These were the orders that I gave to the Amangwane, warning them that he

who disobeyed would be punished with death. They were not to stir until

I, or, if I should be killed, one of my hunters, fired a shot; for my

fear was lest, growing excited, they might leap out before the time and

kill some of our own people, who very likely would be mixed up with the

first of the pursuing Amakoba. Secondly, when the cattle had passed and

the signal had been given, they were to rush on the Amakoba, throwing

themselves across the gully, so that the enemy would have to fight

upwards on a steep slope.

That was all I told them, since it is not wise to confuse natives by

giving too many orders. One thing I added, however--that they must

conquer or they must die. There was no mercy for them; it was a case

of death or victory. Their spokesman--for these people always find

a spokesman--answered that they thanked me for my advice; that they

understood, and that they would do their best. Then they lifted their

spears to me in salute. A wild lot of men they looked in the moonlight

as they departed to take shelter behind the rocks and trees and wait.

That waiting was long, and I confess that before the end it got upon

my nerves. I began to think of all sorts of things, such as whether

I should live to see the sun rise again; also I reflected upon the

legitimacy of this remarkable enterprise. What right had I to involve

myself in a quarrel between these savages?

Why had I come here? To gain cattle as a trader? No, for I was not at

all sure that I would take them if gained. Because Saduko had twitted me

with faithlessness to my words? Yes, to a certain extent; but that was

by no means the whole reason. I had been moved by the recital of the

cruel wrongs inflicted upon Saduko and his tribe by this Bangu, and

therefore had not been loath to associate myself with his attempted

vengeance upon a wicked murderer. Well, that was sound enough so far

as it went; but now a new consideration suggested itself to me. Those

wrongs had been worked many years ago; probably most of the men who had

aided and abetted them by now were dead or very aged, and it was their

sons upon whom the vengeance would be wreaked.

What right had I to assist in visiting the sins of the fathers upon the

sons? Frankly I could not say. The thing seemed to me to be a part of

the problem of life, neither less nor more. So I shrugged my shoulders

sadly and consoled myself by reflecting that very likely the issue would

go against me, and that my own existence would pay the price of the

venture and expound its moral. This consideration soothed my conscience

somewhat, for when a man backs his actions with the risk of his life,

right or wrong, at any rate he plays no coward's part.




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