kazi had abandoned his good-humoured laugh. He now looked grave,
even severe. In truth, I knew I was doing a bold thing in daring so
much as to reply upon `the word' of the King. It was an act which might
have cost many a man his life. Yet there I stood, about ten paces from
him, in a slightly bent attitude of humility, but meeting his gaze full
and fearlessly.

"`Do you presume upon the favour I have ever shown you, Untuswa?' he
said sternly. `Do you perchance forget that the slayers are ever within
hail?'

"`I lie beneath the foot of the King--the Great Elephant whose tread
shaketh the world,' I replied, launching into the most extravagant of
_bonga_ [Acclamatory praise, as applied to the King], but still meeting
his threatening gaze unquailingly.

"`I believe you speak truly, boy, and that you do not know fear,' he
answered, `eke you had not dared to stand before me thus. Well now,
this is my "word": Go and distinguish yourself; perform some act bolder
than any I have ever heard tell of. Then, child as you are, you shall
wear the head-ring--because are you not, after all, my chief runner?'

"`Who am I, to keep on filling the King's ears with words?' I said.
`But give me the chance to distinguish myself. Give me the chance,
Father!'

"`You must make the chance, Untuswa; you must make it for yourself. But
I say again, because you are my chief runner and my faithful servant, I
will do more for you than I would for many, O son of Ntelani. Perform
some act bolder than any act I have ever heard tell of, and you shall be
allowed to _tunga_. Not only that, but I will give you this _umkonto_
[The broad-bladed, short-handled assegai] which I hold in my hand, and
with it you shall lead my armies to battle. Now go.'

"I bent low to the earth, then straightened myself up, and with hand,
uplifted shouted:--

"`_Bayete_! I walk on air, O Elephant! for have I not the King's
promise?' Then I went out from the presence.

"You must know, _Nkose_, that in those days Umzilikazi was in the prime
of his youth and strength, being tall and active, and with the stamp of
a chief among chiefs. His countenance was noble and stately as that of
a lion, and in his unbending moments he had a way with him that bound us
to him in such wise that we, his younger warriors, would have died all
deaths at his word. For his rule was lighter than that of Tshaka. He,
like Tshaka, knew not fear, and was as daring and skilful a leader