Then Umzilikazi went on to talk about this new land, and of the chief
and people who owned the blue cattle.

"There will be spoil for all, for all who deserve it," he said; "and
these slaves you have brought back please me well. _Whau_, Untuswa!
How is it that a man like you, and a fighting captain, has but three
wives--only three?" he asked, laughing at me.

"I care not for such, Great Great One. I desire only to wield the
King's Assegai in battle," I said.

"That is well. In a few days we shall see. Go now, Untuswa."

I saluted and left the King. As I passed the gate of the _isigodhlo_,
or royal enclosure, which gate was only wide enough to admit one man at
a time, I met my father, Ntelani, entering. Not a word had the King let
fall on the matter of my father, and this meeting, which was a surprise
to both of us, seemed an evil omen; for now that I wore the head-ring,
and had become great, and commanded the King's troops, my father was
more jealous than ever, and hated me more. We exchanged greetings, and
then in the darkness I made my way to old Masuka's hut.

I pushed the wicker door open and crept in. The old witch-doctor was
awake, and, seated by his fire, looked more like a big black spider than
a man, such a skin-and-bone old skeleton had he become.

"I have seen you, Untuswa," he said, looking up.

"Greeting, father," I replied.

"_Au_!" he said, handing me snuff. "And have you brought back cow and
calf from the land of the Blue Cattle, Untuswa? The cow, whose milk
keeps the life in my old frame, is dead--a lion killed her."

"No cattle did I bring from the land of the Bakoni, father, though it
will not be a long time before we go and take all of it," I replied;
"but there is a red cow in milk among my herd. Tomorrow she and her
calf shall be driven in among your beasts, my father."

The old man looked pleased. He loved cattle, and although by now he was
one of the wealthiest among us, yet he never lost an opportunity of
adding to his herds; but if any man gave him a cow he did not ask for
more; unlike our own _izanusi_, who were wont to go on asking and asking
until they had obtained ten or twelve beasts. Now I, each time that I
was enriched by increase in my herd, or took spoil from an enemy, never
failed to send a head or two to old Masuka; but from me our own
_izanusi_ got nothing--wherefore they hated me. But the old Mosutu had
been the means of saving my life and making me grea