San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-10

| great man and very brave.
Chaka asked the man why he had
been so long in finding the feathers, and
he answered that the birds had flown
from that part of the country whittier
he was sent. and he must wait there
till they returned, that he might snare
| them.
Thou shouldst have followed the
cranes, thou disobedient dog" said the
king. Let him be taken away and all
| those who were with him."
Now some of the men prayed little
for mercy, but. the captain did but sa-
lutte the king, calling him Father" and
craving boon before he died.
What wouldst thou?" asked Chaka.
NJ father" said the man, Il would
ask chez two things. have fought
many times at thy side in battle while
we were both young, nor did | ever
turn my back upon the foe. The blow
that shore the hand from off this arm
was aimed at thy head, o king. l
staid it with my naked arm. 1t is
nothing; at thy will l live and at thy
will | die. Who am | that | should
question the word of the king? Yet
| would ask this-that thou wilt with
draw the kaross from about thee, o
king, that for the last time my eyes may
feast themselves upon the body of him
whom above all men love-"
Thou ar: long winded," said the king.
"W hat more?"
This, my father-that l may bid
farewell TO M son; he is a little child.
50 high, 0 king" and he held his hand
ahov, mis- knee.
Thy first boon is granted" said the
aeg, slipping the 6aross from his Shout
ders and showing the great breast be-
meath. For the second it shall be
granted also, for | will not willingly
divide the father and son. Bring the
boy here; thou shalt bid him farewell,
then thou shalt stay him with thine own
hand ere thou myself art slain. 1t will
be good sport to see."
Now the man turned gray beneaththe
! blackness of his skin and trembled
little as he murmured, The kings will
is the will of his servant; let the child be
| brought"
But | looked at Chaka and saw that
the tears were running down his face
and that he only spoke 1rns to try the
captain who loved him to the last.
"Let the man CO." said the king;
'him and those with him."
So they went, glad at heart and prais
ing the king.
have told you this, my father,
though it has not to do with my story
because then, and then only, did | ever
see Chaka show mercy to one whom he
had doomed to die.
AS the captain and his people left the
gate of the kraal it was spoken in the
ear of the king that man sought audi,
ence of him. He was admitted crawling
on his knees. | looked and saw that
this was that Masilo whom Chaka had
charged with message to him who was
named Bulalio, or the Slaughterer, and
who ruled over the People of the Az
1t was Masilo indeed, but he was no
longer fat, for much travel had made
him thin; moreover, on his back were
the marks of rods, as yet scarcely healed
over.
"Who art thOu?" said Chaka.
81 am Masilo, of the People of the AK,
to whom command was given to run
with message to Bulalio the Slaughter
er, their chief, and to return on tho
thirtieth day Behold, O king, | have
returned, though in a sorry plight"
1T seems so, said the king, laughing
aloud. Il remember now. Speak on,
Masilo the Thin, who vast Masilo the
Fat. What of this Slaughterer? Does
he come with his people to lay the az
Groanmaker in my hands,"
NAY, o king, he comes not. He met
me with scorn, and with scorn he drove
me from his kraal. Moreover, as | went
| was seized by the servants of Zinita, |
she whom wooed, but who is now the |
wife of the Slaughterer, and laid on my |
face upon the ground and beaten cruel |
ly, while Zinita numbered the strokes"
"Hah" said the king. "And what
were the words of this puppy?
"These were his words, y king: Blu
lalio the Slaughterer, who sits beneath /
the shadow of the Witch mountain, to
Chaka the Slaughterer, who sits in the
kraal Duguza-to thee pay no tribute.
If thou wouldst have the ak Groan-
maker, come to the Ghost mountain and
take it. This promise thee: Thou shalt
look on a face thou knowest, for there is
one there who would be avenged for the
blood of certain Mopo.'"
Now while Masilo told this tale had
seen two things-frst, that little piece
of stick was thrust through the straw of
the fence, and, second, that the regiment
of the Bees was clustering on the slope
opposite to the kraal i'll obedience to the
summons had sent them in the name