what had happened. There was the hole in the fence
through which these had crept. Even as I had stolen upon Umzilikazi so
had these stolen upon Dingane, but with better effect.

Howls of horror over the deed went up from all. By this time the whole
kraal was aroused, and such few as were left in it came flocking out.
But I, being in great authority, quelled the tumult.

"How happened it?" I asked.

"Thus, father," replied the captain of the King's guard, a young man,
but just ringed. "Yonder crept these scorpions," pointing to the hole I
had already observed, "and struck the Great Great One in his sleep. But
now are they all dead, we have made an end of them."

"It were better to have prevented the deed, Sodosi," I said severely.
"Yet `all' didst thou say? Wait! Follow me. I need but three or
four."

With this number I crept through the hole, and as we did so, there
sprang up suddenly in the darkness under the shade of the fence two men,
making for the forest edge as hard as they could run. But I could run,
too, in those days, _Nkose_, and one of them as he reached it fell dead
with the blade of my assegai driven right through his back. The other
was attacked by my followers, and from the sounds of the struggle I
judged that he was fighting well and desperately. But they could take
care of him. I had another matter to attend to.

For in the gloom just in front of me I could hear a faint and stealthy
rustle, and towards it I moved, silently and swiftly, listening the
while lest I might be drawn into a trap. No! It was but one man. I
could see a form, dark and tall, moving from tree to tree, but it seemed
as though I would never come within striking distance. I was now far
beyond my followers, but I felt somehow that the capture of this one
fugitive was to be desired more than the deaths of all the others put
together.

Still this figure eluded me, now showing for a moment in the moonlight,
now vanishing in the shade. Here at last was an open space and the
runaway could not diverge. One final effort, a mighty rush, and I was
upon him.

"Yield now," I roared, raising my bloodstained spear. "Yield or I
cleave thee to the heart."

"As thou wouldst have done Tola," said a soft voice; and then I stood
staring. The tall figure of the fugitive had halted, and, turned
towards me, under the full light of the moon, I beheld the face of
Lalusini.

"What hast thou done, woman?" I stammered, feeling