The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-07-19

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my wife. Here is that which the king
seeks" and l showed them the dead
child. Take it to him, if you will
That is not the kings word. Mopo,
they answered. His word is that yoV
should stand before him
And how dared | go before the Lion
bearing his living child hidden on mr
back? Yet to diSobey was to lie lost!
"GoodI come" 1 answered. and We
walked to the gate of the lntunkulu.
1t was sundowa. Chaka was sitfNAs
in the little courtyard in front of HI,
hut. went down on my knees befors
him and gave the royal salute. Byete.
and so staid.
Rise, son of Makedamar' he said.
II cannot rise, Lion of the Zulu" /
answered. Il cannot rise, having royal
blood on my hands, till the king has
pardoned me"
What is it," he asked
Ipointed to the mat in my hand.
Let me look at it,"
Then undid the mat, and he looked
on the child and laughed aloud.
HE might have been king" he SAID.
as he babe a councillor take it away.
"Mopo, thou hast slain one who might
have been a king. Art thou not
afraidY'
mo, Black One,7 answered; ''the
child is slain by order of one who is
king
sit down and let US talk, " said ChG4a
for his mood was Idle. Tomorrow
thou shalt have five oxen for this deed;
thou shalt choose them from the royal
herd"
The king is good; he sees that my
belt is drawn tight, he satisfies my han
ger. Win the king suffer that l go,
My wife Is in labor and would visit
her"
may, stay awhile; say bow It is with
Baleka, my sister and thiney7
ut is well"
"Did she weep when you took tho babe
from herr"
NAY, she wept not. She said, My
lords will is my will"
Good! Had she wept she had been
slain also. Who was with herr
The Mother of the Heavens"
The brow of Chaka darkened "Unan-
di, my mother, what did she there? By
myself l swear, though she is my mother.
if l thought and he ceased.
There was a silence, then he spoke
again. Say, what is in that msty7 and
he pointed with his little assegai at tho
bundle on my shoulders.
Medicine, king"
Thou dost carry enough to doctor an
impi. Undo the mat and let me look
at it"
Now. if 1 undid the mat 1 feared he
must see the child and then
at is tagati-it is bewitched, o king.
1t is not we'll to look on medicine"
"OpenT he answered angrily. WHAT
may l not look at that which | am forced
to swallow, who am the first of doc
tors?''
death is the kings medicine" an
swered, lifting the bundle and laying it
as far from him in the shadow of the
fence as dared. Then l bent over it,
slowly undoing the rimpis with which IL
was tied, while the sweat of terror ran
down my face Inside were the brown
leaves and roots of medicine; beneath
them was the senseless babe wrapped in
dead moss.
ugly stuff said the king. taking
snuff And now BECOME! Take my
advice; kill thy children, as kill mine,
lest they live to worry thee"
did up the bundle fast, saluted the
king and passed from before him
Scarcely was / outside when the babe
began TO squeak in the bundle. II it
had been one minute before!
What said soldier as passed,
have you got puppy hidden under
your mocha (yirdle composed Of skin
and tails Of oxen}. MopO?"
made 10 answer, but hurried on 20
my huts.
I have recovered the child, women"
said
Anadi took him and looked at him
The boy seems bigger than he was,
she said
The breath Of life has como into him
and pufed him out I answered.
His eyes age not as his eyes We're,
she said again Now they are big and
black, like the eyes Of the king"
My spirit looked upon his eyes and
made them beautiful" answered.
This child has a birthmark on MS.
thigh. she said third time. That
which gave you had no mark"
Il laid my medicine there" an.
swered
1t Is not the same child" she said
sullenly. 1T is a founding, who will
lay i'll luck at our doors"
Peace, witch" l cried. How dare,
you to speak thus from a lying hearth
Do you wish to draw down a curse upon
our roof? Would you make us all food
for the kings spear? Say such words
again and you shall sit within the circlej
the Ingomboco shall know you for al
witch!"
So l stormed on, till at length she fell .
at my feet praying for mercy.
TCoNTINUED.l