g rock.

"Stay!" I called, "I would speak with you;" but although I am
sure he heard me, he did not stop or look round.

I sprang up to follow him, but at some sign from Cetewayo two
indunas barred my way.

"Did you not hear the King's command, White Man?" one of them
asked coldly, and the tone of his question told me that war
having been declared, I was now looked upon as a foe. I was
about to answer sharply when Cetewayo himself addressed me.

"Macumazahn," he said, "you are now my enemy, like all your
people, and from sunrise to-morrow morning your safe-conduct here
ends, for if you are found at Ulundi two hours after that time,
it will be lawful for any man to kill you. Yet as you are still
my guest, I will give you an escort to the borders of the land.
Moreover, you shall take a message from me to the Queen's
officers and captains. It is--that I will send an answer to
their demands upon the point of an assegai. Yet add this, that
not I but the English, to whom I have always been a friend,
sought this war. If Sompseu had suffered me to fight the Boers
as I wished to do, it would never have come about. But he threw
the Queen's blanket over the Transvaal and stood upon it, and now
he declares that lands which were always the property of the
Zulus, belong to the Boers. Therefore I take back all the
promises which I made to him when he came hither to call me King
in the Queen's name, and no more do I call him my father. As for
the disbanding of my impis, let the English disband them if they
can. I have spoken."

"And I have heard," I answered, "and will deliver your words
faithfully, though I hold, King, that they come from the lips of
one whom the Heavens have made mad."

At this bold speech some of the Councillors started up with
threatening gestures. Cetewayo waved them back and answered
quietly, "Perhaps it was the Queen of Heaven who stood on yonder
rock who made me mad. Or perhaps she made me wise, as being the
Spirit of our people she should surely do. That is a question
which the future will decide, and if ever we should meet after it
is decided, we will talk it over. Now, hamba gachle! (go in
peace)."

"I hear the king and I will go, but first I would speak with
Zikali."

"Then, White Man, you must wait till this war is finished or till
you meet him in the Land of Spirits. Goza, lead Macumazahn back
to his hut and set a guard about it. At the dawn a company of
soldiers will be waiti