Black Heart and White Heart | Page 6

come armed before the 'Elephant who shakes the Earth.'"
Cetywayo frowned, for the note of sarcasm did not escape his quick
ear.
"Let this white man's offering be brought; I will consider the thing."
Instantly the Induna who had accompanied Hadden darted to the
gateway, running with his body bent so low that it seemed as though at
every step he must fall upon his face. Presently he returned with the
weapon in his hand and presented it to the king, holding it so that the
muzzle was pointed straight at the royal breast.
"I crave leave to say, O Elephant," remarked Hadden in a drawling
voice, "that it might be well to command your servant to lift the mouth
of that gun from your heart."
"Why?" asked the king.
"Only because it is loaded, and at full cock, O Elephant, who probably
desires to continue to shake the Earth."
At these words the "Elephant" uttered a sharp exclamation, and rolled
from his stool in a most unkingly manner, whilst the terrified Induna,
springing backwards, contrived to touch the trigger of the rifle and
discharge a bullet through the exact spot that a second before had been
occupied by his monarch's head.
"Let him be taken away," shouted the incensed king from the ground,
but long before the words had passed his lips the Induna, with a cry that
the gun was bewitched, had cast it down and fled at full speed through
the gate.
"He has already taken himself away," suggested Hadden, while the
audience tittered. "No, King, do not touch it rashly; it is a repeating
rifle. Look----" and lifting the Winchester, he fired the four remaining
shots in quick succession into the air, striking the top of a tree at which

he aimed with every one of them.
"/Wow/, it is wonderful!" said the company in astonishment.
"Has the thing finished?" asked the king.
"For the present it has," answered Hadden. "Look at it."
Cetywayo took the repeater in his hand, and examined it with caution,
swinging the muzzle horizontally in an exact line with the stomachs of
some of his most eminent Indunas, who shrank to this side and that as
the barrel was brought to bear on them.
"See what cowards they are, White Man," said the king with
indignation; "they fear lest there should be another bullet in this gun."
"Yes," answered Hadden, "they are cowards indeed. I believe that if
they were seated on stools they would tumble off them just as it
chanced to your Majesty to do just now."
"Do you understand the making of guns, White Man?" asked the king
hastily, while the Indunas one and all turned their heads, and
contemplated the fence behind them.
"No, King, I cannot make guns, but I can mend them."
"If I paid you well, White Man, would you stop here at my kraal, and
mend guns for me?" asked Cetywayo anxiously.
"It might depend on the pay," answered Hadden; "but for awhile I am
tired of work, and wish to rest. If the king gives me the permission to
hunt for which I asked, and men to go with me, then when I return
perhaps we can bargain on the matter. If not, I will bid the king
farewell, and journey to Natal."
"In order to make report of what he has seen and learned here,"
muttered Cetywayo.
At this moment the talk was interrupted, for the soldiers who had led

away the old Induna returned at speed, and prostrated themselves
before the king.
"Is he dead?" he asked.
"He has travelled the king's bridge," they answered grimly; "he died
singing a song of praise of the king."
"Good," said Cetywayo, "that stone shall hurt my feet no more. Go, tell
the tale of its casting away to Sompseu and to the Queen's Induna in
Natal," he added with bitter emphasis.
"/Baba!/ Hear our Father speak. Listen to the rumbling of the
Elephant," said the Indunas taking the point, while one bolder than the
rest added: "Soon we will tell them another tale, the white Talking
Ones, a red tale, a tale of spears, and the regiments shall sing it in their
ears."
At the words an enthusiasm caught hold of the listeners, as the sudden
flame catches hold of dry grass. They sprang up, for the most of them
were seated on their haunches, and stamping their feet upon the ground
in unison, repeated:--
/Indaba ibomwu--indaba ye mikonto Lizo dunyiswa nge impi ndhlebeni
yaho./ (A red tale! A red tale! A tale of spears, And the /impis/ shall
sing it in their ears.)
One of them, indeed, a great fierce-faced fellow, drew near to Hadden
and shaking his fist before his eyes--fortunately being in the royal
presence he had no assegai--shouted the sentences