we were
both little. Then thou badest me come to thee when thou hadst grown
great, vowing that thou wouldst protect me and never do me harm. So I
have come, bringing my sister with me; and now, I pray thee, do not eat
up the words of long ago."

As I spoke, Chaka's face changed, and he listened earnestly, as a
man who holds his hand behind his ear. "Those are no liars," he said.
"Welcome, Mopo! Thou shalt be a dog in my hut, and feed from my hand.
But of thy sister I said nothing. Why, then, should she not be slain
when I swore vengeance against all thy tribe, save thee alone?"

"Because she is too fair to slay, O Chief!" I answered, boldly; "also
because I love her, and ask her life as a boon!"

"Turn the girl over," said Chaka. And they did so, showing her face.

"Again thou speakest no lie, son of Makedama," said the chief. "I grant
thee the boon. She also shall lie in my hut, and be of the number of my
'sisters.' Now tell me thy tale, speaking only the truth."

So I sat down and told him all. Nor did he grow weary of listening. But,
when I had done, he said but one thing--that he would that the dog Koos
had not been killed; since, if he had still been alive, he would have
set him on the hut of my father Makedama, and made him chief over the
Langeni.

Then he spoke to the captain of the soldiers. "I take back my words," he
said. "Let not these men of the Langeni be mutilated. One shall die and
the other shall go free. Here," and he pointed to the man whom we had
seen led out of the kraal-gate, "here, Mopo, we have a man who has
proved himself a coward. Yesterday a kraal of wizards yonder was eaten
up by my order--perhaps you two saw it as you travelled. This man and
three others attacked a soldier of that kraal who defended his wife and
children. The man fought well--he slew three of my people. Then this
dog was afraid to meet him face to face. He killed him with a throwing
assegai, and afterwards he stabbed the woman. That is nothing; but he
should have fought the husband hand to hand. Now I will do him honour.
He shall fight to the death with one of these pigs from thy sty," and he
pointed with his spear to the men of my father's kraal, "and the one who
survives shall be run down as they tried to run you down. I will send
back the other pig to the sty with a message. Choose, children of
Makedama, which of you will live."

Now the two men of my tribe were brothers, and loved one another, and
each of them wa