What of Dingaan, what of Umhlangana, what
of Umpanda, brothers to the king? Do not these also desire to be kings?
Do they not day by day rise from sleep feeling their limbs to know if
they yet live, do they not night by night lie down to sleep not knowing
if it shall be their wives that they shall kiss ere dawn or the red
assegai of the king? Draw near to them, my brother; creep into their
hearts and learn their counsel or teach them yours; so in the end shall
Chaka be brought to that gate through which your wives have passed, and
where I also am about to tread."

Thus Baleka spoke and she was gone, leaving me pondering, for her words
were heavy with wisdom. I knew well that the brothers of the king went
heavily and in fear of death, for his shadow was on them. With Panda,
indeed, little could be done, for he lived softly, speaking always as
one whose wits are few. But Dingaan and Umhlangana were of another wood,
and from them might be fashioned a kerrie that should scatter the brains
of Chaka to the birds. But the time to speak was not now; not yet was
the cup of Chaka full.

Then, having finished my thought, I rose, and, going to the kraal of my
friend, I doctored my burnt hand, that pained me, and as I was doctoring
it there came a messenger to me summoning me before the king.

I went in before the king, and prostrated myself, calling him by his
royal names; but he took me by the hand and raised me up, speaking
softly.

"Rise, Mopo, my servant!" he said. "Thou hast suffered much woe because
of the witchcraft of thine enemies. I, I have lost my mother, and thou,
thou hast lost thy wives and children. Weep, my councillors, weep,
because I have lost my mother, and Mopo, my servant, as lost his wives
and children, by the witchcraft of our foes!"

Then all the councillors wept aloud, while Chaka glared at them.

"Hearken, Mopo!" said the king, when the weeping was done. "None can
give me back my mother; but I can give thee more wives, and thou shalt
find children. Go in among the damsels who are reserved to the king, and
choose thee six; go in among the cattle of the king, and choose thee
ten times ten of the best; call upon the servants of the king that they
build up thy kraal greater and fairer than it was before! These things
I give thee freely; but thou shalt have more, Mopo--yes! thou shalt have
vengeance! On the first day of the new moon I summon a great meeting, a
bandhla of all the Zulu people: yes, thine o