the night after?" I said, questioningly, desiring to speak in as
few words as possible, lest my voice should betray me, and yet thirsting
for more information.

"It will be better so, Greater of two Kings," went on Silwane. "Unless
we fall upon these Amandebeli by surprise, _au_! the good fortune which
was theirs on the Kwahlamba may still be with them; for, unless they
have _impis_ out elsewhere, the force they can bring against us can
hardly be less than our own."

This was news which caused my heart to leap with joy, only to droop
again immediately, for I recollected that a large _impi_ had gone forth
under Kalipe to eat up two chiefs who dwelt to the northward, and who
had failed to pay their tribute, thinking themselves strong enough.
True, its return was daily expected, but up till now there had been no
sign thereof. Of course, in my character of supposed King, I was in
favour of the delay, and, indeed, would have ordered yet further, but
dared not. The more uncertain were my orders the better, for he whom I
was now personating might really have decided views of his own of a
contrary policy. _Whau, Nkose_! in truth was I walking between spears,
even as when I put my own words into the mouth of the Bakoni chief in
the sight of Umzilikazi and the whole nation. Fortunately, boy as I was
before we left Zululand, I had often seen the princes of the House of
Senzangakona, and remembered their voices, which I now strove to
imitate. And I wanted to find out which of the two Kings I was supposed
to be.

"Thy plan is good, Silwane," I said, and then, carelessly, "_Whau_! I
know not. I who am but a child. I would that the other of the Twin
Stars of the Heavens were by me now, for his judgment in such matters is
greater than mine. What think you, Silwane?"

"_Au_!" he cried. "He who sits at Umkunkundhlovu has the wisdom of
nations. But it is thou who art skilled in war, O Mhlangana, Twin Star
of the Amazulu."

Ha! It was Mhlangana then whom I was representing, not Dingane. But
where was that prince himself? He might appear at any moment, and
then--

"Umzilikazi knows well how to use mountain passes," I said, laughing to
myself as I thought of the way we beat back Tshaka's _impi_.
"Wherefore, move not the soldiers until moonrise to-morrow night, and
enter the pass when darkness shall fall on the night after. Meanwhile
let none draw near this mountain chain, lest they be sighted by those
whom we are co