The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-17

age. Wilt thou, then, see all thy stock
wither? The king, our lord, lives in
war He, too. may die, and what then?'
"Ihen the root OF Senzangacona yet
grows green Has the king no broth
ers?'
"They arc not of thy flesh. mother
What! thou dost not hearken? Then as
woman to woman | plead with thee
Save my child or Stay me with my
child!'
Now the heart of Unandi grew gentle
Show may this be done, Mopo?" she
said The king must see the dead
babe, and if he suspect, and even reeds
have ears you know the heart Of
Chaka and where we shall lie tomor
row.
Are there then no other newborn
babes in Zuiuland!' said Baleka, sitting
up and speaking in whisper like the
hiss OF a snake. 'Hearken. iopo! Is
not your wife also in labor? Now hear
me, Mother of the Heavens, and my
brother hear me also Think not to
play with Inc in this matter | will
save my child or you twain shall perish.
For will tell the king that you came
to me, the two of you, and whispered
plots into my ear-plots to save the
child and slay the king. Now choose.
and swiftly-!'
She sank back, there was silence and
we looked upon one another. Then
Unandi spoke.
"Give me your hand. Mopo, and swear
that you will be faithful to me in this
secret. as swear to you But if you
break your oath, then beware, for will
not die alonev'
81 swear, Mother of the Heavens" |
answered
SIT is well, son of Makedama."
ut is well, my brother" said Balelza.
Nov go swiftly, knowing that if you
fail will bring you to your death!
Yes; even if my own death is the pricev
So went "Whither go your asked
the guard at the gate.
81 go to bring my medicines, men of
the king" answered
! reached my own huts. there to find
that my wife Macropha was delivered of
twins. l sent away all in the hut ex-
cept my other wife, Anadi, she who
eight days gone had borne ne son.
The second of the twins was born: it
was boy, born dead The first was a
girl, she who lived to be NADIA the Beau
tiful, NADIA the Lily Then thought
came into my heart Here was a path
to run on!
"Give me the boy babe, said to
Anadi. HE is not dead Give him to
me that may take him outside the
kraal and awake him to life by my
medicine
at is of no use-the child is dead"
said Anadi
"Give him to me, woman" said
fercely, and she gave me the body.
Then took him and wrapped him up
in my bundle of medicines, and outside
of all | rolled mat Of plated grass.
Suffer none to enter the hut till re-
turn" said, land speak no word of the
child that seems to be dead If you suf-
fer any to enter, or if you speak word,
then my medicine will not work and the
babe will be dead indeed"
So went, leaving the women wonder
ing, for it is not our custom to save both
when twins are born; but ran swiftly
to the gates of the Emposeni.
81 bring the medicines, men of the
king!" said to the guards.
"Pass in, they answered.
lpassed through the gates and into
the hut of Baleka. Unandi was alone in
the hut with my sister.
sSTTha chi 10 horn ~ cold tho ,,o%l,o.
of the king. "Look on him, Mopa. son
of MakedamaT
looked. He was great child, with
large black eyes like the eyes of Chaka,
the king, and Unandi, too, looked at
me. "Where is it?" she whispered.
loosed the mat and drew the dead
child from the medicines, glancing
around fearfully as did SO.
"Give me the living babe" / whis-
pered back
They gave it to me and took of a
drug that | knew and rubbed it on the
tongue of the child Now this drug has
the power to make the tongue it touches
dumb for awhile Then wrapped up
the child in my medicines and again
bound the bundle around with the mat.
But around the throat of the stillborn
babe tied a string of fiber, as though |
had strangled it, and wrapped it loosely
in piece Of mating. Now for the first
time | spoke to Baleka. "Woman,"
said, land thou also, Mother of the
Heavens, have done your wish, but
know this, before all is finished this deed
shall bring about the death of many.
Be secret as the grave, for the grave
yawns for you both"
went again, bearing the mat con
tanning the dead child in my right hand
But the bundle of medicines that held
the living one fastened across my
shoulders. passed out of the Empo
SEM, 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
st 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
l. l.