If he seeks my advice I will do
so gladly, for so I am sure he will sleep well."
"Why do you mock me, Macumazahn? I wish you to counsel Cetewayo
to throw back his word into the teeth of the Queen's man and to
fight the English."
"And thus bring destruction on the Zulus and death to thousands
of them and of my own people, and in return gain nothing but
remorse. Do you think me mad or wicked, or both, that I should
do this thing?"
"Nay, Macumazahn, you would gain much. I could show you where
the king's cattle are hidden. The English will never find them,
and after the war you might take as many as you chose. But it
would be useless, for knowing you well, I am sure that you would
only hand them over to the British Government, as once you handed
over the cattle of Bangu, being fashioned that way by the
Great-Great, Macumazahn."
"Perhaps I might, but then what should I gain, Zikali?"
"This: you would so bring things about that, being broken by war,
the Zulu power could never again menace the white men, which
would be a great and good deed, Macumazahn."
"Mayhap--I am not sure. But of this I am sure, that I will not
thrust my face into your nest of wasps, that the English hornets
may steal the honey when they are disturbed. I leave such
matters to the Queen and those who rule under her. So have done
with such talk, for you do but waste your breath, Zikali."
"It is as I guessed it would be," he answered, shaking his great
head.
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