you not hear it speaking in the thatch, O King?"

"I heard something, Wizard," answered Cetewayo in an awed voice.
"I thought it was a bat."

"A bat it is, O King, one with wide wings and swift. This bat
says that my sister, One-hand, will meet you on the third day
from now at this hour on the further side of the ford of the
Ibululwana, where three milk-trees grow together on a knoll. She
will be sitting under the centre milk-tree and will wait for two
hours, no more, to show you the secret entrance to the kloof."

"The road is rough and long, I shall have to hurry when worn out
with travelling," said Cetewayo.

"That is so, O King. Therefore my counsel is that you begin the
journey as soon as possible, especially as I seem to hear the
baying of the white dogs not far away."

"By Chaka's head! I will not," growled Cetewayo, "who thought to
sleep here in peace this night."

"As the King wills. All that I have is the King's. Only then
One-hand will not be waiting and some other place of hiding must
be found, since this is known to me only and to her; also that
Spirit which I sent will make no second journey, nor can I travel
to show it to the King."

"Yes, Wizard, it is known to you and to myself. Methinks it
would be better were it known to me alone. I have a spoonful of
snuff to share (i.e., a bone to pick) with you, Wizard. It would
seem that you set my feet and those of the Zulu people upon a
false road, yonder in the Vale of Bones, causing me to declare
war upon the white men and thereby bringing us all to ruin."

"Mayhap my memory grows bad, O King, for I do not remember that I
did these things. I remember that the spirit of a certain
Mameena whom I called up from the dead, prophesied victory to the
King, which victory has been his. Also it prophesied other
victories to the King in a far land across the water, which
victories doubtless shall be his in due season; for myself I gave
no 'counsel to the King or to his indunas and generals.'"

"You lie, Wizard," exclaimed Cetewayo hoarsely. "Did you not
summon the shape of the Princess of Heaven to be the sign of war,
and did she not hold in her hand that assegai of the Black One
which you have told me was in your keeping? How did it pass from
your keeping into the hand of a spirit?"

"As to that matter I have spoken, O King. For the rest, is
Nomkubulwana my servant to come and go at my bidding?"

"I think so," said Cetewayo coldly. "I thin