y smiled, rearing his tall and stately form to
its full height, and the smile was one of hatred and scorn and contempt.
But so deeply did it sting those Amabuna that they broke forth into
curses, and some of them, rising from their seats, shook their fists in
his face, crowding around him, and fairly howling with rage, all talking
at once as they heaped every abusive name upon him, the King and the
whole Zulu race. But the smile of contempt and scorn only deepened on
the face of Tambusa as he stood therein his great stature like some
mighty tree, while they snarled and leaped around him like jackals. At
last he who sat at the head of the council succeeded in quieting them.

"Then you have nothing to say--no reason to urge why the punishment of
death should not be dealt out to you?" said this man, speaking solemnly.
"There may be others, perhaps--others more guilty than yourself. If
there is anything you can tell us--"

But here he stopped, for Tambusa had interrupted him by a loud, harsh
laugh, so fierce that it sounded like a war-cry.

"Others? Anything I can tell you?" he repeated, with a very roar. "I,
an induna of the right hand of the Great King, to give _you_
information! _Whau_! ye must be madmen. Not to save a hundred lives
would I give you information as to even the youngest boy just enrolled
among those who bear shields. Do I fear death--I, Tambusa? Why, I
stare it in the face every day. And I think, _Ntshwai-ntshwai_, when
death has been the game some of you must have seen my face before."

[Ntshwai-ntshwai. A nickname bestowed upon the Boers by the Zulus,
being in fact an imitation of the swishing sound of their wide leather
breeches as they moved.]

"He confesses!" cried those standing around. "Enough--enough. Let him
be shot."

The leader of the council, having obtained silence, spoke:

"On your own showing, Tambusa, you are guilty of counselling and
planning the cruel and treacherous murder of our brothers at
Nkunkundhlovu while they were at that place by the invitation of the
King and Zulu nation. They were set upon and slain in cold blood while
partaking of Zulu hospitality; and for your share in this unprovoked and
abominable massacre this council adjudges you, Tambusa, to suffer death;
and that, in execution of this sentence, you be taken outside the camp
and forthwith shot."

There was a deep silence as the leader ceased speaking. It was broken
by the voice of Tambusa:

"I,