, well, Untuswa! It is not always possible to carry
out conditions in their entirety, is it? Ah, ah! not always possible.
Now go home, thou slayer of ghost-bulls, for it may be that I have even
harder conditions awaiting thee than slaying _tagati_ beasts. Go!"

I saluted and withdrew, and as I did so, the chief of the _izanusi_ came
up and begged to be allowed to have the trophies of the ghost-bull for
_muti_ purposes. But Umzilikazi refused shortly, and gave orders that
they should be prepared and preserved until he had chosen how to dispose
them. And I, leaving the presence as commanded, felt sore and heavy at
heart, for the King's tone of mockery seemed cold and hostile, and to
bear some hidden meaning--one that boded ill to me and mine.

So concerned was I, trying to think out this matter, that I hardly
noticed how few of my own rank joined me to give me news or talk over
what had been done, and of my own followers none at all. These last
would give me greeting from afar, and hurry onward; yet, by what I had
done, I had saved them all from the death of the assegai. But it
behoved me not, as a chief of great rank and influence, to show
curiosity, and so, asking questions of no man, I eventually reached my
kraal.

Then as I entered the gate, looking up towards my principal hut, it came
back to me how I had last beheld Lalusini standing there in the setting
sun to see the last of me, on that evening when I set forth on my errand
of dread. Why was she not there now, waiting to welcome me? _Hau_! It
seemed to send a chill through my being--a foreboding of all that was
direful and deathly. Man of mature age and ripe experience as I was,
even I could hardly restrain a quickening of the step as I paced across
the open circle, returning the greetings of those who hailed my return.

Stooping through the doorway, I entered the hut. It was empty.

Everything was in its place as I had left it. But--no Lalusini.

"She has gone about some ordinary business," I thought; "or has come to
welcome me in the path, and we have missed." But my sinking heart cried
aloud that such thoughts told idle tales.

Stepping forth, I beckoned a young man standing near.

"Where is Mgwali?" I inquired.

He replied that he thought my brother must have tarried at the Great
Place, for he had seen him there that morning.

"Where is Ncala-cala?" I then asked.

He replied that the old man, who was the responsible head of the kraal