, listening
to these _abatagati_ squatted around by the rock-hung pool, and the
dismal howling of beasts far and near seemed to re-echo their foul and
evil plotting. But at the last we learned something more. Should I,
the son of Ntelani, refuse to be made King--for a day--ah! yes, only for
a day--the _induna_ Tyuyumane was to reign. And with this understanding
the Amabuna rose to depart. As they swung themselves into their saddles
the one who had spoken more pleasantly said:

"The day after the new moon then, Ntelani, an Elephant will fall into
the staked pit from which there is no escape. Our people, with guns and
horses, will be at hand. Is that so?"

"That is so, leader of the Amabuna," grunted my father. "_Au_! from the
spear of a pitfall there is no escape, even for the Elephant." And the
others laughed deeply as they assented.

"My father," I whispered, as the Amabuna rode off, "shall I not go down
and slay yonder four?"

"Not so, Untuswa," whispered the King in reply.

"Shall I not then go and call forth an _impi_ to eat up those dirty
white jackals, O Elephant for whom no pit shall be laid?"

"Not so, Untuswa. Ha! It is the whole nest of foul birds that shall be
destroyed--not two only, that the remainder may take alarm and escape."

After the Amabuna had gone, those four traitors sat there in the
darkness and talked more freely, and in the course of this _indaba_ it
was arranged that Tyuyumane should sit in the seat of the Great Great
ONE. But, first of all, on the day after the new moon, when the Amabuna
should be at hand with their horses and guns, it was settled that I was
to reign for a little while, only to accustom the younger warriors to
the change; then I was to be sent to travel the road of Umzilikazi. All
this these four fools talked over among themselves, little thinking what
ears were drinking in their words--little dreaming what a sharp and
fiery throne awaited Tyuyumane--and, indeed, all of them. Then the moon
sank down, and darkness lay upon the face of that wizard pool, and
silently the conspirators rose and were gone.

"Ha! Untuswa," whispered the King in mockery, "soon will the nation cry
thee the _Bayete_. How now? Dost thou not feel already great?"

"Mock me not, Black Elephant," I pleaded; "mock me not that I am
begotten of Ntelani, who is the very chief of fools. If the fooleries,
which we have just heard seem to the mind of the Great Great One true,
then let hi