“Have I not proved it to thee by destroying Machenga?” retorted I. “Thinkest thou that if Machenga had been what he claimed to be I could have slain him? As to how I know it, my snake told me, and he never lies. And if thou dost still doubt me, question the indunas. Doubtless there are some among them whom thou canst trust, who will tell thee whether Logwane was true, or whether he was false to thee.”
The king frowningly considered my proposition for a little, and finally, looking up, called Mapela to approach.
“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.
“Yet Machenga smelled him out and caused him to be slain as an enemy of mine,” the king reminded him.
“Do I not know it?” retorted the old man bitterly. “And if Machenga had smelled me out, I too should have been slain, although, as thou sayest, thou hast proved me and know me to be faithful and true! But thank thy snake, O Lomalindela, King of the Mashona, that Chia’gnosi saw the evil and falsehood that lurked in that black heart,”—pointing to the dead body of Machenga—“else would many another of thy friends—myself among the number, perchance—have died before yon sun sank behind the hills.”
The king placed his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands for several minutes, evidently overwhelmed by a sense of profound perplexity. At length, however, he looked up again, and, still addressing Mapela, asked:
“And think ye, Mapela, that all those,”—pointing to the long array of slain—“suffered unjustly?”
“Nay,” answered Mapela, “I am but a simple induna, knowing nothing save the art of warfare, and the way in which warriors should be trained in order to make good fighters of them. Who am I that I should presume to answer such a question? Ask Chia’gnosi; he is young, but he is very wise. Perhaps his wisdom may be able to answer thee. Ask him.”
The king turned to me.