Копи царя Соломона
Umbopa Enters Our Service
Accordingly,whenwehaddonedinner,forwewereattableatthetime,ItoldKhivatobringhimin. Presentlyatall,handsome-lookingman,somewhereaboutthirtyyearsofage,andverylight-colouredforaZulu,entered, andliftinghisknob-stickbywayofsalute,squattedhimselfdowninthecorneronhishaunches,andsatsilent. Ididnottakeanynoticeofhimforawhile,foritisagreatmistaketodoso. Ifyourushintoconversationatonce,aZuluisapttothinkyouapersonoflittledignityorconsequence. Iobserved,however,thathewasa"Keshla"orringedman; thatis,heworeonhisheadtheblackring,madeofaspeciesofgumpolishedwithfatandworkedupinthehair,whichisusuallyassumedbyZulusonattainingacertainageordignity. Alsoitstruckmethathisfacewasfamiliartome.
"Well,"Isaidatlast,"Whatisyourname?"
"Umbopa,"answeredthemaninaslow,deepvoice.
"Ihaveseenyourfacebefore."
"Yes;theInkoosi,thechief,myfather,sawmyfaceattheplaceoftheLittleHand"—thatis,Isandhlwana—"onthedaybeforethebattle."
ThenIremembered. IwasoneofLordChelmsford’sguidesinthatunluckyZuluWar,andhadthegoodfortunetoleavethecampinchargeofsomewagonsonthedaybeforethebattle. WhileIwaswaitingforthecattletobeinspannedIfellintoconversationwiththisman,whoheldsomesmallcommandamongthenativeauxiliaries,andhehadexpressedtomehisdoubtsastothesafetyofthecamp. AtthetimeItoldhimtoholdhistongue,andleavesuchmatterstowiserheads;butafterwardsIthoughtofhiswords.
