eep; and it seemed that the face of the beautiful sorceress hung over
me in my dreams, but when I would start to clasp her, calling her by
name, there was nothing, no sound but the howling of beasts, ravening
upon the mountain slopes throughout the night. And when the sun rose at
last, then mounted higher into the sky, and still Lalusini did not
return, I knew then that I had lost her forever, that never would I
behold her more.

So, with heart heavy and sore, I dragged myself away from the place, and
returning to where I had left the dead lion, cut off the head and
forepaws and the tail-tuft of the mighty beast, and, thus laden, took my
way back to Kwa'zingwenya, sorrowing exceedingly for the loss of her who
had thus bewitched me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note. That this travelling priest was of French nationality was
somewhat confirmed, for on hearing that language spoken, although unable
to recognise any specific word, Untuswa declared that it seemed to bring
back to his mind something of the stranger's speech.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

A LIFE FOR TEN LIVES.

I returned to Kwa'zingwenya with the head and paws of the great lion I
had slain, and those who beheld it envied, crying, "What a hunter is
Untuswa! In the chase, as in war, his is the weapon beneath which falls
the mightiest!" The King, too, was pleased when he beheld those
trophies. But Nangeza, seeing them, said:--

"Ah, ah, Untuswa. Thy skill is in truth wonderful, who went forth to
find a young heifer and found an old lion."

This she said jeering, and with her eyes upon my face. But I, while
affecting not to notice, found food for much thought in the words. Had
Nangeza indeed discovered my secret? Was she concerned in the
disappearance of Lalusini? Ha! I resolved to watch her narrowly, and
were my suspicions verified, why then, indeed, there would be room in my
house for a new _inkosikazi_.

Now at this time, things being quiet and our nation settling down in its
new land, I gained the King's leave to build myself a kraal some little
distance from Kwa'zingwenya, and thither I removed with all my
possessions--my cattle and my wives--and my brother Mgwali also came
with me with his wives, and two other sons of my father, and soon I was
the head of a large kraal of a score and a half of huts. But as time
went on, and my duties in the way of seeing to the strength and
efficiency of my own ha