them, for they are the ghosts of your slain. But the end of your
journeying I see not. Now choose which road you will, Son of Matiwane,
and choose swiftly, for I speak no more of this matter.'

"Then, Macumazahn, I thought a while of the safe and lonely path of
wisdom, also of the blood-red path of spears where I should find love
and war, and my youth rose up in me and--I chose the path of spears and
the love and the sin and the unknown death."

"A foolish choice, Saduko, supposing that there is any truth in this
tale of roads, which there is not."

"Nay, a wise one, Macumazahn, for since then I have seen Mameena and
know why I chose that path."

"Ah!" I said. "Mameena--I forgot her. Well, after all, perhaps there is
some truth in your tale of roads. When _I_ have seen Mameena I will tell
you what I think."

"When you have seen Mameena, Macumazahn, you will say that the choice
was very wise. Well, Zikali, Opener of Doors, laughed loudly when he
heard it. 'The ox seeks the fat pasture, but the young bull the rough
mountainside where the heifers graze,' he said; 'and after all, a
bull is better than an ox. Now begin to travel your own road, Son of
Matiwane, and from time to time return to the Black Kloof and tell me
how it fares with you. I will promise you not to die before I know the
end of it.'

"Now, Macumazahn, I have told you things that hitherto have lived in my
own heart only. And, Macumazahn, Bangu is in ill favour with Panda, whom
he defies in his mountain, and I have a promise--never mind how--that he
who kills him will be called to no account and may keep his cattle. Will
you come with me and share those cattle, O Watcher-by-Night?"

"Get thee behind me, Satan," I said in English, then added in Zulu: "I
don't know. If your story is true I should have no objection to helping
to kill Bangu; but I must learn lots more about this business first.
Meanwhile I am going on a shooting trip to-morrow with Umbezi the Fat,
and I like you, O Chooser of the Road of Spears and Blood. Will you be
my companion and earn the gun with two mouths in payment?"

"Inkoosi," he said, lifting his hand in salute with a flash of his dark
eyes, "you are generous, you honour me. What is there that I should love
better? Yet," he added, and his face fell, "first I must ask Zikali the
Little, Zikali my foster-father."

"Oh!" I said, "so you are still tied to the Wizard's girdle, are you?"

"Not so, Macumazahn; but I promised him n