gh, but Sapazani gazed at him sourly.

"So thou art here again, Manyana-ka-Mahlu, and still as the white man's
dog? _Hau_!"

The point of which remark was that the man addressed was court messenger
at the magistracy in whose jurisdiction Sapazani was resident.

"_Nkose_! A man must live," was the answer, with a deprecatory smile.
"And we are not all born chiefs."

Sapazani's eyes blazed into fury, and gripping his stick he half rose.
But a whisper from Undhlawafa restrained him--that, combined with
another thought.

"Dog of the Abelungu," he answered, now cool and sneering. "It is well
for thee that although some of us were _born_ chiefs we _are_ chiefs no
longer. _Hau_! Yet state thy message."

The man was apologetic. Who was he to offend one of the great House of
Umtetwa? he protested. He meant no such thing. He was only showing how
he himself was forced to receive the white man's money. Had there been
any other way of living he need not have done so, but he was poor, and
the white man ruled the land.

Then he proceeded to deliver his message. The attendance of Sapazani
was required three days thence, to give evidence in a rather intricate
case of disputed ownership of cattle then pending between certain of his
own followers. The chief's temper did not improve.

"Ho, Manyana. I wronged thee just now," he said, "I called thee the
white man's dog, but we are all the white man's dogs--I among them the
most. Well, so far thy message. I will be there, as how should it be
otherwise since we lie beneath the heel of these little great great ones
who rule the land?" he concluded, bitterly sneering.

"_Nkose_!"

"Well, there are those who will give thee food and drink. Withdraw."

"_Nkose_!"

The messenger obeyed, and the chief sat moodily. Would anything come of
the unrest that was seething on the other side of the Tugela? He--to be
summoned to take a long journey on account of some trumpery cattle case!
Yet, was that only a pretext? was the sudden suspicion which flashed
through his mind. Well, if it was not much was likely to come of it.
No armed force had been mobilised by the whites as yet in any part of
the country, and in case of any attempt at arresting him, why, as we
have said, he was not in the habit of going into civilisation exactly
alone. The voice of Undhlawafa broke in upon his musings.

"It is not well, son of Umlali, to shake sticks at those who come from
the court," he said