t spear, and before him a great
blackness peopled by the ghosts of those whom he has slain, and
of his forefathers whose House he has pulled down and burned."

Zikali ceased, and thrusting his hideous head to within an inch
or two of that of the dying man, he glowered at him with his
fierce and fiery eves. Then he began to whisper into the king's
ear, who quivered at his words, as the victim quivers beneath the
torturer's looks.

At that moment the end of the candle fell into the bottle which
was of clear white glass, and there burned for a little while
dully before it went out. Never shall I forget the scene
illumined by its blue and ghastly light. The dying man lying on
the low couch, rocking his head to and fro; the wizard bending
over him like some grey vampire bat sucking the life-blood from
his helpless throat. The terror in the eyes of the one, the
insatiable hate in the eyes of the other. Oh! it was awful!

"Macumazahn," gasped Cetewayo in a rattling whisper, "help me,
Macumazahn. I say that I am poisoned by this Zikali, who hates
me. Oh! drive away the ghosts! Drive them away!"

I looked at him and at his tormentor squatted by him like a
mocking fiend, and as I looked the candle went out.

Then my nerve broke, the cold sweat poured from my face and I
fled from the hut as a man might from a scene in hell, followed
by the low mocking laugh of Zikali.

Outside the women and others were gathered in the gloom. I told
them to go to the king, who was dying, and blundered up the slope
to search for some white man. No one was to be found, but a
Kaffir messenger by the office told me that Malimati was still
away and had been sent for. So I returned to my wagon and lay
down in it exhausted, for what more could I do?

It was a rough night. Thunder muttered and rain fell in driving
gusts. I dozed off, only to be awakened by a sound of wailing.
Then I knew that the king was dead, for this was the Isililo, the
cry of mourning. I wondered whether the murderers--for that he
was poisoned I had no doubt--were among those who wailed.

Towards dawn the storm rolled off and the night grew serene and
clear, for a waning moon was shining in the sky. The heat of
that stiffing place oppressed me; my blood seemed to be afire. I
knew that there was a stream in a gorge about half a mile away,
for it had been pointed out to me. I longed for a swim in cool
water, who, to tell truth, had found none for some days,