he heart of Umslopogaas, and
I saw also that if once he should learn that the throne of Zululand was
his by right, nothing could hold him back, for he would swiftly break
into open rebellion against Dingaan the king, and in my judgment the
time was not ripe for that. Had I known, indeed, but one short year
before that Umslopogaas still lived, he had sat where Dingaan sat this
day; but I did not know it, and the chance had gone by for a while. Now
Dingaan was king and mustered many regiments about him, for I had held
him back from war, as in the case of the raid that he wished to make
upon the Swazis. The chance had gone by, but it would come again, and
till it came I must say nothing. I would do this rather, I would bring
Dingaan and Umslopogaas together, that Umslopogaas might become known in
the land as a great chief and the first of warriors. Then I would cause
him to be advanced to be an induna, and a general ready to lead the
impis of the king, for he who leads the impis is already half a king.

So I held my peace upon this matter, but till the dawn was grey
Umslopogaas and I sat together and talked, each telling the tale of
those years that had gone since he was borne from me in the lion's
mouth. I told him how all my wives and children had been killed, how I
had been put to the torment, and showed him my white and withered hand.
I told him also of the death of Baleka, my sister, and of all my people
of the Langeni, and of how I had revenged my wrongs upon Chaka, and made
Dingaan to be king in his place, and was now the first man in the land
under the king, though the king feared me much and loved me little. But
I did not tell him that Baleka, my sister, was his own mother.

When I had done my tale, Umslopogaas told me his: how Galazi had rescued
him from the lioness; how he became one of the Wolf-Brethren; how he had
conquered Jikiza and the sons of Jikiza, and become chief of the People
of the Axe, and taken Zinita to wife, and grown great in the land.

I asked him how it came about that he still hunted with the wolves as
he had done last night. He answered that now he was great and there was
nothing more to win, and at times a weariness of life came upon him,
and then he must up, and together with Galazi hunt and harry with the
wolves, for thus only could he find rest.

I said that I would show him better game to hunt before all was done,
and asked him further if he loved his wife, Zinita. Umslopogaas answere