eenly over the spoon. "You seem to know a great deal,
Macumazahn; too much as some might think."

"Yes," I answered, "perhaps I do know too much, or at any rate more than
I want to know. For instance, O fosterling of Mopo and son of--was the
lady named Baleka?--I know a good deal about _you_."

Umslopogaas stared at me and laying his hand upon the great axe, half
rose. Then he sat down again.

"I think that this," and I touched the image of Zikali upon my breast,
"would turn even the blade of the axe named Groan-maker," I said and
paused. As nothing happened, I went on, "For instance, again I think I
know--or have I dreamed it?--that a certain chief, whose mother's name
I believe was Baleka--by the way, was she not one of Chaka's
'sisters'?--has been plotting against that son of Panda who sits upon
the throne, and that his plots have been betrayed, so that he is in some
danger of his life."

"Macumazahn," said Umslopogaas hoarsely, "I tell you that did you not
wear the Great Medicine on your breast, I would kill you where you sit
and bury you beneath the floor of the hut, as one who knows--too much."

"It would be a mistake, Umslopogaas, one of the many that you have made.
But as I _do_ wear the Medicine, the question does not arise, does it?"

Again he made no answer and I went on, "And now, what about this journey
to the north? If indeed I must make it, would you wish to accompany me?"

Umslopogaas rose from the stool and crawled out of the hut, apparently
to make some inspection. Presently he returned and remarked that the
night was clear although there were heavy storm clouds on the horizon,
by which I understood him to convey in Zulu metaphor that it was safe
for us to talk, but that danger threatened from afar.

"Macumazahn," he said, "we speak under the blanket of the
Opener-of-Roads who sits upon your heart, and whose sign you bring to
me, as he sent me word that you would, do we not?"

"I suppose so," I answered. "At any rate we speak as man to man, and
hitherto the honour of Macumazahn has not been doubted in Zululand. So
if you have anything to say, Chief Bulalio, say it at once, for I am
tired and should like to eat and rest."

"Good, Macumazahn. I have this to say. I who am the son of one who was
greater than he, have plotted to seize the throne of Zululand from him
who sits upon that throne. It is true, for I grew weary of my idleness
as a petty chief. Moreover, I should have succeeded with the h