The old man lifted the child and kissed him tenderly,
saying:
"'It is well that this toddler and I should love one another,
Macumazahn, seeing that he is the last of my race. All the other
children here are those of the people who have come to live in my
shadow.'
"'Where are their fathers?' I asked, patting the little boy who, his
mother told me, was named Sinala upon the cheek, an attention that he
resented.
"'They have been called away on duty,' answered Magepa shortly; and I
changed the subject.
"Then we began to talk about old times, and I asked him if he had any
oxen to sell, saying that this was my reason for visiting the kraal.
"'Nay, Macumazahn,' he answered in a meaning voice. 'This year all the
cattle are the king's.'
"I nodded and replied that, as it was so, I had better be going,
whereon, as I half expected, Magepa announced that he would see me safe
to the drift. So I bade farewell to the wives and the widowed daughter,
and we started.
"As soon as we were clear of the kraal Magepa began to open his heart to
me.
"'Macumazahn,' he said, looking up at me earnestly, for I was mounted,
and he walked beside my horse, 'there is to be war. Cetewayo will not
consent to the demands of the great White Chief from the Cape,'--he
meant Sir Bartle Frere--'he will fight with the English; only he will
let them begin the fighting.
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