Next morning I was awakened shortly after sunrise by Scowl, whom I had

sent out with another man the night before to look for a lost ox.

"Well, have you found the ox?" I asked.

"Yes, Baas; but I did not waken you to tell you that. I have a message

for you, Baas, from Mameena, wife of Saduko, whom I met about four hours

ago upon the plain yonder."

I bade him set it out.

"These were the words of Mameena, Baas: 'Say to Macumazahn, your master,

that Indhlovu-ene-sihlonti, taking pity on my wrongs and loving me

with his heart, has offered to take me into his House and that I have

accepted his offer, since I think it better to become the Inkosazana of

the Zulus, as I shall one day, than to remain a servant in the house

of Nandie. Say to Macumazahn that when Saduko returns he is to tell him

that this is all his fault, since if he had kept Nandie in her place I

would have died rather than leave him. Let him say to Saduko also that,

although from henceforth we can be no more than friends, my heart is

still tender towards him, and that by day and by night I will strive to

water his greatness, so that it may grow into a tree that shall shade

the land. Let Macumazahn bid him not to be angry with me, since what I

do I do for his good, as he would have found no happiness while Nandie

and I dwelt in one house. Above all, also let him not be angry with the

Prince, who loves him more than any man, and does but travel whither the

wind that I breathe blows him. Bid Macumazahn think of me kindly, as I

shall of him while my eyes are open.'"

I listened to this amazing message in silence, then asked if Mameena was

alone.

"No, Baas; Umbelazi and some soldiers were with her, but they did

not hear her words, for she stepped aside to speak with me. Then she

returned to them, and they walked away swiftly, and were swallowed up in

the night."

"Very good, Sikauli," I said. "Make me some coffee, and make it strong."

I dressed and drank several cups of the coffee, all the while "thinking

with my head," as the Zulus say. Then I walked up to the kraal to see

Umbezi, whom I found just coming out of his hut, yawning.

"Why do you look so black upon this beautiful morning, Macumazahn?"

asked the genial old scamp. "Have you lost your best cow, or what?"

"No, my friend," I answered; "but you and another have lost your best

cow." And word for word I repeated to him Mameena's message. When I had

finished really I thought that Umbezi was about to faint.




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