"
Cetywayo frowned. "What do you here away from your regiment, Nahoon?"
"May it please the king, I have leave of absence from the head captains,
and I come to ask a boon of the king's bounty."
"Be swift, then, Nahoon."
"It is this, O King," said the captain with some embarrassment: "A while
ago the king was pleased to make a _keshla_ of me because of certain
service that I did out yonder----" and he touched the black ring which
he wore in the hair of his head. "Being now a ringed man and a captain,
I crave the right of a man at the hands of the king--the right to
marry."
"Right? Speak more humbly, son of Zomba; my soldiers and my cattle have
no rights."
Nahoon bit his lip, for he had made a serious mistake.
"Pardon, O King. The matter stands thus: My uncle Umgona here has a
fair daughter named Nanea, whom I desire to wife, and who desires me to
husband. Awaiting the king's leave I am betrothed to her and in earnest
of it I have paid to Umgona a _lobola_ of fifteen head of cattle, cows
and calves together.
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