"Indeed! And what did he answer you?"
"He answered that he thought she had better run away with another man,
if there were one whom she did not hate--out of Zululand, of course,"
she replied, looking first at me and then at my wagon and the two horses
that were tied to it.
"Is that all he said, Mameena?"
"No. Have I not told you that I cannot hide one grain of the truth from
you? He added that the only other thing to be done was to sit still and
drink my sour milk, pretending that it is sweet, until my Spirit gives
me a new cow. He seemed to think that my Spirit would be bountiful in
the matter of new cows--one day."
"Anything more?" I inquired.
"One little thing. Have I not told you that you shall have all--all the
truth? Zikali seemed to think also that at last every one of my herd of
cows, old and new, would come to a bad end. He did not tell me to what
end."
She turned her head aside, and when she looked up again I saw that she
was weeping, really weeping this time, not just making her eyes swim, as
she did before.
"Of course they will come to a bad end, Macumazahn," she went on in a
soft, thick voice, "for I and all with whom I have to do were 'torn out
of the reeds' [i.e. created] that way. And that's why I won't tempt you
to run away with me any more, as I meant to do when I saw you, because
it is true, Macumazahn you are the only man I ever liked or ever
shall like; and you know I could make you run away with me if I chose,
although I am black and you are white--oh, yes, before to-morrow
morning. But I won't do it; for why should I catch you in my unlucky web
and bring you into all sorts of trouble among my people and your own? Go
you your road, Macumazahn, and I will go mine as the wind blows me. And
now give me a cup of water and let me be away--a cup of water, no more.
Oh, do not be afraid for me, or melt too much, lest I should melt also.
I have an escort waiting over yonder hill. There, thank you for your
water, Macumazahn, and good night. Doubtless we shall meet again ere
long, and-- I forgot; the Little Wise One said he would like to have a
talk with you. Good night, Macumazahn, good night. I trust that you did
a profitable trade with Umbezi my father and Masapo my husband. I wonder
why such men as these should have been chosen to be my father and my
husband. Think it over, Macumazahn, and tell me when next we meet. Give
me that pretty mirror, Macumazahn; when I look in it I shall see you
as well as myself, and that will please me--you don't know how much. I
thank you. Good night."