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"Mapela," said Lomalindela, when the induna had drawn near and saluted, "I am perplexed, and know not what to believe. I can believe thy words, because I have proved thee, and know thee to be faithful and true. Thou didst know Logwane intimately; tell me, therefore, was he loyal to me, or was he not?" "There was no man in all Mashonaland more faithful to thee than Logwane," answered Mapela.
But coming between, the Zulus made a shield hedge to protect their comrades, so that the light throwing assegais did little hurt, and of the few that the gun killed they thought nothing. Presently the ends of the trees lay beneath the water on the ridge of rock, and the captain commanded a certain induna to lead his men across.
No, of course, the idea was madness, the act an impossibility; yet when a few minutes later I saw the tall induna, Logwane Mapela's friend led forth and mercilessly done to death, I could not refrain from leaning toward the king and murmuring: "O King, your witch doctors are not infallible; they made a dreadful mistake when they smelled out that man!
I was very indignant and expressed my feelings to the Induna in no measured terms. He on his part was most apologetic, and explained that what he did he was obliged to do "by the King's orders."
With this the Induna agreed emphatically, saying that perhaps I did not know how remarkable. Next he asked me where he was now, to which I replied that I had not the faintest idea, but I presumed in his kraal where I had left him.
"Now, how can the Inkosazana-y-Zoola, before whom a whole nation will bow, be in bonds to a white Umfundusi, a mere sky-doctor? Shall the wide heavens obey a cloud?" "If they are bred of that cloud," retorted Rachel. "The heavens breed the cloud, not the cloud the heavens," answered the induna aptly. Now it occurred to Rachel that this thing was going further than it should.
But it was all of no avail; it was through me that the upset had occurred, therefore out I must go escorted by an impi, the induna of which would receive instructions to see that I did not unduly loiter on the way.
They followed me like my shadow, sometimes in a most embarrassing manner. Having been on my forward journey hospitably entertained at the kraal of a prominent induna named 'Ntshindeen, I decided to return there and rest. I felt half-dead from fatigue and semi-starvation. My clothing was in rags. The only, supplies I had left were a little meal and some salt.
Ultimately I arrived at the Great Place without experiencing any adventure that is worthy of record, and camped in a spot that was appointed to me by some induna whose name I forget, but who evidently knew of my approach, for I found him awaiting me at some distance from the town.
After a short pause, however, accompanied by the display of many indications of rapidly increasing anger, the herd again began to move toward us, first at a walking pace that rapidly merged into a trot, till finally the whole herd broke into a gallop as the induna Bulangu and his party appeared at the far end of the plain.
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