ad talked
before.

"Suddenly there was a rustling noise in the bushes close to us, and, lo!
in the most startling manner there rose up the heads of two great
_mambas_. At sight of us they gave vent to a furious hiss, waving their
crests to and fro.

"We Zulus, you know, _Nkose_, like not to kill a serpent, for the
guardian spirit who watches over us often takes that shape, and how can
we make war upon it? So when these two _mambas_ rose up against us I
lifted no weapon. I only prayed, `_O'zinyoka_, do us no hurt,' and the
two of us withdrew. But as we did so the serpents slowly followed us,
with crests erect, and hissing. At last they ceased to follow us, and
we could hear the rustle of the bushes as they returned. Then we sat
down again--and--_Whau!, Nkose_! when people are young, and the talk is
of love, time goes upon eagle wings. Suddenly Nangeza cried out that we
must part, for the sun would soon be down and we had some distance to
travel if we would pass the King's outposts before dark.

"We arose to retrace our steps. Already the thorns and dry grass were
beginning to crackle under our feet, when I caught Nangeza's wrist and
breathed:

"`Silence!'

"The place where we had first rested was on the edge of an open glade,
and the distance we had withdrawn from this while retiring before the
serpents was about twice that to which a man could fling a spear. On
one side of this glade stood a tall rock.

"`Men are coming,' I whispered--`armed men.'

"We stood thus as still as stones, listening hard. Then I could hear,
re-echoed back from the face of the rock, the light tread of feet, the
rustle of branches pushed aside, and now and then the rattle of assegai
hafts; and soon, as we crouched low to the earth, we could hear an armed
force advance into the open glade and halt.

"Now, _Nkose_, my heart stood still, for I remembered the King's words
that morning. Could it be that he who knew everything had sent men
after us to surprise us two together and kill us? Then I heard a
warrior's deep tones say:

"`_Au_! here are footprints--those of an _intombi_. Those of a man,
too!' he added, as one who has made a discovery. `Come, let us see
where they lead.'

"Crouching down among the thorns and long dry grass we lay, expecting
our end; for to be found thus together, at this distance from the camp,
meant certain death. There was not a chance for us. We heard the
parting of the bushes--then, from wher