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Updated: June 26, 2025
"Save the cub!" shouted Dick; "don't let the dogs worry it; I want to keep the little beast alive." And, leaving his position, he hurried forward, regardless of danger, to beat off the dogs. Grosvenor and Jantje also rushed forward at his shouts, and were quickly joined by Mafuta, who seemed to divine what Dick required.
Of course I knew that my "boys" might have, and very possibly had, spoken of them to 'Ngaga and the other Basutos during their gossip round the fire on the previous evening; yet this man, Mafuta, seemed to know more about the details of them than was likely to have transpired during such a conversation, which was probably of an exceedingly desultory and general character.
The stranger, however, although it was evident that he caught the meaning of a word here and there, seemed unable to grasp the sense of Mafuta's communication in its entirety, whereupon the latter made a second attempt, this time using a sort of dialect or corruption of the true Zulu tongue; and was now more successful, quite a long interchange of conversation ensuing, at the termination of which the stranger turned and ran to the before-mentioned eminence, from the summit of which he shouted, in the same high-pitched voice as his predecessor, a communication of very considerable length, while Mafuta returned to the wagon.
"Bring him hither," commanded Dick; "we will speak with him." Saluting again, Mafuta disappeared, and presently returned escorting a tall savage, unarmed save for a light switch, such as every native habitually carries, in order to defend himself against the attacks of snakes. He wore the keshla, or head ring, and was naked save for the usual moucha or apron of deerskin.
Tom Brown was hastily revolving in his mind the best mode of killing or scaring away this presumptuous visitor, when the lion, in its wanderings round the tree, tripped over one of the lines of the tent, causing it to vibrate. He uttered a growl of dissatisfaction, and seized the cord in his teeth. "Look out, Mafuta!" exclaimed Tom, as he observed the shadow of the beast against the curtain.
Besides, do you think I would allow any one to hurt you? My father is the king; no one, not even Mafuta, dare dispute his will; and I have more influence than any one else with the king. Nay, fear not, Dick, none shall hurt you while I live."
I'll overtake you in no time!" Wilkins did not wait for more, but dashed into the thicket after Mafuta, who had preceded him. Tom was quickly on their heels, and they had not gone far when one of the wounded lions was found lying on the ground quite dead.
Mafuta is a great nyanga, and perchance he saw a vision of thine approach in his magic smoke. How should I know? It is not good for mere ordinary mortals to enquire too curiously into the doings of the nyangas."
I don't feel able to move a step." Tom sat down as he said this, and, uttering a sort of groan, leaned his back against a tree. "W'at, yous no' go fadder?" "No," said Tom, with some asperity, for he felt too much exhausted to speak. "Berry good, me say good-bye." Mafuta nodded his head as he spoke, and, gravely shouldering his load, marched away.
Late that same evening Mafuta also returned, with the intelligence that although he had not actually seen either elephants or buffaloes, he had obtained, from natives whom he had encountered, intelligence of a large herd of the former at a distance of four days' trek from the river.
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