felt as though I were quite empty and floating on air； as though I were
not I； in short； but a mere shell of a thing； all of which doubtless was
caused by the stench of those burning roots。 Still I could look and
take note； for I distinctly saw Zikali thrust his huge head； first into
the smoke of what I will call my fire； next into that of Saduko's fire；
and then lean back； blowing the stuff in clouds from his mouth and
nostrils。 Afterwards I saw him roll over on to his side and lie quite
still with his arms outstretched； indeed； I noticed that one of his
fingers seemed to be in the left…hand fire and reflected that it would
be burnt off。 In this； however； I must have been mistaken； since I
observed subsequently that it was not even scorched。
Thus Zikali lay for a long while till I began to wonder whether he were
not really dead。 Dead enough he seemed to be； for no corpse could have
stayed more stirless。 But that night I could not keep my thoughts fixed
on Zikali or anything。 I merely noted these circumstances in a
mechanical way； as might one with whom they had nothing whatsoever to
do。 They did not interest me at all； for there appeared to be nothing
in me to be interested； as I gathered according to Zikali； because I was
not there； but in a warmer place than I hope ever to occupy； namely； in
the stone in that unpleasant…looking； little right…hand fire。
So matters went as they might in a dream。 The sun had sunk completely；
not even an after…glow was left。 The only light remaining was that from
the smouldering fires； which just sufficed to illumine the bulk of
Zikali； lying on his side； his squat shape looking like that of a dead
hippopotamus calf。 What was left of my consciousness grew heartily sick
of the whole affair； I was tired of being so empty。
At length the dwarf stirred。 He sat up； yawned； sneezed； shook himself；
and began to rake among the burning embers of my fire with his naked
hand。 Presently he found the white stone； which was now red…hotat any
rate it glowed as though it wereand after examining it for a moment
finally popped it into his mouth！ Then he hunted in the other fire for
the black stone； which he treated in a similar fashion。 The next thing
I remember was that the fires； which had died away almost to nothing；
were burning very brightly again； I suppose because someone had put fuel
on them； and Zikali was speaking。
〃Come here； O Macumazana and O Son of Matiwane；〃 he said； 〃and I will
repeat to you what your spirits have been telling me。〃
We drew near into the light of the fires； which for some reason or other
was extremely vivid。 Then he spat the white stone from his mouth into
his big hand； and I saw that now it was covered with lines and patches
like a bird's egg。
〃You cannot read the signs？〃 he said； holding it towards me； and when I
shook my head went on： 〃Well； I can； as you white men read a book。 All
your history is written here； Macumazahn； but there is no need to tell
you that； since you know it； as I do well enough； having learned it in
other days； the days of Dingaan； Macumazahn。 All your future； also； a
very strange future；〃 and he scanned the stone with interest。 〃Yes；
yes； a wonderful life； and a noble death far away。 But of these matters
you have not asked me； and therefore I may not tell them even if I
wished； nor would you believe if I did。 It is of your hunting trip that
you have asked me； and my answer is that if you seek your own comfort
you will do well not to go。 A pool in a dry river…bed； a buffalo bull
with the tip of one horn shattered。 Yourself and the bull in the pool。
Saduko； yonder； also in the pool； and a little half…bred man with a gun
jumping about upon the bank。 Then a litter made of boughs and you in
it； and the father of Mameena walking lamely at your side。 Then a hut
and you in it； and the maiden called Mameena sitting at your side。
〃Macumazahn； your spirit has written on this stone that you should
beware of Mameena； since she is more dangerous than any buffalo。 If you
are wise you will not go out hunting with Umbezi； although it is true
that hunt will not cost you your life。 There； away； Stone； and take
your writings with you！〃 and as he spoke he jerked his arm and I heard
something whiz past my face。
Next he spat out the black stone and examined it in similar fashion。
〃Your expedition will be successful； Son of Matiwane；〃 he said。
〃Together with Macumazahn you will win many cattle at the cost of sundry
lives。 But for the restwell； you did not ask me of it； did you？
Also； I have told you something of that story before to…day。 Away；
Stone！〃 and the black pebble followed the white out into the surrounding
gloom。
We sat quite still until the dwarf broke the deep silence with one of
his great laughs。
〃My witchcraft is done；〃 he said。 〃A poor tale； was it not？ Well； hunt
for those stones to…morrow and read the rest of it if you can。 Why did
you not ask me to tell you everything while I was about it； White Man？
It would have interested you more； but now it has all gone from me back
into your spirit with the stones。 Saduko； get you to sleep。
Macumazahn； you who are a Watcher…by…Night； come and sit with me awhile
in my hut； and we will talk of other things。 All this business of the
stones is nothing more than a Kafir trick； is it； Macumazahn？ When you
meet the buffalo with the split horn in the pool of a dried river；
remember it is but a cheating trick； and now come into my hut and drink
a kamba ＇bowl＇ of beer and let us talk of other things more
interesting。〃
So he took me into the hut； which was a fine one； very well lighted by a
fire in its centre； and gave me Kafir beer to drink； that I swallowed
gratefully； for my throat was dry and still felt as though it had been
scraped。
〃Who are you； Father？〃 I asked point…blank when I had taken my seat upon
a low stool； with my back resting against the wall of the hut； and lit
my pipe。
He lifted his big head from the pile of karosses on which he was lying
and peered at me across the fire。
〃My name is Zikali； which means 'Weapons；' White Man。 You know as much
as that； don't you？〃 he answered。 〃My father 'went down' so long ago
that his does not matter。 I am a dwarf； very ugly； with some learning；
as we of the Black House understand it； and very old。 Is there anything
else you would like to learn？〃
〃Yes； Zikali； how old？〃
〃There； there； Macumazahn； as you know； we poor Kafirs cannot count very
well。 How old？ Well； when I was young I came down towards the coast
from the Great River； you call it the Zambesi； I think； with Undwandwe；
who lived in the north in those days。 They have forgotten it now
because it is some time ago； and if I could write I would set down the
history of that march； for we fought some great battles with the people
who used to live in this country。 Afterwards I was the friend of the
Father of the Zulus； he whom they still call Inkoosi Umkuluthe mighty
chiefyou may have heard tell of him。 I carved that stool on which you
sit for him and he left it back to me when he died。〃
〃Inkoosi Umkulu！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Why； they say he lived hundreds of
years ago。〃
〃Do they； Macumazahn？ If so； have I not told you that we black people
cannot count as well as you do？ Really it was only the other day。
Anyhow； after his death the Zulus began to maltreat us Undwandwe and the
Quabies and the Tetwas with usyou may remember that they called us the
Amatefula； making a mock of us。 So I quarrelled with the Zulus and
especially with Chaka； he whom they named 'Uhlanya' ＇the Mad One＇。 You
see； Macumazahn； it pleased him to laugh at me because I am not as other
men are。 He gave me a name which means
'The…thing…which…should…never…have…been…born。' I will not speak that
name； it is secret to me； it may not pass my lips。 Yet at times he
sought my wisdom； and I paid him back for his names； for I gave him very
ill counsel； and he took it； and I brought him to his death； although
none ever saw my finger in that business。 But when he was dead at the
hands of his brothers Dingaan and Umhlangana and of Umbopa； Umbopa who
also had a score to settle with him； and his body was cast out of the
kraal like that of an evil…doer； why I； who because I was a dwarf was
not sent with the _men_ against Sotshangana； went and sat on it at night
and laughed thus；〃 and he broke into one of his hideous peals of
merriment。
〃I laughed thrice： once for my wives whom he had taken； once for my
children whom he had slain； and once for the mocking name that he had
given me。 Then I became the counsellor of Dingaan； whom I hated worse
than I had hated Chaka； for he was Chaka again without his greatness；
and you know the end of Dingaan； for you had a share in that war； and of
Umhlangana； his brother and fellow…murderer； whom I counselled Dingaan
to slay。 This I did through the lips of the old Princess Menkabayi；
Jama's daughter； Senzangakona's sister； the Oracle before whom all men
bowed； causing her to say that 'This land of the Zulus cannot be ruled
by a crimson assegai。' For； Macumazahn； it was Umhlangana who first
struck Chaka with the spear。 Now Panda reigns； the last of the sons of
Senzangakona； my enemy； Panda the Fool； and I hold my hand from Panda
because he tried to save the life of a child of mine whom Chaka slew。
But Panda has sons who are as Chaka was； and against them I work as I
worked against those who went before them。〃
〃Why？〃 I asked。
〃Why？ Oh！ if I were to tell you _all_ my story you would understand
why； Macumazahn。 Well； perhaps I will one day。〃 （Here I may state that
as a matter of fact he did； and a very wonderful tale it is； but as it
has nothing to do with this history I will not write it here。）
〃I dare say；〃 I answered。 〃Chaka and Dingaan and Umhlangana and the
others were not nice people。 But another question。 Why do you tell me
all this； O Zikali； seeing that were I but to repeat it to a
talking…bird you would be smelt out and a single moon would not die
before you do？〃
〃Oh！ I should be smelt out and killed before one moon dies； should I？
Then I wonder that this has not happened during all the moons th