hree of the Zulus were, however, still alive. Kondwana the induna,
Senzanga--the man without a head-ring, and one other, had fallen into
an old elephant-pit, the surface of which was completely covered over
with brushwood. Dry leaves and twigs had accumulated at the bottom, and
thus the shock of their fall had been lessened. Wounded and bleeding,
they lay in the pit until the howling of the hyaenas told them that the
Makalakas had withdrawn from the field of battle.

Of the four hundred veterans who had, but a few months previously,
departed on the quest of the copper, only these three remained. All the
splendid valour displayed, all the incomparable devotion and endurance
manifested, had been wasted--poured out like their blood on the sand--
sacrificed to the senseless suspicions of a brutal, irresponsible
tyrant.

Nor was any living creature one whit the gainer--save the hyaenas.

IV.

Tshaka, King of the Zulus, sat in his royal kraal one morning in
November, 1816. His Majesty was in a bad temper. Umziligazi and his
clan, the Amandabele, rather than stay and all be killed on account of
a misunderstanding over some loot, had arisen and fled across the
Drakensberg to such a distance, that pursuit--for the present, at all
events--was out of the question. Other things, worries from which the
most despotic a ad irresponsible monarchs are not free, were also
annoying him. Consequently those to whom he had lately been granting
audience had had a bad time of it. In fact the executioners were busy
every day.

One of the chief indunas ventured to communicate the fact that a very
old and strange-looking man, who did not appear to be quite right in
his wits, together with a. slightly younger, though equally weird-looking
companion, craved an audience with the king.

Tshaka shared to the fullest extent those superstitions which form such
a salient characteristic of all the Bantu tribes. Now, all savages
believe that persons whose wits are affected are wizards, whom it is
good policy to propitiate, and whom he may be dangerous to offend.
Therefore the king signified that the strangers might approach.

Two men were then led before Tshaka. They were both fearfully emaciated
and gaunt, and were scarred from head to foot. The elder man could not
walk alone, bur leant upon the shoulder of the younger as he hobbled
along, using the remains of a broken spear, the blade of which was worn
down to a knob, and the shattered handle