at his sufferings.

"Does it hurt--does it hurt, Jandosi?" they cried, as an extra big jolt
would nearly brain the unfortunate man. "Ah! ah! there are some things
that hurt far more--far more!"

Thus in wild and riotous shouting the whole crowd arrived once more at
the gate of the Igazipuza kraal--and here the terrible confusion of the
tumult beggars description--the shrill nasal singing of the women who
turned out to meet them, the yelping clamour of dogs, the howling of
those whose relatives were slain, and the sonorous rhythm of the
war-song, all mingled together in the most ear-splitting, brain-stunning
din.

Sintoba and his fellows, having outspanned in compliance with the
peremptory orders of their captors, were seized and unceremoniously
bound. Then poor Dawes was hauled out of the waggon and brutally
dragged through the kraal, amid kicks and cuffs, to where the chief was
sitting. Then he was flung roughly and anyhow upon the ground.

For some moments did Ingonyama contemplate the helpless form of his
captive in silence, and in his massive countenance was a gleam of
ruthless, vengeful ferocity. He had sat in fear, here on this very
spot, the last time this white man occupied it with him--in fear of his
life, be, Ingonyama, the chief of the redoubted Igazipuza. Now the
tables were turned. This miserable captive, bruised, helpless, lying
there half-stunned, should taste what it meant to tread on the paw of
the lion.

"Well, Jandosi?" he began sneeringly. "You are a bird whose song is
over loud; yet now surely are your wings cut."

If John Dawes's bodily attitude was abject, it was only through force of
circumstances. His mental one was very far from having attained that
state. With a painful effort he succeeded, amid the jeering laughter of
the spectators, in raising himself to an upright sitting posture.

"You are right, Ingonyama," he replied. "My song is over loud--for you.
It is even how being sung at Undini, in ears in which it is bad for you
that it shall be poured. Did I not tell you my `tongue' was a long one
and spoke far? Even now it speaks."

"_Hi_! And did I not tell you that we have a Tooth here which can bite
it short? You and your `tongue' shall be bitten on The Tooth, Jandosi!"

"_Ehe! E-he_!" roared the listeners. "To The Tooth, to The Tooth with
him!"

It was the hour of sunset, and the sweet golden glow fell upon a wild
sea of ferocious figures, of hideous mouthing fa