s Zikali told
the People of Lulala that they must not fight the People of Rezu until
in a day to come a white man should visit Kor and bring with him a piece
of wood on which was cut the image of a dwarf like to that of Zikali
himself. Then and not before they must fight and conquer the People of
Rezu. Now this story came down among them and you who may have thought
the first tale magical, will understand it in its simplicity: is it not
so, you wise Allan?"

"Oh! yes," I answered, "except that I do not see how Zikali can have
come here a hundred years ago, since men do not live as long, although
he pretends to have done so."

"No, Allan, nor do I, but perhaps it was his father, or his grandfather
who came, since being observant, you will have noted that if the parent
is mis-formed, so often are the descendants; also that the pretence of
wizardry at times comes down with the blood."

Again I made no answer for I saw that Ayesha was fooling me, and before
she could exhaust that amusement we reached the place where Umslopogaas
and his men were gathered round a camp fire. He sat silent, but Goroko
with much animation was telling the story of the fight in picturesque
and colourful language, or that part of it which he had seen, for the
benefit of the two wounded men who took no share in it and who, lying on
their blankets with heads thrust forward, were listening with eagerness
to the entrancing tale. Suddenly they caught sight of Ayesha, and those
of the party who could stand sprang to their feet, while one and all
they gave her the royal salute of _Bayete_.

She waited till the sound had died away. Then she said,

"I come to thank you and your men, O Wielder of the Axe, who have shown
yourself very great in battle, and to say to you that my Spirit tells
me that every one of you, yes, even those who are still sick, will come
safe to your own land again and live out your years with honour."

Again they saluted at this pleasing intelligence, when I had translated
it to them, for of course they knew no Arabic. Then she went on,

"I am told, Umslopogaas, Son of the Lion, as a certain king was named in
your land, that the fight you made against Rezu was a very great fight,
and that such a leap as yours above his head when you smote him with the
axe on the hinder parts where he wore no armour, and brought him to his
death, has not been seen before, nor will be again."

I rendered the words, and Umslopogaas, preferring tru