\"Alittlething,Chief,athingofnoaccount,onlythegirlNanea,towhomasitchancesIhavetakenafancy。\"
\"Iwantedherformyself,WhiteMan,buthewhositsatUlundihaslaidhishanduponher。\"
\"Thatisnothing,Chief;Icanarrangewithhimwho’sitsatUlundi。’
ItiswithyouwhoaregreatherethatIwishtocometoterms。
Listen:ifyougrantmydesire,notonlywillIfulfilyoursuponyourfoes,butwhenthegirlisdeliveredintomyhandsIwillgiveyouthisrifleandahundredroundsofcartridges。\"
MaputalookedatthesportingMartini,andhiseyesglistened。
\"Itisgood,\"hesaid;\"itisverygood。OftenhaveIwishedforsuchagunthatwillenablemetoshootgame,andtotalkwithmyenemiesfromfaraway。Promiseittome,WhiteMan,andyoushalltakethegirlifIcangivehertoyou。\"
\"Youswearit,Maputa?\"
\"IswearitbytheheadofChaka,andthespiritsofmyfathers。\"
\"Good。AtdawnonthefourthdayfromnowitisthepurposeofUmgona,hisdaughterNanea,andNahoon,tocrosstheriverintoNatalbythedriftthatiscalledCrocodileDrift,takingtheircattlewiththemandflyingfromtheking。Ialsoshallbeoftheircompany,fortheyknowthatIhavelearnedtheirsecret,andwouldmurdermeifItriedtoleavethem。Nowyouwhoarechiefoftheborderandguardianofthatdrift,musthideatnightwithsomemenamongtherocksintheshallowsofthedriftandawaitourcoming。FirstNaneawillcrossdrivingthecowsandcalves,forsoitisarranged,andIshallhelpher;thenwillfollowUmgonaandNahoonwiththeoxenandheifers。Onthesetwoyoumustfall,killingthemandcapturingthecattle,andafterwardsIwillgiveyoutherifle。\"
\"Whatifthekingshouldaskforthegirl,WhiteMan?\"
\"Thenyoushallanswerthatintheuncertainlightyoudidnotrecogniseherandsosheslippedawayfromyou;moreover,thatatfirstyoufearedtoseizethegirllesthercriesshouldalarmthemenandtheyshouldescapeyou。\"
\"Good,buthowcanIbesurethatyouwillgivemethegunonceyouareacrosstheriver?\"
\"Thus:beforeIenterthefordIwilllaytherifleandcartridgesuponastonebythebank,tellingNaneathatIshallreturntofetchthemwhenIhavedrivenoverthecattle。\"
\"Itiswell,WhiteMan;Iwillnotfailyou。\"
Sotheplotwasmade,andaftersomefurtherconversationuponpointsofdetail,thetwoconspiratorsshookhandsandparted。
\"Thatoughttocomeoffallright,\"reflectedHaddentohimselfasheplungedandfloatedinthewatersofthestream,\"butsomehowIdon’tquitetrustourfriendMaputa。ItwouldhavebeenbetterifIcouldhaverelieduponmyselftogetridofNahoonandhisrespecteduncle——
acoupleofshotswoulddoitinthewater。Butthenthatwouldbemurderandmurderisunpleasant;whereastheotherthingisonlythedeliverytojusticeoftwobasedeserters,alaudableactioninamilitarycountry。Alsopersonalinterferenceuponmypartmightturnthegirlagainstme;whileafterUmgonaandNahoonhavebeenwipedoutbyMaputa,she/must/acceptmyescort。Ofcoursethereisarisk,butineverywalkoflifethemostcautioushavetotakerisksattimes。\"
Asitchanced,PhilipHaddenwascorrectinhissuspicionsofhiscoadjutor,Maputa。Evenbeforethatworthychiefreachedhisownkraal,hehadcometotheconclusionthatthewhiteman’splan,thoughattractiveinsomeways,wastoodangerous,sinceitwascertainthatifthegirlNaneaescaped,thekingwouldbeindignant。Moreover,themenhetookwithhimtodothekillinginthedriftwouldsuspectsomethingandtalk。Ontheotherhandhewouldearnmuchcreditwithhismajestybyrevealingtheplot,sayingthathehadlearneditfromthelipsofthewhitehunter,whomUmgonaandNahoonhadforcedtoparticipateinit,andofwhosecovetedriflehemusttrusttochancetopossesshimself。
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Anhourlatertwodiscreetmessengerswereboundingacrosstheplains,bearingwordsfromtheChiefMaputa,theWardenoftheBorder,tothe\"greatBlackElephant\"atUlundi。
CHAPTERV
THEDOOMPOOL
FortuneshoweditselfstrangelyfavourabletotheplansofNahoonandNanea。OneoftheZulucaptain’sperplexitieswasastohowheshouldlullthesuspicionsandevadethevigilanceofhisowncompanions,whotogetherwithhimselfhadbeendetailedbythekingtoassistHaddeninhishuntingandtoguardagainsthisescape。Asitchanced,however,onthedayaftertheincidentofthevisitofMaputa,amessengerarrivedfromnolessapersonthanthegreatmilitaryInduna,TvingwayokaMarolo,whoafterwardscommandedtheZuluarmyatIsandhlwana,orderingthesementoreturntotheirregiment,theUmcityuCorps,whichwastobeplaceduponfullwarfooting。
AccordinglyNahoonsentthem,sayingthathehimselfwouldfollowwithBlackHeartinthecourseofafewdays,asatpresentthewhitemanwasnotsufficientlyrecoveredfromhishurtstoallowofhistravellingfastandfar。Sothesoldierswent,doubtingnothing。
ThenUmgonagaveitoutthatinobediencetothecommandofthekinghewasabouttostartforUlundi,takingwithhimhisdaughterNaneatobedeliveredoverintothe/Sigodhla/,andalsothosefifteenheadofcattlethathadbeen/lobola’d/byNahooninconsiderationofhisforthcomingmarriage,whereofhehadbeenfinedbyCetywayo。Underpretencethattheyrequiredachangeofveldt,therestofhiscattlehesentawayinchargeofaBasutoherdwhoknewnothingoftheirplans,tellinghimtokeepthembytheCrocodileDrift,astherethegrasswasgoodandsweet。
Allpreparationsbeingcompleted,onthethirddaythepartystarted,headingstraightforUlundi。Aftertheyhadtravelledsomemiles,however,theylefttheroadandturningsharptotheright,passedunobservedofanythroughagreatstretchofuninhabitedbush。TheirpathnowlaynotfarfromthePoolofDoom,which,indeed,wasclosetoUmgona’skraal,andtheforestthatwascalledHomeoftheDead,butoutofsightofthese。Itwastheirplantotravelbynight,reachingthebrokencountryneartheCrocodileDriftonthefollowingmorning。Heretheyproposedtoliehidthatdayandthroughthenight;
then,havingfirstcollectedthecattlewhichhadprecededthem,tocrosstheriveratthebreakofdawnandescapeintoNatal。Atleastthiswastheplanofhiscompanions;but,asweknow,Haddenhadanotherprogramme,whereonafteronelastappearancetwoofthepartywouldplaynopart。
Duringthatlongafternoon’sjourneyUmgona,whokneweveryinchofthecountry,walkedaheaddrivingthefifteencattleandcarryinginhishandalongtravellingstickofblackandwhite/umzimbeet/wood,forintruththeoldmanwasinahurrytoreachhisjourney’send。
NextcameNahoon,armedwithabroadassegai,butnakedexceptforhismoochaandneckletofbaboon’steeth,andwithhimNaneainherwhitebead-borderedmantle。Hadden,whobroughtuptherear,noticedthatthegirlseemedtobeunderthespellofanimminentapprehension,forfromtimetotimesheclaspedherlover’sarm,andlookingupintohisface,addressedhimwithvehemence,almostwithpassion。
Curiouslyenough,thesighttouchedHadden,andonceortwicehewasshakenbysosharpapangofremorseatthethoughtofhisshareinthistragedy,thathecastaboutinhismindseekingameanstounravelthewebofdeathwhichhehimselfhadwoven。Buteverthatevilvoicewaswhisperingathisear。Itremindedhimthathe,thewhite/Inkoos/,hadbeenrefusedbythisduskybeauty,andthatifhefoundawaytosavehim,withinsomefewhoursshewouldbethewifeofthesavagegentlemanatherside,themanwhohadnamedhimBlackHeartandwhodespisedhim,themanwhomhehadmeanttomurderandwhoimmediatelyrepaidhistreacherybyrescuinghimfromthejawsoftheleopardattheriskofhisownlife。Moreover,itwasalawofHadden’sexistencenevertodenyhimselfofanythingthathedesiredifitlaywithinhispowertotakeit——alawwhichhadledhimalwaysdeeperintosin。Inotherrespects,indeed,ithadnotcarriedhimfar,forinthepasthehadnotdesiredmuch,andhehadwonlittle;
butthisparticularflowerwastohishand,andhewouldpluckit。IfNahoonstoodbetweenhimandtheflower,somuchtheworseforNahoon,andifitshouldwitherinhisgrasp,somuchtheworsefortheflower;itcouldalwaysbethrownaway。Thusitcameaboutthat,notforthefirsttimeinhislife,PhilipHaddendiscardedthesomewhatspasmodicprickingsofconscienceandlistenedtothatevilwhisperingathisear。
Abouthalf-pastfiveo’clockintheafternoonthefourrefugeespassedthestreamthatamileorsodownfelloverthelittleprecipiceintotheDoomPool;and,enteringapatchofthorntreesonthefurtherside,walkedstraightintothemidstoftwo-and-twentysoldiers,whowerebeguilingthetediumofexpectancybythetakingofsnuffandthesmokingof/dakka/ornativehemp。Withthesesoldiers,seatedonhispony,forhewastoofattowalk,waitedtheChiefMaputa。
Observingthattheirexpectedguestshadarrived,themenknockedoutthe/dakka/pipe,replacedthesnuffboxesintheslitsmadeinthelobesoftheirears,andsecuredthefourofthem。
\"Whatisthemeaningofthis,OKing’ssoldiers?\"askedUmgonainaquaveringvoice。\"WejourneytothekraalofU’Cetywayo;whydoyoumolestus?\"
\"Indeed。Whereforethenareyourfacessettowardsthesouth。DoestheBlackOneliveinthesouth?Well,youwilljourneytoanotherkraalpresently,\"answeredthejovial-lookingcaptainofthepartywithacallouslaugh。
\"Idonotunderstand,\"stammeredUmgona。
\"ThenIwillexplainwhileyourest,\"saidthecaptain。\"TheChiefMaputayondersentwordtotheBlackOneatUlundithathehadlearnedofyourintendedflighttoNatalfromthelipsofthiswhiteman,whohadwarnedhimofit。TheBlackOnewasangry,anddespatchedustocatchyouandmakeanendofyou。Thatisall。Comeonnow,quietly,andletusfinishthematter。AstheDoomPoolisnear,yourdeathswillbeeasy。\"
Nahoonheardthewords,andsprangstraightatthethroatofHadden;
buthedidnotreachit,forthesoldierspulledhimdown。Naneaheardthemalso,andturning,lookedthetraitorintheeyes;shesaidnothing,sheonlylooked,buthecouldneverforgetthatlook。ThewhitemanforhispartwasfilledwithafieryindignationagainstMaputa。
\"Youwickedvillain,\"hegasped,whereatthechiefsmiledinasicklyfashion,andturnedaway。
ThentheyweremarchedalongthebanksofthestreamtilltheyreachedthewaterfallthatfellintothePoolofDoom。
Haddenwasabravemanafterhisfashion,buthisheartquailedashegazedintothatabyss。
\"Areyougoingtothrowmeinthere?\"heaskedoftheZulucaptaininathickvoice。
\"You,WhiteMan?\"repliedthesoldierunconcernedly。\"No,ourordersaretotakeyoutotheking,butwhathewilldowithyouIdonotknow。Thereistobewarbetweenyourpeopleandours,soperhapshemeanstopoundyouintomedicinefortheuseofthewitch-doctors,ortopegyouoveranant-heapasawarningtootherwhitemen。\"
Haddenreceivedthisinformationinsilence,butitseffectuponhisbrainwasbracing,forinstantlyhebegantosearchoutsomemeansofescape。
Bynowthepartyhadhaltednearthetwothorntreesthathungoverthewatersofthepool。
\"Whodivesfirst,\"askedthecaptainoftheChiefMaputa。
\"Theoldwizard,\"hereplied,noddingatUmgona;\"thenhisdaughterafterhim,andlastofallthisfellow,\"andhestruckNahooninthefacewithhisopenhand。
\"Comeon,Wizard,\"saidthecaptain,graspingUmgonabythearm,\"andletusseehowyoucanswim。\"
AtthewordsofdoomUmgonaseemedtorecoverhisself-command,afterthefashionofhisrace。
\"Noneedtoleadme,soldier,\"hesaid,shakinghimselfloose,\"whoamoldandreadytodie。\"Thenhekissedhisdaughterathisside,wrungNahoonbythehand,andturningfromHaddenwithagestureofcontemptwalkedoutupontheplatformthatjoinedthetwothorntrunks。Herehestoodforamomentlookingatthesettingsun,thensuddenly,andwithoutasound,hehurledhimselfintotheabyssbelowandvanished。
\"Thatwasabraveone,\"saidthecaptainwithadmiration。\"Canyouspringtoo,girl,ormustwethrowyou?\"
\"Icanwalkmyfather’spath,\"Naneaansweredfaintly,\"butfirstI
craveleavetosayoneword。Itistruethatwewereescapingfromtheking,andthereforebythelawwemustdie;butitwasBlackHeartherewhomadetheplot,andhewhohasbetrayedus。Wouldyouknowwhyhehasbetrayedus?Becausehesoughtmyfavour,andIrefusedhim,andthisisthevengeancethathetakes——awhiteman’svengeance。\"
\"/Wow!/\"brokeinthechiefMaputa,\"thisprettyonespeakstruth,forthewhitemanwouldhavemadeabargainwithmeunderwhichUmgona,thewizard,andNahoon,thesoldier,weretobekilledattheCrocodileDrift,andhehimselfsufferedtoescapewiththegirl。I
spokehimsoftlyandsaid’yes,’andthenlikealoyalmanIreportedtotheking。\"
\"Youhear,\"sighedNanea。\"Nahoon,fareyouwell,thoughpresentlyperhapsweshallbetogetheragain。ItwasIwhotemptedyoufromyourduty。Formysakeyouforgotyourhonour,andIamrepaid。Farewell,myhusband,itisbettertodiewithyouthantoenterthehouseoftheking’swomen,\"andNaneasteppedontotheplatform。
Here,holdingtoaboughofoneofthethorntrees,sheturnedandaddressedHadden,saying:——
\"BlackHeart,youseemtohavewontheday,butmeatleastyouloseand——thesunisnotyetset。Aftersunsetcomesthenight,BlackHeart,andinthatnightIpraythatyoumaywandereternally,andbegiventodrinkofmybloodandthebloodofUmgonamyfather,andthebloodofNahoonmyhusband,whosavedyourlife,andwhomyouhavemurdered。Perchance,BlackHeart,wemayyetmeetyonder——intheHouseoftheDead。\"
ThenutteringalowcryNaneaclaspedherhandsandsprangupwardsandoutwardsfromtheplatform。Thewatchersbenttheirheadsforwardtolook。Theysawherrushheadlongdownthefaceofthefalltostrikethewaterfiftyfeetbelow。Afewseconds,andforthelasttime,theycaughtsightofherwhitegarmentglimmeringonthesurfaceofthegloomypool。Thentheshadowsandmist-wreathshidit,andshewasgone。
\"Now,husband,\"criedthecheerfulvoiceofthecaptain,\"yonderisyourmarriagebed,sobeswifttofollowabridewhoissoreadytoleadtheway。/Wow!/butyouaregoodpeopletokill;neverhaveIhadtodowithanywhogavelesstrouble。You————\"andhestopped,formentalagonyhaddoneitswork,andsuddenlyNahoonwentmadbeforehiseyes。
Witharoarlikethatofalionthegreatmancastoffthosewhoheldhimandseizingoneofthemroundthewaistandthigh,heputoutallhisterriblestrength。Liftinghimasthoughhehadbeenaninfant,hehurledhimovertheedgeoftheclifftofindhisdeathontherocksofthePoolofDoom。Thencrying:——
\"BlackHeart!yourturn,BlackHeartthetraitor!\"herushedatHadden,hiseyesrollingandfoamflyingfromhislips,ashepassedstrikingthechiefMaputafromhishorsewithabackwardblowofhishand。IllwouldithavegonewiththewhitemanifNahoonhadcaughthim。Buthecouldnotcomeathim,forthesoldiersspranguponhimandnotwithstandinghisfearfulstrugglestheypulledhimtotheground,asatcertainfestivalstheZuluregimentswiththeirnakedhandspulldownabullinthepresenceoftheking。
\"Casthimoverbeforehecanworkmoremischief,\"saidavoice。Butthecaptaincriedout,\"Nay,nay,heissacred;thefirefromHeavenhasfallenonhisbrain,andwemaynotharmhim,elseevilwouldovertakeusall。Bindhimhandandfoot,andbearhimtenderlytowherehecanbecaredfor。SurelyIthoughtthattheseevil-doersweregivingustoolittletrouble,andthusithasproved。\"
SotheysetthemselvestomakefastNahoon’shandsandwrists,usingasmuchgentlenessastheymight,foramongtheZulusalunaticisaccountedholy。Itwasnoeasytask,andittooktime。
Haddenglancedaroundhim,andsawhisopportunity。Onthegroundclosebesidehimlayhisrifle,whereoneofthesoldiershadplacedit,andaboutadozenyardsawayMaputa’sponywasgrazing。Withaswiftmovement,heseizedtheMartiniandfivesecondslaterhewasonthebackofthepony,headingfortheCrocodileDriftatagallop。Soquicklyindeeddidheexecutethismasterlyretreat,thatoccupiedastheyallwereinbindingNahoon,forhalfaminuteormorenoneofthesoldiersnoticedwhathadhappened。ThenMaputachancedtosee,andwaddledafterhimtothetopoftherise,screaming:——
\"Thewhitethief,hehasstolenmyhorse,andtheguntoo,thegunthathepromisedtogiveme。\"
Hadden,whobythistimewasahundredyardsaway,heardhimclearly,andaragefilledhisheart。Thismanhadmadeanopenmurdererofhim;more,hehadbeenthemeansofrobbinghimofthegirlforwhosesakehehaddippedhishandsintheseiniquities。Heglancedoverhisshoulder;Maputawasstillrunning,andalone。Yes,therewastime;atanyratehewouldriskit。
Pullinguptheponywithajerk,heleaptfromitsback,slippinghisarmthroughthereinwithanalmostsimultaneousmovement。Asitchanced,andashehadhopedwouldbethecase,theanimalwasatrainedshootinghorse,andstoodstill。Haddenplantedhisfeetfirmlyonthegroundanddrawingadeepbreath,hecockedtherifleandcoveredtheadvancingchief。NowMaputasawhispurposeandwithayellofterrorturnedtofly。Haddenwaitedasecondtogetthesightfaironhisbroadback,thenjustasthesoldiersappearedabovetherisehepressedthetrigger。Hewasanotedshot,andinthisinstancehisskilldidnotfailhim;for,beforeheheardthebullettell,Maputaflunghisarmswideandplungedtothegrounddead。
Threesecondsmore,andwithasavagecurse,Haddenhadremountedtheponyandwasridingforhislifetowardstheriver,whichawhilelaterhecrossedinsafety。
CHAPTERVI
THEGHOSTOFTHEDEAD
WhenNanealeaptfromthedizzyplatformthatoverhungthePoolofDoom,astrangefortunebefellher。Closeintotheprecipiceweremanyjaggedrocks,andonthesethewatersofthefallfellandthundered,boundingfromtheminspoutsofsprayintothetroubleddepthsofthefossbeyond。Itwasonthesestonesthatthelifewasdashedoutfromthebodiesofthewretchedvictimswhowerehurledfromabove。ButNanea,itwillberemembered,hadnotwaitedtobetreatedthus,andasitchancedthestrongspringwithwhichshehadleapttodeathcarriedherclearoftherocks。Byaverylittleshemissedtheedgeofthemandstrikingthedeepwaterheadfirstlikesomepractiseddiver,shesankdownanddowntillshethoughtthatshewouldneverriseagain。Yetshedidrise,attheendofthepoolinthemouthoftherapid,alongwhichshespedswiftly,carrieddownbytherushofthewater。Fortunatelytherewerenorockshere;and,sinceshewasaskilfulswimmer,sheescapedthedangerofbeingthrownagainstthebanks。
Foralongdistanceshewasbornethustillatlengthshesawthatshewasinaforest,fortreescutoffthelightfromthewater,andtheirdroopingbranchessweptitssurface。OneoftheseNaneacaughtwithherhand,andbythehelpofitshedraggedherselffromtheRiverofDeathwhencenonehadescapedbefore。Nowshestooduponthebankgaspingbutquiteunharmed;therewasnotascratchonherbody;evenherwhitegarmentwasstillfastaboutherneck。
Butthoughshehadsufferednohurtinherterriblevoyage,soexhaustedwasNaneathatshecouldscarcelystand。Herethegloomwasthatofnight,andshiveringwithcoldshelookedhelplesslytofindsomerefuge。Closetothewater’sedgegrewanenormousyellow-woodtree,andtothisshestaggered——thinkingtoclimbit,andseekshelterinitsboughswhere,asshehoped,shewouldbesafefromwildbeasts。Againfortunebefriendedher,foratadistanceofafewfeetfromthegroundtherewasagreatholeinthetreewhich,shediscovered,washollow。Intothisholeshecrept,takingherchanceofitsbeingthehomeofsnakesorotherevilcreatures,tofindthattheinteriorwaswideandwarm。Itwasdryalso,foratthebottomofthecavitylayafootormoreofrottentinderandmossbroughttherebyratsorbirds。Uponthistindershelaydown,andcoveringherselfwiththemossandleavessoonsankintosleeporstupor。
HowlongNaneasleptshedidnotknow,butatlengthshewasawakenedbyasoundasofgutturalhumanvoicestalkinginalanguagethatshecouldnotunderstand。Risingtoherkneesshepeeredoutoftheholeinthetree。Itwasnight,butthestarsshonebrilliantly,andtheirlightfelluponanopencircleofgroundclosebytheedgeoftheriver。Inthiscirclethereburnedagreatfire,andatalittledistancefromthefireweregatheredeightortenhorrible-lookingbeings,whoappearedtoberejoicingoversomethingthatlayupontheground。Theyweresmallinstature,menandwomentogether,butnochildren,andallofthemwerenearlynaked。Theirhairwaslongandthin,growingdownalmosttotheeyes,theirjawsandteethprotrudedandthegirthoftheirblackbodieswasoutofallproportiontotheirheight。Intheirhandstheyheldstickswithsharpstoneslashedontothem,orrudehatchet-likeknivesofthesamematerial。
NowNanea’sheartshrankwithinher,andshenearlyfaintedwithfear,forsheknewthatshewasinthehauntedforest,andwithoutadoubtthesewerethe/Esemkofu/,theevilghoststhatdwelttherein。Yes,thatwaswhattheywere,andyetshecouldnottakehereyesoffthem——thesightofthemheldherwithahorriblefascination。Butiftheywereghosts,whydidtheysinganddancelikemen?Whydidtheywavethosesharpstonesaloft,andquarrelandstrikeeachother?Andwhydidtheymakeafireasmendowhentheywishtocookfood?More,whatwasitthattheyrejoicedover,thatlongdarkthingwhichlaysoquietupontheground?Itdidnotlooklikeaheadofgame,anditcouldscarcelybeacrocodile,yetclearlyitwasfoodofsomesort,fortheyweresharpeningthestoneknivesinordertocutitup。
Whileshewonderedthus,oneofthedreadful-lookinglittlecreaturesadvancedtothefire,andtakingfromitaburningbough,helditoverthethingthatlayupontheground,togivelighttoacompanionwhowasabouttodosomethingtoitwiththestoneknife。NextinstantNaneadrewbackherheadfromthehole,astifledshriekuponherlips。Shesawwhatitwasnow——itwasthebodyofaman。Yes,andthesewerenoghosts;theywerecannibalsofwhomwhenshewaslittle,hermotherhadtoldhertalestokeepherfromwanderingawayfromhome。
Butwhowasthemantheywereabouttoeat?Itcouldnotbeoneofthemselves,forhisstaturewasmuchgreater。Oh!nowsheknew;itmustbeNahoon,whohadbeenkilledupyonder,andwhosedeadbodythewatershadbroughtdowntothehauntedforestastheyhadbroughtheralive。Yes,itmustbeNahoon,andshewouldbeforcedtoseeherhusbanddevouredbeforehereyes。Thethoughtofitoverwhelmedher。
Thatheshoulddiebyorderofthekingwasnatural,butthatheshouldbeburiedthus!Yetwhatcouldshedotopreventit?Well,ifitcostherherlife,itshouldbeprevented。Attheworsttheycouldonlykillandeatheralso,andnowthatNahoonandherfatherweregone,beinguntroubledbyanyreligiousorspiritualhopesandfears,shewasnotgreatlyconcernedtokeepherownbreathinher。
Slippingthroughtheholeinthetree,Naneawalkedquietlytowardsthecannibals——notknowingintheleastwhatsheshoulddowhenshereachedthem。Asshearrivedinlinewiththefirethislackofprogrammecamehometohermindforcibly,andshepausedtoreflect。
Justthenoneofthecannibalslookeduptoseeatallandstatelyfigurewrappedinawhitegarmentwhich,astheflame-lightflickeredonit,seemednowtoadvancefromthedensebackgroundofshadow,andnowtorecedeintoit。Thepoorsavagewretchwasholdingastoneknifeinhisteethwhenhebeheldher,butitdidnotremaintherelong,foropeninghisgreatjawsheutteredthemostterrifiedandpiercingyellthatNaneahadeverheard。Thentheotherssawheralso,andpresentlytheforestwasringingwithshrieksoffear。Forafewsecondstheoutcastsstoodandgazed,thentheyweregonethiswayandthat,burstingtheirpaththroughtheundergrowthlikestartledjackals。The/Esemkofu/ofZulutraditionhadbeenroutedintheirownhauntedhomebywhattheytooktobeaspirit。
Poor/Esemkofu!/theywerebutmiserableandstarvingbushmenwho,drivenintothatplaceofillomenmanyyearsago,hadadoptedthismeans,theonlyoneopentothem,tokeepthelifeintheirwretchedbodies。Hereatleasttheywereunmolested,andastherewaslittleotherfoodtobefoundamidthatwildernessoftrees,theytookwhattheriverbroughtthem。WhenexecutionswerefewinthePoolofDoom,timeswerehardforthemindeed——forthentheyweredriventoeateachother。Thatiswhytherewerenochildren。
Astheirinarticulateoutcrydiedawayinthedistance,Nanearanforwardtolookatthebodythatlayontheground,andstaggeredbackwithasighofrelief。ItwasnotNahoon,butsherecognisedthefaceforthatofoneofthepartyofexecutioners。Howdidhecomehere?
HadNahoonkilledhim?HadNahoonescaped?Shecouldnottell,andatthebestitwasimprobable,butstillthesightofthisdeadsoldierlitherheartwithafaintrayofhope,forhowdidhecometobedeadifNahoonhadnohandinhisdeath?Shecouldnotbeartoleavehimlyingsonearherhiding-place,however;therefore,withnosmalltoil,sherolledthecorpsebackintothewater,whichcarrieditswiftlyaway。Thenshereturnedtothetree,havingfirstreplenishedthefire,andawaitedthelight。
Atlastitcame——somuchofitaseverpenetratedthisdarksomeden——
andNanea,becomingawarethatshewashungry,descendedfromthetreetosearchforfood。Alldaylongshesearched,findingnothing,tilltowardssunsetsherememberedthatontheoutskirtsoftheforesttherewasaflatrockwhereitwasthecustomofthosewhohadbeeninanywayafflicted,orwhoconsideredthemselvesortheirbelongingstobebewitched,toplacepropitiatoryofferingsoffoodwherewiththe/Esemkofu/and/Amalhosi/weresupposedtosatisfytheirspiritualcravings。Urgedbythepinchofstarvation,tothisspotNaneajourneyedrapidly,andfoundtoherjoythatsomeneighbouringkraalhadevidentlybeeninrecenttrouble,fortheRockofOfferingwasladenwithcobsofcorn,gourdsofmilk,porridgeandevenmeat。
Helpingherselftoasmuchasshecouldcarry,shereturnedtoherlair,whereshedrankofthemilkandcookedmeatandmealiesatthefire。Thenshecreptbackintothetree,andslept。
FornearlytwomonthsNanealivedthusintheforest,sinceshecouldnotventureoutofit——fearinglestsheshouldbeseized,andforasecondtimetasteofthejudgmentoftheking。Intheforestatleastshewassafe,fornonedaredenterthere,nordidthe/Esemkofu/giveherfurthertrouble。Onceortwiceshesawthem,butoneachoccasiontheyfledfromherpresence——seekingsomedistantretreat,wheretheyhidthemselvesorperished。Nordidfoodfailher,forfindingthatitwastaken,thepiousgiversbroughtitinplentytotheRockofOffering。
But,oh!thelifewasdreadful,andthegloomandlonelinesscoupledwithhersorrowsattimesdroveheralmosttoinsanity。Stillshelivedon,thoughoftenshedesiredtodie,forifherfatherwasdead,thecorpseshehadfoundwasnotthecorpseofNahoon,andinherhearttherestillshonethatsparkofhome。Yetwhatshehopedforshecouldnottell。
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WhenPhilipHaddenreachedcivilisedregions,hefoundthatwarwasabouttobedeclaredbetweentheQueenandCetywayo,KingoftheAmazulu;alsothatintheprevailingexcitementhislittleadventurewiththeUtrechtstore-keeperhadbeenoverlookedorforgotten。Hewastheowneroftwogoodbuck-waggonswithspansofsaltedoxen,andatthattimevehiclesweremuchinrequesttocarrymilitarystoresforthecolumnswhichweretoadvanceintoZululand;indeedthetransportauthoritiesweregladtopay£90amonthforthehireofeachwaggonandtoguaranteetheownersagainstalllossofcattle。AlthoughhewasnotdesirousofreturningtoZululand,thisbaitprovedtoomuchforHadden,whoaccordinglyleasedouthiswaggonstotheCommissariat,togetherwithhisownservicesasconductorandinterpreter。
HewasattachedtoNo。3columnoftheinvadingforce,whichitmayberememberedwasundertheimmediatecommandofLordChelmsford,andonthe20thofJanuary,1879,hemarchedwithitbytheroadthatrunsfromRorke’sDrifttotheIndeniforest,andencampedthatnightbeneaththeshadowofthesteepanddesolatemountainknownasIsandhlwana。
ThatdayalsoagreatarmyofKingCetywayo’s,numberingtwentythousandmenandmore,moveddownfromtheUpindoHillandcampeduponthestonyplainthatliesamileandahalftotheeastofIsandhlwana。Nofireswerelit,anditlaythereinuttersilence,forthewarriorswere\"sleepingontheirspears。\"
Withthat/impi/wastheUmcityuregiment,threethousandfivehundredstrong。AtthefirstbreakofdawntheIndunaincommandoftheUmcityulookedupfrombeneaththeshelteroftheblackshieldwithwhichhehadcoveredhisbody,andthroughthethickmisthesawagreatmanstandingbeforehim,clothedonlyinamoocha,agauntwild-
eyedmanwhoheldaroughclubinhishand。Whenhewasspokento,themanmadenoanswer;heonlyleaneduponhisclublookingfromlefttorightalongthedensearrayofinnumerableshields。
\"Whoisthis/Silwana/(wildcreature)?\"askedtheIndunaofhiscaptainswondering。
Thecaptainsstaredatthewanderer,andoneofthemreplied,\"ThisisNahoon-ka-Zomba,itisthesonofZombawhonotlongagoheldrankinthisregimentoftheUmcityu。Hisbetrothed,Nanea,daughterofUmgona,waskilledtogetherwithherfatherbyorderoftheBlackOne,andNahoonwentmadwithgriefatthesightofit,forthefireofHeavenenteredhisbrain,andmadhehaswanderedeversince。\"
\"Whatwouldyouhere,Nahoon-ka-Zomba?\"askedtheInduna。
ThenNahoonspokeslowly。\"Myregimentgoesdowntowaragainstthewhitemen;givemeashieldandaspear,OCaptainoftheking,thatI
mayfightwithmyregiment,forIseekafaceinthebattle。\"
Sotheygavehimashieldandaspear,fortheydarednotturnawayonewhosebrainwasalightwiththefireofHeaven。
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Whenthesunwashighthatday,bulletsbegantofallamongtheranksoftheUmcityu。Thentheblack-shielded,black-plumedUmcityuarose,companybycompany,andafterthemarosethewholevastZuluarmy,breastandhornstogether,andsweptdowninsilenceuponthedoomedBritishcamp,amovingsheenofspears。Thebulletspatteredontheshields,theshellstorelonglinesthroughtheirarray,buttheyneverhaltedorwavered。Forwardoneithersideshotoutthehornsofarmedmen,claspingthecampinanembraceofsteel。Thenasthesebegantoclose,outburstthewarcryoftheZulus,andwiththeroarofatorrentandtherushofastorm,withasoundlikethehummingofabillionbees,waveafterwavethedeepbreastofthe/impi/rolleddownuponthewhitemen。Withitwenttheblack-shieldedUmcityuandwiththemwentNahoon,thesonofZomba。Abulletstruckhimintheside,glancingfromhisribs,hedidnotheed;awhitemanfellfromhishorsebeforehim,hedidnotstab,forhesoughtbutonefaceinthebattle。
Hesought——andatlasthefound。There,amongthewaggonswherethespearswerebusiest,therestandingbyhishorseandfiringrapidlywasBlackHeart,hewhohadgivenNaneahisbetrothedtodeath。Threesoldiersstoodbetweenthem,oneofthemNahoonstabbed,andtwohebrushedaside;thenherushedstraightatHadden。
Butthewhitemansawhimcome,andeventhroughthemaskofhismadnessheknewNahoonagain,andterrortookholdofhim。Throwingawayhisemptyrifle,forhisammunitionwasspent,heleapeduponhishorseanddrovehisspursintoitsflanks。Awayitwentamongthecarnage,springingoverthedeadandburstingthroughthelinesofshields,andafteritcameNahoon,runninglongandlowwithheadstretchedforwardandtrailingspear,runningasahoundrunswhenthebuckisatview。
Hadden’sfirstplanwastoheadforRorke’sDrift,butaglancetotheleftshowedhimthatthemassesoftheUndibarredthatway,sohefledstraighton,leavinghispathtofortune。Infiveminuteshewasoveraridge,andtherewasnothingofthebattletobeseen,intenallsoundsofithaddiedaway,forfewgunswerefiredinthedreadracetoFugitive’sDrift,andtheassegaimakesnonoise。Insomestrangefashion,evenatthismoment,thecontrastbetweenthedreadfulsceneofbloodandturmoilthathehadleft,andthepeacefulfaceofNatureoverwhichhewaspassing,camehometohisbrainvividly。Herebirdssangandcattlegrazed;herethesunshoneundimmedbythesmokeofcannon,onlyhighupintheblueandsilentairlongstreamsofvulturescouldbeseenwingingtheirwaytothePlainofIsandhlwana。
Thegroundwasveryrough,andHadden’shorsebegantotire。Helookedoverhisshoulder——theresometwohundredyardsbehindcametheZulu,grimasDeath,unswervingasFate。Heexaminedthepistolinhisbelt;
therewasbutoneundischargedcartridgeleft,alltheresthadbeenfiredandthepouchwasempty。Well,onebulletshouldbeenoughforonesavage:thequestionwasshouldhestopanduseitnow?No,hemightmissorfailtokilltheman;hewasonhorsebackandhisfoeonfoot,surelyhecouldtirehimout。
Awhilepassed,andtheydashedthroughalittlestream。ItseemedfamiliartoHadden。Yes,thatwasthepoolwhereheusedtobathewhenhewastheguestofUmgona,thefatherofNanea;andthereontheknolltohisrightwerethehuts,orrathertheremainsofthem,fortheyhadbeenburntwithfire。Whatchancehadbroughthimtothisplace,hewondered;thenagainhelookedbehindhimatNahoon,whoseemedtoreadhisthoughts,forheshookhisspearandpointedtotheruinedkraal。
Onhewentatspeedforherethelandwaslevel,andtohisjoyhelostsightofhispursuer。Butpresentlytherecameamileofrockyground,andwhenitwaspast,glancingbackhesawthatNahoonwasoncemoreinhisoldplace。Hishorse’sstrengthwasalmostspent,butHaddenspurreditforwardblindly,whitherheknewnot。Nowhewastravellingalongastripofturfandaheadofhimheheardthemusicofariver,whiletohisleftroseahighbank。Presentlytheturfbentinwardsandthere,nottwentyyardsawayfromhim,wasaKaffirhutstandingonthebrinkofariver。Helookedatit,yes,itwasthehutofthataccursed/inyanga/,theBee,andstandingbythefenceofitwasnoneotherthantheBeeherself。Atthesightofhertheexhaustedhorseswervedviolently,stumbledandcametotheground,whereitlaypanting。Haddenwasthrownfromthesaddlebutsprangtohisfeetunhurt。
\"Ah!BlackHeart,isityou?Whatnewsofthebattle,BlackHeart?\"
criedtheBeeinamockingvoice。
\"Helpme,mother,Iampursued,\"hegasped。
\"Whatofit,BlackHeart,itisbutbyonetiredman。Standthenandfacehim,fornowBlackHeartandWhiteHeartaretogetheragain。Youwillnot?Thenawaytotheforestandseekshelteramongthedeadwhoawaityouthere。Tellme,tellme,wasitthefaceofNaneathatIsawbeneaththewatersawhileago?Good!bearmygreetingstoherwhenyoutwomeetintheHouseoftheDead。\"
Haddenlookedatthestream;itwasinflood。Hecouldnotswimit,sofollowedbytheevillaughoftheprophetess,hespedtowardstheforest。AfterhimcameNahoon,histonguehangingfromhisjawslikethetongueofawolf。
Nowhewasintheshadowoftheforest,butstillhespedonfollowingthecourseoftheriver,tillatlengthhisbreathfailed,andhehaltedonthefurthersideofalittleglade,beyondwhichagreattreegrew。Nahoonwasmorethanaspear’sthrowbehindhim;thereforehehadtimetodrawhispistolandmakeready。
\"Halt,Nahoon,\"hecried,asoncebeforehehadcried;\"Iwouldspeakwithyou。\"
TheZuluheardhisvoice,andobeyed。
\"Listen,\"saidHadden。\"Wehaverunalongraceandfoughtalongfight,youandI,andwearestillalivebothofus。Verysoon,ifyoucomeon,oneofusmustbedead,anditwillbeyou,Nahoon,forIamarmedandasyouknowIcanshootstraight。Whatdoyousay?\"
Nahoonmadenoanswer,butstoodstillattheedgeoftheglade,hiswildandgloweringeyesfixedonthewhiteman’sfaceandhisbreathcominginshortgasps。
\"Willyouletmego,if/I/let/you/go?\"Haddenaskedoncemore。\"I
knowwhyyouhateme,butthepastcannotbeundone,norcanthedeadbebroughttoearthagain。\"
StillNahoonmadenoanswer,andhissilenceseemedmorefatefulandmorecrushingthananyspeech;nospokenaccusationwouldhavebeensoterribleinHadden’sear。Hemadenoanswer,butliftinghisassegaihestalkedgrimlytowardhisfoe。
WhenhewaswithinfivepacesHaddencoveredhimandfired。Nahoonsprangaside,butthebulletstruckhimsomewhere,forhisrightarmdropped,andthestabbingspearthatheheldwasjerkedfromitharmlesslyoverthewhiteman’shead。Butstillmakingnosound,theZulucameonandgrippedhimbythethroatwithhislefthand。Foraspacetheystruggledterribly,swayingtoandfro,butHaddenwasunhurtandfoughtwiththefuryofdespair,whileNahoonhadbeentwicewounded,andthereremainedtohimbutonesoundarmwherewithtostrike。Presentlyforcedtoearthbythewhiteman’sironstrength,thesoldierwasdown,norcouldheriseagain。
\"Nowwewillmakeanend,\"mutteredHaddensavagely,andheturnedtoseektheassegai,thenstaggeredslowlybackwithstartingeyesandreelinggait。Fortherebeforehim,stillcladinherwhiterobe,aspearinherhand,stoodthespiritofNanea!
\"Thinkofit,\"hesaidtohimself,dimlyrememberingthewordsofthe/inyanga/,\"whenyoustandfacetofacewiththeghostofthedeadintheHomeoftheDead。\"
Therewasacryandaflashofsteel;thebroadspearleapttowardshimtoburyitselfinhisbreast。Heswayed,hefell,andpresentlyBlackHeartclaspedthatgreatrewardwhichthewordoftheBeehadpromisedHim。
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\"Nahoon!Nahoon!\"murmuredasoftvoice,\"awake,itisnoghost,butI
——Nanea——I,yourlivingwife,towhommy/Ehlose/[*]hasgivenitmetosaveyou。\"
[*]GuardianSpirit。
Nahoonheardandopenedhiseyestolookandhismadnesslefthim。
\"Welcome,wife,\"hesaidfaintly,\"nowIwilllivesinceDeathhasbroughtyoubacktomeintheHouseoftheDead。\"
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To-dayNahoonisoneoftheIndunasoftheEnglishGovernmentinZululand,andtherearechildrenabouthiskraal。ItwasfromthelipsofnoneotherthanNaneahiswifethatthetellerofthistalehearditssubstance。
TheBeealsolivesandpractisesasmuchmagicasshedaresunderthewhiteman’srule。Onherblackhandshinesagoldenringshapedlikeasnakewithrubyeyes,andofthistrinkettheBeeisveryproud。