“I will tell him,” I answered, “though I know not who made me your messenger. But listen to me, you Speaker of big words and Doer of small deeds, if you dare to lift a finger against me I will teach you something about holes, for there shall be one or more through that great carcass of yours.”
Then, walking up to him, I looked him in the face, and at the same time tapped the handle of the big double-barrelled pistol I carried.
He shrank back muttering something.
“Oh, don’t apologise,” I said, “only be more careful in future. And now I wish you a good dinner, Chief Masapo, and peace upon your kraal, friend Umbezi.”
After this speech I marched off, followed by the clamour of Masapo’s furious attendants and the sound of Mameena’s light and mocking laughter.
“I wonder which of them she will marry?” I thought to myself, as I set out for the wagons.
As I approached my camp I saw that the oxen were being inspanned, as I supposed by the order of Scowl, who must have heard that there was a row up at the kraal, and thought it well to be ready to bolt. In this I was mistaken, however, for just then Saduko strolled out of a patch of bush and said:
“I ordered your boys to yoke up the oxen, Inkoosi.”
“Have you? That’s cool!” I answered. “Perhaps you will tell me why.”
“Because we must make a good trek to the northward before night, Inkoosi.”