nada the lily(百合娜达)-第8节

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we　could。　Now　we　were　up　to　our　breasts；　now　we　had　lost　the　earth　and
were　swimming　towards　the　middle　of　the　river；　the　dog　Koos　leading
the　way。

Then　it　was　that　the　soldiers　appeared　upon　the　bank。　〃Ah！　little
people；〃　one　cried；　〃you　swim；　do　you？　Well；　you　will　drown；　and　if
you　do　not　drown　we　know　a　ford；　and　we　will　catch　you　and　kill　you
yes！　if　we　must　run　over　the　edge　of　the　world　after　you　we　will　catch
you。〃　And　he　hurled　an　assegai　after　us；　which　fell　between　us　like　a
flash　of　light。

While　he　spoke　we　swam　hard；　and　now　we　were　in　the　current。　It　swept
us　downwards；　but　still　we　made　way；　for　we　could　swim　well。　It　was
just　this：　if　we　could　reach　the　bank　before　we　were　swept　into　the
rapids　we　were　safe；　if　not；　thengood…night！　Now　we　were　near　the
other　side；　but；　alas！　we　were　also　near　the　lip　of　the　foaming　water。
We　strained；　we　struggled。　Baleka　was　a　brave　girl；　and　she　swam
bravely；　but　the　water　pushed　her　down　below　me；　and　I　could　do
nothing　to　help　her。　I　got　my　foot　upon　the　rock　and　looked　round。
There　she　was；　and　eight　paces　from　her　the　broken　water　boiled。　I
could　not　go　back。　I　was　too　weak；　and　it　seemed　that　she　must　perish。
But　the　dog　Koos　saw。　He　swam　towards　her；　barking；　then　turned　round；
heading　for　the　shore。　She　grasped　him　by　the　tail　with　her　right
hand。　Then　he　put　out　his　strengthhe　was　very　strong。　She　took
struck　out　with　her　feet　and　left　hand；　and　slowlyvery　slowlydrew
near。　Then　I　stretched　out　the　handle　of　my　assegai　towards　her。　She
caught　it　with　her　left　hand。　Already　her　feet　were　over　the　brink　of
the　rapids；　but　I　pulled　and　Koos　pulled；　and　we　brought　her　safe　into
the　shadows；　and　from　the　shallows　to　the　bank；　and　there　she　fell
gasping。

Now　when　the　soldiers　on　the　other　bank　saw　that　we　had　crossed；　they
shouted　threats　at　us；　then　ran　away　down　the　bank。

〃Arise；　Baleka！〃　I　said：　〃they　have　gone　to　see　a　ford。〃

〃Ah；　let　me　die！〃　she　answered。

But　I　forced　her　to　rise；　and　after　awhile　she　got　her　breath　again；
and　we　walked　on　as　fast　as　we　could　up　the　long　rise。　For　two　hours
we　walked；　or　more；　till　at　last　we　came　to　the　crest　of　the　rise；　and
there；　far　away；　we　saw　a　large　kraal。

〃Keep　heart；〃　I　said。　〃See；　there　is　the　kraal　of　Chaka。〃

〃Yes；　brother；〃　she　answered；　〃but　what　waits　us　there？　Death　is
behind　us　and　before　uswe　are　in　the　middle　of　death。〃

Presently　we　came　to　a　path　that　ran　to　the　kraal　from　the　ford　of　the
Umfolozi。　It　was　by　it　that　the　Impi　had　travelled。　We　followed　the
path　till　at　last　we　were　but　half　an　hour's　journey　from　the　kraal。
Then　we　looked　back；　and　lo！　there　behind　us　were　the　pursuersfive
of　themone　had　drowned　in　crossing　the　river。

Again　we　ran；　but　now　we　were　weak；　and　they　gained　upon　us。　Then　once
more　I　thought　of　the　dog。　He　was　fierce　and　would　tear　any　one　on
whom　I　set　him。　I　called　him　and　told　him　what　to　do；　though　I　knew
that　it　would　be　his　death。　He　understood；　and　flew　towards　the
soldiers　growling；　his　hair　standing　up　on　his　spine。　They　tried　to
kill　him　with　spears　and　kerries；　but　he　jumped　round　them；　biting　at
them；　and　kept　them　back。　At　last　a　man　hit　him；　and　he　sprang　up　and
seized　the　man　by　the　throat。　There　he　clung；　man　and　dog　rolling　over
and　over　together；　till　the　end　of　it　was　that　they　both　died。　Ah！　he
was　a　dog！　We　do　not　see　such　dogs　nowadays。　His　father　was　a　Boer
hound；　the　first　that　came　into　the　country。　That　dog　once　killed　a
leopard　all　by　himself。　Well；　this　was　the　end　of　Koos！

Meanwhile；　we　had　been　running。　Now　we　were　but　three　hundred　paces
from　the　gate　of　the　kraal；　and　there　was　something　going　on　inside
it；　that　we　could　see　from　the　noise　and　the　dust。　The　four　soldiers；
leaving　the　dead　dog　and　the　dying　man；　came　after　us　swiftly。　I　saw
that　they　must　catch　us　before　we　reached　the　gate；　for　now　Baleka
could　go　but　slowly。　Then　a　thought　came　into　my　head。　I　had　brought
her　here；　I　would　save　her　life　if　I　could。　Should　she　reach　the　kraal
without　me；　Chaka　would　not　kill　a　girl　who　was　so　young　and　fair。

〃Run　on；　Baleka！　run　on！〃　I　said；　dropping　behind。　Now　she　was　almost
blind　with　weariness　and　terror；　and；　not　seeing　my　purpose；　staggered
towards　the　gate　of　the　kraal。　But　I　sat　down　on　the　veldt　to　get　my
breath　again；　for　I　was　about　to　fight　four　men　till　I　was　killed。　My
heart　beat　and　the　blood　drummed　in　my　ears；　but　when　they　drew　near
and　I　rosethe　assegai　in　my　handonce　more　the　red　cloth　seemed　to
go　up　and　down　before　my　eyes；　and　all　fear　left　me。

The　men　were　running；　two　and　two；　with　the　length　of　a　spear　throw
between　them。　But　of　the　first　pair　one　was　five　or　six　paces　in　front
of　the　other。　This　man　shouted　out　loud　and　charged　me；　shield　and
spear　up。　Now　I　had　no　shieldnothing　but　the　assegai；　but　I　was
crafty　and　he　was　overbold。　On　he　came。　I　stood　waiting　for　him　till
he　drew　back　the　spear　to　stab　me。　Then　suddenly　I　dropped　to　my　knees
and　thrust　upward　with　all　my　strength；　beneath　the　rim　of　his　shield；
and　he　also　thrust；　but　over　me；　his　spear　only　cutting　the　flesh　of
my　shouldersee！　here　is　its　scar；　yes；　to　this　day。　And　my　assegai？
Ah！　it　went　home；　it　ran　through　and　through　his　middle。　He　rolled
over　and　over　on　the　plain。　The　dust　hid　him；　only　I　was　now
weaponless；　for　the　haft　of　my　spearit　was　but　a　light　throwing
assegaibroke　in　two；　leaving　nothing　but　a　little　bit　of　stick　in　my
hand。　And　the　other　one　was　upon　me。　Then　in　the　darkness　I　saw　a
light。　I　fell　on　to　my　hands　and　knees　and　flung　myself　over　sideways。
My　body　struck　the　legs　of　the　man　who　was　about　to　stab　me；　lifting
his　feet　from　beneath　him。　Down　he　came　heavily。　Before　he　had　touched
the　ground　I　was　off　it。　His　spear　had　fallen　from　his　hand。　I
stooped；　seized　it；　and　as　he　rose　I　stabbed　him　through　the　back。　It
was　all　done　in　the　shake　of　a　leaf；　my　father；　in　the　shake　of　a　leaf
he　also　was　dead。　Then　I　ran；　for　I　had　no　stomach　for　the　other　two；
my　valour　was　gone。

About　a　hundred　paces　from　me　Baleka　was　staggering　along　with　her
arms　out　like　one　who　has　drunk　too　much　beer。　By　the　time　I　caught
her　she　was　some　forty　paces　from　the　gate　of　the　kraal。　But　then　her
strength　left　her　altogether。　Yes！　there　she　fell　senseless；　and　I
stood　by　her。　And　there；　too；　I　should　have　been　killed；　had　not　this
chanced；　since　the　other　two　men；　having　stayed　one　instant　by　their
dead　fellows；　came　on　against　me　mad　with　rage。　For　at　that　moment　the
gate　of　the　kraal　opened；　and　through　it　ran　a　party　of　soldiers
dragging　a　prisoner　by　the　arms。　After　them　walked　a　great　man；　who
wore　a　leopard　skin　on　his　shoulders；　and　was　laughing；　and　with　him
were　five　or　six　ringed　councillors；　and　after　them　again　came　a
company　of　warriors。

The　soldiers　saw　that　killing　was　going　on；　and　ran　up　just　as　the
slayers　reached　us。

〃Who　are　you？〃　they　cried；　〃who　day　to　kill　at　the　gate　of　the
Elephant's　kraal？　Here　the　Elephant　kills　alone。〃

〃We　are　of　the　children　of　Makedama；〃　they　answered；　〃and　we　follow
these　evildoers　who　have　done　wickedness　and　murder　in　our　kraal。　See！
but　now　two　of　us　are　dead　at　their　hands；　and　others　lie　dead　along
the　road。　Suffer　that　we　slay　them。〃

〃Ask　that　of　the　Elephant；〃　said　the　soldiers；　〃ask　too　that　he　suffer
you　should　not　be　slain。〃

Just　then　the　tall　chief　saw　blood　and　heard　words。　He　stalked　up；　and
he　was　a　great　man　to　look　at；　though　still　quite　young　in　years。　For
he　was　taller　by　a　head　than　any　round　him；　and　his　chest　was　big　as
the　chests　of　two；　his　face　was　fierce　and　beautiful；　and　when　he　grew
angry　his　eye　flashed　like　a　smitten　brand。

〃Who　are　these　that　dare　to　stir　up　dust　at　the　gates　of　my　kraal？〃　he
asked；　frowning。

〃O　Chaka；　O　Elephant！〃　answered　the　captain　of　the　soldiers；　bending
himself　double　before　him；　〃the　men　say　that　these　are　evildoers　and
that　they　pursue　them　to　kill　them。〃

〃Good！〃　he　answered。　〃Let　them　slay　the　evildoers。〃

〃O　great　chief！　thanks　be　to　thee；　great　chief！〃　said　those　men　of　my
people　who　sought　to　kill　us。

〃I　hear　you；〃　he　answered；　then　spoke　once　more　to　the　captain。　〃And
when　they　have　slain　the　evildoers；　let　themselves　be　blinded　and
turned　loose　to　seek　their　way　home；　because　they　have　dared　to　lift　a
spear　within　the　Zulu　gates。　Now　praise　on；　my　children！〃　And　he
laughed；　while　the　soldiers　murmured；　〃Ou！　he　is　wise；　he　is　great；
his　justice　is　bright　and　terrible　like　the　sun！〃

But　the　two　men　of　my　people　cried　out　in　fear；　for　they　did　not　seek
such　justice　as　this。

〃Cut　out　their　tongues　also；〃　said　Chaka。　〃What？　shall　the　land　of　the
Zulus　suffer　such　a　noise？　Never！　lest　the　cattle　miscarry。　To　it；　ye
black　ones！　There　lies　the　girl。　She　is　asleep　and　helpless。　Kill　her！
What？　you　hesitate？　Nay；　then；　if　you　will　have　time　for　thought；　I
give　it。　Take　these　men；　smear　them　with　honey；　and　pin　them　over　ant…
heaps；　by　to…morrow's　sun　they　will　know　their　own　minds。　But　first
kill　these　two　hunted　jackals；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Baleka　and　myself。
〃They　seem　tired　and　doubtless　they　long　for　sleep。〃

Then　for　the　first　time　I　spoke；　for　the　soldiers　drew　near　to　slay
us。