The Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Shield, by Bertram Mitford

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Title: The White Shield

Author: Bertram Mitford

Release Date: June 19, 2010 [EBook #32893]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The White Shield, by Bertram Mitford.

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THE WHITE SHIELD, BY BERTRAM MITFORD.

PROLOGUE.

We were talking about Rorke's Drift and of Kambula, in the battles
fought at which places these two warriors had borne arms. They were
fine, tall, martial-looking Zulus, and both head-ringed. They carried
small shields, and a perfect arsenal of assegais--beautifully-made
weapons for the most part. With none of these, however, could they be
induced to part.

"What should you white people want with our poor weapons?" said one.
"Have you not much better ones of your own? Where is your gun,
_Umlungu_?"

"Yonder," I answered, pointing to my wagon, which, far away on the plain
beneath, drawn by its span of twelve black Zulu oxen, seemed at that
distance to creep along like some great centipede. "But I seldom carry
it about, for there is little game in these parts, and a useless gun is
much heavier than a stick."

"And a Zulu spear is no heavier than a stick, but more useful," cut in
the other, with a quizzical laugh.

Then it took some time to explain that the weapon was wanted, not for
use, but for show--in short, as a curio--in process of which explanation
a voice from behind sang out--

"_Au! Nkose_ is fond of assegais!"

[Note: Nkose means "the chief", and is a term of courtesy.]

I knew that voice. Turning, I beheld the tall, gaunt form and sinewy
limbs, the white-bearded countenance and bright eyes of old Untuswa,
some time _induna_ under the great Umzilikazi, Founder and first King of
the Matabeli nation.

"Greeting, old friend!" I said, as he plunged eagerly forward to bestow
upon me a hearty handgrip; which, by the way, left a sensation as of
having shaken hands with a rem