he mighty, muffled, thunderous roar of a lion.

But those sounds, many and terrifying as they were, held no fears for
me--indeed, they had hitherto fallen upon deaf ears--so filled was my
soul with forebodings of another kind. Now, however, a quick, startled
murmur on the part of my follower caused me to halt.

Right in front I saw a huge shape--massive and shaggy--and I saw the
green flash of eyes, and the baring of mighty jaws in the moonlight.
Then up went the vast head, and a quivering thunderous roar shook the
night.

Then the beast crouched. It was of enormous size in the half light.
Was it only a lion--or a ghost-beast, which would spread and spread till
its hugeness overshadowed the world? If the latter, mere weapons were
powerless against it.

Jambula stepped to my side, every muscle of his frame tense with the
excitement of the moment. His shield was thrust, forward, and his right
hand gripped the haft of a broad-bladed stabbing spear. But I--no
movement did I make towards using a weapon. I advanced straight upon
the beast, and as I did so, some force I knew not caused my hand to rest
upon the _muti_ bag which hung upon my breast.

With a snarling roar the beast moved forward a little, preparing for its
rush. We were but ten paces apart. Then the fierce lashing of the tail
ceased, the awful eyes seemed to glare with fear where rage had fired
them before--the thunder of the threatening roar became as the shrill
whine of a crowd of terrified women--and, backing before me as I
advanced, the huge beast slunk away in the cover, and we could hear its
frightened winnings growing fainter and fainter in the distance.

By this, _Nkose_, two things were clear--that the shape, though that of
a huge and savage lion, was but a shape to give cover to something which
was not of this world--and that Lalusini's _muti_ was capable of
accomplishing strange and wonderful results.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE ABODE OF THE TERROR.

Through the whole of the following day, and the night after, we
travelled; and on the next morning, before the son had arisen, we came
upon a large kraal. The land lay enshrouded in heavy mist, and the
hoarse barking of many dogs sounded thick and muffled. Armed men sprang
to the gate to inquire our errand, but one word from my slave, Jambula,
caused them to give us immediate admission. This was the kraal of
Maqandi-ka-Mahlu, the chief over the workers in iron, in whose midst the
horror n