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might have been I who died of a broken heart upon a rock above the
river。 Oh； Saduko； I owe you a great debt and will pay you well； but
you shall be no friend of mine； lest we also should chance to quarrel
about a woman； and _I_ should find myself dying of a broken heart on a
rock above a river。 O my brother Umbelazi； I mourn for you； my brother；
for； after all； we played together when we were little and loved each
other once； who in the end fought for a toy that is called a throne；
since； as our father said； two bulls cannot live in the same yard； my
brother。 Well； you are gone and I remain； yet who knows but that at the
last your lot may be happier than mine。 You died of a broken heart；
Umbelazi； but of what shall _I_ die； I wonder？〃*
＇*That history of Cetewayo's fall and tragic death and of Zikali's
vengeance I hope to write one day； for in these events also I was
destined to play a part。A。 Q。＇
I have given this interview in detail； since it was because of it that
the saying went abroad that Umbelazi died of a broken heart。
So in truth he did； for before his spear pierced it his heart was
broken。
Now； seeing that Cetewayo was in one of his soft moods； and that he
seemed to look upon me kindly； though I had fought against him； I
reflected that this would be a good opportunity to ask his leave to
depart。 To tell the truth； my nerves were quite shattered with all I
had gone through； and I longed to be away from the sights and sounds of
that terrible battlefield； on and about which so many thousand people
had perished this fateful day； as I had seldom longed for anything
before。 But while I was making up my mind as to the best way to
approach him； something happened which caused me to lose my chance。
Hearing a noise behind me； I looked round； to see a stout man arrayed in
a very fine war dress； and waving in one hand a gory spear and in the
other a head…plume of ostrich feathers； who was shouting out：
〃Give me audience of the son of the King！ I have a song to sing to the
Prince。 I have a tale to tell to the conqueror； Cetewayo。〃
I stared。 I rubbed my eyes。 It could not beyes； it wasUmbezi；
〃Eater…up…of…Elephants；〃 the father of Mameena。 In a few seconds；
without waiting for leave to approach； he had bounded through the line
of dead princes； stopping to kick one of them on the head and address
his poor clay in some words of shameful insult； and was prancing about
before Cetewayo； shouting his praises。
〃Who is this umfokazana？〃 ＇that is； low fellow＇ growled the Prince。
〃Bid him cease his noise and speak； lest he should be silent for ever。〃
〃O Calf of the Black Cow； I am Umbezi； 'Eater…up…of…Elephants；' chief
captain of Saduko the Cunning； he who won you the battle； father of
Mameena the Beautiful； whom Saduko wed and whom the dead dog； Umbelazi；
stole away from him。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Cetewayo； screwing up his eyes in a fashion he had when he
meant mischief； which among the Zulus caused him to be named the
〃Bull…who…shuts…his…eyes…to…toss； 〃and what have you to tell me；
'Eater…up…of…Elephants' and father of Mameena； whom the dead dog；
Umbelazi； took away from your master； Saduko the Cunning？〃
〃This； O Mighty One； this； O Shaker of the Earth； that well am I named
'Eater…up…of…Elephants；' who have eaten up Indhlovu…ene…Sihlontithe
Elephant himself。〃
Now Saduko seemed to awake from his brooding and started from his place；
but Cetewayo sharply bade him be silent； whereon Umbezi； the fool；
noting nothing； continued his tale。
〃O Prince； I met Umbelazi in the battle； and when he saw me he fled from
me； yes； his heart grew soft as water at the sight of me； the warrior
whom he had wronged； whose daughter he had stolen。〃
〃I hear you；〃 said Cetewayo。 〃Umbelazi's heart turned to water at the
sight of you because he had wronged youyou who until this morning；
when you deserted him with Saduko； were one of his jackals。 Well； and
what happened then？〃
〃He fled； O Lion with the Black Mane； he fled like the wind； and I； I
flew after him likea stronger wind。 Far into the bush he fled； till
at length he came to a rock above the river and was obliged to stand。
Then there we fought。 He thrust at me； but I leapt over his spear
_thus_；〃 and he gambolled into the air。 〃He thrust at me again； but I
bent myself _thus_；〃 and he ducked his great head。 〃Then he grew tired
and my time came。 He turned and ran round the rock； and I； I ran after
him； stabbing him through the back； _thus_； and _thus_； and _thus_； till
he fell； crying for mercy； and rolled off the rock into the river； and
as he rolled I snatched away his plume。 See； is it not the plume of the
dead dog Umbelazi？〃
Cetewayo took the ornament and examined it； showing it to one or two of
the captains near him； who nodded their heads gravely。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃this is the war plume of Umbelazi； beloved of the King；
strong and shining pillar of the Great House； we know it well； that war
plume at the sight of which many a knee has loosened。 And so you killed
him； 'Eater…up…of…Elephants；' father of Mameena； you who this morning
were one of the meanest of his jackals。 Now； what reward shall I give
you for this mighty deed； O Umbezi？〃
〃A great reward； O Terrible One；〃 began Umbezi； but in an awful voice
Cetewayo bade him be silent。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃a great reward。 Hearken； Jackal and Traitor。 Your own
words bear witness against you。 You； _you_ have dared to lift your hand
against the blood…royal； and with your foul tongue to heap lies and
insults upon the name of the mighty dead。〃
Now； understanding at last； Umbezi began to babble excuses； yes； and to
declare that all his tale was false。 His fat cheeks fell in； he sank to
his knees。
But Cetewayo only spat towards the man； after his fashion when enraged；
and looked round him till his eye fell upon Saduko。
〃Saduko；〃 he said； 〃take away this slayer of the Prince； who boasts that
he is red with my own blood； and when he is dead cast him into the river
from that rock on which he says he stabbed Panda's son。〃
Saduko looked round him wildly and hesitated。
〃Take him away；〃 thundered Cetewayo； 〃and return ere dark to make report
to me。〃
Then； at a sign from the Prince； soldiers flung themselves upon the
miserable Umbezi and dragged him thence； Saduko going with them； nor was
the poor liar ever seen again。 As he passed by me he called to me； for
Mameena's sake； to save him； but I could only shake my head and bethink
me of the warning I had once given to him as to the fate of traitors。
It may be said that this story comes straight from the history of Saul
and David； but I can only answer that it happened。 Circumstances that
were not unlike ended in a similar tragedy； that is all。 What David's
exact motives were； naturally I cannot tell； but it is easy to guess
those of Cetewayo； who； although he could make war upon his brother to
secure the throne； did not think it wise to let it go abroad that the
royal blood might be lightly spilt。 Also； knowing that I was a witness
of the Prince's death； he was well aware that Umbezi was but a boastful
liar who hoped thus to ingratiate himself with an all…