r Umzilikazi was thus reminded, or whether his ears caught
some of our murmurings, I know not. But he gave orders that the Mosutu
should be called.

"Here is another _isanusi_, Masuka," he said, when the old man appeared,
murmuring words of _bonga_. "He is white, but I am not sure he is not a
greater than thou."

"I am not the greatest of my kind the world ever saw, Lord. Perchance
there may be greater," answered Masuka, darting a quick glance at the
stranger with his bright and piercing eyes. "But can he make fire out
of nothing, Great Great One? Can he make the thunder roar forth balls
of flame into a buck smoke out of nothing? Can he make the countenances
of the enemies of the King show clear in a bowl? Can he do these
things, O Elephant?"

But the white man showed no dismay, no anxiety. There was nothing about
him of the _isanusi_ who fears a more powerful rival still. He looked
straight in the old Mosutu's face, and in his own was nothing but
friendliness.

"Not in such spells do I deal, old man of a stranger race," he answered.
"The Great Great One whom I serve loves not such. Yet thou--the _muti_
thou usest is not generally for ill, and thy divinations are in favour
of right and justice and for the well-being and safety of thy King and
adopted nation. While this is so may it go well with thee."

"Ha!" we cried, amazed that this stranger should thus describe Masuka's
_muti_ with such wonderful exactness. And the King was greatly pleased
at that saying, and the white man made a friend of the old Mosutu, who
saw at once--as what did he not see?--that here was no rival claiming to
be greater than himself and to steal away the favour of the King from
him. In truth, also, _Nkose_, the words of the stranger were well said,
for since Masuka had been made the father of the King's magic, few
indeed of our people had been smelt out, and then only when they had
been guilty of evil-doing, as in the case of the conspirators of
Ncwelo's pool, whereas, formerly, our own _izanusi_ were ever clamouring
for "witch-findings," ever hungry as vultures for the flesh of men;
wherefore, our nation loved the old Mosutu, and we who heard were glad
because there was not to be another set up in his place.

"I see that the heart of the King is good towards me, and I rejoice,"
said the white man before he withdrew. "For I would fain sow the seed
of the Word of Life among this people before I travel South. Then there
are t