d
that he would love her better if she loved him not so much, for she was
jealous and quick to anger, and that was a sorrow to him. Then, when
he had slept awhile, he led me from the hut, and I and my people were
feasted with the best, and I spoke with Zinita and with Galazi the Wolf.
For the last, I liked him well. This was a good man to have at one's
back in battle; but my heart spoke to me against Zinita. She
was handsome and tall, but with fierce eyes which always watched
Umslopogaas, my fosterling; and I noted that he who was fearless of all
other things yet seemed to fear Zinita. Neither did she love me, for
when she saw how the Slaughterer clung to me, as it wee, instantly she
grew jealous--as already she was jealous of Galazi--and would have been
rid of me if she might. Thus it came about that my heart spoke against
Zinita; nor did it tell me worse things of her than those which she was
to do.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE SLAYING OF THE BOERS

On the morrow I led Umslopogaas apart, and spoke to him thus:--

"My son, yesterday, when you did not know me except as the Mouth of
Dingaan, you charged me with a certain message for Dingaan the king,
that, had it been delivered into the ears of the king, had surely
brought death upon you and all your people. The tree that stands by
itself on a plain, Umslopogaas, thinks itself tall and that there is no
shade to equal its shade. Yet are there other and bigger trees. You are
such a solitary tree, Umslopogaas, but the topmost branches of him whom
I serve are thicker than your trunk, and beneath his shadow live many
woodcutters, who go out to lop those that would grow too high. You are
no match for Dingaan, though, dwelling here alone in an empty land, you
have grown great in your own eyes and in the eyes of those about you.
Moreover, Umslopogaas, know this: Dingaan already hates you because of
the words which in bygone years you sent by Masilo the fool to the Black
One who is dead, for he heard those words, and it is his will to eat you
up. He has sent me hither for one reason only, to be rid of me awhile,
and, whatever the words I bring back to him, the end will be the
same--that night shall come when you will find an impi at your gates."

"Then what need to talk more of the matter, my father?" asked
Umslopogaas. "That will come which must come. Let me wait here for the
impi of Dingaan, and fight till I do."

"Not so, Umslopogaas, my son; there are more ways of killing a ma