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Updated: June 1, 2025
I saw through a corner of my eye that they were armed with guns, though many carried in addition their spears and shields. Their first impulse was to stop me. I saw guns fly to shoulders, and a rush towards the path. The boldest game was the safest, so I dug my heels into the schimmel and shouted for a passage. 'Make way! I cried in Kaffir. 'I bear a message from the Inkulu. Clear out, you dogs!
He had ceased to be the Kaffir king, or the Christian minister, or indeed any one of his former parts. Death was stripping him to his elements, and the man Laputa stood out beyond and above the characters he had played, something strange, and great, and moving, and terrible. 'We met for the first time three days ago, he said, 'and now you will be the last to see the Inkulu.
I made no secret of the part I played. 'I was fighting for my life, I said. 'Any man of you who is a man would have done the like. Then I told them of my last ride, and the sight I saw at the foot of the Rooirand. I drew a picture of Henriques lying dead with a broken neck, and the Inkulu, wounded to death, creeping into the cave. In moments of extremity I suppose every man becomes an orator.
One of you speak for the rest and tell me your purpose. For a moment I had a wild notion that they might be friends, some of Arcoll's scouts, and out to help me. But the first words shattered the fancy. 'We are sent by Inkulu, the biggest of them said. 'He bade us bring you to him. 'And what if I refuse to go? 'Then, Baas, we must take you to him. We are under the vow of the Snake.
Your troubles are all over now. I made a great effort, found the eyes to which the voice belonged, and spoke to them. 'Listen. I stole the collar of Prester John at Dupree's Drift. I was caught in the Berg and taken to the kraal I forget its name but I had hid the rubies. 'Yes, the voice said, 'you hid the rubies, and then? 'Inkulu wanted them back, so I made a deal with him.
Colin had the sense to keep beside me. Growling like a thunderstorm he held the ring around my litter. The breathing space would not have lasted long, but it gave me time to get to my feet. My wrists and feet had been unbound long before, and the rest had cured my leg-weariness. I stood up in that fierce circle with the clear knowledge that my life hung by a hair. 'Take me to Inkulu, I cried.
The lantern stood by him on the floor, and its faint circle lit something which I was not unprepared for. Blood was welling from his side, and spreading in a dark pool over the ashes. I had no fear, only a great pity pity for lost romance, for vain endeavour, for fruitless courage. 'Greeting, Inkulu! I said in Kaffir, as if I had been one of his indunas.
My Kaffir showed my strapped elbows and feet, and tugged at the cords to prove their tightness. 'Keep him well, said Henriques, 'or you will answer to Inkulu. Forward with him now and get him through the water. Then he turned and rode back. My warder, apparently obeying orders, led me out of the column and into the bush on the right hand.
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