with me? Well, I watched you there by the Oliphant's River where
you fought Sekukuni's people, and afterwards in the marble hut
where you found the old white man dead in his chair and got the
writings that you have in your pocket which concern the maiden
Heddana; also afterwards when the white man, your friend, killed
the doctor who fell into a mud hole and the Basutos stole his
cattle and wagon."

"How do you know all these things, Zikali?"

"Have I not told you--through my spies. Was there not a
half-breed driver called Footsack, and do not the Basutos come
and go between the Black Kloof and Sekukuni's town, bearing me
tidings?"

"Yes, Zikali, and so does the wind and so do the birds."

"True! O Macumazahn, I see that you are one who has watched
Nature and its ways as closely as my spies watch you. So I
learned these matters and knew that you were in trouble over the
death of these white men, and your friends likewise, and as you
were always dear to me, I sent that child Nombe to bring you to
me, thinking from what I knew of you that you would be more
likely to follow a woman who is both wise and good to look at,
than a man who might be neither. I told her to say to you that
you and the others would be safer here than in Natal at present.
It seems that you hearkened and came. That is all."

"Yes, I hearkened and came. But, Zikali, that is not all, for
you know well that you sent for me for your own sake, not for
mine."

"O Macumazahn, who can prevent a needle from piercing cloth when
it is pushed by a finger like yours? Your wits are too sharp for
me, Macumazahn; your eyes read through the blanket of cunning
with which I would hide my thought. You speak truly. I did send
for you for my own sake as well as for yours. I sent for you
because I wanted your counsel, Macumazahn, and because Cetewayo
the king also wants your counsel, and I wished to see you before
you saw Cetewayo. Now you have the whole truth."

"What do you want my counsel about, Zikali?"

He leaned forward till his white locks almost seemed to mingle
with the thin flame, through which he glared at me with eyes that
were fiercer than the fire.

"Macumazahn, you remember the story that I told you long ago, do
you not?"

"Very well, Zikali. It was that you hate the House of
Senzangacona which has given all its kings to Zululand. First,
because you are one of the Dwandwe tribe whom the Zulus crushed
and mocked at. Secondly, beca