think also that the hate upon my face as I shook my withered hand
before him was more fearful to him that the pain of death. At the least,
he turned his head aside, shut his eyes, and groaned. Presently they
opened again, and he was dead.

Thus then, my father, did Chaka the King, the greatest man who has ever
lived in Zululand, and the most evil, pass by my hand to those kraals
of the Inkosazana where no sleep is. In blood he died as he had lived in
blood, for the climber at last falls with the tree, and in the end the
swimmer is borne away by the stream. Now he trod that path which had
been beaten flat for him by the feet of people whom he had slaughtered,
many as the blades of grass upon a mountain-side; but it is a lie to
say, as some do, that he died a coward, praying for mercy. Chaka died,
as he had lived, a brave man. Ou! my father, I know it, for these eyes
saw it and this hand let out his life.

Now he was dead and the regiment of the Bees drew near, nor could I know
how they would take this matter, for, though the Prince Umhlangana was
their general, yet all the soldiers loved the king, because he had no
equal in battle, and when he gave he gave with an open hand. I looked
round; the princes stood like men amazed; the girl had fled; the
chief Umxamama was dead at the hands of dead Masilo; and the old chief
Inguazonca, who had killed Masilo, stood by, hurt and wondering; there
were no others in the kraal.

"Awake, ye kings," I cried to the brothers, "the impi is at the gates!
Swift, now stab that man!"--and I pointed to the old chief--"and leave
the matter to my wit."

Then Dingaan roused himself, and springing upon Inguazonca, the brother
of Unandi, smote him a great blow with his spear, so that he sank down
dead without a word. Then again the princes stood silent and amazed.

"This one will tell no tales," I cried, pointing at the fallen chief.

Now a rumour of the slaying had got abroad among the women, who had
heard cries and seen the flashing of spears above the fence, and from
the women it had come to the regiment of the Bees, who advanced to the
gates of the kraal singing. Then of a sudden they ceased their singing
and rushed towards the hut in front of which we stood.

Then I ran to meet them, uttering cries of woe, holding in my hand the
little assegai of the king red with the king's blood, and spoke with the
captain's in the gate, saying:--

"Lament, ye captains and ye soldiers, weep and lamen