Then this strange man drew the back of his hand across his eyes, from

which I saw the tears were running, and, muttering, "If you would have

good fortune remember my prayer," turned and left me before I could

answer a single word.

As for me, I sat down upon an ant-heap and whistled a whole hymn tune

that my mother had taught me before I could think at all. To be left

the guardian of Mameena! Talk of a "damnosa hereditas," a terrible and

mischievous inheritance--why, this was the worst that ever I heard of.

A servant in my house indeed, knowing what I did about her! Why, I had

sooner share the "good fortune" which Umbelazi anticipated beneath

the sod. However, that was not in the question, and without it the

alternative of acting as her guardian was bad enough, though I comforted

myself with the reflection that the circumstances in which this would

become necessary might never arise. For, alas! I was sure that if they

did arise I should have to live up to them. True, I had made no promise

to Saduko with my lips, but I felt, as I knew he felt, that this promise

had passed from my heart to his.

"That thief Umbelazi!" Strange words to be uttered by a great vassal of

his lord, and both of them about to enter upon a desperate enterprise.

"A prince whom in her folly she believes will be a king." Stranger words

still. Then Saduko did not believe that he would be a king! And yet he

was about to share the fortunes of his fight for the throne, he who said

that his heart was still on fire for the woman whom "Umbelazi the thief"

had stolen. Well, if I were Umbelazi, thought I to myself, I would

rather that Saduko were not my chief councillor and general. But, thank

Heaven! I was not Umbelazi, or Saduko, or any of them! And, thank Heaven

still more, I was going to begin my trek from Zululand on the morrow!

Man proposes but God disposes. I did not trek from Zululand for many a

long day. When I got back to my wagons it was to find that my oxen had

mysteriously disappeared from the veld on which they were accustomed

to graze. They were lost; or perhaps they had felt the urgent need of

trekking from Zululand back to a more peaceful country. I sent all the

hunters I had with me to look for them, only Scowl and I remaining

at the wagons, which in those disturbed times I did not like to leave

unguarded.

Four days went by, a week went by, and no sign of either hunters or

oxen. Then at last a message, which reached me in some roundabout

fashion, to the effect that the hunters had found the oxen a long way

off, but on trying to return to Nodwengu had been driven by some of

the Usutu--that is, by Cetewayo's party--across the Tugela into Natal,

whence they dared not attempt to return.




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