only revenge thou seekest?"

"Only revenge, Ruler of the World."

Gazing keenly at him, I could see now that I had won over Dingane. I
knew that the existence of our new nation had ever been to the parent
race as a sharp stone in the side of a man who sleepeth. I knew that
the fear of the Zulu power was ever present to the mind of Umzilikazi,
and that one day that power would, sooner or later, reach him. I knew,
moreover, all the weak points of our nation and army; and, knowing this,
doubted not my ability to surprise and crush it, given sufficient force,
and that with ease. Now my revenge looked very near indeed.

But if I had won over Dingane, there was one power I had yet to deal
with, and that was the induna Tambusa. In this man I foresaw a
formidable opponent, and his word carried weight in the ears of Dingane,
even as did mine in times past in the ears of Umzilikazi. Now Tambusa
spoke:

"Revenge is a great motive for a man to give up all his cattle and wives
in order to obtain it."

"Some men act from great motives and some from very small ones," I
answered shortly; for I, who but yesterday was, next to the King, the
greatest in my own nation, could ill brook the tone of this man, who was
but an induna like myself. But Dingane again took up the talk.

"Well, Untuswa, I must think out this matter. If thou canst deliver
this nation into my hand, why then it may be that I will deliver those
who remain of the House of Matyobane into thine. But if thou failest,
what then?"

"My life is in the hand of the Great Great One," I answered.

"Ha! Thou hast well said," replied the King. And then he dismissed me.

For many days then I dwelt at Nkunkundhlovu; I, who had now become a
wanderer; I, who had been a man of large possessions, the chief of many
kraals, and the owner of vast herds of cattle, was now as poor as the
poorest, living only on the King's bounty. But from time to time
Dingane would send for me, and we would talk long and earnestly over our
plans for conquering Umzilikazi. At last I saw my revenge within my
grasp. All was in preparation. No more _impis_ were sent out on
errands of plunder or punishment, and the regiments which dwelt at the
great military kraal of Imbele-bele were ordered up to Nkunkundhlovu.
They came, making a splendid show as they paraded before the King, in
full war-array.

When this was at an end and I was walking back to my hut, I heard myself
hailed by a deep voi