of an Umzimvubu. He can throw an assagy well. He thinks,
and it is he who made the trap that caught the leopard. I ask you, men,
does he not deserve the necklace of leopard's claws? Shall he not be a
young chief? Say, men, what you think."

There was immediately a shout of consent, and the chief, calling me to
him, gave me a necklace made out of the claws of the leopard, which he
fastened round my neck, and immediately the men shouted, "_Inkosana_!"

"He is a young chief!"

I have, since those days, heard of men who by deeds of valour have
gained the Victoria Cross, or by good service have received honours from
their sovereign; but I doubt if any of these felt more pride and
gratification than I did when I received this necklace of leopard's
claws from the hands of the chief. I immediately felt a craving for
opportunities of distinguishing myself, and wished for another chance at
a leopard or at some other savage animal, in order that I might prove my
courage, as ably as I had shown my skill in designing and constructing
the leopard-trap.

CHAPTER FOUR.

There was a great change in the behaviour--of the Caffres towards me now
that I had been made an Inkosana. Before this dignity had been
conferred on me, there was a kind of watch kept on me; but now every
Caffre, man, woman, and child, seemed to regard me as one of themselves.
I was now always given _amasi_ to drink instead of _ubisi_, the former
being considered suitable for men, the latter for women and children.
Finding myself a person of greater importance, I one day asked Inyati if
I might go and see my white friends. He hesitated for some time, and at
length said: "To-morrow at sunrise you may go. Inyoni will show you the
way; you will reach their kraal when the sun goes down. Stay one day,
then return."

I told Inyati I would do as he told me, and on the following morning I
started with Inyoni on the journey. I had never asked what had become
of the men and sailors who had been saved from the wreck. At first _I
did not ask_ because I did not know a word of Caffre, but afterwards I
did not do so because I saw that the Caffres seemed disinclined to make
any answers to my questions. Now, however, I was alone with Inyoni, he
told me all the details of the massacre. He told me how we had been
watched for two days, and it was found that the men had firearms; so
they were all killed. On my inquiring why they were killed, Inyoni told
me that man