It is true I saw the child die--here is the
proof of it, councillors,' and she drew forth the little dead hand and
held it before them.
"'_Ou!_' they said again, '_ou!_ it is the dead hand!'
"'Yes,' she continued, 'it is the dead hand of my dead child, and I bear
it with me that I may never forget, never for one short hour, that I
live that I may see Wambe die, and be avenged. Will you bear it, my
father, that your daughter and your daughter's child should be so
treated by a Matuku? Will ye bear it, men of my own people?'
"'No,' said an old Induna, rising, 'it is not to be borne. Enough have
we suffered at the hands of these Matuku dogs and their loud-tongued
chief; let us put it to the issue.'
"'It is not to be borne indeed,' said Nala; 'but how can we make head
against so great a people?'
"'Ask of him--ask of Macumazahn, the wise white man,' said Maiwa,
pointing at me.
"'How can we overcome Wambe, Macumazahn the hunter?'
"'How does the jackal overreach the lion, Nala?'
"'By cleverness, Macumazahn.'
"'So shall you overcome Wambe, Nala.'
"At this moment an interruption occurred. A man entered and said that
messengers had arrived from Wambe.
"'What is their message?' asked Nala.
"'They come to ask that thy daughter Maiwa be sent back, and with her
the white hunter.'
"'How shall I make answer to this, Macumazahn?' said Nala, when the man
had withdrawn.
"'Thus shalt thou answer,' I said after reflection; 'say that the woman
shall be sent and I with her, and then bid the messengers be gone.
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