h he sat stood two councillors, nobles whom
Dingaan loved, and these alone had heard the last words of Zinita. He
bade these nobles stand in front of him, out of earshot and away from
every other man. Then Zinita drew near, and told Dingaan the tale of
the birth of Umslopogaas and all that followed, and, by many a token and
many a deed of Chaka's which he remembered, Dingaan the king knew that
it was a true story.

When at length she had done, he summoned the captain of the regiment
that stood around: he was a great man named Faku, and he also summoned
certain men who do the king's bidding. To the captain of the impi he
spoke sharply, saying:--

"Take three companies and guides, and come by night to the town of the
People of the Axe, that is by Ghost Mountain, and burn it, and slay
all the wizards who sleep therein. Most of all, slay the Chief of the
People, who is named Bulalio the Slaughterer or Umslopogaas. Kill him
by torture if you may, but kill him and bring his head to me. Take that
wife of his, who is known as Nada the Lily, alive if ye can, and bring
her to me, for I would cause her to be slain here. Bring the cattle
also. Now go, and go swiftly, this hour. If ye return having failed in
one jot of my command, ye die, every one of you--ye die, and slowly.
Begone!"

The captain saluted, and, running to his regiment, issued a command.
Three full companies leapt forward at his word, and ran after him
through the gates of the kraal Umgugundhlovu, heading for the Ghost
Mountain.

Then Dingaan called to those who do the king's bidding, and, pointing
to the two nobles, his councillors, who had heard the words of Zinita,
commanded that they should be killed.

The nobles heard, and, having saluted the king, covered their faces,
knowing that they must die because they had learned too much. So they
were killed. Now it was one of these councillors who had said that
doubtless meat would soon be found to feed the king's birds.

Then the king commanded those who do his bidding that they should take
the children of Zinita and make away with them.

But when Zinita heard this she cried aloud, for she loved her children.
Then Dingaan mocked her.

"What?" he said, "art thou a fool as well as wicked? Thou sayest that
thy husband, whom thou hast given to death, is born of one who is dead,
and is heir to my throne. Thou sayest also that these children are born
of him; therefore, when he is dead, they will be heirs to my thro