though by good
fortune the spears went wide of you； who doubtless are a magician； since
otherwise you and your servant and your horse would not have escaped
with a few scratches when everyone else was killed。 But you did escape；
as you have done before in Zululand； and now you see here lie certain
men who were born of my father。 Yet one is missinghe against whom I
fought； aye； and he whom； although we fought； I loved the best of all of
them。 Now； it has been whispered in my ear that you alone know what
became of him； and； Macumazahn； I would learn whether he lives or is
dead； also； if he is dead； by whose hand he died； who would reward that
hand。〃
Now； I looked round me； wondering whether I should tell the truth or
hold my tongue； and as I looked my eyes met those of Saduko； who； cold
and unconcerned； was seated among the captains； but at a little distance
from any of thema man apart； and I remembered that he and I alone knew
the truth of the end of Umbelazi。
Why； I do not know； but it came into my mind that I would keep the
secret。 Why should I tell the triumphant Cetewayo that Umbelazi had
been driven to die by his own hand； why should I lay bare Saduko's
victory and shame？ All these matters had passed into the court of a
different tribunal。 Who was I that I should reveal them or judge the
actors of this terrible drama？
〃O Cetewayo；〃 I said； 〃as it chanced I saw the end of Umbelazi。 No
enemy killed him。 He died of a broken heart upon a rock above the
river； and for the rest of the story go ask the Tugela into which he
fell。〃
For a moment Cetewayo hid his eyes with his hand。
〃Is it so？〃 he said presently。 〃Wow！ I say again that had it not been
for Saduko； the son of Matiwane； yonder； who had some quarrel with
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti about a woman and took his chance of vengeance； it
might have been I who died of a bro