Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-21

who hunted with the wolves. When |
had been led before tho chief / saluted
him and spoke to hiin-the words you
laid upon my tongue | spoke to him. He
listened, then laughed aloud and said:
Tell him who sent you that the Mouth
of Dingaan shall be welcome and shall
speak the words Of Dingaan in peace;
yet would that it were the head of
Dingaan that came. and not his mouth
only, for then ak Groanmaker should
join in our talk-aye, because of one
Mopo, whom his brother ChalSa muir
dered, it would also speak with Dingaan.
Still, the mouth is not the head, SO the
mouth may come in peace"
Now / started when for the second
time l heard talk Of one Mopo, whose
name had been ON the lips of Bulalio the
Slaughterer Who was there who would
thus have loved Mopo except one who
was long dead?
There were none to meet us at the
gates, and none stood by the doors of
the huts within them, but beyond, from
the cattle kraal that was in the center of
the huts, rose a dust and din as of men
gathering for war. Now some of those
with me were afraid and would have
turned back, fearing treachery, and they
were yet morS afraid when, on coming
to the inner entrance of the cattle kraal,
we saw some five hundred soldiers being
mustered there, company by company,
by two great men, who ran up and down
the ranks shouting.
But ] cried NAY, nay! Turn not
back Bold looks melt the hearts of
foes. Moreover if this Bulalio would
have murdered us there was no need for
him to call up SO many Of his warriors
He is proud chief and would show his
might, not knowing that the king we
serve can muster a company for every
man he has. Let us go on boldly"
SO no walked forward toward the impi
that was gathered on the farther side Of
the kraal. Now the two great men
who were marshaling the soldiers saw
us and came to meet us, one following
the other. He who came first bore the
AK upon his shoulder and he who fol-
lowed swung a hugo club. | looked
upon the foremost of them, and ali! my
father, my heart grew faint with Joy,
for knew him across the years. 1t was
Umslopogaas-lny fostering, Umslopo-
gaas-and none other, now grown into
manhood-aye, into such man as was
not to be found beside him in Zululand.
| He was great and fierce, somewhat
! spare i'll frame, but wide shouldered
and shallow 1ianked. His arms were
! long and not over big, but the muscles
stood out on them like knots in q rope,
! his legs We're long also and very thick
beneath tho knee. His eye was like an
eagles, his nose somewhat hooked and
he held his head little forward, as a
man who searches continually for hid
den foe. He seemed TO walk slowly,
and yet he came swiftly, but with a
! gliding movement like that Of a wolf or
a lion, and always his fingers played
around the horn handle of the ak Groan-
maker. For him who followed, he was
great also, shorter than Umslopogaas by
the half Of head, but of u sturdie1
build. His eyes We're small and twinkled
increasingly like little star, and his
look was very wild, for now and again
he grinned, showing his white teeth
When | saw Umslopogaas | longed to
run to him and throw myself upon his
neck. Yet took counsel with myself
and did not-nay, dropped the corner
Of the karoas wore over my eyes, hid
ing my face, lest he should know me.
Presently he stood before Inc, searching
mo out with hls keen eyes, for drew
forward to greet him.
Correcting, Mouth Of Dingaan." hs
said in a loud voice. You are a little
man to be the mouth of so big a chief"
The mouth is little member, even
Of the body of great king. Chief
Bulalio, ruler Of the People of the AK,
wizard of the wolves that are upon the
Ghost mountain, who aforetime was
named Umslopogaas, son Of Mopo, son
Of Makedama,"
Now, when Cmslopogaas heard these
words he started and stared hard at me.
you are well instructed" he said.
THE ears of the king are large if his
mouth DO small, o Chief Bulalio,' |
answered, and |, who am but the mouth,
speak what the ears have heard"
How know you that have dwelt
with the wolves upon the Ghost noun
tain, o Mouth" he asked.
The eyes Of the king see far, O Chief
Bulalio. Thus, merhinks, last night
they saw great chase and a merry.
1t seems that they saw koodoo bull
running at speed and after him count
less wolves making their music, and
with the wolves two men clad in
wolves skins-such men rs you, Buialio,
and he with the club who follows you.
Now Umsloposaas lifted the AK Groau-
maker as though he would cut me down,
then let it fall again while Galazi the
Wolf glared at mo with wide opened
eyes.
''IIow know you that was once named
Umslopogaas, who have lost that name
these many days; Speak, o Mouth, lest
kill you"
"Slay if you will, Umslopogaas," |
answered, "but know that when the
brains are scattered the mouth is dumb,
lie who scatters brains loses wisdom
"AnSwcr!' ne said
Il answer not Who are you that |