ould
entirely conceal the expressions of loathing and repulsion which were
stamped upon each countenance as they turned away from this horrid
sight. On that of Blachland it was far the most plainly marked, and
seemed to afford the ferocious crowd the liveliest satisfaction.

"See there, Amakiwa," they shouted. "Look and behold. It is not well
to pry into forbidden things. Behold the King's justice."

And again they chorused forth volleys of _sibonga_, i.e. the royal
praises.

Was it merely a coincidence that their looks and the significance of the
remark seemed to be directed peculiarly at Blachland? He himself was
not the only one who thought so.

"What do you think now, Blachland?" said Young, dryly. "Better leave
that little exploration scheme you were planning strictly alone, eh?"

"Well, I believe I had," was the answer.

And now the armed warriors clustered round the white men. Some were
chatting with Christian Sybrandt as they moved upward to the great
kraal, for they had insisted on forming a sort of escort for their
visitors; or, as these far more resembled, their prisoners. They were
in better humour now, after their late diversion, but still there were
plenty who shook their assegais towards the latter, growling out
threats.

And as they approached the vast enclosure, the same thought was foremost
in the minds of all four. Something had gone wrong. They could only
hope it was not as they suspected. They were absolutely at the mercy of
a suspicious barbarian despot, the objects of the fanatical hate of his
people. What that "mercy" might mean they had just had a grimly
convincing object lesson.

CHAPTER THREE.

WHAT HAPPENED AT BULAWAYO.

As they entered the outer enclosure, a deep humming roar vibrated upon
the air. Two regiments, fully armed, were squatted in a great crescent,
facing the King's private quarters, and were beguiling the time with a
very energetic war-song--while half a dozen warriors, at intervals of
space apart, were indulging in the performance of _gwaza_, stabbing
furiously in the air, right and left, bellowing forth their deeds of
"dering-do" and pantomiming how they had done them--leaping high off the
ground or spinning round on one leg. The while, the great crescent of
dark bodies, and particoloured shields, and fantastic headgear, swaying
to the rhythmic chant; the sparkle and gleam of assegais; the entirely
savage note of anticipation conveyed by nearly t