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Yet all this while I said nothing to Umslopogaas of the truth as to
his birth； because on the journey there were many around us； and the
very trees have ears； and the same wind to which we whispered might
whisper to the king。 Still I knew that the hour had come now when I
must speak； for it was in my mind to bring it about that Umslopogaas
should be proclaimed the son of Chaka； and be made king of the Zulus
in the place of Dingaan； his uncle。 Yet all these things had gone
cross for us； because it was fated so； my father。 Had I known that
Umslopogaas still lived when I slew Chaka； then I think that I could
have brought it about that he should be king。 Or had things fallen out
as I planned； and the Lily maid been brought to Dingaan； and
Umslopogaas grew great in his sight； then； perhaps； I could have
brought it about。 But all things had gone wrong。 The Lily was none
other than Nada； and how could Umslopogaas give Nada； whom he thought
his sister； and who was my daughter； to Dingaan against her will？
Also； because of Nada； Dingaan and Umslopogaas were now at bitter
enmity； and for this same cause I was disgraced and a fugitive； and my
counsels would no longer be heard in the ear of the king。
So everything must be begun afresh： and as I walked with the impi
towards the Ghost Mountain； I thought much and often of the manner in
which this might be done。 But as yet I said nothing。
Now at last we were beneath the Ghost Mountain； and looked upon the
face of the old Witch who sits there aloft forever waiting for the
world to die； and that same night we came to the kraal of the People
of the Axe； and entered it with a great singing。 But Galazi did not
enter at that time； he was away to the mountain to call his flock of
wolves； and as we passed its foot we heard the welcome that the wolves
howled in greeting to him。
Now as we drew near the kraal； all the women and children came out to
meet us； headed by Zinita； the head wife of Umslopogaas。 They came
joyfully； but when they found how many were wanting who a moon before
had gone thence to fight； their joy was turned to mourning； and the
voice of their weeping went up to heaven。
Umslopogaas greeted Zinita kindly； and yet I thought that there was
something lacking。 At first she spoke to him softly； but when she
learned all that had come to pass； her words were not soft； for she
reviled me and sang a loud song at Umslopogaas。
〃See now； Slaughterer；〃 she said； 〃see now what has came about because
you listened to this aged fool！〃that was I； my father〃this fool
who calls himself 'Mouth'！ Ay； a mouth he is； a mouth out of which
proceed folly and lies！ What did he counsel you to do？to go up
against these Halakazi and win a girl for Dingaan！ And what have you
done？you have fallen upon the Halakazi； and doubtless have killed
many innocent people with that great axe of yours； also you have left
nearly half of the soldiers of the Axe to whiten in the Swazi caves；
and in exchange have brought back certain cattle of a small breed； and
girls and children whom we must nourish！
〃Nor does the matter end here。 You went； it seems； to win a girl whom
Dingaan desired； yet when you find that girl you let her go； because；
indeed； you say she was your sister and would not wed Dingaan。
Forsooth； is not the king good enough for this sister of yours？ Now
what is the end of the tale？ You try to play tricks on the king；
because of your sister； and are found out。 Then you kill a man before
Dingaan and escape； bringing this fool of an aged Mouth with you； that
he may teach you his own folly。 So you have lost half of your men； and
you have gained the king for a foe who shall bring about the death of
all of us； and a fool for a councillor。 Wow！ Slaughterer； keep to your
trade and let others find you wit。〃
Thus she spoke without ceasing； and there was some truth in her words。
Zinita had a bitter tongue。 I sat silent till she had finished； and
Umslopogaas also remained silent； though his anger was great； because
there was no crack in her talk through which a man might thrust a
word。
〃Peace； woman！〃 I said at length； 〃do not speak ill of those who are
wise and who had seen much before you were born。〃
〃Speak no ill of him who is my father；〃 growled Umslopogaas。 〃Ay！
though you do not know it； this Mouth whom you revile is Mopo； my
father。〃
〃Then there is a man among the People of the Axe who has a fool for a
father。 Of all tidings this is the worst。〃
〃There is a man among the People of the Axe who has a jade and a scold
for a wife；〃 said Umslopogaas； springing up。 〃Begone； Zinita！and
know this； that if I hear you snarl such words of him who is my
father； you shall go further than your own hut； for I will put you
away and drive you from my kraal。 I have suffered you too long。〃
〃I go；〃 said Zinita。 〃Oh！ I am well served！ I made you chief； and now
you threaten to put me away。〃
〃My own hands made me chief；〃 said Umslopogaas； and； springing up； he
thrust her from the hut。
〃It is a poor thing to be wedded to such a woman； my father；〃 he said
presently。
〃Yes； a poor thing； Umslopogaas； yet these are the burdens that men
must bear。 Learn wisdom from it； Umslopogaas； and have as little to do
with women as may be； at the least； do not love them overmuch； so
shall you find the more peace。〃 Thus I spoke； smiling； and would that
he had listened to my counsel； for it is the love of women which has
brought ruin on Umslopogaas！
All this was many years ago； and but lately I have heard that
Umslopogaas is fled into the North； and become a wanderer to his death
because of the matter of a woman who had betrayed him； making it seem
that he had murdered one Loustra； who was his blood brother； just as
Galazi had been。 I do not know how it came about； but he who was so
fierce and strong had that weakness like his uncle Dingaan； and it has
destroyed him at the last； and for this cause I shall behold him no
more。
Now； my father； for awhile we were silent and alone in the hut； and as
we sat I thought I heard a rat stir in the thatch。
Then I spoke。 〃Umslopogaas； at length the hour has come that I should
whisper something into your ear； a word which I have held secret ever
since you were born。〃
〃Speak on； my father；〃 he said； wondering。
I crept to the door of the hut and looked out。 The night was dark and
I could see none about； and could hear no one move； yet； being
cautious； I walked round the hut。 Ah； my father； when you have a
secret to tell； be not so easily deceived。 It is not enough to look
forth and to peer round。 Dig beneath the floor； and search the roof
also； then； having done all this； go elsewhere and tell your tale。 The
woman was right： I was but a fool； for all my wisdom and my white
hairs。 Had I not been a fool I would have smoked out that rat in the
thatch before ever I opened my lips。 For the rat was Zinita； my father
Zinita； who had climbed the hut； and now lay there in the dark； her
ear upon the smoke…hole； listening to every word that passed。 It was a
wicked thing to do； and； moreover； the worst of omens； but there is
little honour among women when they learn that which others wish to
hi