. For the whole vault was filled with a
vivid green flash, and in it the wizard seemed to dissolve.

His shrivelled limbs seemed to turn into black, horrible snakes, which
glided away hissing into the darkness beyond; then the light sank
somewhat, and before me there started up faces dim and shadowy, and
their aspect turned my heart into water indeed, for I was gazing upon
the faces of those I knew had long been dead.

Dim and shadowy as they were, I knew them all, knew them at first sight.
There was Hlatusa, who had been sent to "feed the alligators" by reason
of this very magic I was here to destroy. There was Tyuyumane, who had
conspired with the Amabuna to overthrow our nation; and Notalwa, the
chief of our _izanusi_, who had aided him, both faces wreathed with hate
and torture as I had last beheld them, writhing on the stake of
impalement. There were many others who had died for the conspiracy of
Ncwelo's Pool. There was the face of my brother, Sekweni--he who had
been slain for sleeping at his post--and that of Gungana, the induna
whom I myself slew, and to whose command I had succeeded. All these
were glowering upon me with a very whirlwind of hate and vengeance, and
I--_whau_!--I was as a man who had died ten deaths. Then I saw the face
of Tauane, the chief of the People of the Blue Cattle, and--Ha! what was
that? The face of Lalusini, beautiful, but sad and agonised? Yet no.
But as a flash I had seen it, and lo! it became that of Nangeza, my
erstwhile _inkosikazi_, even as when she had failed in her attempt upon
the life of the song. And then indeed did I know what hate and
vengeance could look like. For long it seemed I stood there face to
face with that terrible countenance--with it alone--and my lungs now
seemed to fill with choking fiery air. I beheld a vast array defiling
before me--of warriors I had met in battle, of all races, but chiefly
those of our parent nation. On, ever, they passed, silent grim
spectres, with broad spear and tufted shield, even as in life. Others
followed densely in rank, company upon company. _Hau_! Once more the
battle! I heard the clash of shields, the shiver of assegai hafts, the
flash and flame as of fire weapons. I saw the red blood spout and flow;
I heard the roaring of an army of warriors in the full career of their
victorious charge; my ears were dulled by the screams of the vanquished,
for mercy, for pity; the wild hiss and whistle of the conquerors as th