登陆注册
5421800000092

第92章

Thus he spoke and ran forward, and, with a roar, after him sprang the soldiers, rank by rank. They were brave men indeed; moreover, they knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged behind, and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed. On they went, as to the joy of battle, their captain leading them, and as they went they sang the Ingomo, the war-chant of the Zulu. Now the captain neared the raging fire; we saw him lift his shield to keep off its heat. Then he was gone--he had sprung into the heart of the furnace, and but little of him was ever found again. After him went the first company. In they went, beating at the flames with their ox-hide shields, stamping them out with their naked feet, tearing down the burning logs and casting them aside. Not one man of that company lived, my father; they fell down like moths which flutter through a candle, and where they fell they perished. But after them came other companies, and it was well for those in this fight who were last to grapple with the foe. Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame, now the flame grew less and less, and the smoke more and more; and now blackened men, hairless, naked, and blistered, white with the scorching of the fire, staggered out on the farther side of the flames, falling to earth here and there. After them came others; now there was no flame, only a great smoke in which men moved dimly; and presently, my father, it was done: they had conquered the fire, and that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies, though every man had trodden it. How many perished?--nay, I know not, they were never counted; but what between the dead and the injured that regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more men into it.

"See, Doctor of Prayers," said Dingaan, with a laugh, "thus shall Iescape the fires of that land of which thou tellest, if such there be indeed: I will bid my impis stamp them out."Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no more among the Zulus, and afterwards he left the land. When he had gone the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away, the injured were doctored or killed according to their hurts, and those who had little harm came before the king and praised him.

"New shields and headresses must be found for you, my children," said Dingaan, for the shields were black and shrivelled, and of heads of hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment.

"Wow!" said Dingaan again, looking at the soldiers who still lived:

"shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the white man speaks."Then he ordered bear to be brought to the men, for the heat had made them thirsty.

Now though you may not guess it, my father, I have told you this tale because it has something to do with my story; for scarcely had the matter been ended when messengers came, saying that Bulalio, chief of the People of the Axe, and his impi were without, having returned with much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland. Now when Iheard this my heart leapt for joy, seeing that I had feared greatly for the fate of Umslopogaas, my fosterling. Dingaan also was very glad, and, springing up, danced to and fro like a child.

"Now at last we have good tidings," he said, at once forgetting the stamping of the fire, "and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my hand has longed to pluck. Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly."For awhile there was silence; then from far away, without the high fence of the great place, there came a sound of singing, and through the gates of the kraal rushed two great men, wearing black plumes upon their heads, having black shields in their left hands, and in their right, one an axe and one a club; while about their shoulders were bound wolf-skins. They ran low, neck and neck, with outstretched shields and heads held forward, as a buck runs when he is hard pressed by dogs, and no such running had been seen in the kraal Umgugundhlovu as the running of the Wolf-Brethren. Half across the space they ran, and halted suddenly, and, as they halted, the dead ashes of the fire flew up before their feet in a little cloud.

"By my head! look, these come armed before me!" said Dingaan, frowning, "and to do this is death. Now say who is that man, great and fierce, who bears an axe aloft? Did I not know him dead I should say it was the Black One, my brother, as he was in the days of the smiting of Zwide: so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to look round, like a lion.""I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer, chief of the People of the Axe, O King," I answered.

"And who is the other with him? He is a great man also. Never have Iseen such a pair!"

"I think that is Galazi the Wolf, he who is blood-brother to the Slaughterer, and his general," I said again.

Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe, armed with short sticks alone. Four by four they came, all holding their heads low, and with black shields outstretched, and formed themselves into companies behind the Wolf-Brethren, till all were there. Then, after them, the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in,--women, boys, and maids, a great number--and they stood behind the ranks huddled together like frightened calves.

"A gallant sight, truly!" said Dingaan, as he looked upon the companies of black-plumed and shielded warriors. "I have no better soldiers in my impis, and yet my eyes behold these for the first time," and again he frowned.

Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his axe and started forward at full speed, and after him thundered the companies. On they rushed, and their plumes lay back upon the wind, till it seemed as though they must stamp us flat. But when he was within ten paces of the king Umslopogaas lifted Groan-Maker again, and Galazi held the Watcher on high, and every man halted where he was, while once more the dust flew up in clouds. They halted in long, unbroken lines, with outstretched shields and heads held low; no man's head rose more than the length of a dance kerrie from the earth. So they stood one minute, then, for the third time, Umslopogaas lifted Groan-Maker, and in an instant every man straightened himself, each shield was tossed on high, and from every throat was roared the royal salute, "Bayete!""A pretty sight forsooth," quoth Dingaan; "but these soldiers are too well drilled who have never done me service nor the Black One who was before me, and this Slaughterer is too good a captain, I say. Come hither, ye twain!" he cried aloud.

Then the Wolf-Brethren strode forward and stood before the king, and for awhile they looked upon each other.

同类推荐
  • Political Arithmetick

    Political Arithmetick

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 厘正按摩要术

    厘正按摩要术

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 读医随笔

    读医随笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 往生净土忏愿仪

    往生净土忏愿仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Task and Other Poems

    The Task and Other Poems

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 总裁老公被嫌弃

    总裁老公被嫌弃

    未出生就被自家老爹卖了,还是卖给多金帅气男,但此男口贱脸皮厚,看精灵古怪小女孩对上腹黑大叔!
  • 驭房有术

    驭房有术

    进城闯荡的小阿姨衣锦还乡,张禹的老妈心动了,决定让儿子前去投奔。不曾想,所谓的豪宅就是一个三十平米的出租屋,更为要命的是,小阿姨经营的房产中介都快交不上房租了。风水卖房、风水装修……张禹从乡下棺材铺王老头那里学来的奇门玄术竟然派上了用场,摇身一变成了王牌经纪人……兄弟、美女,买房吗?阴宅阳宅都有,包装修!【都市风水秘术!灵异小说中的新题材,非恐怖,适合各种口味!】本书书友群:149661050(已满),2群:597276660(感谢美女书友墨白提供),V群:291777277(需订阅认证)。
  • 摩托日记:拉丁美洲游记

    摩托日记:拉丁美洲游记

    被《时代》杂志选入二十世纪百大影响力人物,全球范围内的文化符号,数代青年的精神偶像,切·格瓦拉横跨拉丁美洲的青春之旅。收入《古巴革命战争回忆录》,再现投身革命的燃情岁月!1951年12月,切·格瓦拉同他的朋友阿尔维托·格拉纳多,骑一辆破旧的摩托车,开始了他们向往已久的旅行。他们从科尔多瓦出发,一路北上,横穿整个南美大陆。格瓦拉在游历时写下了他的旅行日记,记录了他艰辛困苦、漂泊四方而又惊心动魄的冒险经历。这不是一个有关英雄事迹的故事,也不仅仅是一个有些“玩世不恭”的人的故事,这是两个人的一段人生经历,他们带着希望和梦想上路,走过了一段特定的路线。
  • 重生之校园王者荣耀

    重生之校园王者荣耀

    三生三世,我又获得了重生,为了当初的诺言,儿时的梦想,不甘于平凡的我再一次重新踏上征程。美女云集,羡煞众人。兄弟万千,踏破长城。酒煮天下,孰谁豪杰。我主沉浮,谁与争锋。
  • 机械少女升级记

    机械少女升级记

    在棺材里躺了一年的梁淼淼终于睁开了眼睛。恩!?没有穿越,没有重生,没有灵魂互换,还要照顾一个精神病的老妈?什么小奶狗、小狼狗、霸道总裁统统闪开!别挡着姐逆风翻盘向阳而生!(排雷:本文无惊悚!只走轻松幽默路线~)
  • 婚路太深,顾先生放开我

    婚路太深,顾先生放开我

    “顾宸圣,你到底想干什么?”“职位是你老公的,你是我的,这笔交易,你做是不做?”面对步步紧逼的老板,面对相爱的丈夫,二十四岁的我,无奈的委身给顾宸圣。只是曾经以为的相爱,却如同一场笑话,带给我灭顶之灾。痛苦、沉沦……顾宸圣,地狱里盛开的曼珠沙华很美,你可愿跟我一起去看……
  • 梁歌的歌

    梁歌的歌

    梁歌他把电话和短信内容跟余力复述一遍,已经沉静下来的余力有些意外,她想到了韩思乐一定在中间做了不少工作。便沉吟道,还记得那天你在公墓把那两个家伙打得有多惨吗?现在刘金宇及其两匹狼就被有关方面打得有多惨。今天把你接来就是想直接送你上班去的。刘金宇自动减薪,实际上是他断尾求生的重大举措。在全国煤矿行业都不景气的情况下,如果矿领导都能像刘金宇那样自动减薪,别说由一百万减到三十万,哪怕减到五十万也是好的啊!这无疑可以提振工人的士气。只要刘金宇不继续作恶,我看我们就可以罢手了。
  • 婚姻这出戏(中篇小说)

    婚姻这出戏(中篇小说)

    荆淑英,生于陕西宝鸡,河北省作家协会会员,中国石油作家协会会员。1984年发表作品,中短篇小说、散文刊于《中国作家》《长城》《中华散文》《海燕》《河北文学》《当代人》《小荷》《草地》《阳光》《地火》《岁月》《北极光》,散文被《作家文摘》《读者》等刊转载选录。短篇小说《老车轶事》、散文《你在我眼中》获奖。已发表中篇小说10篇,短篇小说20余篇;散文百余篇,出版散文集《心灵风景》。我在市妇联工作。这工作说简单就简单,说复杂也复杂。有些事很大,有些事小得类如芝麻。经常可以接到女人的求助,方方面面的。婚姻失败或者情感受骗之类的,不在少数。
  • 绝世郡主:倾尘传说

    绝世郡主:倾尘传说

    “慕倾尘,本宫许你后位,但别妄想我会碰你,我只是遵守老祖宗订下的规矩,后位出自慕王府嫡出!”“萧凌逸,别扰了我清闲!你是想要了谁,册封谁,我都不感兴趣。”慕倾尘看着自己刚刚完成的一幅江山如画!“尘儿,跟我走可好?我许你后位,荣华富贵,尊贵一生。”“哦?可我本就是皇后,凤墨殇这该如何是好?”“倾尘,我许你一生一世一双人。”“苏墨,我今生欠下的情债太多,做不到一生一世一双人。”粉丝互动群57591426
  • 猎婚女才人

    猎婚女才人

    在这个真情越来越少的社会,真爱越来越难寻觅的时代;她辞去高薪工作,就是为了看到别人的成双成对,幸福美满;她作为觅爱猎婚公司的老板,七年来,确实成全千上万的单身男女,但是情缘似乎总是离她那么远。。。