"Bayéte! As the King pleases," said Saduko, still apparently unmoved by
the honours that were being heaped upon him.
"And, Son of Matiwane," went on Panda, "you are still unmarried, are you
not?"
Now, for the first time, Saduko's face changed. "Yes, Black One," he
said hurriedly, "but--"
Here he caught my eye, and, reading some warning in it, was silent.
"But," repeated Panda after him, "doubtless you would like to be? Well,
it is natural in a young man who wishes to found a House, and therefore
I give you leave to marry."
"Yebo, Silo!" (Yes, O Wild Beast!) "I thank the King, but--"
Here I sneezed loudly, and he ceased.
"But," repeated Panda, "of course, you do not know where to find a wife
between the time the hawk stoops and the rat squeaks in its claws. How
should you who have never thought of the matter? Also," he continued,
with a smile, "it is well that you have not thought of it, since she
whom I shall give to you could not live in the second hut in your kraal
and call another 'Inkosikazi' [that is, head lady or chieftainess].
Umbelazi, my son, go fetch her of whom we have thought as a bride for
this boy."
Now Umbelazi rose, and went with a broad smile upon his face, while
Panda, somewhat fatigued with all his speech-making--for he was very
fat and the day was very hot--leaned his head back against the hut and
closed his eyes.
"O Black One! O thou who consumeth with rage! [Dhlangamandhla]" broke
out Saduko, who, I could see, was much disturbed. "I have something to
say to you."
"No doubt, no doubt," answered Panda drowsily, "but save up your thanks
till you have seen, or you will have none left afterwards," and he
snored slightly.
Now I, perceiving that Saduko was about to ruin himself, thought it well
to interfere, though what business of mine it was to do so I cannot say.
At any rate, if only I had held my tongue at this moment, and allowed
Saduko to make a fool of himself, as he wished to do--for where Mameena
was concerned he never could be wise--I verily believe that all the
history of Zululand would have run a different course, and that many
thousands of men, white and black, who are now dead would be alive
to-day. But Fate ordered it otherwise. Yes, it was not I who spoke, but
Fate. The Angel of Doom used my throat as his trumpet.
Seeing that Panda dozed, I slipped behind Saduko and gripped him by the
arm.
"Are you mad?" I whispered into his ear. "Will you throw away your
fortune, and your life also?"
"But Mameena," he whispered back. "I would marry none save Mameena."