th their knees,
who marched through the throng of Makalanga as though they saw them not.

"The Matabele! The Matabele are on us!" cried a voice; while other
voices shouted, "Fly to your walls!" and yet others, "Kill them! They
are few."

But the three men marched on unheeding till they stood before Mambo.

"Who are you, and what do you seek?" the old man asked boldly, though
the fear that had taken hold of him at the sight of these strangers was
evident enough, for his whole body shook.

"Surely you should know, chief of Bambatse," answered their spokesman
with a laugh, "for you have seen the like of us before. We are the
children of Lobengula, the Great Elephant, the King, the Black Bull, the
Father of the Amandabele, and we have a message for your ear, little Old
Man, which, finding that you leave your gate open, we have walked in to
deliver."

"Speak your message then, envoys of Lobengula, in my ear and in those of
my people," said the Molimo.

"Your people! Are these all your people?" the spokesman replied
contemptuously. "Why then, what need was there for the indunas of the
King to send so large an impi under a great general against you, when a
company of lads armed with sticks would have served the turn? We thought
that these were but the sons of your house, the men of your own family,
whom you had called together to eat with the white strangers."

"Close the entrance in the wall," cried the Molimo, stung to fury by the
insult; and a voice answered:

"Father, it is already done."

But the Matabele, who should have been frightened, only laughed again,
and their spokesman said:

"See, my brothers, he thinks to trap us who are but three. Well, kill
on, Old Wizard, if you will, but know that if a hand is lifted,
this spear of mine goes through your heart, and that the children of
Lobengula die hard. Know also that then the impi which waits not far
away will destroy you every one, man and woman, youth and maiden,
little ones who hold the hand and infants at the breast; none shall be
left--none at all, to say, 'Here once lived the cowardly Makalanga of
Bambatse.' Nay, be not foolish, but talk softly with us, so that perhaps
we may spare your lives."

Then the three men placed themselves back to back, in such fashion that
they faced every way, and could not be smitten down from behind, and
waited.

"I do not kill envoys," said the Molimo, "but if they are foul-mouthed,
I throw them out of my walls. Your m