n the skulls and fleshless ribs, and fearful lest I might
be seen from beneath, whether from far or near. But when I gained the
cleft in the ground, and began to descend into cold darkness, I felt a
strange feeling, for all was silence, and I wondered whether I should
indeed find Lalusini still there. So I began to sing, and presently I
heard that soft voice answering, as I had heard it at first.

And now, as I stood once more within this strange retreat, looking upon
the beautiful and splendid form and into the shining eyes of her who
dwelt in it, all thoughts of the danger I had incurred had fled as the
morning mists when the sun mounts high. No longer did I call myself the
king of fools--oh, no! I was the very _induna_ of wisdom, so my
feelings told me. I sprang forward to seize her in my arms, but she
repulsed me very decidedly--though laughing.

"Not yet, Untuswa, not yet. The time has not yet come," she cried.
"But--are you come to fetch me for the King?"

And her eyes full of mockery, were laughing at me.

"The King? _Hau_! Not so. An _indunas_ wife only shalt thou be,
Lalusini--not the wife of a King."

"Ah, ah! An _induna's_ wife? But I love not old men, and _indunas_ are
always old."

"Not so, Lalusini. But yesterday I was only a boy, and unringed."

"Ah, ah! son of Ntelani! You--an _induna_? You?"

And again she made the rocks ring with the music of her laughter.

"I?--yes, I," was my answer, given with dignity, for my pride was
ruffled. "I am only the second _induna_ in command of the King's army.
Nothing very great. But a small thing. Laugh on, Lalusini; laugh on!"

But she did not laugh. Something in my words seemed to turn her
suddenly grave. "Ah--the chance! The chance at last!" I heard her
murmur. "I, too, am somebody," she said. Then, turning to me, "Yes,
Untuswa, I am somebody who is great--greater than any man among the
Aba-ka-zulu; greater than Umzilikazi himself. And it may be that the
day will come when you, too, shall be greater, son of Ntelani--greater
than the King yonder."

"_Hau_! We are talking in a ring!" I cried, but her words troubled me.
"How now didst thou come among the people of the Blue Cattle,
Lalusini?--for it seems to me the time has come for me to hear that
tale."

"The time has not come--not yet--but it will. And now tell me of the
end of the Bakoni, for I think there must be few still alive."

"Few, indeed," I said. "But Tauane--was he