Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 27, 2025
The wagon and the oxen we left in the immediate charge of Goza and Tom, our driver and leader, both trustworthy boys, requesting a worthy Scotch missionary who lived in this distant place to keep an eye on them. Then, accompanied by Umbopa, Khiva, Ventvögel, and half a dozen bearers whom we hired on the spot, we started off on foot upon our wild quest.
Goza did his best to keep them off, but was swept aside like a feather, or rather knocked over, for I saw him on his back with his thin legs in the air. "You must climb out of this pit by yourself," he began, addressing me in his pompous and figurative way. Then somebody stamped on his face, and fixing his teeth in his assailant's heel, he grew silent for a while.
The end of it was that after Indudu and Goza had wiped her down with tufts of thatch dragged from the hut and I had collected her gear with the rest of my own, we set her on the horse straddlewise, and started, the objects of much interest among such Zulus as were already abroad.
Without a guard of eight soldiers was standing, and with them Goza, who asked me if I were ready to start. "Quite," I answered, "as soon as I have saddled my horse," which by the way had been led up to the hut. Very soon this was done, for I brought out most of my few belongings with me and the bag of jewels was in my pocket.
Go to the king, Goza, and tell him how his servants have served his guest," and I lifted my pistol, waiting till the first stick touched me to put a bullet through the bully on the ground. "There is no need," said a deep voice that proceeded from the draped man of whom I have spoken, "for the king has come to see for himself."
Then it was that the officer of the guard, a thin and melancholy-looking person, said in a hollow voice, addressing himself to Goza "The orders are that the White Man's wife is to go with him. Where is she?" "Where a man's wife should be, in his hut I suppose," answered Goza sleepily. Rage filled me at the words. Seldom do I remember being so angry.
There is beer by your side; drink and fear nothing. Did you see the Opener of Roads, Goza, and if so, what is his answer to my message?" "O King, I saw him," answered Goza.
Her eyes roved idly and without interest over the semi-circle of terrified men before her. Then by degrees they fixed themselves upon the tree behind which I was crouching, whereon Goza sank paralyzed to the ground. She contemplated this tree for a while that seemed to me interminable; it reminded me of a setter pointing game it winded but could not see, for her whole frame grew intent and alert.
"Good-day to you, Macumazahn," she said in her gentle voice, "you have gone through much since last we met on the night before Goza took you away to Ulundi." Now remembering all, I was filled with indignation against this little humbug. "The last time we met, Nombe," I said, "was when you played the part of a woman who is dead in the Vale of Bones by the king's kraal."
All to-day he makes sacrifice to the spirits of his ancestors and must not be approached," Goza called back as he departed. Availing myself of the permission of the king to go where I would, a little later in the day I walked out of the town towards the Valley of Bones in order to ascertain for myself whether what Goza had told me was true.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking