huts raving so that your wives, yes, and
the very dogs fled, from you."

He stopped and for the first time did something to his fire, for
I saw his hands going backwards and forwards, as though he warmed
them at the flames.

At length an awed voice, I think it was that of Dabulamanzi,
asked--

"What is this plan, Inyanga? Let us hear that we may judge."

"The plan of calling one from the dead and hearkening to the
voice of the dead. Is it your desire that I should draw water
from this fount of wisdom, O King and Councillors?"

CHAPTER XVI

WAR

Now men began to whisper together and Goza groaned at my side.

"Rather would I look down a live lion's throat than see the
dead," he murmured. But I, who was anxious to learn how far
Zikali would carry his tricks, contemptuously told him to be
silent.

Presently the king called me to him and said--

"Macumazahn, you white men are reported to know all things. Tell
me now, is it possible for the dead to appear?"

"I am not sure," I answered doubtfully; "some say that it is and
some say that it is not possible."

"Well," said the king. "Have you ever seen one you knew in life
after death?"

"No," I replied, "that is--yes. That is--I do not know. When
you will tell me, King, where waking ends and sleep begins, then
I will answer."

"Macumazahn," he exclaimed, "just now I announced that you were
no liar, who perceive that after all you are a liar, for how can
you both have seen, and not seen, the dead? Indeed I remember
that you lied long ago, when you gave it out that the witch
Mameena was not your lover, and afterwards showed that she was by
kissing her before all men, for who kisses a woman who is not his
lover, or his mother? Return, since you will not tell me the
truth."

So I went back to my stool, feeling very small and yet indignant,
for how was it possible to be definite about ghosts, or to
explain the exact facts of the Mameena myth which clung to me
like a Wait-a-bit thorn.

Then after a little consultation Cetewayo said--

"It is our desire, O Opener of Roads, that you should draw wisdom
from the fount of Death, if indeed you can do so. Now let any
who are afraid depart and wait for us who are not afraid, alone
and in silence at the mouth of the kloof."

At this some of the audience rose, but after hesitating a little,
sat down again. Only Goza actually took a step forward, but on
my remarking that he would probabl