But when I told him my message, and how that the
Chief Bulalio the Slaughterer had taken the war-path to win him the
Lily, his manner changed. He took me by the hand and said that I had
done well, and he had been foolish to doubt me when I lifted up my
voice to persuade him from sending an impi against the Halakazi. Now
he saw that it was my purpose to rake this Halakazi fire with another
hand than his, and to save his hand from the burning, and he thanked
me.
Moreover, he said, that if this Chief of the People of the Axe brought
him the maid his heart desired, not only would he forgive him the
words he had spoken by the mouth of Masilo to the Black One who was
dead, but also all the cattle of the Halakazi should be his, and he
would make him great in the land. I answered that all this was as the
king willed. I had but done my duty by the king and worked so that,
whatever befell, a proud chief should be weakened and a foe should be
attacked at no cost to the king, in such fashion also that perhaps it
might come about that the king would shortly have the Lily at his
side.
Then I sat down to wait what might befall.
Now it is, my father, that the white men come into my story, whom we
named the Amaboona, but you call the Boers. Ou! I think ill of those
Amaboona, though it was I who gave them the victory over Dingaan--I
and Umslopogaas.
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