t for me that I did so, for
almost before I could recover from my astonishment the man was upon me,
stabbing furiously at me with the spearhead in one hand, while with his
shield in the other he covered his body. So sudden and furious was the
onslaught that, in spite of myself, I was driven back some half a dozen
paces, while a low murmur from the onlookers rapidly strengthened to a
deafening roar of applause and encouragement; then, in parrying an
unusually vicious stab, I unwittingly slashed the poor fellow across the
right hand so severely that he incontinently dropped his blade and once
more stood disarmed before me: whereupon, driving him back by
threatening him with my point, I stepped forward and placed my foot upon
the spearhead.

"Do you yield and admit yourself beaten, 'Mfuni?" I demanded in a low
voice.

"I yield; I am beaten, 'Nkos'," answered the man, lowering his hands.
"Strike me now through the heart, I pray thee, and save me from the
torture of the ants."

"Wait!" I enjoined him briefly. Then, turning to the king, I said--the
shouts of applause and encouragement having ceased on the instant of
'Mfuni's discomfiture:

"Thou hast seen, O King! Although thy chosen champion fought well and
did his best, I have conquered him with this weapon, of which thou wert
inclined to think so little. Art thou still inclined to think lightly
of it; or art thou convinced that it is a good weapon, capable of
protecting a man's life in the heat of battle?"

"Nay," answered Lomalindela, "it is a good weapon; thou hast proved it
to be so at the risk of thy life, and I thank thee for the gift. Ask me
now what shall I give thee in return for it? Wilt thou have gold or
cattle? Thou hast but to say, and it shall be thine; for thy gift is
good, and mine shall equal it."

This answer, by good luck, afforded me the very opening that I wanted,
and at once I replied:

"I thank thee, Great, Great One, and take thee at thy word. I want none
of the things that thou hast named; but if thou dost really value my
gift to thee I ask thee to give me in return the life of 'Mfuni, the man
who fought with me and whom I conquered by the might and magic of this
sword. He fought bravely and well; worthily did he uphold the finest
traditions of the Mashona warriors: but against this sword he had no
chance; he could not conquer me. Therefore, because it is not his fault
that he has been beaten--your soldiers and indunas, to a man