San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-27

But the bundle OF meulClneS bLdJ utlu
the living one | fastened across my
shoulders. / passed out of the Empo-
semi, and as | went held up the bundle
in my right hand to the guards, show
ing them that which was in it, but say
ing nothing.
1T is good" they said, nodding.
But now i'll fortune found me, for just
outside the Emposeni | met three of the
kings messengers.
Greeting, son of Makedama!" they
said. The king summons you to the
Intunkulu"-thatis the royal house, my
father.
Good" | answered Il will come
now; but first | would run to my own
place to see how it goes with Macropha,
my wife. Here is that which the king
seeks" and | 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 you
should stand before him."
And how dared | go before the Lion
bearing his living child hidden on my
back? Yet to disobey was to be lost!
Good! | come" | answered, and we
walked to the gate of the lntunkulu.
1t was shutdown. Chaka was sitting
in the little courtyard in front of his
hut. Invent down ON my knees before
him and gave the royal salute, Byete,
and so | staid.
Rise, son of Makedama!" he said.
AZ Of hn T,,1r, - |
answered Il cannot rise, having royal
blood ON my hands, till the king has
pardoned me-"
What is it," he asked.
pointed 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
afraid?"
No, Black One" | answered; the
child is slain by order of one who is
king"
''Sit down and let us talk" said Chaka,
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 hun
ger. Will the king suffer that | go?
My wife is in labor and | would visit
her"
Nay, stay awhile; say how it is With
Baleka, my sister and timer
1T Is we'll"
'Did she weep when you took the 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 her?'
The Mother of the Heayens."
The brow of Chaka darkened. "Unan-
di, my mother, what did she there? By
myself swear, though she is my mother,
if thought and he ceased.
There was silence, then he spoke
again. Say, what is in that matt and
he pointed with his little assegai at the
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 | undid the mat | feared he
must see the child and then
1T is tagati-it is bewitched, o king
1t is not well to look on medicine"
Open" he answered angrily. What!
may not look at that which am forced
to swallow, who am the first of doc
torsY'
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 | bent over it,
slowly undoing the rimpis with which it
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 begone! Take my
advice; kill thy children, as kill mine
lest they live to worry thee"
l did up the bundle fast, saluted the
king and passed from before him
Scarcely was | outside when the babC
began to squeak in the bundle. If i
had been one minute beforel
What" said a soldier as passed
have you got puppy hidden unde
your moocha (girdle composed of ski
and tails of oxen), Mopo?"
made no answer, but hurried on t.
my huts.
81 have recovered the child, women.
said.
Anadi took him and looked at him.
"The boy seems bigger than he was,