"
How delighted that ancient warrior was to hear again about the sacred
cave, the Crocodile Water, the Mountain Forest and its terrible god,
of the death of which and of the Motombo he made me tell him the story
three times over. At the conclusion of the third recital he said
quietly:
"My lord Macumazana, you are a great man, and I am glad to have lived
if only to know you. No one else could have done these deeds."
Of course I was complimented, but felt bound to point out Hans's share
in our joint achievement.
"Yes, yes," he answered, "the Spotted Snake, Inhlatu, has the cunning
to scheme, but you have the power to do, and what is the use of a
brain to plot without the arm to strike? The two do not go together
because the plotter is not a striker. His mind is different. If the
snake had the strength and brain of the elephant, and the fierce
courage of the buffalo, soon there would be but one creature left in
the world. But the Maker of all things knew this and kept them
separate, my lord Macumazana.
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