uth in it.

"Why not?"

"Because I saved your life on that day. You escaped alone of the White
Men, did you not? And you never could understand why, could you?"

"No, I could not, Zikali. I put it down to what you would call 'the
spirits.'"

"Well, I will tell you. Those spirits of yours wore my kaross," and
he laughed. "I saw you with the Boers, and saw, too, that you were of
another people--the people of the English. You may have heard at the
time that I was doctoring at the Great Place, although I kept out of the
way and we did not meet, or at least you never knew that we met, for you
were--asleep. Also I pitied your youth, for, although you do not believe
it, I had a little bit of heart left in those days. Also I knew that we
should come together again in the after years, as you see we have done
to-day and shall often do until the end. So I told Dingaan that whoever
died you must be spared, or he would bring up the 'people of George'
[i.e. the English] to avenge you, and your ghost would enter into him
and pour out a curse upon him. He believed me who did not understand
that already so many curses were gathered about his head that one more
or less made no matter. So you see you were spared, Macumazahn, and
afterwards you helped to pour out a curse upon Dingaan without becoming
a ghost, which is the reason why Panda likes you so well to-day, Panda,
the enemy of Dingaan, his brother. You remember the woman who helped
you? Well, I made her do so. How did it go with you afterwards,
Macumazahn, with you and the Boer maiden across the Buffalo River, to
whom you were making love in those days?"

"Never mind how it went," I replied, springing up, for the old wizard's
talk had stirred sad and bitter memories in my heart. "That time is
dead, Zikali."

"Is it, Macumazahn? Now, from the look upon your face I should have said
that it was still very much alive, as things that happened in our youth
have a way of keeping alive. But doubtless I am mistaken, and it is all
as dead as Dingaan, and as Retief, and as the others, your companions.
At least, although you do not believe it, I saved your life on that
red day, for my own purposes, of course, not because one white life was
anything among so many in my count. And now go to rest, Macumazahn,
go to rest, for although your heart has been awakened by memories this
evening, I promise that you shall sleep well to-night," and throwing the
long hair back off his eyes he looked at