hat I should sport with the majesty of the King's name?" I
answered. "Is not the son of Matyobane--the Founder of Mighty Nations--
the Elephant of the Amandebeli--such a man? Doth not his spear rule the
world, and the terror of his name--_au_!--who would hear it and laugh?
And is not the bearer of that name greater than other kings--greater
even than the mighty one of the root of Senzangakona--whose might has
fled before the brightness of the great king's head-ring? And again,
who sleeps within the shadow of powerful and propitious magic but the
Father and Founder of this great nation?"

"Very good, Untuswa. Very good. Yet it may be that the man of whom I
was speaking is no king at all--great, but no king."

"No king at all! _Hau_! I know not such a man, Father of the World," I
answered readily. "There is but one who is great, and that _is_ the
King. All others are small--small indeed."

I know not how much further this talk would have gone, _Nkose_; and
indeed of it I, for my part, was beginning to have more than enough.
For, ever now, when Umzilikazi summoned me to talk over matters of
state, would he soon lead the conversation into such channels; and,
indeed, I saw traps and pitfalls beneath every word. But now the voice
of an _inceku_--or household attendant--was heard without singing the
words of _sibonga_, and by the way in which he praised we knew he
desired to announce news of importance. At a sign from the King I
admitted the man.

"There are men without, O Divider of the Sun," he began--when he had
made prostration--"men from the kraals of Maqandi-ka-Mahlu, who beg the
protection of the King's wise ones. The Red Magic has been among them
again."

"Ha! The Red Magic!" said Umzilikazi, with a frown. "It seems I have
heard enough of such childish tales. Yet, let the dogs enter and whine
out their own story."

Through the door of the royal dwelling, creeping on hands and knees,
came two men. They were not of our blood, but of a number whom the King
had spared, with their wives and children, and had located in a region
some three days to the northward as far as a swift walker could travel.
It was a wild and mountainous land--a land of black cliffs and
thunderous waterfalls--cold, and sunless, and frowning--a meet abode of
ghosts and all evil things. Here they had been located, and, being
skilled in ironwork, were employed in forging spear-heads and axes for
our nation. They were in charge