whenever she saw children； and more especially girl children； a
longing came upon her to kill them as her own had been killed。 This；
indeed； she did often； for when the moon was full and her madness at
its highest； she would travel far to find children； snatching them
away from the kraals like a hyena。 Still； none would touch her because
of the spirit in her； not even those whose children she had murdered。
So Umslopogaas and Nada came to the glen where the child…slayer lived；
and sat down by a pool of water not far from the mouth of her cave；
weaving flowers into a garland。 Presently Umslopogaas left Nada； to
search for rock lilies which she loved。 As he went he called back to
her； and his voice awoke the woman who was sleeping in her cave； for
she came out by night only； like a jackal。 Then the woman stepped
forth； smelling blood and having a spear in her hand。 Presently she
saw Nada seated upon the grass weaving flowers； and crept towards her
to kill her。 Now as she cameso the child told mesuddenly a cold
wind seemed to breathe upon Nada； and fear took hold of her； though
she did not see the woman who would murder her。 She let fall the
flowers； and looked before her into the pool； and there； mirrored in
the pool； she saw the greedy face of the child…slayer； who crept down
upon her from above； her hair hanging about her brow and her eyes
shining like the eyes of a lion。
Then with a cry Nada sprang up and fled along the path which
Umslopogaas had taken； and after her leapt and ran the mad woman。
Umslopogaas heard her cry。 He turned and rushed back over the brow of
the hill； and； lo！ there before him was the murderess。 Already she had
grasped Nada by the hair； already her spear was lifted to pierce her。
Umslopogaas had no spear； he had nothing but a little stick without a
knob； yet with it he rushed at the mad woman and struck her so smartly
on the arm that she let go of the girl and turned on him with a yell。
Then； lifting her spear； she struck at him； but he leapt aside。 Again
she struck； but he sprang into the air； and the spear passed beneath
him。 A third time the woman struck； and； though he fell to earth to
avoid the blow； yet the assegai pierced his shoulder。 But the weight
of his body as he fell twisted it from her hand； and before she could
grasp him he was up； and beyond her reach； the spear still fast in his
shoulder。
Then the woman turned； screaming with rage and madness； and ran at
Nada to kill her with her hands。 But Umslopogaas set his teeth； and；
drawing the spear from his wound； charged her； shouting。 She lifted a
great stone and hurled it at himso hard that it flew into fragments
against another stone which it struck； yet he charged on； and smote at
her so truly that he drove the spear through her； and she fell down
dead。 After that Nada bound up his wound； which was deep； and with
much pain he reached the king's kraal and told me this story。
Now there were some who cried that the boy must be put to death；
because he had killed one possessed with a spirit。 But I said no； he
should not be touched。 He had killed the woman in defence of his own
life and the life of his sister； and every one had a right to slay in
self…defence； except as against the king or those who did the king's
bidding。 Moreover； I said； if the woman had a spirit； it was an evil
one； for no good spirit would ask the lives of children； but rather
those of cattle； for it is against our custom to sacrifice human
beings to the Amatonga even in war； though the Basuta dogs do so。
Still； the tumult grew； for the witch…doctors were set upon the boy's
death； saying that evil would come of it if he was allowed to live；
having killed one inspired； and at last the matter came to the ears of
the king。 Then Chaka summoned me and the boy before him； and he also
summoned the witch…doctors。
First； the witch…doctors set out their case； demanding the death of
Umslopogaas。 Chaka asked them what would happen if the boy was not
killed。 They answered that the spirit of the dead woman would lead him
to bring evil on the royal house。 Chaka asked if he would bring evil
on him； the king。 They in turn asked the spirits； and answered no； not
on him； but on one of the royal house who should be after him。 Chaka
said that he cared nothing what happened to those who came after him；
or whether good or evil befell them。 Then he spoke to Umslopogaas； who
looked him boldly in the face； as an equal looks at an equal。
〃Boy；〃 he said； 〃what hast thou to say as to why thou shouldst not be
killed as these men demand？〃
〃This； Black One；〃 answered Umslopogaas； 〃that I stabbed the woman in
defence of my own life。〃
〃That is nothing；〃 said Chaka。 〃If I； the king； wished to kill thee；
mightest thou therefore kill me or those whom I sent？ The Itongo in
the woman was a Spirit King and ordered her to kill thee； thou
shouldst then have let thyself be killed。 Hast thou no other reason？〃
〃This； Elephant；〃 answered Umslopogaas； 〃the woman would have murdered
my sister； whom I love better than my life。〃
〃That is nothing；〃 said Chaka。 〃If I ordered thee to be killed for any
cause； should I not also order all within thy gates to be killed with
thee？ May not； then； a Spirit King do likewise？ If thou hast nothing
more to say thou must die。〃
Now I grew afraid； for I feared lest Chaka should slay him who was
called my son because of the word of the doctors。 But the boy
Umslopogaas looked up and answered boldly； not as one who pleads for
his life； but as one who demands a right：
〃I have this to say； Eater…up of Enemies； and if it is not enough； let
us stop talking； and let me be killed。 Thou； O king； didst command
that this woman should be slain。 Those whom thou didst send to destroy
her spared her； because they thought her mad。 I have carried out the
commandment of the king； I have slain her； mad or sane； whom the king
commanded should be killed； and I have earned not death； but a
reward。〃
〃Well said； Umslopogaas！〃 answered Chaka。 〃Let ten head of cattle be
given to this boy with the heart of a man； his father shall guard them
for him。 Art thou satisfied now； Umslopogaas？〃
〃I take that which is due to me； and I thank the king because he need
not pay unless he will；〃 Umslopogaas answered。
Chaka stared awhile； began to grow angry； then burst out laughing。
〃Why； this calf is such another one as was dropped long ago in the
kraal of Senzangacona！〃 he said。 〃As I was； so is this boy。 Go on；
lad； in that path； and thou mayst find those who shall cry the royal
salute of Bayete to thee at the end of it。 Only keep out of my way；
for two of a kind might not agree。 Now begone！〃
So we went out； but as we passed them I saw the doctors muttering
together； for they were ill…pleased and foreboded evil。 Also they were
jealous of me； and wished to smite me through the heart of him who was
called my son。
CHAPTER VIII
THE GREAT INGOMBOCO
After this there was quiet until the Feast of the First…fruits was
ended。 But few people were killed at these feast； though there was a
great Ingomboco； or witch…hunt； and many were smelt out by the witch…
doctors as working magic against the king。 Now things had come to this
pass in Zululandthat the whole people cowered before the witch…
doctors。 No man might sleep safe； for none knew but that on the morrow
he would be touched by the wand of an Isanusi； as we name a finder of
witches； and led away to his death。 For awhile Chaka said nothing； and
so long as the doctors smelt out those only whom he wished to get rid
ofand they were manyhe was well pleased。 But when they began to
work for their own ends； and to do those to death whom he did not
desire to kill； he grew angry。 Yet the custom of the land was that he
whom the witch…doctor touched must die； he and all his house；
therefore the king was in a cleft stick； for he scarcely dared to save
even those whom he loved。 One night I came to doctor him； for he was
sick in his mind。 On that very day there had been an Ingomboco； and
five of the bravest captains of the army had been smelt out by the
Abangoma； the witch…finders； together with many others。 All had been
destroyed； and men had been sent to kill the wives and children of the
dead。 Now Chaka was very angry at this slaying； and opened his heart
to me。
〃The witch…doctors rule in Zululand； and not I； Mopo； son of
Makedama；〃 he said to me。 〃Where； then； is it to end？ Shall I myself
be smelt out and slain？ These Isanusis are too strong for me； they lie
upon the land like the shadow of night。 Tell me； how may I be free of
them？〃
〃Those who walk the Bridge of Spears； O king； fall off into Nowhere；〃
I answered darkly； 〃even witch…doctors cannot keep a footing on that
bridge。 Has not a witch…doctor a heart that can cease to beat？ Has he
not blood that can be made to flow？〃
Chaka looked at me strangely。 〃Thou art a bold man who darest to speak
thus to me； Mopo；〃 he said。 〃Dost thou not know that it is sacrilege
to touch an Isanusi？〃
〃I speak that which is in the king's mind；〃 I answered。 〃Hearken； O
king！ It is indeed sacrilege to touch a true Isanusi； but what if the
Isanusi be a liar？ What if he smell out falsely； bringing those to
death who are innocent of evil？ Is it then sacrilege to bring him to
that end which he has given to many another？ Say； O king！〃
〃Good words！〃 answered Chaka。 〃Now tell me； son of Makedama； how may
this matter be put to proof？〃
Then I leaned forward； whispering into the ear of the Black One； and
he nodded heavily。
Thus I spoke then； because I； too； saw the evil of the Isanusis； I who
knew their secrets。 Also； I feared for my own life and for the lives
of all those who were dear to me。 For they hated me as one instructed
in their magic； one who had the seeing eye and the hearing ear。
One morning thereafter a new thing came to pass in the royal kraal；
for the king himself ran out； crying aloud to all people to come and
see the evil that had been worked upon him by a wizard。 They came
together and saw this。 On the door…posts of the gateway of the
Intunkulu； the house of the king； were great smears of blood。 The
knees of men strong in the battle trembled when they saw it； w