at our gates, my father," he said. "Shall the
victory be ours?"

"_Ou_! Who may say for certain, and time has not been given me to look
into the future, lord? Yet the white shield--the white shield. Twice
already hath its efficacy been great. It has guarded the life of a
King, also that of a nation."

"The white shield!" repeated Umzilikazi, in vexation. "Are ye all in
league, vultures of _izanusi_? When I ask for an omen, for a glance
into the future, ye all croak about a white shield. Go now, old man,
and make thy _muti_, for the army must be doctored before set of sun."

Masuka saluted and crept out. Then being restless, the King rose and
followed. In the gate of the _isigodhlo_ stood the white priest,
desiring speech with the King.

"Ha! Yet another magic-maker," growled Umzilikazi. "Say now, talker
with the spirits of the air, will thy sacrifices aid us against the
might of Dingane, for they who come against us number more fighters than
ourselves, Kalipe being still absent?"

"I had heard that, O King," said the white man. "To no magic do I
pretend, yet it may be that the Great One whom I serve will remember in
its hour of need the nation which has received with kindness the
humblest of His servants."

"Ha! I think they who come against us would not so have received thee,
my father," replied Umzilikazi, somewhat impatiently. "Yet practice, I
pray thee, thy mystic rites on our behalf, for with this foe at our
gates we need all the aids we can get--whether of sorcery or not."

"That I will gladly do, O King," replied the white priest. And as he
saluted and turned away, I noticed that he looked ill and tired--perhaps
through over-much journeying. But soon we saw certain of the slaves
entering the dwelling which he kept for his sacred rites, and heard the
tinkle of the little bell, and now and again the soft murmur of the
white sorcerer's voice.

"Now, Untuswa, I think we have enough _muti_ of one kind or another,"
said the King. "Go, therefore, and muster the fighters who wait
without."

It must not be supposed all this time, _Nkose_, that nothing was being
done. I had sent forth, ordering every regiment to repair immediately
to headquarters, and every man who had been enrolled, or who was capable
of bearing arms, to assemble without a moment's waste of time. Further,
I had ordered the establishment of chains of scouts and runners to watch
and swiftly report any movement on the part of t