war, ye have so brought it
about that, though ye bring me the body of her I sought, ye do not bring
the life."

Now when the king spoke of taking the lives of all the People of the
Axe, Umslopogaas smiled grimly and glanced at his companies. Then
saluting the king, he turned to go. But as he turned a man sprang
forwards from the ranks and called to Dingaan, saying:--

"Is it granted that I may speak truth before the king, and afterwards
sleep in the king's shadow?"

Now this was that man who had been captain of the guard on the night
when three passed out through the archway and two returned, that same
man whom Umslopogaas had degraded from his rank.

"Speak on, thou art safe," answered Dingaan.

"O King, thy ears have been filled with lies," said the soldier.
"Hearken, O King! I was captain of the guard of the gate on that
night of the slaying of the Halakazi. Three came to the gate of the
mountain--they were Bulalio, the Wolf Galazi, and another. That other
was tall and slim, bearing a shield high--so. As the third passed the
gate, the kaross he wore brushed against me and slipped aside. Beneath
that kaross was no man's breast, O King, but the shape of a woman,
almost white in colour, and very fair. In drawing back the kaross this
third one moved the shield. Behind that shield was no man's face, O
King, but the face of a girl, lovelier than the moon, and having eyes
brighter than the stars. Three went out at the mountain gate, O King,
only two returned, and, peeping after them, it seemed that I saw the
third running swiftly across the plains, as a young maid runs, O King.
This also, Elephant, Bulalio yonder denied me when, as captain of the
guard, I asked for the third who had passed the gate, saying that only
two had passed. Further, none of the captives were called to swear
to the body of the maid, and now it is too late, and that man who lay
beside her was not killed by Galazi in the cave. He was killed outside
the cave by a blow of a Halakazi kerrie. I saw him fall with my own
eyes, and slew the man who smote him. One thing more, King of the World,
the best of the captives and the cattle are not here for a gift to
thee--they are at the kraal of Bulalio, Chief of the People of the Axe.
I have spoken, O King, yes, because my heart loves not lies. I have
spoken the truth, and now do thou protect me from these Wolf-Brethren, O
King, for they are very fierce."

Now all this while that the traitor told his tale U