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Watcher…by…Night？〃
〃Get thee behind me； Satan；〃 I said in English； then added in Zulu： 〃I
don't know。 If your story is true I should have no objection to helping
to kill Bangu； but I must learn lots more about this business first。
Meanwhile I am going on a shooting trip to…morrow with Umbezi the Fat；
and I like you； O Chooser of the Road of Spears and Blood。 Will you be
my companion and earn the gun with two mouths in payment？〃
〃Inkoosi；〃 he said； lifting his hand in salute with a flash of his dark
eyes； 〃you are generous； you honour me。 What is there that I should
love better？ Yet；〃 he added； and his face fell； 〃first I must ask
Zikali the Little； Zikali my foster…father。〃
〃Oh！〃 I said； 〃so you are still tied to the Wizard's girdle； are you？〃
〃Not so； Macumazahn； but I promised him not long ago that I would
undertake no enterprise； save that you know of； until I had spoken with
him。〃
〃How far off does Zikali live？〃 I asked Saduko。
〃One day's journeying。 Starting at sunrise I can be there by sunset。〃
〃Good！ Then I will put off the shooting for three days and come with
you if you think that this wonderful old dwarf will receive me。〃
〃I believe that he will； Macumazahn； for this reasonhe told me that I
should meet you and love you； and that you would be mixed up in my
fortunes。〃
〃Then he poured moonshine into your gourd instead of beer；〃 I answered。
〃Would you keep me here till midnight listening to such foolishness when
we must start at dawn？ Begone now and let me sleep。〃
〃I go；〃 he answered with a little smile。 〃But if this is so； O
Macumazana； why do you also wish to drink of the moonshine of Zikali？〃
and he went。
Yet I did not sleep very well that night； for Saduko and his strange and
terrible story had taken a hold of my imagination。 Also； for reasons of
my own； I greatly wished to see this Zikali； of whom I had heard a great
deal in past years。 I wished further to find out if he was a common
humbug； like so many witch…doctors； this dwarf who announced that my
fortunes were mixed up with those of his foster…son； and who at least
could tell me something true or false about the history and position of
Bangu； a person for whom I had conceived a strong dislike； possibly
quite unjustified by the facts。 But more than all did I wish to see
Mameena； whose beauty or talents produced so much impression upon the
native mind。 Perhaps if I went to see Zikali she would be back at her
father's kraal before we started on our shooting trip。
Thus it was then that fate wove me and my doings into the web of some
very strange events； terrible； tragic and complete indeed as those of a
Greek play； as it has often done both before and since those days。
CHAPTER II
THE MOONSHINE OF ZIKALI
On the following morning I awoke； as a good hunter always should do；
just at that time when； on looking out of the wagon； nothing can be seen
but a little grey glint of light which he knows is reflected from the
horns of the cattle tied to the trek…tow。 Presently； however； I saw
another glint of light which I guessed came from the spear of Saduko；
who was seated by the ashes of the cooking fire wrapped in his kaross of
wildcatskins。 Slipping from the voorkisse； or driving…box； I came
behind him softly and touched him on the shoulder。 He leapt up with a
start which revealed his nervous nature； then recognising me through the
soft grey gloom； said：
〃You are early； Macumazahn。〃
〃Of course；〃 I answered； 〃am I not named Watcher…by…Night？ Now let us
go to Umbezi and tell him that I shall be ready to start on our hunting
trip on the third morning from to…day。〃
So we went； to find that Umbezi was in a hut with his last wife and
asleep。 Fortunately enough； however； as under the circumstances I did
not wish to disturb him； outside the hut we found the Old Cow； whose
sore ear had kept her very wide awake； who； for purposes of her own；
although etiquette did not allow her to enter the hut； was waiting for
her husband to emerge。
Having examined her wound and rubbed some ointment on it； with her I
left my message。 Next I woke up my servant Scowl； and told him that I
was going on a short journey； and that he must guard all things until my
return； and while I did so； took a nip of raw rum and made ready a bag
of biltong； that is sun…dried flesh； and biscuits。
Then； taking with me a single…barrelled gun； that same little Purdey
rifle with which I shot the vultures on the Hill of Slaughter at
Dingaan's Kraal；* we started on foot； for I would not risk my only horse
on such a journey。
＇*For the story of this shooting of the vultures by Allan Quatermain；
see the book called 〃Marie。〃EDITOR。＇
A rough journey it proved to be indeed； over a series of bush…clad hills
that at their crests were covered with rugged stones among which no
horse could have travelled。 Up and down these hills we went； and across
the valleys that divided them； following some path which I could not
see； for all that live…long day。 I have always been held a good walker；
being by nature very light and active； but I am bound to say that my
companion taxed my powers to the utmost； for on he marched for hour
after hour； striding ahead of me at such a rate that at times I was
forced to break into a run to keep up with him。 Although my pride would
not suffer me to complain； since as a matter of principle I would never
admit to a Kafir that he was my master at anything； glad enough was I
when； towards evening； Saduko sat himself down on a stone at the top of
a hill and said：
〃Behold the Black Kloof； Macumazahn；〃 which were almost the first words
he had uttered since we started。
Truly the spot was well named； for there； cut out by water from the
heart of a mountain in some primeval age； lay one of the most gloomy
places that ever I had beheld。 It was a vast cleft in which granite
boulders were piled up fantastically； perched one upon another in great
columns； and upon its sides grew dark trees set sparsely among the
rocks。 It faced towards the west； but the light of the sinking sun that
flowed up it served only to accentuate its vast loneliness； for it was a
big cleft； the best part of a mile wide at its mouth。
Up this dreary gorge we marched； mocked at by chattering baboons and
following a little path not a foot wide that led us at length to a large
hut and several smaller ones set within a reed fence and overhung by a
gigantic mass of rock that looked as though it might fall at any moment。
At the gate of the fence two natives of I know not what tribe； men of
fierce and forbidding appearance； suddenly sprang out and thrust their
spears towards my breast。
〃Whom bring you here； Saduko？〃 asked one of them sternly。
〃A white man that I vouch for；〃 he answered。 〃Tell Zikali that we wait
on him。〃
〃What need to tell Zikali that which he knows already？〃 said the sentry。
〃Your food and that of your companion is already cooked in yonder hut。
Enter； Saduko； with him for whom you vouch。〃
So we went into the hut and ate； also I washed myself； for it was a
beautifully clean hut； and the stools； wooden bowls； etc。； were finely
ca