Then the gigantic figure slipped off the karross and stood up before us,a truly alarming spectacle.It was that of an enormous man with the most entirely repulsive countenance we had ever beheld.The lips were as thick as a negro's,the nose was flat,it had but one gleaming black eye (for the other was represented by a hollow in the face),and its whole expression was cruel and sensual to a degree.From the large head rose a magnificent plume of white ostrich feathers,the body was clad in a shirt of shining chain armor,while round the waist and right knee was the usual garnish of white ox-tails.In the right hand was a huge spear.Round the neck was a thick torque of gold,and bound on to the forehead was a single and enormous uncut diamond.
Still there was silence;but not for long.Presently the figure,whom we rightly guessed to be the king,raised the great spear in his hand.
Instantly eight thousand spears were raised in answer,and from eight thousand throats rang out the royal salute of "Koom !"Three times this was repeated,and each time the earth shook with the noise,that can only be compared to the deepest notes of thunder.
"Be humble,O people,"piped out a thin voice which seemed to come from the monkey in the shade;"it is the king.""It is the king ,"boomed out eight thousand throats,in answer."Be humble,O people;it is the king."Then there was silence again -dead silence.Presently,however,it was broken.A soldier on our left dropped his shield,which fell with a clatter on the limestone flooring.
Twala turned his one cold eye in the direction of the noise.
"Come.hither,thou,"he said,in a voice of thunder.
A fine young man stepped out of the ranks,and stood before him.
"It was thy shield that fell,thou awkward dog.Wilt thou make me a reproach in the eyes of strangers from the stars?What hast thou to say?"And then we saw the poor fellow turn pale under his dusky skin.
"It was by chance,O calf of the black cow,"he murmured.
"Then it is a chance for which thou must pay.Thou hast made me foolish;prepare for death.""I am the king's ox,"was the low answer.
"Scragga,"roared the king,"let me see how thou canst use thy spear.Kill me this awkward dog."Scragga stepped forward with an ill-favored grin,and lifted his spear.The poor victim covered his eyes with his hand and stood still.
As for us,we were petrified with horror.
"Once,twice,"he waved the spear and then struck,ah,God!right home -the spear stood out a foot behind the soldier's back.He flung up his hands and dropped dead.From the multitude around rose something like a murmur,it rolled round and round,and died away.The tragedy was finished;there lay the corpse,and we had not yet realized that it had been enacted.
Sir Henry sprang up and swore a great oath,then,overpowered by the sense of silence,sat down again.
"The thrust was a good one,"said the king;"take him away."Four men stepped out of the ranks,and,lifting the body of the murdered man,carried it away.
"Cover up the blood-stains,cover them up,"piped out the thin voice from the monkey-like figure;"the king's word is spoken,the king's doom is done."Thereupon a girl came.forward from behind the hut,bearing a jar filled with powdered lime,which she scattered over the red mark,blotting it from sight.
Sir Henry meanwhile was boiling with rage at what had happened;indeed,it was with difficulty that we could keep him still.
"Sit down,for Heaven's sake,"I whispered;"our lives depend on it."He yielded and remained quiet.Twala sat still until the traces of the tragedy had been removed,then he addressed us.
"White people,"he said,"who come hither,whence I know not,and why I know not,greeting.""Greeting,Twala,king of the Kukuanas,"I answered.
"White people,whence come ye,and what seek ye?""We come from the stars,ask us not how.We come to see this land.""Ye come from far to see a little thing.And that man with ye,"pointing to Umbopa,"does he too come from the stars?""Even so;there are people of thy color in the heavens above;but ask not of matters too high for thee,Twala,the king.""Ye speak with a loud voice,people of the stars,"Twala answered,in a tone which I scarcely liked."Remember that the stars are far off,and ye are here.How if I make ye as him whom they bare away?"I laughed out loud,though there was little laughter in my heart.
"O king,"I said,"be careful;walk warily over hot stones,lest thou shouldst burn thy feet;hold the spear by the handle,lest thou shouldst cut thy hands.Touch but one hair of our heads,and destruction shall come upon thee.What,have not these,"pointing to Infadoos and Scragga (who,young villain that he was,was employed in cleaning the blood of the soldier off his spear),"told thee what manner of men we are?Hast thou ever seen the like of us?"and I pointed to Good,feeling quite sure that he had never seen anybody before who looked in the least like him as he then appeared.
"It is true,I have not,"said the king.
"Have they not told thee how we strike with death from afar?"I went on.
"They have told me,but I believe them not.Let me see you kill.
Kill me a man among those who stand yonder"-and he pointed to the opposite side of the kraal -"and I will believe.""Nay,"I answered;"we shed no blood of man except in just punishment;but if thou wilt see,bid thy servants drive in an ox through the kraal gates,and before he has run twenty paces I will strike him dead.""Nay,"laughed the.king,"kill me a man,and I will believe.""Good,O king,so be it,"I answered,coolly;"do thou walk across the open space,and before thy feet reach the gate thou shalt be dead;or,if thou wilt not,send thy son Scragga"(whom at that moment it would have given me much pleasure to shoot).
On hearing this suggestion Scragga gave a sort of howl,and bolted into the hut.
Twala frowned majestically;the suggestion did not please him.
"Let a young ox be driven in,"he said.
Two men at once departed,running swiftly.
