men, and fear the dreadful death, O Elephant who art
strong!" screamed Nxope.

"Peace, witches!" said the King. "Well, Untuswa! And thou! What hast
thou to say? Do not these deserve to die?"

That was something of a question, _Nkose_; and one which it might cost a
man his life to hesitate in answering. For did I not at once agree,
after what had happened, the people would howl for my death, as being
privy to the bold attempt upon the King's life, just made by my chief
wife; and I suspected the question was put to try me. Yet I was fond of
these two women, who had always done well by me; nor did I ever err on
the side of timidity in those days. So I made answer--

"I think these two are innocent of the other's evil-doing, Great Great
ONE. The wisdom of the King is great, and his justice is terrible. Yet
I would crave the boon of their lives; for I have never known them do or
think harm. So, too, shall I be left without wives at all, if these are
taken from me."

"New wives shall be found for thee, Untuswa--and better than the old
ones," answered Umzilikazi, half in mockery. "Ha! I think thou keepest
thy wives too long. _Whau_! A bowl of _tywala_, when fresh, is needful
and pleasant; but if kept too long, it grows sour and unwholesome, even
harmful, and is only fit to be thrown away. So it is with a woman. But
thou, sister, whose _muti_ is great enough to discover serpent's fangs
beneath a witch's girdle--what sayest thou? Is it well that these two
should live?"

I looked at Lalusini and saw that her eyes were full of pity for these
two horribly frightened women crouching there before the King, and then
I knew that her heart was not dark and fierce as that of Nangeza, else
had they certainly been dead.

"I think it well they should live, Great Great One, for they are
innocent of the other's ill-doing," she answered.

"Ha! sayest thou so? Well, I give ye your lives, ye two. Begone! For
the other, it seems that the stake is long in making ready."

This dreadful form of death, remember, being seldom used amongst us,
some time must elapse while its instrument was preparing. Meanwhile,
all crying aloud in praise of the King's mercy and justice, Nangeza
seized the opportunity of wrenching herself from the grasp of those who
held her, and before any could stay her--so lithe and active was she--
she was darting across the plain in leaps and bounds, fleeing with the
speed of a buck.

"To the alligat