to earth here and there. After them
came others; now there was no flame, only a great smoke in which men
moved dimly; and presently, my father, it was done: they had conquered
the fire, and that with but very little hurt to the last seven
companies, though every man had trodden it. How many perished?--nay,
I know not, they were never counted; but what between the dead and the
injured that regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more
men into it.

"See, Doctor of Prayers," said Dingaan, with a laugh, "thus shall I
escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest, if such there be
indeed: I will bid my impis stamp them out."

Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no
more among the Zulus, and afterwards he left the land. When he had gone
the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away, the injured were doctored
or killed according to their hurts, and those who had little harm came
before the king and praised him.

"New shields and headresses must be found for you, my children," said
Dingaan, for the shields were black and shrivelled, and of heads of hair
and plumes there were but few left among that regiment.

"Wow!" said Dingaan again, looking at the soldiers who still lived:
"shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the white
man speaks."

Then he ordered beer to be brought to the men, for the heat had made
them thirsty.

Now though you may not guess it, my father, I have told you this tale
because it has something to do with my story; for scarcely had the
matter been ended when messengers came, saying that Bulalio, chief of
the People of the Axe, and his impi were without, having returned with
much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland. Now when I
heard this my heart leapt for joy, seeing that I had feared greatly for
the fate of Umslopogaas, my fosterling. Dingaan also was very glad, and,
springing up, danced to and fro like a child.

"Now at last we have good tidings," he said, at once forgetting the
stamping of the fire, "and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my
hand has longed to pluck. Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly."

For awhile there was silence; then from far away, without the high fence
of the great place, there came a sound of singing, and through the
gates of the kraal rushed two great men, wearing black plumes upon their
heads, having black shields in their left hands, and in their right,
one an axe and o