Umzilikazi should hold them responsible.

"`Attend, then,' he replied. `Lose no time in sending to the chiefs of
this tribe, that they come and talk with me here before the second moon
is full. Failing that, I will send and talk with them.' And his glance
wandered meaningly to the armed regiments. The envoys promised that
this should be done, but that if the tribe failed to send delegates it
would not be their fault. Indeed, that people was a fighting race, and
one with a good conceit of its own power. It might well be that in its
blind ignorance it would refuse to hear the word of the Black Elephant
who trumpeted at Ekupumuleni.

"`Then let them beware of the Elephant's tread,' answered the King
shortly. And then he dismissed the envoys.

"Now, I, standing behind the Great Great One as his shield-bearer, was
listening with large ears, and before the delegates departed I strove to
have speech with them on the matter of that tribe, its numbers and
powers, for it seemed to fit in with my purpose. What if I fled to it,
and by my knowledge of the art of war gained a place and position among
it? But these men, fearing a trap, spoke as with closed lips, and I
learnt little.

"As time went by, certain of those tribes who had sent to _konza_ to
Umzilikazi neglected to fulfil the conditions laid upon them. So the
King's `word' went out to them in the form of an _impi_, which fell upon
them unawares and utterly destroyed them. None were spared save three
of their chiefs and certain of the women who were young and
well-favoured. For the rest, the ashes of their flaming kraals were
soaked in their own blood. The three chiefs were brought to Ekupumuleni
and there put to death by torture in the sight of all the nation, that
all men might know what it meant to break faith with the great King.

"This expedition I did not accompany, for it was composed of very young
regiments and almost untried. But now and again, when I would meet or
pass old Masuka, he would mutter: `Why do you not perform what the King
requires, son of Ntelani? Where is the bravest act ever yet done?' And
he would nod, and leer, and chuckle in such wise that in my anger I
found myself wishing in my heart I had not saved his life.

"There was at this time another _inceku_, a ringed man named
Njalo-njalo, and this man I hated, for he, suspecting something, used to
declare that he would beg the King to give him Nangeza to wife. This he
did in mal