gone by； but it would come again； and till it came I must say nothing。
I would do this rather； I would bring Dingaan and Umslopogaas
together； that Umslopogaas might become known in the land as a great
chief and the first of warriors。 Then I would cause him to be advanced
to be an induna； and a general ready to lead the impis of the king；
for he who leads the impis is already half a king。
So I held my peace upon this matter； but till the dawn was grey
Umslopogaas and I sat together and talked； each telling the tale of
those years that had gone since he was borne from me in the lion's
mouth。 I told him how all my wives and children had been killed； how I
had been put to the torment； and showed him my white and withered
hand。 I told him also of the death of Baleka； my sister； and of all my
people of the Langeni； and of how I had revenged my wrongs upon Chaka；
and made Dingaan to be king in his place； and was now the first man in
the land under the king； though the king feared me much and loved me
little。 But I did not tell him that Baleka； my sister； was his own
mother。
When I had done my tale； Umslopogaas told me his： how Galazi had
rescued him from the lioness； how he became one of the Wolf…Brethren；
how he had conquered Jikiza and the sons of Jikiza； and become chief
of the People of the Axe； and taken Zinita to wife； and grown great in
the land。
I asked him how it came about that he still hunted with the wolves as
he had done last night。 He answered that now he was great and there
was nothing more to win； and at times a weariness of life came upon
him； and then he must up； and together with Galazi hunt and harry with
the wolves； for thus only could he find rest。
I said that I would show him better game to hunt before all was done；
and asked him further if he loved his wife； Zinita。 Umslopogaas
answered that he would love her better if she loved him not so much；
for she was jealous and quick to anger； and that was a sorrow to him。
Then； when he had slept awhile； he led me from the hut； and I and
my people were feasted with the best； and I spoke with Zinita and with
Galazi the Wolf。 For the last； I liked him well。 This was a good man
to have at one's back in battle； but my heart spoke to me against
Zinita。 She was handsome and tall； but with fierce eyes which always
watched Umslopogaas； my fosterling； and I noted that he who was
fearless of all other things yet seemed to fear Zinita。 Neither did
she love me； for when she saw how the Slaughterer clung to me； as it
wee； instantly she grew jealousas already she was jealous of Galazi
and would have been rid of me if she might。 Thus it came about that
my heart spoke against Zinita； nor did it tell me worse things of her
than those which she was to do。
CHATPER XXIV
THE SLAYING OF THE BOERS
On the morrow I led Umslopogaas apart； and spoke to him thus：
〃My son； yesterday； when you did not know me except as the Mouth of
Dingaan； you charged me with a certain message for Dingaan the king；
that； had it been delivered into the ears of the king； had surely
brought death upon you and all your people。 The tree that stands by
itself on a plain； Umslopogaas； thinks itself tall and that there is
no shade to equal its shade。 Yet are there other and bigger trees。 You
are such a solitary tree； Umslopogaas； but the topmost branches of him
whom I serve are thicker than your trunk； and beneath his shadow live
many woodcutters； who go out to lop those that would grow too high。
You are no match for Dingaan； though； dwelling here alone in an empty
land； you have grown great in your own eyes and in the eyes of those
about you。 Moreover； Umslopogaas； know this： Dingaan already hates you
because of the words which in bygone years you sent by Masilo the fool
to the Black One who is dead； for he heard those words； and it is his
will to eat you up。 He has sent me hither for one reason only； to be
rid of me awhile； and； whatever the words I bring back to him； the end
will be the samethat night shall come when you will find an impi at
your gates。〃
〃Then what need to talk more of the matter； my father？〃 asked
Umslopogaas。 〃That will come which must come。 Let me wait here for the
impi of Dingaan； and fight till I do。〃
〃Not so； Umslopogaas； my son； there are more ways of killing a man
than by the assegai； and a crooked stick can still be bent straight in
the stream。 It is my desire； Umslopogaas； that instead of hate Dingaan
should give you love； instead of death； advancement； and that you
shall grow great in his shadow。 Listen！ Dingaan is not what Chaka was；
though； like Chaka； he is cruel。 This Dingaan is a fool； and it may
well come about that a man can be found who； growing up in his shadow；
in the end shall overshadow him。 I might do itI myself； but I am
old； and； being worn with sorrow； have no longing to rule。 But you are
young； Umslopogaas； and there is no man like you in the land。
Moreover； there are other matters of which it is not well to speak；
that shall serve you as a raft whereon to swim to power。〃
Now Umslopogaas glanced up sharply； for in those days he was
ambitious； and desired to be first among the people。 Indeed； having
the blood of Chaka in his veins； how could it be otherwise？
〃What is your plan； my father？〃 he asked。 〃Say how can this be brought
about？〃
〃This and thus； Umslopogaas。 Among the tribe of the Halakazi in
Swaziland there dwells a maid who is named the Lily。 She is a girl of
the most wonderful beauty； and Dingaan is afire with longing to have
her to wife。 Now； awhile since Dingaan dispatched an embassy to the
chief of the Halakazi asking the Lily in marriage； and the chief of
the Halakazi sent back insolent words； saying that the Beauty of the
Earth should be given to no Zulu dog as a wife。 Then Dingaan was
angry； and he would have gathered his impis and sent them against the
Halakazi to destroy them； and bring him the maid； but I held him back
from it； saying that now was no time to begin a new war； and it is for
this cause that Dingaan hates me； he is so set upon the plucking of
the Swazi Lily。 Do you understand now； Umslopogaas？〃
〃Something；〃 he answered。 〃But speak clearly。〃
〃Wow； Umslopogaas！ Half words are better than whole ones in this land
of ours。 Listen； then！ This is my plan： that you should fall upon the
Halakazi tribe； destroy it； and bring back the maid as a peace…
offering to Dingaan。〃
〃That is a good plan； my father；〃 he answered。 〃At the least； maid or
no maid； there will be fighting in it； and cattle to divide when the
fighting is done。〃
〃First conquer； then reckon up the spoils； Umslopogaas。〃
Now he thought awhile； then said； 〃Suffer that I summon Galazi the
Wolf； my captain。 Do not fear； he is trusty and a man of few words。〃
Presently Galazi came and sat down before us。 Then I put the matter to
him thus： that Umslopogaas would fall upon the Halakazi and bring to
Dingaan the maid he longed for as a peace…offering； but that I wished
to hold him back from the venture because the Halakazi people were
great and strong。 I spoke in this sense so that I might have a door to
creep out should Galazi betray the plot； and Umslopogaas read my
purpose； though my craft was needless； for Galazi was a true man。
Galazi the Wolf listened in silence till I had finished； then he
answered quietly； but it seemed to me that a fire shone in his eyes as
he spoke：
〃I am chief by right of the Halakazi； O Mouth of Dingaan； and know
them well。 They are a strong people； and can put two full regiments
under arms； whereas Bulalio here can muster but one regiment； and that
a small one。 Moreover； they have watchmen out by night and day； and
spies scattered through the land； so that it will be hard to take them
unawares； also their stronghold is a vast cave open to the sky in the
middle； and none have won that stronghold yet； nor could it be found
except by those who know its secret。 They are few； yet I am one of
them； for my father showed it to me when I was a lad。 Therefore； Mouth
of Dingaan； you will know that this is no easy task which Bulalio
would set himself and usto conquer the Halakazi。 That is the face of
the matter so far as it concerns Bulalio； but for me； O Mouth； it has
another face。 Know that； long years ago； I swore to my father as he
lay dying by the poison of a witch of this people that I would not
rest till I had avenged himay； till I had stamped out the Halakazi；
and slain their men； and brought their women to the houses of
strangers； and their children to bonds！ Year by year and month by
month； and night by night； as I have lain alone upon the Ghost
Mountain yonder； I have wondered how I might bring my oath to pass；
and found no way。 Now it seems that there is a way； and I am glad。 Yet
this is a great adventure； and perhaps before it is done with the
People of the Axe will be no more。〃 And he ceased and took snuff；
watching our faces over the spoon。
〃Galazi the Wolf；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃for me also the matter has
another face。 You have lost your father at the hands of these Halakazi
dogs； and； though till last night I did not know it； I have lost my
mother by their spears； and with her one whom I loved above all in the
world； my sister Nada； who loved me also。 Both are dead and the
Halakazi have killed them。 This man； the mouth of Dingaan；〃 and he
pointed to me； Mopo； 〃this man says that if I can stamp out the
Halakazi and make captive of the Lily maid； I shall win the heart of
Dingaan。 Little do I care for Dingaan； I who would go my way alone；
and live while I may live； and die when I must； by the hands of
Dingaan as by those of anotherwhat does it matter？ Yet； for this
reason； because of the death of Macropha； my mother； and Nada； the
sister who was dear to me； I will make war upon these Halakazi and
conquer them； or be conquered by them。 Perhaps； O Mouth of Dingaan；
you will see me soon at the king's kraal on the Mahlabatine； and with
me the Lily maid and the cattle of the Halakazi； or perhaps you shall
not see me； and then you will know that I am dead； and the Warriors of
the Axe are no more。〃
So Umslopogaas spoke to me before Galazi the Wolf； but afterwards he
embraced me and bade