these occasions the young chief made himself
useful, not disdaining to labour with the other men. He appeared
desirous, indeed, of showing his gratitude to Hendricks for the
protection afforded him. He still, however, did not seem to be at his
ease. Whenever a height was reached, his eye ranged anxiously over the
country, as if he expected his enemies to be coming in search of him.
Hendricks inquired one day who he supposed was the leader of the attack
against the kraal. Was it Cetchwayo? he asked. "No, but Mapeetu,
another chief, a great friend of his. He had seen Kalinda, and wished
to make her his wife, but she ran from him because she loved me, and she
became mine. He knew that he could not get her back, because I kept too
strict a watch over her, and would never allow her to go out of the
kraal without going myself, with a strong party; so in revenge, when one
of the king's wives fell ill, he bribed the doctor to declare that I had
bewitched her. I heard of this, and so, when the king sent for me,
knowing that I should be murdered on the way, I refused to go. Mapeetu
was cunning, and appeared to have forgotten all about the matter. This
threw me off my guard, or I should have moved with my people and cattle,
as soon as our crops had been gathered in, to another part of the
country. Thinking that all was secure, I kept no watch at the kraal
that night, but the moment I heard the sounds outside, I knew what was
about to happen, and resolved to fight, not so much to preserve my own
life, as to prevent Kalinda from falling into the power of Mapeetu. Had
she been killed, I would have sought him out, and followed him through
the country until I had satisfied my revenge."

"I am glad that you both escaped. And now tell me; how are you going to
support yourself in Natal?" asked Hendricks.

"Where game is abundant one need never be anxious on that score,"
answered Mangaleesu. "When I have provided for my wife, I intend to
return to Zululand and punish Mapeetu for the slaughter of my people.
Cetchwayo will not dare to kill me, for it will be acknowledged that a
chief so brave as I have proved myself could not have been guilty of
witchcraft. Then, when I have gathered some people round me, and have
built another kraal, I will go back for my Kalinda."

Hendricks, though suspecting that the young chief would probably lose
his life in endeavouring to carry out his plan, was well aware that to
attempt dissuading