account of the tale of their increase。 So I bowed before the king； and
said that I would run like a dog to do his bidding； and he gave me men
to go with me。
Then I returned to my huts to bid farewell to my wives and children；
and there I found that my wife； Anadi； the mother of Moosa； my son；
had fallen sick with a wandering sickness； for strange things came
into her mind； and what came into her mind that she said； being； as I
did not doubt； bewitched by some enemy of my house。
Still； I must go upon the king's business； and I told this to my wife
Macropha； the mother of Nada； and； as it was thought； of Umslopogaas；
the son of Chaka。 But when I spoke to Macropha of the matter she burst
into tears and clung to me。 I asked her why she wept thus； and she
answered that the shadow of evil lay upon her heart； for she was sure
that if I left her at the king's kraal； when I returned again I should
find neither her nor Nada； my child； nor Umslopogaas； who was named my
son； and whom I loved as a son； still in the land of life。 Then I
tried to calm her； but the more I strove the more she wept； saying
that she knew well that these things would be so。
Now I asked her what could be done； for I was stirred by her tears；
and the dread of evil crept from her to me as shadows creep from the
valley to the mountain。
She answered； 〃Take me with you； my husband； that I may leave this
evil land； where the very skies rain blood； and let me rest awhile in
the place of my own people till the terror of Chaka has gone by。〃
〃How can I do this？〃 I said。 〃None may leave the king's kraal without
the king's pass。〃
〃A man may put away his wife；〃 she replied。 〃The king does not stand
between a man and his wife。 Say； my husband； that you love me no
longer； that I bear you no more children； and that therefore you send
me back whence I came。 By…and…bye we will come together again if we
are left among the living。〃
〃So be it；〃 I answered。 〃Leave the kraal with Nada and Umslopogaas
this night； and to…morrow morning meet me at the river bank； and we
shall go on together； and for the rest may the spirits of our fathers
hold us safe。〃
So we kissed each other； and Macropha went on secretly with the
children。
Now at the dawning on the morrow I summoned the men whom the king had
given me； and we started upon our journey。 When the sun was well up we
came to the banks of the river； and there I found my wife Macropha；
and with her the two children。 They rose as I came； but I frowned at
my wife and she gave me no greeting。 Those with me looked at her
askance。
〃I have divorced this woman；〃 I said to them。 〃She is a withered tree；
a worn out old hag； and now I take her with me to send her to the
country of the Swazis； whence she came。 Cease weeping；〃 I added to
Macropha； 〃it is my last word。〃
〃What says the king？〃 asked the men。
〃I will answer to the king；〃 I said。 And we went on。
Now I must tell how we lost Umslopogaas； the son of Chaka； who was
then a great lad drawing on to manhood； fierce in temper； well grown
and broad for his years。
We had journeyed seven days； for the way was long； and on the night of
the seventh day we came to a mountainous country in which there were
few kraals； for Chaka had eaten them all up years before。 Perhaps you
know the place； my father。 In it is a great and strange mountain。 It
is haunted also； and named the Ghost Mountain； and on the top of it is
a grey peak rudely shaped like the head of an aged woman。 Here in this
wild place we must sleep； for darkness drew on。 Now we soon learned
that there were many lions in the rocks around； for we heard their
roaring and were much afraid； all except Umslopogaas； who feared
nothing。 So we made a circle of thorn…bushes and sat in it； holding
our assegais ready。 Presently the moon came upit was a full…grown
moon and very bright； so bright that we could see everything for a
long way round。 Now some six spear…throws from where we sat was a
cliff； and at the top of the cliff was a cave； and in this cave lived
two lions and their young。 When the moon grew bright we saw the lions
come out and stand upon the edge of the cliff； and with them were two
little ones that played about like kittens； so that had we not been
frightened it would have been beautiful to see them。
〃Oh！ Umslopogaas；〃 said Nada； 〃I wish that I had one of the little
lions for a dog。〃
The boy laughed； saying； 〃Then； shall I fetch you one； sister？〃
〃Peace； boy；〃 I said。 〃No man may take young lions from their lair and
live。〃
〃Such things have been done； my father；〃 he answered； laughing。 And no
more was said of the matter。
Now when the cubs had played awhile； we saw the lioness take up the
cubs in her mouth and carry them into the cave。 Then she came out
again； and went away with her mate to seek food； and soon we heard
them roaring in the distance。 Now we stacked up the fire and went to
sleep in our enclosure of thorns without fear； for we knew that the
lions were far away eating game。 But Umslopogaas did not sleep； for he
had determined that he would fetch the cub which Nada had desired；
and； being young and foolhardy； he did not think of the danger which
he would bring upon himself and all of us。 He knew no fear； and now；
as ever； if Nada spoke a word； nay； even if she thought of a thing to
desire it； he would not rest till it was won for her。 So while we
slept Umslopogaas crept like a snake from the fence of thorns； and；
taking an assegai in his hand； he slipped away to the foot of the
cliff where the lions had their den。 Then he climbed the cliff； and；
coming to the cave； entered there and groped his way into it。 The cubs
heard him； and； thinking that it was their mother who returned； began
to whine and purr for food。 Guided by the light of their yellow eyes；
he crept over the bones； of which there were many in the cave； and
came to where they lay。 Then he put out his hands and seized one of
the cubs； killing the other with his assegai； because he could not
carry both of them。 Now he made haste thence before the lions
returned； and came back to the thorn fence where we lay just as dawn
as breaking。
I awoke at the coming of the dawn； and； standing up； I looked out。 Lo！
there； on the farther side of the thorn fence； looking large in the
grey mist； stood the lad Umslopogaas； laughing。 In his teeth he held
the assegai； yet dripping with blood； and in his hands the lion cub
that； despite its whines and struggles； he grasped by the skin of the
neck and the hind legs。
〃Awake； my sister！〃 he cried； 〃here is the dog you seek。 Ah！ he bites
now； but he will soon grow tame。〃
Nada awoke； and rising； cried out with joy at the sight of the cub；
but for a moment I stood astonished。
〃Fool！〃 I cried at last； 〃let the cub go before the lions come to rend
us！〃
〃I will not let it go； my father；〃 he answered sullenly。 〃Are there
not five of us with spears； and can we not fight two cats？ I was not
afraid to go alone into their den。 Are you all afraid to meet them in
the open？〃
〃You are mad；〃 I said； 〃let the cub go！〃 And I ran towards Umslopogaas
to take it from him。 But he sprang aside and avoided me。
〃I will never let that go of which I have got hold；〃 he said； 〃at
least not living！〃 And suddenly he seized the head of the cub and
twisted its neck； then threw it on to the ground； and added； 〃See； now
I have done your bidding； my father！〃
As he spoke we heard a great sound of roaring from the cave in the
cliff。 The lions had returned and found one cub dead and the other
gone。
〃Into the fence！back into the fence！〃 I cried； and we sprang over
the thorn…bushes where those with us were making ready their spears；
trembling as they handled them with fear and the cold of the morning。
We looked up。 There； down the side of the cliff； came the lions；
bounding on the scent of him who had robbed them of their young。 The
lion ran first； and as he came he roared； then followed the lioness；
but she did not roar； for in her mouth was the cub that Umslopogaas
had assegaied in the cave。 Now they drew near； mad with fury； their
manes bristling； and lashing their flanks with their long tails。
〃Curse you for a fool； son of Mopo；〃 said one of the men with me to
Umslopogaas； 〃presently I will beat you till the blood comes for this
trick。〃
〃First beat the lions； then beat me if you can；〃 answered the lad；
〃and wait to curse till you have done both。〃
Now the lions were close to us； they came to the body of the second
cub； that lay outside the fence of thorns。 The lion stopped and
sniffed it。 Then he roaredah！ he roared till the earth shook。 As for
the lioness； she dropped the dead cub which she was carrying； and took
the other into her mouth； for she could not carry both。
〃Get behind me； Nada；〃 cried Umslopogaas； brandishing his spear； 〃the
lion is about to spring。〃
As the words left his mouth the great brute crouched to the ground。
Then suddenly he sprang from it like a bird； and like a bird he
travelled through the air towards us。
〃Catch him on the spears！〃 cried Umslopogaas； and by nature； as it
were； we did the boy's bidding； for huddling ourselves together； we
held out the assegais so that the lion fell upon them as he sprang；
and their blades sank far into him。 But the weight of his charge
carried us to the ground； and he fell on to us； striking at us and at
the spears； and roaring with pain and fury as he struck。 Presently he
was on his legs biting at the spears in his breast。 Then Umslopogaas；
who alone did not wait his onslaught； but had stepped aside for his
own ends； uttered a loud cry and drove his assegai into the lion
behind the shoulder； so that with a groan the brute rolled over dead。
Meanwhile； the lioness stood without the fence； the second dead cub in
her mouth； for she could not bring herself to leave either of them。
But when she heard her mate's last groan she dropped the cub and
gathered herself together to spring。 Umslopogaas alone stood up to
face her； for he only had withdrawn his assegai from the carcass of
the lion。 She swept on towards the lad； who stood like a stone to meet
her。 Now she met his spear； it sunk in； it snapped； and down fell
Umslopo