ain--for I could see he doubted my success
in ridding the land of this terror--and then would not he, too, be
sacrificed to the anger of the King? But I enjoined upon him silence
and secrecy--telling him that his part lay in strictly obeying my orders
and supplying my need. This, so far, lay in requiring two of the slave
ironworkers to be in attendance upon me at sundown, for I intended
proceeding to the Valley of the Red Death that very night.

Food was brought in, and _tywala_, and we ate and drank. Then I lay
down and slept--slept hard and soundly throughout the heat and length of
the day.

When I awoke the sun was declining from his highest point in the
heavens. My slave Jambula was already waiting and armed before the door
of my hat. Beside him, too, were those I required to be in attendance.
Both went before me, uttering words of _bonga_.

"Why are these armed?" I said, noting that the two ironworkers carried
spears and axes. "I need no armed force. Let them leave their weapons
here."

A look of fear spread over the faces of both slaves at these words, and
they reckoned themselves already dead men. For although weapons could
be of no avail against a thing of _tagati_ and of terror, such as had
already laid low so many of their number, and indeed two of our own
tried warriors, in a death of blood, yet it is in the nature of man to
feel more confident when his hand holds a spear. But at my word they
dropped their weapons and stood helpless.

Now, _Nkose_, not without reason did I so act. The King's word had been
that I should slay this horror accompanied by no armed force, and
although two such miserable fighters as this race of slaves could supply
were of no more use with arms in their hands than without, yet I would
not give Umzilikazi any chance of saying I had not fulfilled his
conditions. Besides, I had a purpose to which I intended putting these
two, wherein weapons would avail them nothing at all.

I took leave of Maqandi-ka-Mahlu and set forth--I and Jambula and the
two workers in iron. Such men of our people as I encountered saluted me
in gloomy silence, and as I passed the kraals of the iron-workers the
people came forth and prostrated themselves on the ground, for my
importance was twofold; I represented the majesty of the King, and
further, some inkling had got abroad that my errand lay to investigate,
and, if possible, bring to an end the terror of the Red Magic.

From the kraal of