oer. Now hearken to me, you old fool.
Saduko is so fond of your daughter, on this point being mad, as you say
I am, that if only he could get her I think he might overlook the fact
of her having been married before. What you have to do is to try to
buy her back from Masapo. Mind you, I say buy her back--not get her
by bloodshed--which you might do by persuading Masapo to put her away.
Then, if he knew that you were trying to do this, I think that Saduko
might leave his sticks uncut for a while."

"I will try. I will indeed, Macumazahn. I will try very hard. It is true
Masapo is an obstinate pig; still, if he knows that his own life is
at stake, he might give way. Moreover, when she learns that Saduko
has grown rich and great, Mameena might help me. Oh, I thank you,
Macumazahn; you are indeed the prop of my hut, and it and all in it are
yours. Farewell, farewell, Macumazahn, if you must go. But why--why did
you not run away with Mameena, and save me all this fear and trouble?"

So I and that old humbug, Umbezi, "Eater-up-of-Elephants," parted for
a while, and never did I know him in a more chastened frame of mind,
except once, as I shall tell.

CHAPTER VIII. THE KING'S DAUGHTER

When I got back to my wagons after this semi-tragical interview with
that bombastic and self-seeking old windbag, Umbezi, it was to find
that Saduko and his warriors had already marched for the King's kraal,
Nodwengu. A message awaited me, however, to the effect that it was
hoped that I would follow, in order to make report of the affair of the
destruction of the Amakoba. This, after reflection, I determined to
do, really, I think, because of the intense human interest of the whole
business. I wanted to see how it would work out.

Also, in a way, I read Saduko's mind and understood that at the moment
he did not wish to discuss the matter of his hideous disappointment.
Whatever else may have been false in this man's nature, one thing
rang true, namely, his love or his infatuation for the girl Mameena.
Throughout his life she was his guiding star--about as evil a star as
could have arisen upon any man's horizon; the fatal star that was to
light him down to doom. Let me thank Providence, as I do, that I was
so fortunate as to escape its baneful influences, although I admit that
they attracted me not a little.

So, seduced thither by my curiosity, which has so often led me into
trouble, I trekked to Nodwengu, full of many doubts not u