he king, so that the light of her glory shone upon
us. She lifted the little spear, and with it touched Chaka, son of
Senzangacona, on the brow, giving him to doom. Then she spoke; but,
though Chaka felt the touch, he did not hear the words, that were for my
ears alone.

"Mopo, son of Makedama," said the low voice, "stay thy hand, the cup of
Chaka is not full. When, for the third time, thou seest me riding down
the storm, then SMITE, Mopo, my child."

Thus she spoke, and a cloud swept over the face of the moon. When it
passed she was gone, and once more I was alone with Chaka, with the
night and the dead.

Chaka looked up, and his face was grey with the sweat of fear.

"Who was this, Mopo?" he said in a hollow voice.

"This was the Inkosazana of the Heavens, she who watches ever over the
people of our race, O King, and who from time to time is seen of men ere
great things shall befall."

"I have heard speak of this queen," said Chaka. "Wherefore came she now,
what was the song she sang, and why did she touch me with a spear?"

"She came, O King, because the dead hand of Baleka summoned her, as thou
sawest. The song she sang was of things too high for me; and why she
touched thee on the forehead with the spear I do not know, O King!
Perchance it was to crown thee chief of a yet greater realm."

"Yea, perchance to crown me chief of a realm of death."

"That thou art already, Black One," I answered, glancing at the silent
multitude before us and the cold shape of Baleka.

Again Chaka shuddered. "Come, let us be going, Mopo," he said; "now I
have learnt what it is to be afraid."

"Early or late, Fear is a guest that all must feast, even kings, O
Earth-Shaker!" I answered; and we turned and went homewards in silence.

Now after this night Chaka gave it out that the kraal of Gibamaxegu was
bewitched, and bewitched was the land of the Zulus, because he might
sleep no more in peace, but woke ever crying out with fear, and
muttering the name of Baleka. Therefore, in the end he moved his kraal
far away, and built the great town of Duguza here in Natal.

Look now, my father! There on the plain far away is a place of the white
men--it is called Stanger. There, where is the white man's town, stood
the great kraal Duguza. I cannot see, for my eyes are dark; but you can
see. Where the gate of the kraal was built there is a house; it is the
place where the white man gives out justice; that is the place of the
gate of the