ared, as the bearer of that mysterious sign; was spared,
miraculously indeed--but to what end?

Now he became conscious of a movement among the crowd, which parted
quickly, respectfully. Through the opening thus effected there advanced
two men. Both were fine, tall warriors, elderly of aspect, for their
short, crisp beards were turning gray, but apparently in the very prime
of athletic strength and vigour. In outward adornment their appearance
differed little from that of the bulk of the Ba-gcatya. Their shaven
heads were surmounted by the _isicoco_, or ring, exactly after the Zulu
fashion, and on either side of this, but fastened so as not to
interfere with it, nodded a tuft of magnificent white ostrich plumes.
Laurence, who had now raised himself to a sitting posture, felt no doubt
but that in these he beheld the two principal war-chiefs of the
Ba-gcatya army.

"Who art thou, stranger, who wearest the Sign of the Spider?" began one
of these in pure Zulu, after gazing upon him for a moment in silence.

Laurence at first thought to affect ignorance of the language, of which,
indeed, he possessed considerable knowledge. He would the more readily
get at their plans and intentions that way. But then it occurred to him
he could hardly sustain his character as one to be favoured of the
People of the Spider if professing an ignorance of their tongue, and he
intended to work that fortunate incident for all it would carry. So he
replied courteously:

"You see me, father. I alone am alive of those who fought up yonder.
Even the spear which would slay me refused its work. It was turned
aside," showing the wound in his shoulder, of which he realized he must
make light, though, as a matter of fact, it was giving him considerable
pain.

A deep murmur from the vast and increasing audience convinced the
speaker that he had scored a point in making this statement. The chief
continued:

"Rest now, while we rest, O stranger, and eat, for the way is far which
lies before us."

"And whither does that way lie, O brave ones who command the valiant?"
asked Laurence.

"Where dwelleth the Strong Wind that burns from the North." And with
this darkly enigmatical rejoinder the speaker and his brother chief
turned away, as a sign that the conference need proceed no further at
present.

Some of those who had heard now beckoned Laurence forward, and, as he
moved among that terrible host, many and strange were the glances which
were cast