ether!"

Strike! Nothing could have been easier. The large form lay there
without movement, the heave of the breast, above the heart, turned
towards me as though inviting the stroke. Yet, as I gazed, the noble
majesty on the countenance of the sleeping King seemed to paralyse my
arm. One blow, and Lalusini, by her sorcery, aided by my own warrior
prowess, might set me upon Dingane's seat. Yet, I could not do it.

Then I thought the sleeper stirred.

"He wakes," I whispered, withdrawing again behind the bushes. Lalusini
followed me.

"And art thou so weak, Untuswa?" she said. "_Au_! For this have I
laboured, for this have I plotted and exercised my magic until it was
nearly too much forme. Yet not all for greatness, but for revenge. The
blood of Tshaka the Mighty flowed over the spear of Dingane; now shall
the blood of Dingane flow over thy spear!"

Still I moved not, and she went on:

"The blood of that Mighty One from whom I am sprang, and who caused me
to learn my magic that through it vengeance might fall, shall it not be
avenged? The time has come for which I have waited and striven. Now
go, and make an end of it, Untuswa, so shall we be great together; else
canst thou be great alone--or small--with no help from me."

Now I nerved myself. That which she seemed to threaten looked too
terrible, for in truth, by her I was as one bewitched.

"Go, Untuswa. My _muti_ is upon him. He will not waken too readily,"
she whispered, in her sweetest of tones, gently pushing me towards the
cave once more.

Again I parted the bushes and peered through; again I stood over the
sleeping King. A great white shield lay almost beneath him, and two
broad assegais had slid from his relaxed grasp. I raised my spear--No,
I could not do it.

Had he been awake, and standing up, the deed would be an easy one at
that moment; but alone, deserted, and asleep--no, I could not thus slay
him.

And then I thought of the favour he had shown me, even to allowing me
the chance of escaping to the Bapongqolo, what time Tambusa and Umhlela
had striven to compass my death. I thought how he had spared me, spared
the Bapongqolo, and had raised me to honour when all men trembled at his
frown; and now that he lay here, a deserted fugitive, I could not turn
against him. His life lay within my hand, yet I could not take it. No,
not to win greatness for myself; not even to retain Lalusini's love.

"Farewell, Untuswa!" came that so