t have
happened with such a heavy body plunging through them. Then the
hoof-marks themselves suddenly ceased, and with that, _Nkose_, the blood
once more seemed to tingle within me, for if the thing had come no
further was it not lying close at hand--those fiery eyes perhaps at that
very moment watching me--those awful horns even now advancing silent and
stealthy to rip and tear through my being? Ha! It seemed to me that
this hunting of a terrible ghost was a thing to turn the bravest man
into a coward.

Then as I stood, my hearing strained to its uttermost, my hand gripping
my broad spear ready at any rate to fight valiantly for life, and all
that life involved, something happened which well-nigh completed the
transformation into a coward of a man who had never known fear.

For now a voice fell upon my ears--a voice low and quavering, yet
clear--a voice with a strange and distant sound as though spoken afar
off.

"Ho! fearless one who art now afraid! Ho! valiant leader of armies!
Ho! mighty induna of the Great King! Thou art as frightened as a little
child. Ha, ha, ha!"

This last was very nearly true, _Nkose_--but hearing it said, and the
hideous mocking laugh that followed, very nearly turned it into a lie.

"I know not who speaks," I growled, "save that by the voice it is a very
old man. Were it not so he should learn what it means to name me a
coward."

"Ha, ha, ha!" screamed the voice again. "Brave words, O holder of the
King's assegai. Why, thy voice shakes almost as much as mine. Come
hither--if thou art not afraid."

From where the bush grew darkest and thickest the voice seemed to come.
I moved cautiously forward, prepared at every step to fall into some
trap--to meet with some manifestation of abominable witchcraft. For
long did I force my way through the thick growth, but cautiously ever,
and at last stood once more in the open. Then astonishment was my lot.
Right before me rose a great rock wall. I had reached the base of one
of the heights which shut in the hollow.

"Welcome, Untuswa," cackled the voice again. "Art thou still afraid?"

Now, _Nkose_, I could see nobody; but remembering the Song of the
Shield, and how Lalusini had caused it to sound forth from the cliff to
hearten us during the battle--she herself being some way off--I was not
so much amazed as I might have been, for the voice came right out of the
cliff.

"If thou art not afraid, Untuswa," it went on, "advance str