, somewhat resembled a dense shower
of shooting stars, I perceived that Ayesha was addressing the men that
had been brought before her, who stood dejectedly in a long line with
their heads bent, quite unattended, since their guards had fallen back.

"If I were going to receive a reward of cattle or wives, I should look
happier than those moon-worshippers, Baas," remarked Hans reflectively.

"Perhaps it would depend," I answered, "upon what the cattle and wives
were like. If the cattle had red-water and would bring disease into your
herd, or wild bulls that would gore you, and the wives were skinny old
widows with evil tongues, then I think you would look as do those men,
Hans."

I don't quite know what made me speak thus, but I believe it was some
sense of pending death or disaster, suggested, probably, by the ominous
character of the setting provided by Nature to the curious drama of
which we were witnesses.

"I never thought of that, Baas," commented Hans, "but it is true that
all gifts are not good, especially witches' gifts."

As he spoke the little net-like lightnings died away, leaving behind
them a gross darkness through which, far above us, the wind wailed
again.

Then suddenly all the heaven was turned into one blaze of light, and by
it I saw Ayesha standing tall and rigid with her hand pointed towards
the line of men in front of her. The blaze went out, to be followed by
blackness, and to return almost instantly in a yet fiercer blaze which
seemed to fall earthwards in a torrent of fire that concentrated itself
in a kind of flame-spout upon the spot where Ayesha stood.

Through that flame or rather in the heart of it, I saw Ayesha and the
file of men in front of her, as the great King saw the prophets in the
midst of the furnace that had been heated sevenfold. Only these men did
not walk about in the fire; no, they fell backwards, while Ayesha alone
remained upon her feet with outstretched hand.

Next came more blackness and crash upon crash of such thunder that the
earth shook as it reverberated from the mountain cliffs. Never in my
life did I hear such fearful thunder. It frightened the Zulus so much,
that they fell upon their faces, except Goroko and Umslopogaas, whose
pride kept them upon their feet, the former because he had a reputation
to preserve as a "Heaven-herd," or Master of tempests.

I confess that I should have liked to follow their example, and lie
down, being dreadfully afraid lest t