child of storm-第39部分

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It　was　early　on　the　morning　of　the　2nd　of　December；　a　cold；　miserable
morning　that　came　with　wind　and　driving　mist；　that　I　found　myself　with
the　Amawombe　at　the　place　known　as　Endondakusuka；　a　plain　with　some
kopjes　in　it　that　lies　within　six　miles　of　the　Natal　border；　from　which
it　is　separated　by　the　Tugela　river。

As　the　orders　of　the　Amawombe　were　to　keep　out　of　the　fray　if　that　were
possible；　we　had　taken　up　a　position　about　a　mile　to　the　right　of　what
proved　to　be　the　actual　battlefield；　choosing　as　our　camping　ground　a
rising　knoll　that　looked　like　a　huge　tumulus；　and　was　fronted　at　a
distance　of　about　five　hundred　yards　by　another　smaller　knoll。　　Behind
us　stretched　bushland；　or　rather　broken　land；　where　mimosa　thorns　grew
in　scattered　groups；　sloping　down　to　the　banks　of　the　Tugela　about　four
miles　away。

Shortly　after　dawn　I　was　roused　from　the　place　where　I　slept；　wrapped　up
in　some　blankets；　under　a　mimosa　treefor；　of　course；　we　had　no
tentsby　a　messenger；　who　said　that　the　Prince　Umbelazi　and　the　white
man；　John　Dunn；　wished　to　see　me。　　I　rose　and　tidied　myself　as　best　I
could；　since；　if　I　can　avoid　it；　I　never　like　to　appear　before　natives
in　a　dishevelled　condition。　　I　remember　that　I　had　just　finished
brushing　my　hair　when　Umbelazi　arrived。

I　can　see　him　now；　looking　a　veritable　giant　in　that　morning　mist。　
Indeed；　there　was　something　quite　unearthly　about　his　appearance　as　he
arose　out　of　those　rolling　vapours；　such　light　as　there　was　being
concentrated　upon　the　blade　of　his　big　spear；　which　was　well　known　as
the　broadest　carried　by　any　warrior　in　Zululand；　and　a　copper　torque　he
wore　about　his　throat。

There　he　stood；　rolling　his　eyes　and　hugging　his　kaross　around　him
because　of　the　cold；　and　something　in　his　anxious；　indeterminate
expression　told　me　at　once　that　he　knew　himself　to　be　a　man　in　terrible
danger。　　Just　behind　him；　dark　and　brooding；　his　arms　folded　on　his
breast；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　ground；　looking；　to　my　moved
imagination；　like　an　evil　genius；　stood　the　stately　and　graceful　Saduko。
　On　his　left　was　a　young　and　sturdy　white　man　carrying　a　rifle　and
smoking　a　pipe；　whom　I　guessed　to　be　John　Dunn；　a　gentleman　whom；　as　it
chanced；　I　had　never　met；　while　behind　were　a　force　of　Natal　Government
Zulus；　clad　in　some　kind　of　uniform　and　armed　with　guns；　and　with　them　a
number　of　natives；　also　from　Natal〃kraal　Kafirs；〃　who　carried　stabbing
assegais。　　One　of　these　led　John　Dunn's　horse。

Of　those　Government　men　there　may　have　been　thirty　or　forty；　and　of　the
〃kraal　Kafirs〃　anything　between　two　and　three　hundred。

I　shook　Umbelazi's　hand　and　gave　him　good…day。

〃That　is　an　ill　day　upon　which　no　sun　shines；　O　Macumazana；〃　he
answeredwords　that　struck　me　as　ominous。　　Then　he　introduced　me　to
John　Dunn；　who　seemed　glad　to　meet　another　white　man。　　Next；　not　knowing
what　to　say；　I　asked　the　exact　object　of　their　visit；　whereon　Dunn　began
to　talk。　　He　said　that　he　had　been　sent　over　on　the　previous　afternoon
by　Captain　Walmsley；　who　was　an　officer　of　the　Natal　Government
stationed　across　the　border；　to　try　to　make　peace　between　the　Zulu
factions；　but　that　when　he　spoke　of　peace　one　of　Umbelazi's　brothersI
think　it　was　Mantantashiyahad　mocked　at　him；　saying　that　they　were
quite　strong　enough　to　cope　with　the　Usututhat　was　Cetewayo's　party。　
Also；　he　added；　that　when　he　suggested　that　the　thousands　of　women　and
children　and　the　cattle　should　be　got　across　the　Tugela　drift　during　the
previous　night　into　safety　in　Natal；　Mantantashiya　would　not　listen；　and
Umbelazi　being　absent；　seeking　the　aid　of　the　Natal　Government；　he　could
do　nothing。

〃Quem　Deus　vult　perdere　prius　dementat〃　＇whom　God　wishes　to　destroy；　He
first　makes　mad＇；　quoted　I　to　myself　beneath　my　breath。　　This　was　one　of
the　Latin　tags　that　my　old　father；　who　was　a　scholar；　had　taught　me；　and
at　that　moment　it　came　back　to　my　mind。　　But　as　I　suspected　that　John
Dunn　knew　no　Latin；　I　only　said　aloud：

〃What　an　infernal　fool！〃　（We　were　talking　in　English。）　　〃Can't　you　get
Umbelazi　to　do　it　now？〃　（I　meant；　to　send　the　women　and　children　across
the　river。）

〃I　fear　it　is　too　late；　Mr。　Quatermain；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　Usutu　are　in
sight。　　Look　for　yourself。〃　　And　he　handed　me　a　telescope　which　he　had
with　him。

I　climbed　on　to　some　rocks　and　scanned　the　plain　in　front　of　us；　from
which　just　then　a　puff　of　wind　rolled　away　the　mist。　　It　was　black　with
advancing　men！　　As　yet　they　were　a　considerable　distance　awayquite　two
miles；　I　should　thinkand　coming　on　very　slowly　in　a　great　half…moon
with　thin　horns　and　a　deep　breast；　but　a　ray　from　the　sun　glittered　upon
their　countless　spears。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　there　must　be　quite　twenty
or　thirty　thousand　of　them　in　this　breast；　which　was　in　three　divisions；
commanded；　as　I　learned　afterwards；　by　Cetewayo；　Uzimela；　and　by　a　young
Boer　named　Groening。

〃There　they　are；　right　enough；〃　I　said；　climbing　down　from　my　rocks。　
〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Mr。　　Dunn？〃

〃Obey　orders　and　try　to　make　peace；　if　I　can　find　anyone　to　make　peace
with；　and　if　I　can'twell；　fight；　I　suppose。　　And　you；　Mr。　
Quatermain？〃

〃Oh；　obey　orders　and　stop　here；　I　suppose。　　Unless；〃　I　added　doubtfully；
〃these　Amawombe　take　the　bit　between　their　teeth　and　run　away　with　me。〃

〃They'll　do　that　before　nightfall；　Mr。　　Quatermain；　if　I　know　anything
of　the　Zulus。　　Look　here；　why　don't　you　get　on　your　horse　and　come　off
with　me？　　This　is　a　queer　place　for　you。〃

〃Because　I　promised　not　to；〃　I　answered　with　a　groan；　for　really；　as　I
looked　at　those　savages　round　me；　who　were　already　fingering　their
spears　in　a　disagreeable　fashion；　and　those　other　thousands　of　savages
advancing　towards　us；　I　felt　such　little　courage　as　I　possessed　sinking
into　my　boots。

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Quatermain；　you　know　your　own　business　best；　but　I　hope
you　will　come　out　of　it　safely；　that　is　all。〃

〃Same　to　you；〃　I　replied。

Then　John　Dunn　turned；　and　in　my　hearing　asked　Umbelazi　what　he　knew　of
the　movements　of　the　Usutu　and　of　their　plan　of　battle。

The　Prince　replied；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders：

〃Nothing　at　present；　Son　of　Mr。　Dunn；　but　doubtless　before　the　sun　is
high　I　shall　know　much。〃

As　he　spoke　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　struck　us；　and　tore　the　nodding
ostrich　plume　from　its　fastening　on　Umbelazi's　head…ring。　　Whilst　a
murmur　of　dismay　rose　from　all　who　saw　what　they　considered　this　very
ill…omened　accident；　away　it　floated　into　the　air；　to　fall　gently　to　the
ground　at　the　feet　of　Saduko。　　He　stooped；　picked　it　up；　and　reset　it　in
its　place；　saying　as　he　did　so；　with　that　ready　wit　for　which　some
Kafirs　are　remarkable：

〃So　may　I　live；　O　Prince；　to　set　the　crown　upon　the　head　of　Panda's
favoured　son！〃

This　apt　speech　served　to　dispel　the　general　gloom　caused　by　the
incident；　for　those　who　heard　it　cheered；　while　Umbelazi　thanked　his
captain　with　a　nod　and　a　smile。　　Only　I　noted　that　Saduko　did　not
mention　the　name　of　〃Panda's　favoured　son〃　upon　whose　head　he　hoped　to
live　to　set　the　crown。　　Now；　Panda　had　many　sons；　and　that　day　would
show　which　of　them　was　favoured。

A　minute　or　two　later　John　Dunn　and　his　following　departed；　as　he　said；
to　try　to　make　peace　with　the　advancing　Usutu。　　Umbelazi；　Saduko　and
their　escort　departed　also　towards　the　main　body　of　the　host　of　the
Isigqosa；　which　was　massed　to　our　left；　〃sitting　on　their　spears；〃　as
the　natives　say；　and　awaiting　the　attack。　　As　for　me；　I　remained　alone
with　the　Amawombe；　drinking　some　coffee　that　Scowl　had　brewed　for　me；
and　forcing　myself　to　swallow　food。

I　can　say　honestly　that　I　do　not　ever　remember　partaking　of　a　more
unhappy　meal。　　Not　only　did　I　believe　that　I　was　looking　on　the　last　sun
I　should　ever　seethough　by　the　way；　there　was　uncommonly　little　of
that　orb　visiblebut　what　made　the　matter　worse　was　that；　if　so；　I
should　be　called　upon　to　die　alone　among　savages；　with　not　a　single
white　face　near　to　comfort　me。　　Oh；　how　I　wished　I　had　never　allowed
myself　to　be　dragged　into　this　dreadful　business。　　Yes；　and　I　was　even
mean　enough　to　wish　that　I　had　broken　my　word　to　Panda　and　gone　off　with
John　Dunn　when　he　invited　me；　although　now　I　thank　goodness　that　I　did
not　yield　to　that　temptation　and　thereby　sacrifice　my　self…respect。

Soon；　however；　things　grew　so　exciting　that　I　forgot　these　and　other
melancholy　reflections　in　watching　the　development　of　events　from　the
summit　of　our　tumulus…like　knoll；　whence　I　had　a　magnificent　view　of　the
whole　battle。　　Here；　after　seeing　that　his　regiment　made　a　full　meal；　as
a　good　general　should；　old　Maputa　joined　me；　whom　I　asked　whether　he
thought　there　would　be　any　fighting　for　him　that　day。

〃I　think　so；　I　think　so；〃　he　answered　cheerfully。　　〃It　seems　to　me　that
the　Usutu　greatly　outnumber　Umbelazi　and　the　Isigqosa；　and；　of　course；
as　you　know；　Panda's　orders　are　that　if　he　is　in　danger　we　must　help
him。　　Oh；　keep　a　good　heart；　Macumazahn；　for　I　believe　I　can　promise　you
that　you　will　see　our　spears　grow　red　to…day。　　You　will　not　go　hungry
from　this　battle　to　tell　the　white　people　that　the　Amawombe　are　cowards
whom　you　could　not　flog　into　the　fight。　　No；　no；　Macumazahn；　my　Spirit
looks　towards　me　this　morning；　and　I　who　am　old　and　who　thought　that　I
should　die　at　length　like　a　cow；　shall　see　one　more　great　fightmy
twentieth；　Macumazahn；　for　I　fought　with　this　same　Amawombe　in　all　the
Black　One's　big　battles；　and　for　Panda　against　Dingaan　also。〃

〃Perhaps　it　will　be　your　last；〃　I　suggested。

〃I　dare　say；　Macumazahn；　but　what　does　that　matter　if　only　I　and　the
royal　regiment　can　make　an　end　that　shall　be　spoken　of？　　Oh；　cheer　up；
cheer　up；　Macumazahn；　your　Spirit；　too；　looks　towards　you；　as　I　promise
that　we　all　will　do　when　the　shields　meet；　for　know；　Macumazahn；　that　we
poor　black　soldiers　expect　that　you　will　show　us　how　to　fight　this　day；
and；　if　need　be；　how　to　fall　hidden　in　a　heap　of　the　foe。〃

〃Oh！〃　I　replied；　〃so　this　is　what　you　Zulus　mean　by　the　'giving　of
counsel；'　is　it？you　infernal；　bloodthirsty　old　scoundrel；〃　I　added　in
English。

But　I　think　Maputa　never　heard　me。　　At　any　rate；　he　only　seized　my　arm
and　pointed　in　front；　a　little　to　the　left；　where　the　horn　of　the　great
Usu