hose who shall return, and water and tend it, before a long time
has gone by."

We saw a look steal over Umzilikazi's face at these words, and it was a
look we knew.

"So it is thy purpose to travel to the South, my father?" said the King,
speaking softly and low.

"Such is my purpose, Black Elephant," was the answer.

"Ha! the journey to the southward is long, and not over-safe," went on
the King. "There are bad peoples and tribes who will do thee hurt, my
father."

"That I must brave, Great Great One; for the soldiers of Him whom I
serve often meet with hurt, and even death, in His service."

"Something was said but now about sowing the seed of the Word of Life
among this people, my father," went on the King, still speaking softly,
and with a strange look upon his face, as he gazed fixedly at the other.
"Now, why should it not be sown among this people as well as among the
peoples of the South?"

The face of the white _isanusi_ lighted up for joy at these words. He
replied:

"Great is the Mighty One who dwells above; who has put such into the
mind of the King! Here, then, will I dwell for a while, and the people
of the Amandebeli shall drink by degrees of the Fountain of Life."

But while he thus praised, we, who listened, laughed secretly within
ourselves, for we knew what thoughts were within the real mind of the
King. And these were, that the day when the white _isanusi_ was to
start upon his travels for the dwellings of the peoples to the South
should arrive never--no, never!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

"LOST!"

Now, as time went by, this white _isanusi_ still continued to dwell in
our midst in great contentment, for the King ordered that his treatment
should be of the best; and, indeed, it was so. From time to time he and
the Gaza would offer sacrifice together, as we had first beheld it.
Howbeit, he did not importune us with this new teaching, but busied
himself in going in and out among the people, talking to them, and
acting as a friend to all--even among the very lowest of the Amaholi and
enslaved captives. To these he taught that there would come a time when
they should be free--but the way to such freedom lay through the gates
of death; and this caused the slaves to shake their heads and jeer.
Their lives were hard, and they wanted to be free; but if the land of
freedom was only to be reached through the gates of death, why, then
they preferred to remain in the land of the Amandebeli. Yet