"Certainly," I answered, "on one condition, that what the ears hear, the
heart shall keep to itself alone."

Umslopogaas stooped and laid his hand upon the broad blade of the weapon
beside him, saying,

"By the Axe I swear it. If I break the oath be the Axe my doom."

Then I told him the tale, as I have set it down already, thinking
to myself that of it he would understand little, being but a wild
warrior-man. As it chanced, however, I was mistaken, for he seemed to
understand a great deal, perchance because such primitive natures are in
closer touch with high and secret things than we imagine; perchance for
other reasons with which I became acquainted later.

"It stands thus," he said when I had finished, "or so I think. You,
Macumazahn, seek certain women who are dead to learn whether they still
live, or are really dead, but so far have failed to find them. Still
seeking, you asked the counsel of Zikali, Opener-of-Roads, he who among
other titles is also called 'Home of Spirits.' He answered that he could
not satisfy your heart because this tree was too tall for him to climb,
but that far to the north there lives a certain white witch who has
powers greater than his, being able to fly to the top of any tree, and
to this white witch he bade you go. Have I the story right thus far?"

I answered that he had.

"Good! Then Zikali went on to choose you companions for your journey,
but two, leaving out the guards or servants. I, Umhlopekazi, called
Bulalio the Slaughterer, called the Woodpecker also, was one of these,
and that little yellow monkey of a man whom I saw with you to-day,
called Hansi, was the other. Then you made a mock of Zikali by
determining not to visit me, Umhlopekazi, and not to go north to find
the great white Queen of whom he had told you, but to return to Natal.
Is that so?"

I said it was.

"Then the rain fell and the winds blew and the rivers rose in wrath so
that you could not return to Natal, and after all by chance, or by fate,
or by the will of Zikali, the wizard of wizards, you drifted here to the
kraal of me, Umhlopekazi, and told me this story."

"Just so," I answered.

"Well, White Man, how am I to know that all this is not but a trap for
my feet which already seem to feel cords between the toes of both of
them? What token do you bring, O Watcher-by-Night? How am I to know that
the Opener-of-Roads really sent me this message which has been delivered
so strangely by one who wishe