"Piff! My husband is big yet not brave," she said, "but I do not think
he meant to hurt you, woman."
"Do you speak to me, wife of Masapo?" asked Nandie with gentle dignity,
as she gained her feet and picked up the stunned child. "If so, my name
and titles are the Inkosazana Nandie, daughter of the Black One and wife
of the lord Saduko."
"Your pardon," replied Mameena humbly, for she was cowed at once. "I did
not know who you were, Inkosazana."
"It is granted, wife of Masapo. Macumazahn, give me water, I pray you,
that I may bathe the head of my child."
The water was brought, and presently, when the little one seemed all
right again, for it had only received a scratch, Nandie thanked me and
departed to her own huts, saying with a smile to her husband as she
passed that there was no need for him to accompany her, as she had
servants waiting at the kraal gate. So Saduko stayed behind, and Mameena
stayed also. He talked with me for quite a long while, for he had much
to tell me, although all the time I felt that his heart was not in his
talk. His heart was with Mameena, who sat there and smiled continually
in her mysterious way, only putting in a word now and again, as though
to excuse her presence.
At length she rose and said with a sigh that she must be going back to
where the Amasomi were in camp, as Masapo would need her to see to his
food. By now it was quite dark, although I remember that from time to
time the sky was lit up by sheet lightning, for a storm was brewing. As
I expected, Saduko rose also, saying that he would see me on the morrow,
and went away with Mameena, walking like one who dreams.
A few minutes later I had occasion to leave the wagons in order to
inspect one of the oxen which was tied up by itself at a distance,
because it had shown signs of some sickness that might or might not be
catching. Moving quietly, as I always do from a hunter's habit, I walked
alone to the place where the beast was tethered behind some mimosa
thorns. Just as I reached these thorns the broad lightning shone out
vividly, and showed me Saduko holding the unresisting shape of Mameena
in his arms and kissing her passionately.
Then I turned and went back to the wagons even more quietly than I had
come.
I should add that on the morrow I found out that, after all, there was
nothing serious the matter with my ox.