k this is not the first day thou hast seen warriors
mustered for battle."

"That is so, _induna_ of the regiment of Scorpions," he answered, with a
longing glance at my own especial fighting rank.

"I think, on such a day, thy place is among these, rather than acting as
_induna_ to a king of peace, Ngubazana," I said, somewhat mockingly.

"_Whau_! You are my father, Untuswa!" cried the Gaza, in a quick,
eager, suppressed voice, as though fearful of being overheard by some
one. "Give me a shield--give me a broad spear, that I may join them."

A great shout of laughter, of delight, broke from the warriors; and, at
a sign from me, some ran to the shield-house, so that in a moment
Ngubazana was fully armed.

"Thy follower is going to help us against Dingane, father," I cried
aloud to the white _isanusi_, who had just appeared. "_Whau_! This is
no time for thoughts of peace, but for deeds of war!"

"_Yeh-bo! Yeh-bo_!" chorused the regiment.

"Well, let him go," said the white priest, quite tranquilly, noting his
follower's hesitation. "Go, now, Ngubazana, and fight like a brave
soldier for the King who has sheltered and favoured us. Yet, shed no
more blood than is necessary, and slay none when already defenceless.
Show mercy, and spare. So, take my blessing with thee."

Now the first words filled all with great delight, but for the last,
_au_! We, who when we "see red" spare nothing that has life, how should
such words commend themselves to us? But we remembered that this was a
man whose business was peace.

So Ngubazana bent before the white _isanusi_, who blessed him with one
of his strange signs. Then he leaped with joy into the ranks of The
Scorpions, clutching his weapons, and humming to himself the war-song.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE SONG OF THE SHIELD.

The regiments, organised and armed, and decorated for war, filed through
the great entrance of the kraal Kwa'zingwenya, and formed up in a vast
half-circle upon the plain outside, whither the King had already
proceeded, and the _Bayete_ was roared forth in tremendous volume as the
Great Great One stalked majestically into the open formation thus left.
His words were few:

"Warriors," he said, "yonder is a nation's death or a nation's life."
Then he gave the signal for the war-dance to begin.

This was short, for we had no time to spare for ornamental ceremonies.
When the dance and the song were at their height, they ceased suddenly,
and