Little do I care for Dingaan, I who would go my way alone,
and live while I may live, and die when I must, by the hands of
Dingaan as by those of another--what does it matter? Yet, for this
reason, because of the death of Macropha, my mother, and Nada, the
sister who was dear to me, I will make war upon these Halakazi and
conquer them, or be conquered by them. Perhaps, O Mouth of Dingaan,
you will see me soon at the king's kraal on the Mahlabatine, and with
me the Lily maid and the cattle of the Halakazi; or perhaps you shall
not see me, and then you will know that I am dead, and the Warriors of
the Axe are no more."
So Umslopogaas spoke to me before Galazi the Wolf, but afterwards he
embraced me and bade me farewell, for he had no great hope that we
should meet again. And I also doubted it; for, as Galazi said, the
adventure was great; yet, as I had seen many times, it is the bold
thrower who oftenest wins. So we parted--I to return to Dingaan and
tell him that Bulalio, Chief of the People of the Axe, had gone up
against the Halakazi to win the Lily maid and bring her to him in
atonement; while Umslopogaas remained to make ready his impi for war.
I went swiftly from the Ghost Mountain back to the kraal
Umgugundhlovu, and presented myself before Dingaan, who at first
looked on me coldly.
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