look which it wore when the spirit of divination
was on her. But the King was beside himself with fury, and his features
were working as those of a man who has gone mad.

"So!" he hissed. "So! And I sit in my seat only by permission of a
witch--by permission of one who is greater than I! So I am no longer a
King!" he mocked. "Yet two bulls cannot rule in one kraal. So, sister,
thou shalt have a high throne to rule this nation from--as high a throne
as had the traitor Tyuyumane before thee." Then raising his voice--for
they had hitherto talked in a tone low enough to be heard only by the
King and the few who sat in attendance round him--"Make ready the
stake--the stake of impalement--for the _inkosikazi_ of Untuswa. Make
ready a high throne for the Queen of the Bakoni _muti_."

_Whau, Nkose_! I had fought at the side of Umzilikazi ever since I
could fight. I had stood beside him when, single-handed, we hunted
fierce and dangerous game. I had stood beside him in every peril, open
or secret, that could beset the path of the founder of a great and
warrior nation, who must ever rule that nation with a strong and iron
hand. In short, there was no peril to which the King had been exposed
that I had not shared, and yet, _Nkose_, I who sat there among the
_izinduna_, unarmed and listening, knew that never, since the day of his
birth, had he gone in such peril of instant death as at that moment when
he sat there, his own broad spear in his right hand, and guarded by the
shields and gleaming assegais of his body-guard--pronouncing the words
which should consign my _inkosikazi_ to a death of shame and of
frightful agony. For the spell of Lalusini's witchcraft lay potent and
sweet upon my soul--and I was mad--yet not so mad but that as I sat
there unarmed, I could measure the few paces that intervened between
myself and the Great Great One--_could mark how carelessly he held the
broad-bladed spear within his grasp_.

Even the slayers--for not all had gone forth to the burning of the
Bakoni--even the slayers stared as though half stupefied, hesitating to
lay hands upon that queenly form, standing there erect and unutterably
majestic. Upon us the spell of the moment was complete. We leaned
forward as we sat, we _izinduna_, and for the rest of us it was as
though stone figures sat there watching, not living men of flesh and
bones. For myself, I know not how I looked. But how I felt--ah! it was
well my thoughts were b