"'Wow!' he said when he knew how the man had died. 'This lion's cub is
a wizard also, for how else could he have killed a soldier who has known
war? Hold out his arms that I may finish him slowly.' "So two of them held out my arms, and Bangu came up with his spear."
Saduko ceased speaking, not that his tale was done, but because his
voice choked in his throat. Indeed, seldom have I seen a man so moved.
He breathed in great gasps, the sweat poured from him, and his muscles
worked convulsively. I gave him a pannikin of water and he drank, then
he went on: "Already the spear had begun to prick--look, here is the mark of
it"--and opening his kaross he pointed to a little white line just
below the breast-bone--"when a strange shadow thrown by the fire of
the burning huts came between Bangu and me, a shadow as that of a toad
standing on its hind legs. I looked round and saw that it was the shadow
of Zikali, whom I had seen once or twice. There he stood, though whence
he came I know not, wagging his great white head that sits on the top
of his body like a pumpkin on an ant-heap, rolling his big eyes and
laughing loudly.
"'A merry sight,' he cried in his deep voice that sounded like water
in a hollow cave. 'A merry sight, O Bangu, Chief of the Amakoba! Blood,
blood, plenty of blood! Fire, fire, plenty of fire! Wizards dead here,
there, and everywhere! Oh, a merry sight! I have seen many such; one at
the kraal of your grandmother, for instance--your grandmother the great
Inkosikazi, when myself I escaped with my life because I was so old; but
never do I remember a merrier than that which this moon shines on,' and
he pointed to the White Lady who just then broke through the clouds.
'But, great Chief Bangu, lord loved by the son of Senzangakona, brother
of the Black One (Chaka) who has ridden hence on the assegai, what
is the meaning of this play?' and he pointed to me and to the two
soldiers who held out my little arms.
"'I kill the wizard's cub, Zikali, that is all,' answered Bangu.
"'I see, I see,' laughed Zikali. 'A gallant deed! You have butchered the
father and the mother, and now you would butcher the child who has slain
one of your grown warriors in fair fight. A very gallant deed, well
worthy of the chief of the Amakoba! Well, loose his spirit--only--' He
stopped and took a pinch of snuff from a box which he drew from a slit
in the lobe of his great ear.