child of storm-第35节

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He　sniffed　at　the　air　as　a　dog　does；　and　as　he　sniffed　drew　ever　nearer
to　Nandie；　till　at　last　he　laughed　and　pointed　to　her。

〃_Your_　child；　Princess；　whose　name　I　do　not　know。　　Your　firstborn
child；　whom　you　loved　more　than　your　own　heart。〃

She　rose。

〃Yes；　yes；　Nyanga；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　am　the　Princess　Nandie；　and　he　was　my
child；　whom　I　loved　more　than　my　own　heart。〃

〃Haha！〃　said　Zikali。　　〃Dust；　you　did　not　lie　to　me。　　My　Spirit；　you　did
not　lie　to　me。　　But　now；　tell　me；　Dustand　tell　me；　my　Spiritwho
killed　this　child？〃

He　began　to　waddle　round　the　circle；　an　extraordinary　sight；　covered　as
he　was　with　grey　grime；　varied　with　streaks　of　black　skin　where　the
perspiration　had　washed　the　dust　away。

Presently　he　came　opposite　to　me；　and；　to　my　dismay；　paused；　sniffing　at
me　as　he　had　at　Nandie。

〃Ah！　ah！　O　Macumazana；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　something　to　do　with　this
matter；〃　a　saying　at　which　all　that　audience　pricked　their　ears。

Then　I　rose　up　in　wrath　and　fear；　knowing　my　position　to　be　one　of　some
danger。

〃Wizard；　or　Smeller…out　of　Wizards；　whichever　you　name　yourself；〃　I
called　in　a　loud　voice；　〃if　you　mean　that　_I_　killed　Nandie's　child；　you
lie！〃

〃No；　no；　Macumazahn；〃　he　answered；　〃but　you　tried　to　save　it；　and
therefore　you　had　something　to　do　with　the　matter；　had　you　not？　
Moreover；　I　think　that　you；　who　are　wise　like　me；　know　who　did　kill　it。　
Won't　you　tell　me；　Macumazahn？　　No？　　Then　I　must　find　out　for　myself。　
Be　at　peace。　　Does　not　all　the　land　know　that　your　hands　are　white　as
your　heart？〃

Then；　to　my　great　relief；　he　passed　on；　amidst　a　murmur　of　approbation；
for；　as　I　have　said；　the　Zulus　liked　me。　　Round　and　round　he　wandered；
to　my　surprise　passing　both　Mameena　and　Masapo　without　taking　any
particular　note　of　them；　although　he　scanned　them　both；　and　I　thought
that　I　saw　a　swift　glance　of　recognition　pass　between　him　and　Mameena。　
It　was　curious　to　watch　his　progress；　for　as　he　went　those　in　front　of
him　swayed　in　their　terror　like　corn　before　a　puff　of　wind；　and　when　he
had　passed　they　straightened　themselves　as　the　corn　does　when　the　wind
has　gone　by。

At　length　he　had　finished　his　journey　and　returned　to　his
starting…point；　to　all　appearance　completely　puzzled。

〃You　keep　so　many　wizards　at　your　kraal；　King；〃　he　said；　addressing
Panda；　〃that　it　is　hard　to　say　which　of　them　wrought　this　deed。　　It
would　have　been　easier　to　tell　you　of　greater　matters。　　Yet　I　have　taken
your　fee；　and　I　must　earn　itI　must　earn　it。　　Dust；　you　are　dumb。　　Now；
my　Idhlozi；　my　Spirit；　do　you　speak？〃　and；　holding　his　head　sideways；　he
turned　his　left　ear　up　towards　the　sky；　then　said　presently；　in　a
curious；　matter…of…fact　voice：

〃Ah！　I　thank　you；　Spirit。　　Well；　King；　your　grandchild　was　killed　by　the
House　of　Masapo；　your　enemy；　chief　of　the　Amasomi。〃

Now　a　roar　of　approbation　went　up　from　the　audience；　among　whom　Masapo's
guilt　was　a　foregone　conclusion。

When　this　had　died　down　Panda　spoke；　saying：

〃The　House　of　Masapo　is　a　large　house；　I　believe　that　he　has　several
wives　and　many　children。　　It　is　not　enough　to　smell　out　the　House；　since
I　am　not　as　those　who　went　before　me　were；　nor　will　I　slay　the　innocent
with　the　guilty。　　Tell　us；　O　Opener…of…Roads；　who　among　the　House　of
Masapo　has　wrought　this　deed？〃

〃That's　just　the　question；〃　grumbled　Zikali　in　a　deep　voice。　　〃All　that
I　know　is　that　it　was　done　by　poisoning；　and　I　smell　the　poison。　　It　is
here。〃

Then　he　walked　to　where　Mameena　sat　and　cried　out：

〃Seize　that　woman　and　search　her　hair。〃

Executioners　who　were　in　waiting　sprang　forward；　but　Mameena　waved　them
away。

〃Friends；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　laugh；　〃there　is　no　need　to　touch
me；〃　and；　rising；　she　stepped　forward　to　the　centre　of　the　ring。　　Here；
with　a　few　swift　motions　of　her　hands；　she　flung　off　first　the　cloak　she
wore；　then　the　moocha　about　her　middle；　and　lastly　the　fillet　that　bound
her　long　hair；　and　stood　before　that　audience　in　all　her　naked　beautya
wondrous　and　a　lovely　sight。

〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃let　women　come　and　search　me　and　my　garments；　and　see
if　there　is　any　poison　hid　there。〃

Two　old　crones　stepped　forwardthough　I　do　not　know　who　sent　themand
carried　out　a　very　thorough　examination；　finally　reporting　that　they　had
found　nothing。　　Thereon　Mameena；　with　a　shrug　of　her　shoulders；　resumed
such　clothes　as　she　wore；　and　returned　lo　her　place。

Zikali　appeared　to　grow　angry。　　He　stamped　upon　the　ground　with　his　big
feet；　he　shook　his　braided　grey　locks　and　cried　out：

〃Is　my　wisdom　to　be　defeated　in　such　a　little　matter？　　One　of　you　tie　a
bandage　over　my　eyes。〃

Now　a　manit　was　Maputa；　the　messengercame　out　and　did　so；　and　I
noted　that　he　tied　it　well　and　tight。　　Zikali　whirled　round　upon　his
heels；　first　one　way　and　then　another；　and；　crying　aloud：　〃Guide　me；　my
Spirit！〃　marched　forward　in　a　zigzag　fashion；　as　a　blindfolded　man　does；
with　his　arms　stretched　out　in　front　of　him。　　First　he　went　to　the
right；　then　to　the　left；　and　then　straight　forward；　till　at　length；　to
my　astonishment；　he　came　exactly　opposite　the　spot　where　Masapo　sat　and；
stretching　out　his　great；　groping　hands；　seized　the　kaross　with　which　he
was　covered　and；　with　a　jerk；　tore　it　from　him。

〃Search　this！〃　he　cried；　throwing　it　on　the　ground；　and　a　woman
searched。

Presently　she　uttered　an　exclamation；　and　from　among　the　fur　of　one　of
the　tails　of　the　kaross　produced　a　tiny　bag　that　appeared　to　be　made　out
of　the　bladder　of　a　fish。　　This　she　handed　to　Zikali；　whose　eyes　had　now
been　unbandaged。

He　looked　at　it；　then　gave　it　to　Maputa；　saying：

〃There　is　the　poisonthere　is　the　poison；　but　who　gave　it　I　do　not　say。
　I　am　weary。　　Let　me　go。〃

Then；　none　hindering　him；　he　walked　away　through　the　gate　of　the　kraal。

Soldiers　seized　upon　Masapo；　while　the　multitude　roared：　〃Kill　the
wizard！〃

Masapo　sprang　up；　and；　running　to　where　the　King　sat；　flung　himself　upon
his　knees；　protesting　his　innocence　and　praying　for　mercy。　　I　also；　who
had　doubts　as　to　all　this　business；　ventured　to　rise　and　speak。

〃O　King；〃　I　said；　〃as　one　who　has　known　this　man　in　the　past；　I　plead
with　you。　　How　that　powder　came　into　his　kaross　I　know　not；　but
perchance　it　is　not　poison；　only　harmless　dust。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　but　wood　dust　which　I　use　for　the　cleaning　of　my　nails；〃
cried　Masapo；　for　he　was　so　terrified　I　think　he　knew　not　what　he　said。

〃So　you　own　to　knowledge　of　the　medicine？〃　　exclaimed　Panda。　　〃Therefore
none　hid　it　in　your　kaross　through　malice。〃

Masapo　began　to　explain；　but　what　he　said　was　lost　in　a　mighty　roar　of
〃Kill　the　wizard！〃

Panda　held　up　his　hand　and　there　was　silence。

〃Bring　milk　in　a　dish；〃　commanded　the　King；　and　it；　was　brought；　and；　at
a　further　word　from　him；　dusted　with　the　powder。

〃Now；　O　Macumazana；〃　said　Panda　to　me；　〃if　you　still　think　that　yonder
man　is　innocent；　will　you　drink　this　milk？〃

〃I　do　not　like　milk；　O　King；〃　I　answered；　shaking　my　head；　whereon　all
who　heard　me　laughed。

〃Will　Mameena；　his　wife；　drink　it；　then？〃　asked　Panda。

She　also　shook　her　head；　saying：

〃O　King；　I　drink　no　milk　that　is　mixed　with　dust。〃

Just　then　a　lean；　white　dog；　one　of　those　homeless；　mangy　beasts　that
stray　about　kraals　and　live　upon　carrion；　wandered　into　the　ring。　　Panda
made　a　sign；　and　a　servant；　going　to　where　the　poor　beast　stood　staring
about　it　hungrily；　set　down　the　wooden　dish　of　milk　in　front　of　it。　
Instantly　the　dog　lapped　it　up；　for　it　was　starving；　and　as　it　finished
the　last　drop　the　man　slipped　a　leathern　thong　about　its　neck　and　held
it　fast。

Now　all　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　dog；　mine　among　them。　　Presently　the
beast　uttered　a　long　and　melancholy　howl　which　thrilled　me　through；　for
I　knew　it　to　be　Masapo's　death　warrant；　then　began　to　scratch　the　ground
and　foam　at　the　mouth。　　Guessing　what　would　follow；　I　rose；　bowed　to　the
King；　and　walked　away　to　my　camp；　which；　it　will　be　remembered；　was　set
up　in　a　little　kloof　commanding　this　place；　at　a　distance　only　of　a　few
hundred　yards。　　So　intent　was　all　the　multitude　upon　watching　the　dog
that　I　doubt　whether　anyone　saw　me　go。　　As　for　that　poor　beast；　Scowl；
who　stayed　behind；　told　me　that　it　did　not　die　for　about　ten　minutes；
since　before　its　end　a　red　rash　appeared　upon　it　similar　to　that　which　I
had　seen　upon　Saduko's　child；　and　it　was　seized　with　convulsions。

Well；　I　reached　my　tent　unmolested；　and；　having　lit　my　pipe；　engaged
myself　in　making　business　entries　in　my　note…book；　in　order　to　divert　my
mind　as　much　as　I　could；　when　suddenly　I　heard　a　most　devilish　clamour。　
Looking　up；　I　saw　Masapo　running　towards　me　with　a　speed　that　I　should
have　thought　impossible　in　so　fat　a　man；　while　after　him　raced　the
fierce…faced　executioners；　and　behind　came　the　mob。

〃Kill　the　evil…doer！〃　they　shouted。

Masapo　reached　me。　　He　flung　himself　on　his　knees　before　me；　gasping：

〃Save　me；　Macumazahn！　　I　am　innocent。　　Mameena；　the　witch！　　Mameena〃

He　got　no　farther；　for　the　slayers　had　leapt　on　him　like　hounds　upon　a
buck　and　dragged　him　from　me。

Then　I　turned　and　covered　up　my　eyes。


Next　morning　I　left　Nodwengu　without　saying　good…bye　to　anyone；　for　what
had　happened　there　mad