ommand availed to arrest the rush of his exasperated
fighting men, which was well for him; else had he fallen that moment--
for I had marked him as first victim, nor could he have escaped me.

"What is thy name, leader of this band of strangers?" he said.

"Untuswa, son of Ntelani, of the tribe of Umtetwa, of the nation of
Zulu, is my name. Ponder it well, O Chief of the Blue Cattle, for in
truth thou shalt hear it again."

Once more, a loud and angry shout arose from the warriors. Once more
the words of the chief stayed the tumult.

"Look around, Untuswa, son of Ntelani," he said, rising for the first
time. "Yonder is our town--one of many. Behind it rises a hill, which
is flat on the top, whereon grows abundant grass, and springs flow. It
could carry the cattle of a nation and the fighting men of a nation, and
the force who would climb it might just as well think to climb the
Heavens themselves, for it is fortified from base to summit. Behold
these," designating the armed warriors; "these are but a handful among
the fighting-men who obey my word. Yet I would quarrel with none,
wherefore I will not suffer that violence should overtake you--even
though you have offered insult to a mighty nation in the person of its
chief. Depart now, ye strangers, in peace, while ye may. Farewell!"

"How is it called, this great and mighty town, my father?" I said,
somewhat mockingly.

"It is called `The Queen of the World,'" he answered proudly.

"Ha! That is good," I replied. "When the tread of the Elephant--
Umzilikazi, the Great Great One, the Founder of Nations--shaketh yonder
town, then the King and the Queen of the World will be mated? Till
then, farewell, O Chief of the Blue Cattle!"

Then we departed even as we had come--slaves and all--no man hindering
us. Yes, the name of Zulu was mighty indeed in those days.

CHAPTER TWO.

TREASON IN THE AIR.

Strong as we felt in the might of our name and nation, we were too well
skilled in the game of war to allow ourselves to be lulled into a blind
security. Day after day, night after night, we kept a sharp look-out,
expecting the forces of the Bakoni and their allies to fall upon us in
overwhelming numbers. But they did not; which went to show that
something of the terror of our name had travelled to the Chief of the
Blue Cattle; nor, indeed, did I doubt but that messengers would follow
shortly after us with gifts, and desiring to _konza_ to Umzilikazi, ev