over him with paralysing effect. The white skull, staring at
him in the semi-gloom, seemed to take on a fell and menacing expression,
and the fleshless face to frown; and beyond it the gliding restless
heave of the glistening coils, its terrible serpent guardian.

The chant continued--on and on--now falling, then rising, with renewed
attributes to the spirit of the mighty dead. The two old indunas were
walking to and fro now, and it seemed that each was striving to outdo
the other in inventing fresh titles of praise. And what of the hidden
gold? Not for all the wealth this world could produce would Blachland
have meddled further with the mysteries of this gruesome tomb. His sole
aspiration now was for an opportunity of getting outside of it, and
slipping away in safety.

Of this, however, there seemed but small prospect. Hours seemed to have
gone by, and yet these two indefatigable old men showed no sign of
bringing their loyal, if posthumous, performance to a close. Then a
change came over the aspect of affairs, but was it a change for the
better?

A party of warriors had appeared a little way behind them. They
advanced to the edge of the platform of rock and soil whereon the two
indunas were walking up and down--then, at a sign from these, drew
nearer. Their assegais flashed in the sunlight: the shiny faces of
their hide shields, too, caught the gleam. Then all weapons were let
fall as with right hand upraised the new comers with one voice uttered
aloud the salute royal:--

"Kumalo!"

And now the watcher became aware of something else. In the midst of the
new comers were three black heifers. These were dragged forward on to
the sacrifice ground--and thrown down. They bellowed and struggled, but
in vain. Like ants besetting the unwary beetle or cricket which has
strayed into the disturbed nest, the savages threw themselves upon the
luckless animals, and drawing off, revealed these securely bound. Then
followed a scene which, his own peril notwithstanding, turned Blachland
sick. The wretched beasts were not merely slaughtered, but were half
flayed and cut to pieces alive. Quarters were torn off, amid the
frenzied bellowings of the tortured victims, and held up towards the
tomb of the great King amid roaring acclamations of _sibonga_, and
finally a vast mass of dry brushwood and grass was collected, and being
heaped over and around the moaning, agonised creatures, was set alight.
The red flames cra