The White Shield Part 4

"Not yet, Untuswa, not yet," was the answer, uttered softly. "Lead on now, that we may return before these _abatagati_ smell that the Lion has been on their track."

Now, as we took our way beneath the blackness of the forest shades, it seemed to me, _Nkose_, that I was standing with one foot upon the point of an exceedingly lofty pinnacle, which point pierced more and more my foot, and yet on each and every side was the dizzy height of death. For now came back to me those plotting and foolish dreams of the days when my princ.i.p.al wife, Nangeza, and myself were making love without permission, and breaking daily the stern law of our nation. Then we had talked over the possibility which lay before every man who knew not fear, and who dared stake everything on fate, and how no man was more fitted to aspire to the rule of a warrior race than such a born warrior as myself; and, although now I had come to see the foolishness of such dreams--for I loved Umzilikazi as a dog does his master--and, further, was happy enough in my position as second fighting _induna_--yet it might be that Nangeza, who was ill-disposed to me now by reason of her evil and over-reaching temper, had whispered abroad such old tales-- adding insidiously to them, as the manner is with women--and these might have reached the ears of the King--as what indeed did not?--and, taken with what he had just heard, might mean my downfall. Yet I could do nothing, save to trust in my steady and faithful services to the King, and the weight and general soundness of my counsel; for, young as I was, the Great Great One took counsel of me oft, though secretly--oftener, indeed, than of older _izinduna_, such as my father Ntelani, or even Mc.u.mbete, who of all his counsellors was the most trusted.

Suddenly the King's hand fell upon my shoulder again, pressing me down gently but firmly to the very earth. Not a moment too soon, for as we lay crouching there, over us pa.s.sed the four conspirators--right over us, so that had they trodden but a foot's breadth to one side they had touched us. They were now upon the edge of the brush, and we could see their forms clearly outlined against the stars. Moreover, each held his broad a.s.segai in his right hand, for the man who wanders at night does well to be prepared for peril at every step. As for me, I desired nothing better than to have at them then and there; but that restraining grasp relaxed not on my shoulder, and the will of the Great Great One was sufficient. So we let those traitors go for the moment, but better had it been for them had we stricken them down in the darkness as they walked.

We regained the _isiG.o.dhlo_ by the same secret way, and perceived of none. But before dismissing me for the night the King whispered a few orders. And then I knew that the morrow would witness terrible things-- that, for some at least, it should bring forth that which might well make them wish they had never been born.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE "SMELLING-OUT."

On the morrow, ere yet the sun was up, heralds went running throughout Ekupumuleni, crying aloud that none might venture away from the kraal on pain of death. Others, again ran swiftly to the cattle outposts and outlying kraals, ordering all men to a.s.semble immediately at the royal place. But before this I had already despatched several armed parties, picked warriors of my own regiment, who should form a belt round the kraals at a great distance, so that, being distributed in pickets, none might pa.s.s.

Now a great fear fell upon all the people when these ominous preparations became known; and this deepened, as presently it got noised abroad that the King's dreams had been bad, for it was certain that a great witch-finding impended--greater, indeed, than had been known since Ekupumuleni was erected. An uneasy feeling of restlessness and suspicion had been astir for some little time, and now men whispered to each other with their blankets over their heads, fearing lest their words should fall upon the wrong ears.

Throughout the morning people continued to stream in from the outlying places, men and women, for children were not cited, the former carrying no weapons but sticks only. But all the warriors of my own regiment, to the number of several hundreds, were fully armed. Kalipe, also, the other war-captain, had as many of his own men under arms. The bulk of the people, however, were, as I said, unarmed.

"_Au_!" cried Nangeza, as I went into my hut to put on some of my war-adornments, "I think, Untuswa, this reminds me not a little of the morning following upon the death of the sleeping sentinel, Sekweni.

They say, too, that this morning a man was found outside, not far from the gates, with his heart cleft in twain by the stroke of a broad _umkonto_--a broad _umkonto_, Untuswa. Ah! ah!" she jeered, letting her eyes rest with meaning upon my royal weapon, which was seldom out of my grasp. "Art thou not afraid, Untuswa? for the glance of Notalwa seeth far, and his tongue is long."

"I know yet another tongue which is long, Nangeza," I answered. "Tell me, thou fool, hast thou ever seen me afraid?"

"Once only, when I told thee thou mightest yet be King. Ah! ah!" she mocked.

I turned as I was departing and looked her full in the face.

"A warning, Nangeza!" I said. "There is a greater than Notalwa, and a long tongue is a worse thing than dangerous. It is wearisome. The King is not fond of those who wag their tongues overmuch, claiming to be in the counsels of his _izinduna_. Have a care, Nangeza!" And with these words I left her; yet not without seeing that she was alarmed.

Now, by the time the sun was at his highest in the heavens, the great kraal, Ekupumuleni, was packed full of people, and all were in a brooding and breathless state of dread; for the rumours which filled the air were as the early rumblings of a mighty storm brooding over the face of the world. It was known that the witch-doctors were making _muti_.

It was whispered that the King's sleeping visions had so shaped that vast and unmentionable wizardry had been at work. It was known further that a man of the House of Ncwelo had died in blood, wandering abroad in the night. Things looked dark for the House of Ncwelo. None doubted but that, before the sun went down, some, if not many, should walk in the darkness of the Great Unknown.

All the morning, from every direction, people came flocking. Ncwelo's kraal to the number of nearly a hundred, Janisa's clan, who were in charge of some of the cattle outposts, and the followings of many petty chiefs. All these took up positions in the circles within circles ranged around the inside of the great open s.p.a.ce. But belting round the whole, hemming in all in a ring of iron--a fence of spear blades--were two half-moons of warriors fully armed, those of my own particular following, and those of Kalipe. And at the high end of the kraal were two companies of slayers, or executioners, bearing thongs and heavy k.n.o.b-sticks.

Seated among the _izinduna_ awaiting the arrival of the Great Great One was my father Ntelani, the same morose and dissatisfied expression upon his face. But upon that of Tyuyumane, the King's relation, I thought I could detect a lively expression of fear--also upon that of Senkonya-- and I laughed behind my s.h.i.+eld, for I was in full dress as a war-captain.

"Ah! ah!" I said to myself. "The Great Great One was right. These _abatagati_ are about to weep blood. No swift and merciful death in the darkness is to be theirs."

Now the King came forth attended by his s.h.i.+eld-bearer, and all the nation a.s.sembled there bowed low and thundered out the _Bayete_. But the countenance of the Great Great One was gloomy and stern, as his gaze travelled over the enormous bending crowd. He advanced to his usual place, at the head of the open s.p.a.ce, and seated himself. And then the _iza.n.u.si_, bedecked in all their hideousness of skulls and entrails and streaming blood and rattling bones, came dancing and howling before the King, and clamouring to be let loose upon the wizards who had bewitched his dreams.

Notalwa was at their head. He was arrayed in a cloak of quagga-skin vividly striped, and was crowned with the lower jaw of a sea-cow cunningly joined with the upper part of a lion's skull, the whole painted red and surmounted by cranes' feathers. For my own part, I laughed to myself at the sight of this cowardly boaster, who had never shed blood, save that of some wretched _umtagati_ whom he had smelt out, trying to render his appearance terrific. So, too, did several among us war-captains. But the bulk of the people saw terror in him, and groaned loudly.

This hideous band began to dance before the King, sweeping the ground and air with wands tipped with giraffe tails, as they circled round, and howling--

"Great Great One! Black Buffalo Bull! Elephant who bears the world!

give the word, that we may name the _abatagati_! Thou whose glance is brighter than the sun! give the word that we may consume them with lightning! Hou! Hou! Hou!"

With these and such-like bellowings did the _iza.n.u.si_ rave for long; but the King sat and took snuff in silence, as though they were not there at all. At last he said--

"Away from me, ye jackals! ye who are impostors, and no _iza.n.u.si_ at all! Still your howlings; for there is a greater than you, who shall find out quickly what ye never shall."

I had my eyes upon Notalwa's face, and saw that he feared. The others fell back in awed silence, for there was that in the King's eyes, in the King's glance which meant death, and nothing less. And then old Masuka advanced to take their place.

His little bowed, shrivelled figure was undecked by gauds of any kind, but his eyes were keen and bright, and searching as ever. He was attended by three others--young men of our own people, whom the King had appointed to him to be instructed in his magic; for Umzilikazi was too clear-sighted to arouse disaffection among our own people by leaving the chief magic entirely in the hands of strangers. Besides, he wanted to set up a rival band to that of Notalwa.

"Hearken!" said the King. "This morning a man was found who had died in blood in the night--had died in blood under the very shadow of where I sit. Who is he that arrogates to himself the right to slay where that right is of one alone? Who dares take life without my decree? Here has been _tagati_ of the most deadly kind!"

These words were taken up by a trumpet voiced _imbonga_, and rolled forth aloud, that all the nation might hear. And the people heard, and the s.h.i.+vering that went through those crouched circles was as the shaking of the forest leaves just before a gale.

[Note: an imbonga is a professional "praiser," or herald.]

"Find him!" said the King, with a sweep of the hand.

The three who were learners of Masuka's sorcery sprang to their feet, and began to intone the witch-finding chant. Then they ran softly hither and thither, striking the ground with their tail-tipped wands.

But the old Mosutu himself remained rigid and motionless where he had first been standing.

The three witch-finders, running lightly, entered among the people, for lanes had been left between the densely-serried ranks. As they advanced down these a dread silence lay upon all. Tens of thousands of eyeb.a.l.l.s rolled white in chill apprehension. There alone, gloomy, and with lowering brow, sat the King, terrible in his fell and destroying wrath.

Even I, who was in the counsels of the Great Great One, felt a s.h.i.+ver of awe; remembering, too, the words my father had let fall in the conclave of the midnight conspirators.

Down the ranks went the witch-finders, chanting, and twirling their rods. And behind them came a grim and fearsome company--the whole body of the slayers, namely--the fierce light of expectancy upon their dread faces, as each held his thong ready, grasping in a cruel grip the heavy k.n.o.bstick.

Ha! The witch-finders have halted, and their singing rises shrill and loud. A man is touched with the fatal wand. In a moment a thong is about his neck, and two of the slayers are leading him forth to the great gate--are leading him forth to the place of slaughter--to die!

Two more now are touched! They also are led forth in like manner immediately behind the first. A great gasp, like a sob, sways the mult.i.tude; and in dead silence a way is opened out for these ill-fated ones, pa.s.sing through to their death. Then, as the people take up once more the chorus of the wizard song, an _imbonga_, standing at the King's side, names aloud those who have thus looked their last upon the sun.

But the progress of the _iza.n.u.si_ continues, and by the time they have gone half through the ranks some thirty men have been named: and now we can see these stringing up the slope outside the kraal, in the direction of the place of slaughter--they and their slayers--and, in the dead and awesome silence which now and again falls upon the immense crowd, can hear the dull cras.h.i.+ng of broken skulls, and the distant and hollow groans, as the great k.n.o.bsticks of the executioners are already beginning their fell work. And still the line of doomed men is ascending to the hill of death; and far above, like a gathering cloud in the heavens, the white pinions of vultures are wheeling and soaring, impatient to begin, for such a feast as this great destruction of evil-doers has never yet been theirs since they began to follow our migrating nation for their food.

By the time the witch-finders had made the complete round of those gathered together, upwards of fourscore men had been smelt out, and the remaining body of slayers, with disappointment upon their fierce countenances, stole envious looks out towards the place of death, where the crash of k.n.o.bsticks and the hollow groans of the doomed had almost ceased. Not a cry, however, floated from thence, for no women had been among those named. All were warriors; and the warriors of our race faced death in those days without a cry, albeit the groan which often followed the crash of the k.n.o.bstick was the voice of the parting _itongo_, or spirit, not of the body which had contained it. And of those who had been named a number were of Ncwelo's kraal; others were of the houses of other chiefs, including that of Senkonya; some few, indeed, were of my own particular fighters. These last, on being touched, were immediately disarmed by their brethren, and turned over to the slayers.

Now, when the three witch-finders had completed their task, and returned once more into the presence of the King, an immense sigh of gladness went up from all the people--a very heave of the bosom of a whole nation relieved; and with one voice all broke forth into a fierce song of thanksgiving that so many _abatagati_ had been removed from their midst.

But I, if n.o.body else, knew that they were crying aloud their thanks too soon. For among those thus named was no man of any great distinction, albeit a petty chief or two. I knew, however, that the greater number of them were of the families of chiefs, some of great note. There was to be yet another stage in this grim game, whose stakes were the lives of men. "Ye have done well, sons of the stranger's magic," said the King, as the three young _iza.n.u.si_ returned to his presence, their eyeb.a.l.l.s rolling, and their mouths still drooping foam after the frenzied excitement attendant upon the discharge of their dread office. "Well have ye done; and the wizard spells of those ye have named soar aloft to the heavens beneath the wings of yonder vultures?"--with a glance in the direction of the hill of slaughter, upon which already mult.i.tudes of the great white pinions were beating down. "Still the blood which has been shed is not dry. Who am I, that others claim the right to slay--here, at my very gates? _Hau_! I am no King!"--and now the tone was fierce and bitter, and those who listened trembled once more. "I am a servant--a slave--lower than the lowest of the Amaholi--until those who shed this blood at my gates are made known.

Wherefore, now, Masuka, hasten to rid us of them, so that we may sleep in peace once more. There are yet those who have not been within touch of the wand."

A dead silence of eagerness and awe fell upon all the people at these words. For the only ones who had not been within touch of the witch-finder's wand were the _izinduna_ grouped at the side of the King, and the _iza.n.u.si_ themselves. Could it be that from these more victims were to be chosen? A flash of anxiety was to be seen on the faces of more than one of the councillors; and I, from where I stood, a little way down the circle of armed men, saw just such a shade of fear flit across that of Tyuyumane. My father's lined features, however, only puckered into a contemptuous grin. But before Masuka had time to obey the King's behest, Notalwa rushed forward howling that now was the time for him and his "dogs"--that the stranger's _muti_ had been tried, and that now it was his own turn.

Kalipe was standing near the Great Great One, and as the head _iza.n.u.si_ thus bounded forward he advanced a pace, and I could see that he held his broad _umkonto_ gripped, and in readiness. So, too, did the picked warriors ranged at his back; and I, who knew what underlay all this, was likewise prepared to spring up, and deal forth death. But Umzilikazi changed not a muscle, as he sat playing with his broad-bladed spear, similar to the one which he had bestowed upon me. Yet in his eyes burned a soft and cruel light, as he met the glowering glances of Notalwa and the _iza.n.u.si_.

"Patience!" he said, softly and pleasantly, waving these back.

"Proceed, Masuka."

The old Mosutu muttered a few words to one of his young a.s.sistants, who started off in the direction of the magician's hut, and presently reappeared, bearing upon his head a large bowl of burnt clay. This was lowered to the earth, and now I knew that something terrible would be manifested; for I had already looked into that bowl myself, and terrible things had been shown me, which, indeed, came to pa.s.s, as you know, _Nkose_.

The bowl was half-filled with some black yet s.h.i.+ning, liquid; and over this old Masuka crouched, spreading forth his skinny and clawlike hands; now chanting high, shrill s.n.a.t.c.hes of a strange song, now muttering incantations in an unknown tongue. Then he looked up.

"Draw near, Black Elephant, thou ruler of the world," he said. "Look in the face of this _muti_, and say what thou seest."

Umzilikazi rose, and, advancing with majestic step, stood, and with head slightly bent, gazed downward into the bowl. All the people held their breath for awe.

"I see a face," he said. "Yes; it is the face of a man having a ring on. Hither, Mc.u.mbete! Look with me. Whose is the face?"