fficient authority to get me a
hearing. Machudi's men closed up behind me, and repeated my words with
flourishes and gestures. But still the circle held. No man came
nearer me, but none moved so as to give me passage.

Then I screwed up my courage, and did the only thing possible. I
walked straight into the circle, knowing well that I was running no
light risk. My courage, as I have already explained, is of little use
unless I am doing something. I could not endure another minute of
sitting still with those fierce eyes on me.

The circle gave way. Sullenly they made a road for me, closing up
behind on my guards, so that Machudi's men were swallowed in the mob,
Alone I stalked forward with all that huge yelling crowd behind me.

I had not far to go. Inanda's Kraal was a cluster of kyas and
rondavels, shaped in a half-moon, with a flat space between the houses,
where grew a big merula tree. All around was a medley of little fires,
with men squatted beside them. Here and there a party had finished
their meal, and were swaggering about with a great shouting. The mob
into which I had fallen was of this sort, and I saw others within the
confines of the camp. But around the merula tree there was a gathering
of chiefs, if I could judge by the comparative quiet and dignity of the
men, who sat in rows on the ground. A few were standing, and among
them I caught sight of Laputa's tall figure. I strode towards it,
wondering if the chiefs would let me pass.

The hubbub of my volunteer attendants brought the eyes of the company
round to me. In a second it seemed every man was on his feet. I could
only pray that Laputa would get to me before his friends had time to
spear me. I remember I fixed my eyes on a spur of hill beyond the
kraal, and walked on with the best resolution I could find. Already I
felt in my breast some of the long thin assegais of Umbooni's men.

But Laputa did not intend that I should be butchered. A word from him
brought his company into order, and the next thing I knew I was facing
him, where he stood in front of the biggest kya, with Henriques beside
him, and some of the northern indunas. Henriques looked ghastly in the
clear morning light, and he had a linen rag bound round his head and
jaw, as if he suffered from toothache. His face was more livid, his
eyes more bloodshot, and at the sight of me his hand went to his belt,
and his teeth snapped. But he held his peace, and it was Laputa w