Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-06-02
"It Is gvoo," they said, nodding.


But now i'll fortune found me, for just
outside the Emposeni met three of the
kings messengers.
directing, son of Makedama" they
said. 1.-THE king summons you to the
Intunkulu"-tha is the royal house, my
father.
Good" l answered 81 will come
now; but first would run to my own
place to SEQ 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. ellis word is that you
should stand before him."
And how dared l go before the Lion
bearing his living child hidden on my
back? Yet TO disobey was to be lost!
Good! l come" l answered, and we
walked to the gate of the Intunkulu.
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 go l staid.
Rise, son of Makedama!" he said.
81 cannot rise, Lion of the Zulu"
answered. II cannot rise, having royal
blood on my hands, till the king has
parloned me-"
"What is it," he asked.
Ipointed to the mat in my hand.
'Let me look at it."
Then llndid the mat, and he looked
on the child and laughed aloud.
"He might have been a king" he said,
as he bade councillor take it away
"Mopo, thou hast slain one who might
have been king. Art thou not
afraid?'
mo, Black One" l answered.; "the
child is slain by order of one who is a
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"
Tho 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 l would visit
her."
NAY, stay awhile; say how it is with
Baleka, my sister and thine:
"It 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 herr"
"The Mother Of the Heavens"
The brow Of Chaka darkened. Oman
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 them
1T is tagati-it is bewitched, o king.
II is not we'll 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
tors?"
death is the kings medicine" an
swered, lifting the bundle and laying il
as far from him in tho 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 scnseless 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"
did up the bundle fast, saluted the
king and passed from before him
Scarcely was outside when the babt
began to squeak in the bundle. If il
had been one minute before!
What" said a soldier as passed
"have you got puppy hidden under
your mocha (girdle composed of Skin
and tails of oxen, Mopo"
maze no answer, DuC hurried on X
my huts.
Il 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 come into hin
and pulled him out" ! answered.
His eyes are not as his eyes were,
she said again. "Now they are big anC
black, like the eyes of the king"
My spirit looked upon his eyes anC
made them beautiful" answered
This child has a birthmark on hi
thigh" she said third time. "Tha
which gave you had no mark"
81 laid my medicine there" / an
swered.
1T is not the same child" she sal,
sullenly. st is a founding, who will
lay i'll luck at our doors"
Peace, witch" | cried. "IIow dar
you to speak thus from lying heart
Do you wish to draw down a curse upol
our roof? Would you make us all foo,