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nothing but a living skeleton。 Oh！ how changed from that lithe and
handsome chief whom I used to know。 Moreover； his lips quivered and his
eyes were full of terrors。
〃Is it really you； Macumazahn？〃 he said in a weak voice。 〃Come； then；
and stand quite close to me； so that he may not get between us；〃 and he
stretched out his bony hand。
I took the hand； it was icy cold。
〃Yes； yes； it is I； Saduko；〃 I said in a cheerful voice； 〃and there is
no man to get between us； only the lady Nandie； your wife； and myself
are in the hut； she who watched you has gone。〃
〃Oh； no； Macumazahn； there is another in the hut whom you cannot see。
There he stands；〃 and he pointed towards the hearth。 〃Look！ The spear
is through him and his plume lies on the ground！〃
〃Through whom； Saduko？〃
〃Whom？ Why； the Prince Umbelazi； whom I betrayed for Mameena's sake。〃
〃Why do you talk wind； Saduko？〃 I asked。 〃Years ago I saw
Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti die。〃
〃Die； Macumazahn！ We do not die； it is only our flesh that dies。 Yes；
yes； I have learned that since we parted。 Do you not remember his last
words： 'I will haunt you while you live； and when you cease to live； ah！
then we shall meet again'？ Oh！ from that hour to this he _has_ haunted
me； Macumazahnhe and the others； and now； now we are about to meet as
he promised。〃
Then once more he hid his eyes and groaned。
〃He is mad；〃 I whispered to Nandie。
〃Perhaps。 Who knows？〃 she answered； shaking her head。
Saduko uncovered his eyes。
〃Make 'the…thing…that…burns' brighter；〃 he gasped； 〃for I do not
perceive him so clearly when it is bright。 Oh！ Macumazahn； he is
looking at you and whispering。 To whom is he whispering？ I see！ to
Mameena； who also looks at you and smiles。 They are talking。 Be
silent。 I must listen。〃
Now； I began to wish that I were out of that hut； for really a little of
this uncanny business went a long way。 Indeed； I suggested going； but
Nandie would not allow it。
〃Stay with me till the end；〃 she muttered。 So I had to stay； wondering
what Saduko heard Umbelazi whispering to Mameena； and on which side of
me he saw her standing。
He began to wander in his mind。
〃That was a clever pit you dug for Bangu； Macumazahn； but you would not
take your share of the cattle； so the blood of the Amakoba is not on
your head。 Ah！ what a fight was that which the Amawombe made at
Endondakusuka。 You were with them； you remember； Macumazahn； and why
was I not at your side？ Oh！ then we would have swept away the Usutu as
the wind sweeps ashes。 Why was I not at your side to share the glory？
I remember nowbecause of the Daughter of Storm。 She betrayed me for
Umbelazi； and I betrayed Umbelazi for her； and now he haunts me； whose
greatness I brought to the dust； and the Usutu wolf； Cetewayo； curls
himself up in his form and grows fat on his food。 Andand； Macumazahn；
it has all been done in vain； for Mameena hates me。 Yes； I can read it
in her eyes。 She mocks and hates me worse in death than she did in
life； and she says thatthat it was not all her faultbecause she
lovesbecause she loves〃
A look of bewilderment came upon his facehis poor； tormented face；
then suddenly Saduko threw his arms wide； and sobbed in an
ever…weakening voice：
〃Allall done in vain！ Oh！ _Mameena； Mameena； Mameena！_〃 and
fell back dead。
〃Saduko has gone away；〃 said Nandie； as she drew a blanket over his
face。 〃But I wonder；〃 she added with a little hysterical smile； 〃oh！
how I wonder who it was the Spirit of Mameena told him that she
lovedMameena； who was born without a heart？〃
I made no answer； for at that moment I heard a very curious sound； which
seemed to me to proceed from somewhere above the hut。 Of what did it
remind me？ Ah！ I knew。 It was like the sound of the dreadful laughter
of Zikali； Opener…of…RoadsZikali； the
〃Thing…that…should…never…have…been…born。〃
Doubtless； however； it was only the cry of some storm…driven night bird。
Or perhaps it was an hyena that laughedan hyena that scented death。
End