eeth, which were locked together in the agony of
his torment. It was a fearful sight, for though ruthless in the heat of
battle, yet at this moment we saw not red; and these sufferers, though
deservedly thus punished, were of our own blood. Yet none pitied
overmuch Notalwa, for the _izanusi_ were hated and feared by all.

"We leave thee in peace, Tyuyumane," went on Umzilikazi, still mocking.
"We go out from thee, because a nation cannot own two kings. We leave
thee, but will _konza_ to thee from afar. We leave thee our royal
dwelling, Ekupumuleni. We leave thee in the midst of thine
_izinduna_,"--with a wave towards Ncwelo and Senkonya, between whom he
was impaled. "We leave thee, too, our head _izanusi_, Notalwa, and we
go forth, homeless and scanty in possessions, to seek a new home. Thou,
who art weary, need travel no further. Ekupumuleni, `the Place of
Rest,' shall be thy resting-place forever. Ha! _Hlala gahle_,
Tyuyumane! Rest in peace!"

With this mocking salutation, the King turned away, and, preceded by the
_izimbonga_ shouting in praise of the royal justice, he paced for the
last time, and with great state, through the principal gate of
Ekupumuleni, and, mounting his horse, which was awaiting him outside,
signed that we should commence our march. Then, as the immense array of
armed warriors, in full war adornments, filed out of the great gate,
spreading forth over the plain as the waves of a dark sea, once more was
raised the song of triumph which told of our victory over the Amabuna:

"_Ningepinde nimhlab 'Umzilikazi! Ha_--_ha_--_ha! Ca-bo! Ca-bo_!"

And soon the mighty kraal which had been the home of a warrior-nation
for so long a time was quite deserted--given over to those four grisly
figures, writhing there upon their stakes in blood and agony.

But scarcely had the rear of the last column passed out through the
gates than flames and smoke were seen issuing from four points of the
kraal at once. The King had given secret orders that it should be thus
fired; and the blaze, once kindled, leaped from dome to dome of the
thatch huts, running along the dry thorn fences with a crackling roar
like the volleys from the guns of the Amabuna; and now in a marvellously
short space of time the immense circle of Ekupumuleni was wrapped in
huge sheets of flame; and in the dense smoke-clouds which rolled down
upon the whole of its area, before towering aloft to the heavens, the
bodies upon the stake