The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-21

OF the tribe and took his place. After
he was dead my father ruled in his
place, but there was a great party in
the tribe that hated his rule because he
was OF the Zulu race, and it would have
( set up chief of the old Swat blood in
his place. Still, they could not do this,
for my fathers hand was heavy on the
! people. Now | was the only son of my
father by his head wife and should be
chief after him. and therefore those of
the Swat party-and they were many
and great-hated me also
$50 matters stood till last year in the
winter, and then my father set his heart
upon killing twenty of the headmen,
with their wives and children, because
he knew that they plotted against him.
But the headmen learned what was to
come and they prevailed upon wife O,
my father-a woman of their own blood
to poison him. So she poisoned him
| in the night, and in the morning it was
told me that my father lay sick and
summoned me, and | went to my father.
In his hut found him, and he was
writing with pain.
"'What is it, my father said Who
has done this evily
sit is this, my son. he gasped, that
| am poisoned, and yonder she stands
who has done the deed, and he pointed
to the woman.
Now the girl was young and fair,
and we had been friends. yet say that
did not pause, for my heart was mad
in me. | did not pause, but Selling my
spear ran at her and, though she cried
for mercy, killed her with the spear.
That was well done, Galazi,' said my
father. But when ! am gone look to
yourself, my son, for these Swat dogs
will drive you out and rob you of your
place! But if they drive you out and
you yet live, swear this to me, that you
will not rest till you avenge me-
81 swear it, my father, answered.
i swear that | will stamp the men of
the tribe of Halakazi fat, every one of
them except those of my own blood, and
bring their women to slavery and their
children to bondsr
"'Big words for a young mouth, said
my father. Yet you shall live to bring
these things about, Galazi. This know
Of you now in my hour of death; you
shall be wanderer for the few years of
your life, child of Siguyana, and
wandering in another land you shall die
a mans death, and not such death as
yonder witch has given to me- Then
with great groan he died.
"Now | passed out, dragging the body
of the dead girl after me. In front of
the hut were gathered many headmen,
and saw that their looks were sullen.
"'The chief, my father. is deadr
cried, and l, Galazi, who am the chief,
have slain her who murdered him! and
rolled the body of the girl over SO that
they might look upon her face.
"Now, the father of the girl was
among those who stood before me; he
had brought her to the deed, and his
heart was maddened at the sight.
What, my brothers. he cried, shall
we suffer that this young Zulu dog be
chief over US? Neverl The old lion is
dead; now for the cubr and he ran at
me with spear aloft.
"'Never! shouted the others, and they,
too, ran toward me. shaking their
spears.
II waited; did not hasten, for knew
well that should not die then; knew
it because of my fathers words. |
waited till the man was near me; he
thrust, ! sprang aside and drove my
spear through him, and on the daughters
body the father fell dead. Then
shouted aloud and rushed through them.
None touched me: none could catch me.
81 fled from the country of the Hala-
kazi, nor did linger at all in the land
of the Swazis. but came on swiftly into
the Zulu.
Nov on the third night came to q
little kraal that stands on the farther
side of the river at the foot of the noun
tains. In front of the kraal sat an old,
old woman basking in the rays of the
setting sun. She saw me and spoke to
i me, saying: Young man, you are tall
and strong and swift of foot Would
you earn famous weapon-a club that
destroys all who look on itY
81 said that would have such club
and asked what should do to win it.
"'You shall do this, said the old, old
woman. Tomorrow morning at the
first light you shall go up to yonder
mountain, and she pointed to the noun
tain where you are now, stranger, where
the Stone Witch sits forever waiting
for the world to die. Two thirds of the
way up the mountain you will come to
path that is difficult to climb. You
shall climb the path and enter a gloomy
forest 1t is very dark in the forest, but
you must push through it till you come
to an open place with wall of rock be-
hind it. In the wall of rock is cave,
and in the cave you will find the bones
of man. Bring down the bones in a
bag and will give you the club
"While she spoke thus people came
out of the kraal and listened.
rro nv r,ONTINIrED1