ated insects were
making their bites felt. _He was to be devoured alive by black ants_.

"Confess, Vudana," cried Ngcenika. "Confess thy witchcraft and how thy
`charms' were obtained. The black ants bite hard. Ha!"

"Confess? Ha-ha!" jeered the sufferer, his eyes blazing. "Not to thee,
vulture. Not to thee, jackal. Not to thee, spawn of a Fingo dog. Ha!
That is the witch-doctress of the Amagcaleka! Such a thing as that!
What magic can she make? A cheat--a liar! I can die--I can die as I
have lived--a man, a warrior."

"_Hau_! A wizard! A traitor!" vociferated the crowd. "Confess thy
witchcraft, lest we put thee to the flaming torment. The fire bites
deeper than the black ants. _Hau_!"

"I laugh at the fire," roared the victim. "I laugh at all that you can
do. The fire is but a pleasant warmth. The bite of the ants is but the
softest tickling. Thou dog, Mfulini, were I free, I would whip thee
round the kraal."

"Is thy bed a comfortable one, Vudana?" replied the barbarian thus
apostrophised, with a sneer. And picking up a handful of the venomous
insects he scattered them upon the tortured man's face with a brutal
laugh.

For all his defiant fortitude the latter was undergoing agonies. The
ants were swarming all over his body, crawling into his nostrils and
ears, biting everywhere, eating the rims of his eyelids, his lips, his
throat, and he was powerless to move a hand or foot. The spectators
crowded around, mocking and jeering at him. A few minutes ago he was a
man of consideration--now all pushed and fought for the front places to
witness his sufferings, all heaped execrations upon him as they gloated
over the horrible punishment of one who had been denounced as a wizard.

"Whose magic is the greatest, Vudana--thine or mine?" jeered Ngcenika,
bending over her victim until her face was close to his. But the
proximity of that repulsive countenance infuriated even the helpless
victim. With a roar of rage he spat full into it, vociferating:

"Thou spawn of a Fingo dog! Thine hour is come. I have put my mark
upon thee. Before many moons are dead thou too shalt die, and thy death
shall be even as mine. I, Vudana, say it. Hear ye my words all!"

"He has confessed," shouted the crowd. "He is a wizard. He has
confessed. Let him die the death!"

With a yell of fury Ngcenika started back, and glared vengefully around
as if inquest of some means whereby to add to the sufferer's agony.