Part 16 (1/2)
At the appointed tion under the charge of Uolo, with directions to keep a strict watch upon it, lest any of Cetchwayo's brave soldiers should take it into their heads to appropriate the contents They then proceeded towards the kraal at the side of the hill The heat was excessive, the sun beat doith intense force upon their heads, so that they were not inclined toarrived at the kraal, they were ushered into the outer circle, where, in a hut considerably larger than those inhabited by the co seated on a pile ofutterly unable to squat down in the fashi+on of his less obese subjects Hendricks saluted him in due form, and Crawford and Percy ied themselves so as to form part of a circle on one side of His Majesty
Panda looked at Lionel ”That boy kno to behave,” he re the proper Kaffir salutation which helived in Zululand, and I know good ravity, while Denis turned away his head to indulge in a quiet laugh, to which he could not openly venture to give way
Presently several girls appeared, each carrying a bowl holding about a gallon of beer, one of which they set down before each of the guests
Others then brought in wooden platters, huge pieces of beef, large ai, and handed to the king, who uests were desired to help themselves with their knives which they carried in their belts There were, in addition, baskets of mealy cakes, which Percy declared wereevery now and then looked round the circle, exclaiuests did their utmost, but were very soon satisfied
”Pray tell him that I can do no more,” said Crawford ”This hot day I should prefer some cold lamb and a salad, but this coarse beef beats ised as best he could
”Tell the, ”if they cannot eat The beer will slip doithout any difficulty Don't you like beer?” asked the king, when he saw that after taking a few mouthfuls they stopped
”Pray tell him that we like beer in moderation, but shall never be able to finish off one of these bowls,” exclai that his young colishnificent capacity as His Majesty's, and that therefore it would be iathered on the king's brow ”Drink, I say, drink! Theythat I'll see him at Jericho first,” said Denis; an observation which set Percy off laughing
”Co to theh you cannot drink, and I don't wish you to do so, youthat you desire to please hi the bowl to his ht, and then placed it on the ground and gasped for breath ”Please tell His Majesty, that unless he wishes to killIrishht if they have to s this stuff”
”That I shall,” exclaimed Percy ”I'll not s another drop to please his in Africa”
Lionel did not venture to make any remark, but looked as resolute as the rest not to turn hian to wish heartily that he had left his coet out of the difficulty in the best way he could
He therefore relish manners were not like Zulu manners, but he hoped the next tiive them the honour of an invitation, that they would behave themselves better
Both Hendricks and Crawford had already sedqualities were very weak, the latter declared he felt its effects in his head, and that should he take much more, he could not answer for hiht of an expedient whichhis co's hospitable intentions ”The Lion of Africa”
(such was one of the titles the obese old savage delighted to be addressed by) ”was inquiring about affairs in Natal,” he observed ”Not long ago, there lived in England,--which, as your Majesty is aware of, is a long way off,--a man named Jones He was a worthy ht have becoreat warrior But Jones was a man of peace He had a fairls, very like him in all respects Jones had a brother, and Jones's brother had twelve children, they were equally divided between boys and girls As there was every prospect of there being a good reed that the country h to hold them, and they therefore determined to come out to Natal
Jones's brother came in a shi+p called the _Swan_, while Jones himself embarked in one named the _Duck_ They sailed almost at the same time
When the sea was srew rough, they became very sick, and wished that they had not co, kept his eye on the king, who, before he had got thus far, began to nod He continued, therefore, in a low voice, giving the history of the Jones's, which, as it would be uninteresting to , who, therefore, before the hunter had got much farther, fell fast asleep
”Nowco off Make a bow to the king as you leave the hut, more to please his attendants than His Majesty, ill certainly not see it, and I will follow”
His directions were obeyed, and they all breathed uessed that the courtiers would not let the king discover that any beer had been left in the bowls, by drinking it up themselves, and they therefore were not troubled on that account
”It is the first ti, and it's the last, I hope, ever to have that honour--at least with a black one,” exclaion ”I e could send Cetchwayo to sleep as easily as Hendricks has done his fat old father, and then we ht at once continue our journey”